Journey into Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Your Comprehensive Guide to What Lies Ahead

A long-form primer on what to expect when you begin Jiu-Jitsu and begin a journey.

The road to Black Belt is one of technical achievement and personal development.

Day One - Mat Life Begins

On a bright Saturday morning I stood at the entrance to the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu CTC in Osaka, Japan staring at the welcome mat before me. Invitingly, it read “Leave The Ego at the Door.” I stepped onto it, ready to take my first lesson in Jiu-Jitsu as part of the Gracie Combatives 10 Day Free Trial. From outside, sunlight flowed into the room heating up the black mats spread across the floor of the dojo. Scuffs marks running along the creases of the dark mats showed the wear of daily use. A large Gracie logo adorned the wall - an open white triangle with two figures practicing Jiu-Jitsu in the center against an abyss of black. Next to it, a framed picture of Helio Gracie, the Grandmaster of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Placing my shoes and socks at the entrance, I stepped onto the mats.

As I stood observing this new environment, a friendly instructor, fit from training in Jiu-Jitsu and training at the gym, welcomed me and gave me a fresh white gi, (the jacket and pants worn in Jiu-Jitsu) and a white belt to wear, the universal belt color within this martial art to signify a beginner. My friend showed me how to tie the belt. The training room was filled with students in their own gi standing in a line ready to practice, facing the Gracie logo and the sensei standing in front of it. As the students began their review of previous lessons I was taken to the side by the sensei and introduced to my first technique before the start of the lesson - the Trap and Roll technique. I was asked if I knew how to defend myself if someone grabbed me by the neck. I did not, at least not beyond any sort of instinctual reaction. The sensei lied down on the floor, palms lightly slapping the mat and asked me to kneel over him in the mount position across his torso and put my hands on his neck. I did so. He then very gently responded with a hand to a forearm, the other to my triceps. A subtle shift in weight with a push from a back leg propelled his torso forward. I was no longer in control as a succession of simple moves landed me on my back. Trapped. And rolled. An involuntary smile pulled at the corners of my mouth, a bit shocked at how easily I had been rolled and tapped out. I wanted to know these techniques. All of them. I stood, ready for instruction, no long an observer, but now a participant within the narrative of Jiu-Jitsu. I joined the rest of the class and the instruction began.

Breathe

Jiu-Jitsu possesses an enthralling allure that infuses life with newfound intrigue and engagement. At its core, it’s a mental symphony, orchestrating the mind to think on its feet and and react with calculated precision. Simultaneously, it pushes the body to respond, to fluidly reposition itself. Together, the mind and body must constantly maintain balance and apply leverage. But Jiu-Jitsu’s magic extends beyond the limits of the individual. It is a bridge that connects practitioners in a harmonious blend of competition and cooperation. Jiu-Jitsu is an embodiment of paradoxes - it’s undeniably fun, yet rigorously challenging, a sanctuary of safety that pushes you to venture outside your comfort zone. It is a way of life that enriches you in ways that are profound and enduring.

I first came to Jiu-Jitsu in May of 2022. Corona was still raging across the globe. Jiu-Jitsu became a sanctuary that could completely dominate my concentration and eliminate the chaos from the outside world during training. At 50 years old, I was coming to Jiu-Jitsu late in life, but it was now something that I wanted to define the latter half of my life.

My original plan for Jiu-Jitsu was to go on the days I did not go to the gym. However, I had so much fun during my 10 Day Free Trial that I began to go almost everyday - 5 days at Jiu-Jitsu and 3 days at the gym. During the trial period, I was introduced to the Head Sensei and his 4 Assistant Instructors. The head instructor was Japanese as was one of his assistant instructors. The next two assistant instructors were Korean and the final assistant instructor, French. All shared a passion for Jiu-Jitsu and a joy for teaching. All of the instructors taught the same material, but each brought something of their own personality and style to their shared teaching methods. I enjoyed taking the classes from varying instructors on different nights. I watched their styles influence my own teaching at my work. I also saw my body respond to this new increase in cardio as it adjusted my physique as needed. I got leaner and denser with a new “fighting weight”. There is a saying that Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t just develop character, but it reveals it. I looked forward to what I would find out about myself along this new journey.

I had thought about beginning Jiu-Jitsu a few years earlier in 2019. Growing up in the US I had wanted to do a martial art, but never found one that I connected with. Like many men, both young and old, these days, I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Rogan has expounded a great deal about the mental and physical health benefits of Jiu-Jitsu. A good friend of mine, inspired by Rogan, enrolled in a BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) school near him, about an hour away from me. My friend had wrestled in high school and was keen to see what Rogan was so enthused about. Because of a back injury due to a bike accident (a car slammed into me in the crosswalk in 2014), I was hesitant to join, but interested. I decided though that BJJ might be too dangerous for my back. The pain from my back injury had been intense and my walking had become severely limited because of it. The recovery was a long process, but training had been a strong part of it. Time passed and I continued to do my own regular training - 3x a week at the gym, daily morning calisthenics for my core, 500-1000 pushups each day (this routine began after my herniated disc began and my mind told me to do 500 pushups a day to help heal. I was already doing 50 a day. If you can do 50, you can do 500, it told me. I increased to 1000 after reading Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler about his time spent with David Goggins. Now, I do 500 on non-gym days and 1000 on gym days. I do these in sets of 50 at a time 2 to 4 times a day, depending on the workout schedule for that day), 30 min bike rides to and from the gym and indoor rock climbing on the weekends.

  Then in 2022 I read Rickson Gracie’s book, Breathe: A Life in Flow. Something deep took root. In it, Rickson talked about the personal impact Jiu-Jitsu has had on his life and described a Jiu-Jitsu that was very gentle. He described an art that had brought him a lifetime of fulfillment and purpose. Rickson talked about his family history and the Gracie connection to Jiu-Jitsu and their influence on it. He talked about Jiu-Jitsu’s global debut with his brother Royce Gracie’s victory using Jiu-Jitsu at UFC 1 in 1993. And Rickson talked about flow, how both the philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu and the proper breathing in Jiu-Jitsu can create harmony between mind and body. I became obsessed with learning as much as I could about Jiu-Jitsu. I knew that my back would be able to handle the Jiu-Jitsu that Rickson described. In time, I found that my back actually responded very positively to all the rolling. In my research I discovered that there was a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu CTC (Certified Training Center) less than 5 min from my home. I was ecstatic. Fate was knocking at my door. I also learned that another good friend of mine had been going to this location for a number of months and could attest that it was gentle, fun and safe. I was now more than interested. I was committed.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Family

I will write more about the Gracie Family and their incredible contributions to Jiu-Jitsu in later articles, but for now there are a few things worth knowing. Rorion Gracie, the father of Rener and Ryron, the current head instructors of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu/Gracie University, created Gracie Academy in Torrance, California in 1989 after immigrating to the US from Brazil. Rorion learned Jiu-Jitsu from his father, Grand Master Helio Gracie, along with the many brothers in his family. Rorion also created the UFC in 1993 and Jiu-Jitsu made its global debut when Royce Grace, Rorion’s brother, won the championship, defeating the opposing fighting styles and larger opponents. The UFC at this time pitted differing fighting styles against one another and Jiu-Jitsu emerged the clear victor. This put Jiu-Jitsu on the map in a whole new way by demonstrating the power of ground techniques in a fight. Rorion’s father and grandmaster, Helio Gracie, learned Ju-Jitsu from his brother Carlos who learned Jiu-Jitsu from Mitsuyo Maeda in Brazil in the early 1900s when Maeda traveled there from Japan under the direction of Jigoro Kano, the creator of Judo. Helio’s brother Carlos opened the first Gracie Academy in Brazil in 1925. Helio eventually became an instructor there and modified the guard technique (a move that has you on your back) into an offensive position and emphasized more focus on leverage, timing and ground techniques. Because of a frail form, Hello Gracie adapted Jiu-Jitsu to be utilized by smaller people, such as himself, to defend against larger, more stronger people. He did this by making major modifications to techniques and developing new principles for guidance. From these changes to techniques and practices, Helio Gracie transformed traditional Japanese Ju-Jitsu into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ).

Three Core Principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

While Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, not all BJJ is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is first and foremost a martial art for self-defense that incorporates defense against strikes and punches. Additionally, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu applies a filter of three core tenets that all of its techniques must adhere to -

Energy Efficiency - let your opponent use up their energy before you do. Coax your opponent to exhaust their energy while preserving your own as you leverage your skill and strategy to prevail.

Natural Body Movements - anyone can perform the techniques. Regardless of physical size or strength, these techniques remain accessible to everyone. They harmonize with the innate movements of the human body to ensure that anyone can harness their power.

Street Applicable - all techniques should be applicable for use in a real fight on the street. These techniques are crafted to serve a dual purpose: beyond the confines of training, they must also be adaptable for real world confrontations. This emphasis on street applicability underscores the art’s practicality and its genuine utility in situations that require self-dense.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes the application of a technique and does not require the use of muscles or strength to perform a technique. While strength can certainly help at times, the more relaxed you are in performing the techniques, the better. This can take a great deal of practice to master, especially if you are naturally strong. Because of this, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu schools maintain a strong record of safety and actively promote a safe environment for all to train within.

Personal Development and the Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu also uses a holistic approach to personal development that extends beyond the physical techniques of the mat. It has a strong emphasis on personal development and character growth as part of its training, teaching and philosophy. This is incorporated into its overall school atmosphere, designed to instill values and life skills along with ethical behavior and a sense of responsibility. Through this mindset, practicing Jiu-Jitsu is seen not just as a martial art, but as a way of life. It is a part of the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle. This character building includes:

Respect - students are encouraged to treat instructors and training partners with respect, both on and off the mat. This respect also extends to the art itself.

Humility - through Jiu-Jitsu, students learn that there is always more to learn.

Discipline - through consistent practice, adherence to techniques and respectful behavior, students build discipline. They learn to set goals and commit to the necessary regimen to achieve them.

Goal Setting - students learn to set and pursue goals within Jiu-Jitsu. This can translate to setting and achieving goals outside of the dojo.

Healthy Living - students maintain regular physical exercise and are encouraged to maintain a healthy diet. Through this, overall well-being and fitness is achieved.

Resilience - Jiu-Jitsu fosters mental toughness by helping students develop the ability to overcome adversity whether in training or in life.

Adaptability - by encouraging students to stay calm with a flexible mindset, they develop the ability to adapt to varying challenges on the mat and off.

Problem-Solving - sparring often requires the use of problem-solving skills to overcome opponents. Finding creative solutions on the mat also transfers to overcoming life’s challenges off the mat.

Continuous Learning - students learn that there is always room for improvement and that there are always more techniques to explore.

Perseverance - students learn to push through physical discomfort and mental or physical challenges. Through this, students develop a stronger work ethic and the ability to push past their own self-imposed mental boundaries to overcome obstacles in life.

Confidence - training in Jiu-Jitsu builds confidence. As students acquire self-defense skills and the knowledge of how to handle physical confrontations, it also extends to other areas of life.

Sportsmanship - students are encouraged to approach sparring with sportsmanship and respect for opponents, win or lose.

Community and Camaraderie - schools often have a strong sense of community among practitioners who support and encourage one another. Students can form close bonds with their training partners and instructors. There is a rising tide lifts all ships approach which fosters camaraderie and a positive social environment.

History and Tradition - Gracie Jiu-Jitsu places a strong emphasis on its history and traditions that reach back to the creation of its first academy in Brazil in 1925. Through this, it instills a sense of heritage and legacy among its practitioners as they not only preserve the art, but continue its growth.

Playfulness - Jiu-Jitsu is playful. By having fun with Jiu-Jitsu, staying relaxed and staying focused on the goal of having fun in Jiu-Jitsu, students are better able to briefly let go of their ego and enjoy the roll as they practice techniques and flow with the go. Learning is a process. Sometimes insights happen all at once. Often times, as part of the an ongoing process, insight comes when we let go and just have fun.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’s commitment to personal development coupled with its unwavering focus on Jiu-Jitsu as self-defense equips students with a transformative mindset that extends beyond the learning and sparring on the mats. The Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle empowers students to not only master the techniques, but to integrate the principles and philosophies that mold both the Jiu-Jitsu community and the individuals who embrace it. It is a way of life that deeply enriches its practitioners, endowing them with lasting purpose and profound personal transformation.

Belt Levels

In Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, like most martial arts, each belt level has its own focus and requirements. As you progress through each stage you will earn stripes to help mark your progress as it will take years to complete the requirements for each belt. As you progress, you will take tests to move on to the next level. When being tested the school will be looking at more than just the mastery of techniques. They will also check to see if you own the technique. Are you aware of the proper details within the technique? They will check to see if you believe in the technique. Do you have the conviction that it will be effective as you apply it? They will be checking to see how calm you are under pressure. Do you maintain good reflexes during Fight Simulations?

The following is a general description of what you can expect as you progress through each belt rank.

White Belt - Beginner. At this level, you will learn fundamental techniques by focusing on basic positions, escapes and submissions. You will also build a strong foundation for Self Defense. Through this, you will learn how to survive and protect yourself on the ground should you find yourself in a fight. You will also learn how to take a fight to the ground, so you can defend yourself. Most people do not know how to fight on the ground instinctually. It is something that needs to be learned through training. In addition to regular lessons, this stage also introduces Reflex Development classes to help students become familiar with a resisting opponent and better develop the instincts and reflexes for this. During this stage you will lay the foundation that the rest of your Jiu-Jitsu skills will be built upon. Enjoy it! It won’t ever be new again in this way. Make the most of it by practicing each move calmly and methodically. Focus on being gentle and relaxed. This is the stage when most people quit. Maintain discipline and attend practice regularly. Choose how many times a week you will go and commit to that routine. Do not rely on motivation to attend, although that is a plus, instead, focus on the maintaining the discipline of your training schedule. When interacting with a training partner, be sure to stay focused on their safety and your own as well. Looking out for each other while practicing is the best way to avoid injury or unnecessary accidents (this includes not applying too much strength or resistance). As you attend regularly, you will earn a stripe every 20 lessons to help mark your progress. During this belt level at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, you will not be sparring. You will be working with a partner to learn and master the fundamental techniques of Jiu-Jitsu.

Combatives Belt - Pre-intermediate. After attaining this belt you will move up from the Combatives Course of only White Belts to the Master Cycle and be among all other belt ranks. Think of the Combative Belt as a set of training wheels to let other belts around you know that your understanding at this stage is very limited. You are learning how to pedal on your own, if you will. During this time, you will have a minimum of 6 months of live sparring before being eligible for your Blue Belt. You will need to maintain regular attendance to develop technical proficiency. With practice you will gain a deeper understanding of the principles behind the techniques as well as the effective execution of a move. To help maintain safety, tap early and tap often when you have no other options or there is any danger of injury. The goal is to learn and the objective is to survive a fight, not necessarily win it. Higher belts will look after you to some degree, but they will also be cautious of you as you are still learning to control the moves. Have fun with the rolls.

Blue Belt - Intermediate. At this stage you will expand your technical arsenal as you begin to learn more advanced techniques and apply combinations. You will also learn how to go on the offense by developing the ability to effectively control and submit opponents as well counter an attack. You will learn around 600 techniques from 7 major positions. As a Blue Belt, you will be expected to look out for lower belts and teach them when you can. Teaching others how to do a move is also one of the best ways to help internalize ownership of a technique.

Purple Belt - Advanced. It is at this stage where you begin to develop more technical proficiency by focusing on refining your techniques and making them flow seamlessly. Additionally, it is at this stage where you will develop a deeper understanding of strategy and positional control. As a Purple Belt, you will be expected to help teach lower belts when on the mat as well as be a role model on and off the mat.

Brown Belt - Advanced. At this level, your aim is to master the wide range of techniques that you have within your mental arsenal. You will need to learn to adapt techniques to various types of opponents and varying types of situations. As a Brown Belt, you will be expected to help teach lower belts when on the mat as well as contribute to the development of the school.

Black Belt - Expert. Black Belts have a deep understanding of Jiu-Jitsu principles and techniques. At this stage, they are able to innovate by continuing to explore within the gentle art (Jiu-Jitsu, 柔術, translates as “the gentle art” in Japanese”). As a Black Belt, you will be expected to not only help teach lower belts when on the mat but to also fulfill leadership roles and promote Jiu-Jitsu within the larger community.

Coral Belt - Dedication. If you start Jiu-Jitsu young enough and have a Black Belt for several decades while contributing to the art, you may be able to become a Coral Belt. This prestigious honor is reserved for those in Jiu-Jitsu who have contributed to the art by teaching, competing or promoting the values and philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu to others. They are recognized for passing on their knowledge to guide to the next generation.

Red Belt - Legacy. Even rarer still is the Red Belt. This is the highest rank that can be achieved in Jiu-Jitsu. This rank signifies a lifetime of dedication to the art through mentoring, teaching and contributing to the community. These are the guardians of Jiu-Jitsu who have embraced the responsibility of preserving the integrity of the art. It is awarded to individuals who have had a profound impact on Jiu-Jitsu and demonstrated a lifetime of commitment to sharing the knowledge and traditions.

Within Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the art is focused on self-defense and the real life application of these techniques. To attain a belt within the system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, students must prove technical proficiency. Students are expected to spend a fair amount of time at each rank as they progress to develop and hone their skills.

Let’s now look at the introductory course for White belts called the Combatives Course. We will then look at the Master Course. This is the course White Belts are promoted into once they attain their Combatives Belt.

Gracie Combatives - White Belt to Combatives Belt

Upon your first visit to a Gracie CTC you will receive a 10 day free trial. During this time you can visit as many times as you like. Gracie Combatives is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’s introductory course of Jiu-Jitsu that teaches 36 fundamental techniques. This course lays the foundation for the rest of your Jiu-Jitsu journey by focusing exclusively on the fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu. It was originally designed for use in the US Army in 1994. In 2008, head instructors Rener and Ryron Gracie made this course available worldwide.

These 36 fundamental techniques are designed to aid you in a fight because they are the most common. And they are the backbone of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu once you enter into the Master Cycle to begin your Blue Belt training. These techniques lay a solid foundation for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to safely roll on the mat and to defend themselves off the mat should they find themselves in a fight. Techniques that you learn after the fundamental techniques are ones that you could use additionally if you are up against an opponent who also knows Jiu-Jitsu.

Tapping out ends ends a fight or the application of a technique immediately. While you learn the techniques with a training partner and once you are sparring with a resisting opponent you will need to tap or your opponent will need to tap out to signify that a fight has ended. This is usually two quick taps with your open palm on top your opponent or loudly onto the mat to let your opponent know you submit to avoid pain or injury. It is best to tap early once you know that you will be unable to escape or you feel the pressure of a technique. This helps avoid injury or possibly develop injuries later on.

Upon joining Gracie Combatives you are given a gi (the jacket and pants) and a white belt. Thus, starts your journey. A minimum of 8 months is required at White Belt before you are eligible to test and advance to the Master Cycle with your Combatives Belt. The Combatives Belt is unique to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and it affirms that you now own the fundamentals in Jiu-Jitsu to begin sparring and rolling in a safe environment with other students. While in the Combatives Course as a White Belt you will be learning techniques with training partners. These are fellow students you practice the techniques with, but you will not be sparring as resisting opponents. You will help each other learn and memorize the techniques. After you graduate to the Master Cycle with the attainment of your Combatives Belt and begin working towards your Blue Belt, you will now join live sparring with a resisting opponent and fellow student.

While there are 36 techniques to master as a White Belt you will cycle through 23 lessons. Each lesson begins with a standing technique and is followed by a ground technique. As you learn the techniques it is also advisable to try to ascertain and understand the principles behind it. To complete this course you will need to pass 5 tests - Mount, Guard, Standing, Side-Mount and Freestyle Fight Simulation. The first four tests are designed to check your understanding of how to use the techniques in these major positions. The final test is designed to see how well you think on the fly. To pass, you will need to score a 90 or above. After passing, you will receive your Combatives Belt and you can now join the Master Cycle.

Lesson Format and Details

Lessons in the Combatives Course all begin with a warmup - stretches, rolls and so forth. Afterwards is a review of techniques from previous lessons. The instruction then begins with a standing technique that is followed by a ground technique. Throughout the lesson there are always opportunities to ask questions to the instructors. At the end of the class there may be a game of some sort that safely simulates a sparring session. Classes are one hour. Upon beginning the Course you will also be given an Attendance Card. It will list all the techniques you will cover and a method to track your progress and attendance. Lesson content and lesson format all follow the same structure at every Gracie CTC, but it does not matter what technique or number you start with. You will learn them all and they can be done in any order. And if you happen to travel, you will be able to drop in at any Gracie CTC throughout the world and join a class for free.

To get the most out of each lesson - practice the techniques slowly and methodically. Ask questions of your sensei when you have them. Work on observing patterns. Then apply your understanding of these patterns to prevention and application - prevent an attack, apply an attack. You will also want to pay attention to the Indicators that initiate a specific technique. Again, work on seeing the principles at play behind the application of the technique when you can. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, via their online website at Gracie University has videos that can be watched that demonstrate all the techniques used in each lesson. Videos can be watched in full with detailed explanation by Rener and Ryron or you can watch short silent clips of Rener and Ryron performing the individual techniques. It is worth watching these videos before and after each lesson. Then write up notes after the class to help you remember the techniques. At the website you will find full information about each belt level, testing, seminars and details about the full curriculum available. If you are looking for gear, they also have an online store with a wide selection of content that is updated with fairly regular.

Also, as you practice, show gratitude, humility and respect towards your fellow students and your instructors or sensei. Be sure to have good hygiene and always wash your gi after each class. Buy a second gi if necessary. Upon entering the dojo you will be asked to “leave your ego at the door.” The aim of this is to have egoless sparring. What this means is you don’t get upset if you lose or need to tap out. Don’t resist. “Flow with the go” as Rickson Gracie is famous for saying. Learn from losing. Pay respect when someone taps you out with good technique or skill. Learn. Have fun. It is from our failures that we can learn the most. Don’t be afraid of failing as a method of learning. This is only the start of the journey.

Master Cycle - Combatives Belt to Black Belt

The Master Cycle covers 7 positions and then restarts. To go through all 7 chapters can take over 1 year. These positions include Mount, Side Mount, Guard, Half-Guard, Back Mount, Leg Locks and Standing. At the Blue Belt level you will learn over 600 techniques (this includes all the different variations of a technique) and you must pass Stripe Tests to progress to the next stripe and the next set of techniques. There are four stripe tests for Blue Belt called BBS - Blue Belt Stripe - for BBS1, BBS2, BBS3 and BBS4. Like the final Combatives Belt Test, these Stripe Tests will be separated into positions and will also include a live sparring component as well as testing in gi and no-gi. It is at this stage in your martial arts journey that you will learn all the techniques in Jiu-Jitsu. Each stripe has about 60 techniques with accompanying variations.  After attaining all four stripes at Blue Belt and taking a test for Purple Belt, you will be eligible for Purple Belt. This repeats for Brown Belt, and finally Black Belt. To attain a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu you are also required to go to Gracie Headquarters in Torrance, California for a Live 2 Day Evaluation and Interview with Rener and Ryron Gracie and other Black Belt instructors. This evaluation covers not only grappling techniques but also standing self-defense, curriculum, gi, no-gi, street sparring, history and philosophy. The test is free of charge, unlike the other belt tests for promotion. The time required to achieve Black Belt can take anywhere from 10-15 years, depending on how often you practice. It is indeed a journey and also a transformation due to the amount of time required to commit to this process of learning development, character discovery and self mastery.

Becoming an Instructor

Another unique feature to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the promotion of instructors from Blue Belt. At Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, students can apply to become Assistant Instructors once they have achieved Blue Belt with the approval of the Head Instructor. To teach, you will need to go through the Assistant Instructor Certification Program (ICP). To be eligible for the program, students must pass the Combatives Belt test with a 95 or higher rather than a 90. After passing the ICP program students will be eligible to teach the Combatives Course and the kids program. To go on to teach additional course levels in the Masters Cycle, instructors will need to pass tests for those levels to become certified. Programs are available as well for those that plan to become head instructors and own their own Gracie CTC in the future.

Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle and Journey

In Jiu-Jitsu, the journey never truly ends. There is always more to learn and always more ways to grow. I am excited to embark upon this path with you. In A Fistful of Base: Adventures in Jiu-Jitsu, you can expect a journey through the multifaceted world of Jiu-Jitsu and beyond. I’ll be sharing insights on the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle and its transformative impact on personal development. Along the way we will also discuss the techniques and principles of Jiu-Jitsu. To enhance your practice we will delve into concepts such as atomic tactics, mat habits and positional strategy. We will explore how the zen mindset can elevate your Jiu-Jitsu experience. While my journey continues as a Blue Belt on the path to Black Belt I will write about living and training in Japan and the unique perspective that offers. My focus will remain on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, but I will also discuss the broader world of Jiu-Jitsu including its key figures, origins and history.

Whether you are just starting on the mats or you have been rolling for years, I hope this shared exploration of Jiu-Jitsu’s physical and philosophical dimensions can be a rewarding one. Join me as we explore the art, culture and personal growth that Jiu-Jitsu and the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle has to offer.

Happy rolling!

Logan Zenn

Osaka, Japan

November 7^th, 2023