Are you looking to learn self-defense, improve your fitness, and join a supportive community? Look no further than the Jiu-Jitsu beginner classes in Durham! These classes are designed for individuals of all backgrounds and fitness levels, with a focus on providing a safe, inclusive, and effective learning environment.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the fastest-growing martial arts on the planet. Find out why people looking for structured learning in a safe environment turn to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Durham for their martial arts training! We offer beginner-to-advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for men, women, and children. No experience necessary!
As a Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center, we're dedicated to Gaining Understanding and providing the highest quality jiu-jitsu education possible.
Whether you have no athletic background and are hoping to acquire self defense skills, or you’re a competitive combat sports athlete looking to improve your game, we hope to train with you soon!
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.
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Discover why parents love our Kids Martial Arts Classes in Durham! Jr. Gracie Bullyproof Jr. that your child can overcome bullying without violence.
We offer martial arts classes that are structured and provide a safe learning opportunity for students with no previous experience.
There are zero fitness requirements to be able to start our beginner Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes! Our students start at all different fitness levels, however, you will find that you do enhance your fitness by doing our BJJ classes.
Many parents ask, what’s the difference between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Karate classes? We don’t want our kids or students turning into bullies themselves, and we also believe self-defense should be scalable, depending on the situation.
Isn’t that the point though?
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Upon arriving for your first jiu-jitsu class, we will provide a uniform, called a gi, for you to wear. We recommend wearing comfortable undergarments or leggings, and a t-shirt or rashguard that you can wear under your gi.
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.
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).
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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.
It’s not just a workout - it’s a life-saving skillset. Our students and our instructors make us a big, supportive family here in Durham. We work with each other, not against each other, as we pursue our goals together.
Our program is structured by class number (23 group classes), so you will always know exactly what techniques you will be learning on any given day.
Give yourself some time, and you will be astounded at what your body is capable of, and how much you can improve! 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!
Both of our coaches started training martial arts for the same reason: to learn to defend ourselves, our friends, and our communities against violence. We knew that “self defense” against a violent attacker requires an understanding that if a person starts a fight with you, then you are already in a fight with them.
We quickly found that, while the physical techniques and skills gained through combat sports provided a robust toolkit for managing and reducing damage if attacked, perhaps an even bigger asset was the nervous system training we gained along the way: the ability to remain calm in dangerous situations.
With a combined total of over 30 years of multi-disciplinary teaching experience and 25 years of combat sports experience, our coaches pride ourselves not only on our elite fighting skills, but also on our passion for teaching and our enthusiasm for sharing our knowledge with others.
Just as we revel in the infinite puzzles of martial arts, so, too, do we enjoy the pursuit of refining and expanding our approaches to teaching as we seek to support a wide variety of learning styles.
We provide friendly, liberation-centered instruction for the beginner and the seasoned practitioner. We aim to cultivate a culture that is anti-racist, anti-sexist, and that actively uplifts queer and trans martial artists.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) uses leverage, body mechanics, and often attire (the gi) to establish positional dominance and/or submit an opponent with techniques like chokes and joint locks.
Class Types
Here's an overview of the different class types offered:
- Kickboxing: Punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Drawing primarily from Muay Thai and western boxing, these classes also feature techniques from other striking disciplines.
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: The premier ground-fighting art.
- No Gi: No-Gi class typically starts with an active warm up involving drilling takedowns, submissions and escapes. Then, each class we do a deep dive into a technique that builds on what we covered the previous week.. This class has the opportunity for intense rolling at the end! Come ready to work and sweat.
- Day Class: Day class is tailored to fit your lunch break -- the class usually features 30 minutes going over the technique we are covering in our core fundamentals curriculum, followed by 30 minutes of rolling. If you don't have a hard stop, you're welcome to stay longer to roll!
- Judo: Wednesday Judo is for beginners and advanced - you'll get a workout, you'll get more comfortable on your feet, and you'll learn how to take a fall. Friday is quicker paced and more suited to you if you already feel comfortable working on your feet, falling, and getting thrown (if you are not comfortable hitting the ground - please just let the instructor and your training partner know). If you come to Friday class, you're guaranteed a lot of reps and a great workout!
- Kids Class: Kids classes are generally open to kids ages 8-14. Come see why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the fastest growing martial art in the world!
- Intro class is back! Start by stepping on the mats and discovering what you’re capable of! Join our 4-Week Intro to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program, starting January 5th.This course is designed just for beginners - no experience needed! You’ll learn the basics of BJJ in a fun, supportive environment while building strength, confidence, and discipline.
Instructors
Learn from world-class instructors with extensive experience:
- Kim Rice: Black Belt Head Instructor. Kim has been training jiu-jitsu since 2010 and received her black belt from Royce Gracie black belt Jason Culbreth, in June 2021. Kim is a world class competitor with several major titles including: 2x adult world champion 10x masters world champion Abu Dhabi silver medalist. Kim lives to compete but believes that jiu-jitsu is first and foremost a self defense system and is committed to sharing her knowledge with others who need it, especially to other women.
- Jason Mask: Black Belt Instructor. Jason has been training jiu-jitsu since 2011 and is a black belt under Jason Culbreth. Jason competes regularly in the international federation, winning several titles including gold in the no gi Pan championships. He is a US Navy veteran and a career firefighter.
- Derek Langston: Black Belt Instructor. Derek began his jiu-jitsu journey in MI before moving to NC, where he would receive his black belt from 4th degree black belt Kyle Saunders. Having trained in Karate, Boxing, Judo, and Krav Maga, he found his true passion in jiu-jitsu due to its practicality for smaller practitioners.
- Mike Depetrillo: Fundamentals Instructor. Mike is originally from upstate NY and has been training since 2012. He started his journey to learn the fundamental self defense jiu jitsu, but then also fell in love with the competition scene. He received his brown belt from Royce Gracie black belt, Mazi Heydary in May of 2021.
- Frannie Nilsen: Kids and Families Class Instructor. Frannie has been training jiu-jitsu since 2016 and is a purple belt under Jason Culbreth. Frannie is a children’s yoga instructor, a former Girl Scout, Girl Scout leader, and a life long athlete.
- Logan Perkins: Wrestling Coach and Kids Instructor. Logan has been training jiu-jitsu since 2017 and is a purple belt under Kim Rice. He is an IT professional, assistant wrestling coach at A.L Steinbeck, and an Air Force veteran.
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Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Programs
Gracie University has created specific programs for each demographic:
- Gracie Bullyproof for kids (ages 3-12)
- Women Empowered for the ladies
- Gracie Combatives for beginner adults
- 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.
At our CTCs, safety is the number one priority. 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.
In this program, you will learn the 36 core techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in a fun, safe, and cooperative environment.
Is Jiu-Jitsu Right for You?
Still not sure if jiu-jitsu is right for you? Here are some common concerns and reasons to give it a try:
- "I'm not very sporty or coordinated." Not at all. In fact, many students starting in our adult martial arts classes may have described themselves like that before they started. There is absolutely no experience necessary for any of our beginner classes.
- "Can women participate?" Absolutely! Women Empowered® program and then transfer into our co-ed Gracie Combatives classes.
The world's leading Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for beginners. Women Empowered® is so much more than a women's self-defense class! gender, athleticism, or ability. to defend themselves against a stronger opponent. all students and family members in Durham. Through our work, we have seen that confident kids make kinder kids. how to not only stand up to bullies for themselves, but how to stand up for others. We encourage parents to watch their children in their kids martial arts lessons. We love parents getting involved! Even better… you can join in our martial arts classes for adults, and have yet another thing in common with your little one.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, but only if taught correctly. 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.
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.
