what we do

ABOUT BJJ

The goal of BJJ is to control your opponent with the ultimate aim of submitting them (making them give up or tap). Based on the principle that it is easier to control a person when he isn’t standing or otherwise athletic, much of BJJ is done with both partners on the ground. Because of this, BJJ is widely considered as the most effective training for self-defense. 

Students will learn a range of techniques applicable in training, self defense and competition. Classes include time for students to practice applying the techniques covered in the lesson to each other in a controlled and safe manner, as well as to engage in sparring (also called live training or rolling), where resistance is increased and there are few-to-no limitations on what techniques can be attempted. In both drilling and rolling, a tap is always honored, stopping the action before any harm occurs and allowing the students to reset and start again.

Jiu jitsu techniques center around efficiency of movement and the strategic application of leverage, which is why it is known for smaller or weaker people dominating and submitting people who are significantly bigger and stronger. Because there is no striking, BJJ offers practitioners the ability to benefit from training at a range of intensities, from flow rolling, which emphasizes fluidity and connections, to full on, competition-level sparring. 

Practicing jiu jitsu is an excellent way to get in shape and maintain physical fitness. Agility, flexibility and physical dexterity will increase over time and a practitioner’s ability to execute a wider range of techniques will grow. There is no minimum physical requirement to start training; don’t wait until you feel “fit enough” – the best time to start is NOW!

BJJ is not just a physical practice, but also an intellectual one. Because your partner/opponent will resist by countering your attempts and you will then counter his counters, the essence of BJJ is in-the-moment problem solving. Over time each practitioner develops a game, a signature collection of go-to techniques, movements, and sequences; figuring out your partner’s game before they entrap you with it is critical to maintaining dominance. 

GI JIU JITSU

The gi is the traditional uniform used in BJJ, consisting of a jacket, a pair of pants, and a belt. When training in the gi, you can grab any part of your partner’s clothing, increasing the amount of control you can have over him. Additionally you can use the jacket collar for strangulation and choking submissions, effectively turning the jacket collar into a rope around his neck.The color of the belt indicates the student’s rank or experience. In jiu jitsu, the belt ranks progress from white through blue, purple, brown, ultimately to black; white stripes on the belt are used to indicate progress before the next belt is earned. Practitioners are awarded a stripe (or degree) on their belt for every three years that they continue to practice after earning their black belts.

Nogi jiu jitsu

In nogi BJJ, the gi is not worn, and students instead wear shorts/leggings and a T-shirt or rashguard. Nogi is similar to traditional wrestling, where  practitioners cannot grip their partner’s clothing as they can with the gi. As a result, nogi jiu jitsu is typically faster paced and emphasizes control through understanding body mechanics. Also referred to as grappling, nogi BJJ maintains the same ranking system, with students indicating their rank through the color of their rashguard.

ABOUT OUR APPROACH

At Renzo Gracie East Side, we want all students to reach their full potential and achieve their goals on and off the mats. We believe that the BJJ mirrors life and that the things that will make you successful as a BJJ practitioner will also support success in other aspects of life. Our approach to jiu jitsu is dedicated to fostering success, which includes:

• Attending to details

• Focusing on the acquisition of concepts, strategies, and skills that will work against someone with a size, strength, and experience advantage (rather than those that would only work on someone smaller or weaker)

• Creating an environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes, which are vital to the learning process

• Caring about the individuals in our classes and not just the material covered in a lesson