Gracie University

[graciejj2000]

Hello All,

What a great forum, I love reading about everyone elses experiences regarding BJJ. I study off of Gracie University, and have been running a gracie garage and training with 8 other people. We have been training for about 6 months and absolutely love it. It works great for those of us who don't have a BJJ school in town.

I'm just curious what other folks in the Jiu Jitsu community think of Gracie University and it's students? I imagine there are a lot of people who look down upon people like me because "I don't train in a real school". To that I say it's better than not training at all. And to tell you the truth the instruction is incredible. It's like every class is a private lesson with Ryron and Rener. Though we lack actual instructors in the class, we have a forum that we can post to and Ryron and Rener will answer our questions. This works out well, and we have a blast learning. Anyway, I would be interested to hear your folks thoughts on this.

Thanks much~

[CDRPyro]

Hi and welcome to the board. I agree with you in that any training is better than no training but, I do not have great respect for the blue belt test that Gracie University gives. I could have completed that test after a month of bjj but I assure you I would not have been at a blue belt level. IMO the Gracie University doesn't have a very high opinion of blue belts. I worked very hard for my blue belt and put in over a year and a half of 4x a week training before getting it. Make no mistake, I don't look down on you at all. I think it's awesome that you're using your resources as best you can. However, there is absolutely no substitute for live proper instruction. There are so many details that only rolling with an instructor can teach you. We have so many guys come into the school who say they've been training on their own and with friends for a long time who, though they know the moves, lack the proper technique. In my opinion video's and forums should supplement good, live, instruction not replace it. Again, this is all just my opinion on the Gracie University process not the people who use it. Good luck with your training and I hope this board helps you in your journey.

[Rufio]

Welcome to the board. I actually started in the Gracie Combatives program. The program was actually led by a blue belt where I started. I can say that I agree with CDRPyro. Here are my reasons why.

Watching a video is great, but the problem is that they do no watch you. The reason I goto a bjj club is not really because I want to see how to do a thousand different techniques, it is because a person who has more experience will correct you on what you are doing incorrectly. My triangles used to suck before I went to an actual club and was corrected on how I was supposed to be doing them. I have picked up 100's of little details like these since I started at a bjj club.

Rolling with more experienced people is how you get better. When you are learning from a video, you don't get to roll with them. Rolling is where you get to test/practice what you have learned. Rolling with people who have more experience is the best way to test yourself. It is because they will be more likely to know how to escape or attack your position then a person with your experience.

Also, you don't have to learn to survive like you would with an experienced person. When you are a white belt and you roll with a purple, brown or black belt, you are almost never attacking. You are simply surviving the roll. Surviving includes escapes, counters, positional survival (mount or crossbody), etc. Surviving someone who is at your level is NOTHING like surviving a higher belt. We usually do 6 minute rounds and I have only survived 5 minutes as a personal best against a purple belt. They just know so many more techniques and it reallyforces you to tighten up your game.

I do not have any problem with you learning from a DVD/online because I do the same thing. I would encourage you to be careful about the blue belt they give out because it is not representative of an actual blue belt. No offense meant. I did the program and learned a lot, but I was no blue belt (still not btw ) There are definently reason why we say that getting live instruction is best, but if there is not club in town then I say that still trying to learn is great. You should keep and eye out for seminars at clubs in neighboring towns. Seminars are great because you would only need to go for one day and you could learn a lot. It would be a great way to sharpen you skills. Good luck and welcome once again.

[The Don]

where are you that your having a hard time finding a live instructor.. Seem like the 80's where every town had a Karate or TKD school.. now they are all BJJ schools.. Perhaps someone on the board can help you locate one..

[graciejj2000]

I live in Billings MT. There are a multiple martial arts schools here in Billings, though most of them are all kung fu, judo, TKD, or traditional japanese Jiu Jitsu. There is one school that I know of that teached BJJ but they also study TKD and Judo as well, and I really only want to dedicate all of my time into BJJ as a form of self defense, not the other aspects like TKD. That's why I say there really isn't anything here in my area for BJJ. I appreciate your guys oppinions. I shall continue on and become as proficient as possible. My main focus is learning all the techniques as perfectly as I can so they become reflex when the correct indicators are given to me. I do wish I had someone with higher knowledge in our garage though, that would make my bjj skills grow so much faster.

Rufio- I see you're from Bozeman. You had mentioned you studied and achieved your blue belt under Gracie Combatives. Where did you study at? Who was the blue belt that you were learning from? Maybe I can come up and train with you guys sometime when I make my way that way.

[Avenged]

Welcome to the board...

While I can appreciate that you guys want to learn ( and I think thats awesome, there isnt a single member of this forum that is not trying to constantly improve there skills) I think learning from simply videos is not the way to go...For example when Im teaching my beginers I always just go over basics basics basics, and guys will always ask me for more submissions, and more sweeps... I always reply that I could show you 100 sweeps, or 100 submissions, but without the 100s of hours of mat time, where your developing that sensitivity, and timeing, and mat sense that comes from rolling with quality guys all the moves in the world arent going to help you...So although you may be able to become very knowledgeable, your actually ability to grapple will not develope at the same pace simply studying from videos and rolling with a small pool of other newer grapplers. If I were you, I would maybe check out that school that offers BJJ, and simply attend the BJJ classes...Or even the Judo guys would have a lot to offer, randori is very similiar to rolling...and Im not by any means saying you should stop studying on your own, simply that it might be a good idea to use that to supplement professional BJJ training...

[drx604]

if there's a market for bjj in your neck of the woods, maybe you can contact a black or brown belt from a nearby city to set up shop there. Or maybe contact an instructor to say come into a local gym/school to teach say once a month and then you and the other students can drill/practice on your own and have the bjj guy come in to monitor your progress monthly. This would probably be a good business venture if you can get alot of interested (ie. paying) customers.

[Rufio]

I didn't actually try to get my Blue Belt under the combatives program. I realized that I wasn't ready for it when I went to the MMA club and rolled with a few people. I just knew that I wasn't ready for it, so I didn't even try. The blue belt I trained under was kevin. I dont remember his last name. It was at the BJJ club at my university. I don't know if they do the program anymore, but it was located in the university gym. I don't actually go there anymore so I don't really know what is going on. I train at Bozeman MMA. Give them a call and see if they will let you stop in some time. I dont think they would have any problem with someone coming in though. I am a senior in my engineering degree and trying to get into Grad school so I had to take this month off to focus on school. I am chomping at the bit to get back to rolling. If I come to Billings I will have to contact you to see if I can stop by and train there.

I actually grew up in Billings and my family still lives there. The schools are hard to find, but there are some . Here are some of the schools and my assessment of what they have to offer.

Pound for Pound Jiu Jitsu - Great value, I would goto this gym personally.
This is a school that has a black belt and is a Pedro Sauer affiliated gym. You don't find many black belts in Montana, so the instruction should be great. They have BJJ every day of the week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are two hour class followed by an hour of open mat time. The Tuesday and Thursday classes are from noon to two. They are a 100% BJJ club, so take that into consideration. They also have great prices. Here is what their website lists:

Six month agreement- $35.00 per month
Three month agreement- $40.00 per month
Month to month- $50.00


5 Star MMA
They offer the least amount of BJJ specific classes out of any I found and no price was given from what I read on the website. Only 2 two hour classes 2 times a week for BJJ.

American Fusion Martial Arts is another school that I have heard about but I couldn't find any more information on them.


http://web.me.com/fascinare/Montana_...A_Schools.html
This link is to my club's website. They have contact information on there and they say they will forward you information on nearby schools if you ask.

Good luck!

[Rufio]

drx604, the problem is not that there is not a market in Billings. The problem is that no one knows that there actually are schools in the area. I searched for a long time to try to find schools in Billings because I couldn't find a listing anywhere.

[Avenged]

I would check out he first school for sure...Training with a Pedro Sauer BB for $35 a month!?!?! thats an unbelievable deal.