Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is one of the fastest growing martial arts on the planet, but the success of your jiu-jitsu journey will rely heavily on the culture of the school you attend and instructional methods utilized by your teachers. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, but only if taught correctly.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Portland is a Certified Training Center in the Gracie University system. Certified Gracie Jiu-jitsu Training Centers (CTCs) are martial arts schools that are authorized to teach the proprietary self-defense programs developed by Gracie University Headquarters in Torrance, California.
Women's Self-defense That Actually Works! (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu)
Let's delve into what makes Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Portland a unique and effective martial art for self-defense and personal development.
The Gracie University Approach: Tailored Programs for Everyone
While most BJJ schools have taken a “one-size-fits-all” approach to teaching the art, Gracie University has gone to great lengths to create specific programs for each demographic:
- Gracie Bullyproof for kids (ages 3-12)
- Women Empowered for the ladies
- Gracie Combatives for beginner adults
- The Master Cycle for advanced practitioners
Each program adheres to a set curriculum, so students know exactly what they will learn before they come to class. Every student is issued an attendance card on which we track daily progress, so they can see how much they’ve accomplished and exactly what it will take to move on to the next level.
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These Self Defense Guard concepts keep an attacker from being able to reach your face with a punch. Jiu-Jitsu uses a leverage based, technical approach to street fights than enable you survive an attack from a larger, stronger opponent. Most fights end up on the ground! Jiu-Jitsu is a great way for your child to gain confidence, learn respect and to get into shape! Our group classes are designed to improve awareness and to build trust. There is no better way to test your skills than in LIVE competitions! Jiu-Jitsu tournaments provide a safe, fun way to satisfy your competitive drive!
Safety and Collaboration: A Priority at Certified Training Centers
At our CTCs, safety is the number one priority. In far too many BJJ schools, the classes are structured to meet the needs of the most elite students. If you are a beginner student, you are expected to serve as a “grappling dummy” for those above you. The thought process is, if you avoid injury, and stick around long enough, you will eventually figure it out.
At our CTCs we take the opposite approach. Firstly, there is no competitive sparring in our beginner programs. As a result, you’ll have a chance to learn all the beginner techniques in a fully-cooperative environment, with like-minded training partners, for 8-12 months. Once you move on to the advanced program, and you begin sparring, you will have the benefit of working with training partners, of every skill level, who are working with you rather than against you. This culture of collaboration and mutual benefit is extremely rare in jiu-jitsu, and we go to great lengths to make sure it is upheld at all of our CTCs.
Self-Defense Focus: Staying True to the Roots of BJJ
When it was originally founded by Grand Masters Carlos and Helio Gracie in the early 1900’s, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu only had one purpose - effectiveness in real fights. Several decades later, when sportive competition was introduced and popularized throughout Brazil and the US, there was a distinct shift in training objectives at most BJJ schools causing them to neglect the self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu, such that students could train for many years without ever learning how their grappling skills would apply against a striking opponent in a real fight.
At all Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Centers, street self-defense remains the top priority throughout all of our training programs. From your very first class, every technique you learn was specifically chosen due to it’s like likelihood of being used, and proven effectiveness, in real combat. Our belief is that only once a student learns all the necessary skills to stay safe in a real fight, should he or she begin exploring the sportive aspects of jiu-jitsu.
Read also: Personal Growth Through Jiu Jitsu
Gracie University Online: A Valuable Resource for Students
Upon enrolling at this Certified Training Center, you will receive a free subscription to Gracie University Online. Through our interactive online platform, you will have access to detailed video instruction on every technique you’ll be learning so you can study the lessons on any computer or mobile device 24 hours a day!
Furthermore, as an active student at this Certified Training Center, you’ll qualify to train for free at any other Certified Training Center on the planet (for up to 30 consecutive days per year).
Is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Right for You?
Here are some common questions and answers about starting Gracie Jiu-Jitsu:
- Are there fitness requirements? There are zero fitness requirements to be able to start our beginner Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes! One of the benefits of BJJ is that it relies on technique and timing rather than strength, speed, or athleticism. Our students start at all different fitness levels; however, you will find that you do enhance your fitness by doing our BJJ classes.
- Do I need experience? There is absolutely no experience necessary for any of our beginner classes, and there is no sparring amongst beginners, so you’re going to be safe and have a great time! Our certified martial arts instructors are trained to keep their teaching simple, effective, and beginner-focused. So even the most uncoordinated person will develop ‘ninja-like’ skills!
- What should I wear? Upon arriving to your first Jiu-Jitsu class, we will provide a uniform (dependent on the class you take) for you to wear. We recommend wearing comfortable undergarments or leggings, and a t-shirt or rashguard that you can wear. Be sure to bring a water bottle, as you will be working up a sweat!
- Is it good for women? Absolutely! Specifically because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has proven reliable in defending against larger opponents for nearly a century, it is the perfect martial art for women. Many women train in our co-ed Gracie Combatives classes, however we also have women-only classes (Women Empowered) available if that is preferred. We love seeing the physical confidence develop in our female students as they gain self-defense skills on the mat! In Women Empowered, we work with each other, not against each other. In this 15-lesson program you’ll learn how to neutralize the 20 most common attacks carried out by perpetrators in a safe, supportive environment. M - 6:15p | W 12p, 6:15p | Th 7:30p | Sat - 9:15a, 10:30a
- What happens in my first class? Just show up! Upon arriving, you will be given a uniform and a focused introductory lesson by one of our instructors before you join in the group class. No previous experience is necessary for any one of our group classes, so you will never feel left behind. Our program is structured by class number, so you will always know exactly what techniques you will be learning on any given day. You could even check out the techniques of the day on GracieUniversity.com before class to get a head start!
- Is it competition-focused? No. As a Gracie University Certified Training Center, we are not a competition-focused gym. Our first priority for our martial arts students is that they learn the fundamentals of self-defense. What you need to do to survive against an aggressive, untrained opponent may be different than what you would need to learn for a sport Jiu-Jitsu tournament. We support the individual Jiu-Jitsu journeys of each one of our students, regardless of whether they choose to test their skills in competition.
Class Schedule Examples
Here are some examples of class schedules for different programs:
- Lil’ Champs (6-8yrs) - W/Th - 4p
- Jr. Grapplers (9-12yrs) - W/Th - 5p
- Gracie Bullyproof®: Tue/Thur - 6:15p | Sat Study Hall - 8a Gracie Bullyproof® empowers your child with the confidence, awareness, and practical skills to handle bullying - both on and off the mat. Through fun, structured classes, kids learn non-violent self-defense, build self-esteem, and develop a positive mindset in a safe, supportive environment.
- Gracie Combatives: Thur/Fri - 12p | Sat - 11:45a The world's leading Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for beginners. Our classes are structured and provide a safe learning opportunity for students with no previous Jiu-jitsu experience. You’ll learn our 36 core techniques in a fun and cooperative environment.
Advanced Jiu-Jitsu Classes: The Master Cycle
From Blue belt to Black belt, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of hundreds of advanced techniques organized into a clearly defined, systematic curriculum called the Master Cycle. In our Advanced Jiu-Jitsu Classes we’ve taken over 600 techniques and divided them into 7 Positional Chapters. Mount, Side Mount, Guard, Half Guard, Back Mount, Leg Locks, and finally Standing. Each chapter is generally studied for a couple months before moving on.
Read also: Legacy of Excellence: Ralph Gracie Florida
Getting Started
Learning BJJ should be fun, not terrible. We aren’t a competition-based school, so we can focus on creating a Fun, Safe, Structured, and Cooperative environment. We believe everyone should be able to learn self-defense with partners who want to see you succeed and not just try to beat you. At Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Portland we work with each other, not against each other.
After you finish our beginning Jiu-Jitsu program, you’ll have demonstrated the ability and the confidence to defend yourself against an untrained opponent that is heavier, stronger, and more athletic than you. Learning BJJ takes time and we know the more you enjoy the journey, the more likely you are to continue and grow. If you aren’t having fun, you aren’t going to stick with it. No martial art is risk-free, but we strive to build a culture that prioritizes safety of all our training partners.
Rener and Ryron Gracie at Gracie University have pioneered curricula for every stage of your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu development.
Enough talking, it’s time for you to give it a try! Contact the Certified Training Center to start your 10-day free trial. You’ll have the opportunity to speak directly with a certified instructor or team member to answer any questions you might have before you begin.
Professor Rylan visits us multiple times a year and conducts seminars in the Technics affiliated...
“Amazing school! Highly recommend for anyone that wants to learn jui-jitsu in a safe environment without the pressure of egos.