ABOUT OUR ADULT JIU JITSU PROGRAM

What is Jiu-Jitsu?

Jiu means “gentle, supple, flexible, pliable, or yielding.” Jitsu means "art" or "technique" and represents manipulating the opponent's force against themselves, rather than confronting it with one's own force. It’s based on grappling techniques that utilize leverage, proper timing, and technique as its principles. Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created and developed by Carlos and Helio Gracie in the early 20’s in Brazil.



For 80 years, the Gracie family proved through no-holds-barred matches against bigger and stronger opponents that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most efficient form of self-defense there is. BJJ, as it’s also known, it’s now practiced by every professional mixed martial artist, and is the primary form of hand-to-hand combat taught to members of the military of many countries around the world. 

BJJ training can be used for street self-defense (anti-bullying, rape prevention, law enforcement) and sport grappling tournaments. 

Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement

Since the moves are based on close range grappling techniques, rather than strikes and kicks, the physical damage to the suspect is drastically reduced. Lawsuits and allegations of police brutality, are a major concern for department leaders nationwide. Being able to control and cuff a suspect without physical injury, or the assistance of multiple resources will result in an increase in officer morale, as well as an improved public image for a department.

Around 30% of the students in the Adult Jiu-Jitsu Program, are law enforcement officers from many cities around the Bay Area. We train with Officers from: Antioch, Pittsburg, Livermore, Stockton, San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond, Oakland, Hayward, Tracy, Alameda, Oakley, Concord, and San Jose. We also train with Correctional Officers and deputies from the Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda Sheriff’s Office.

We are honored and proud to be able to provide a training environment where our local law enforcement can improve their professional skills, and prepare themselves to safely and efficiently protect and serve our communities.

Check out the photo album of past classes here.

Jiu-Jitsu for Competition

We recognize the difference between training for a competition and the self-defense aspect of Jiu-Jitsu. While competition is not mandatory, nor expected of students, many students enjoy competing as a means of testing themselves and their abilities.

Our school has produced many local, national and international champions. However, most of our clients simply enjoy the training and all its benefits without ever participating in any competition. An accomplished competitor himself, Professor Crosley Gracie understands the difference between training for a competition and the self-defense aspect of Jiu-Jitsu.

Our school provides a positive environment for students with great approach to personal excellence pursuit and realistic self-defense, however we will always encourage and support any student who wishes to step up and compete. Tournaments are held throughout California, and our competition team has built a reputation as one of the strongest teams of the North of the state. From the Children to the Adults and Masters Divisions, we maintain great competitors.

Check out more photo albums from our competition team here.

Jiu-Jitsu for Street Self-Defense (No-Gi)

Jiu-Jitsu has been adopted by every modern day successful MMA fighter. It has been proven to be alone, the most efficient form of Self-Defense. Without any knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu, achieving a top rank in any MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) organization would be impossible. Our main focus, however, isn't MMA competitions. Instead, we prefer to focus on Jiu-Jitsu as the incredible tool for self-improvement that it is.

Every summer, we host a no-gi (no uniform) training camp for teens and adults of all experience levels. The curriculum taught here covers techniques that specifically addresses street-fighting scenarios. From clinching and closing the distance on someone who's trying to hit you, to takedowns, defense against punches from the bottom, and escapes from headlocks and chokes. This is an eight-week long course (16 lessons). At its completion, the participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and a belt stripe for current students of the Adult Program. 

The same 16-Lesson Street Self-Defense Program is available as Individual Lessons as well.

Click here to view our latest Summer Camp photo album.

Beginners Program  - Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat at 11AM, Tue/Thurs at 7:15PM

Consisting of a consecutive and cyclic 12-week course, this is set up in a way where the student can start their training on any given day, regardless of which week is in progress. With exception of the first two classes, all techniques included here can be learned in any order. This program is designed to gradually improve the student’s physical conditioning, skill, reflexes and focus.

Here, beginners learn break falls, rolls, coordination drills and techniques to help them feel comfortable on their back. The techniques included provide defense to the most common street attacks such as sucker punches, kicks, headlocks, bear-hugs and more.

Upon completion of the Beginner's Program, students earn their first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stripe and eligibility to enter the Blue Belt Program. This program offers more training options throughout the week (seven lessons).

If, for any reason, the student misses any of the 12 weeks, there are two options to stay on track for their first stripe and eligibility for the Intermediate Program:

1) Scheduling a private lesson (30-minute session) per week missed

2) Waiting for the missed week’s material to roll over again (another twelve weeks).

Blue Belt Program (Intermediate) -Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat at 11AM & 7PM

The Intermediate Program concentrates the largest body of our Jiu-Jitsu Program. From 15 to 55 year olds, this program offers all of its participants a wide variety of training options. From High School students and local business owners to professionals of various industries, such as law enforcement, first responders, medical and legal fields.

Once here, students begin experiencing more resistance training in their routine. This type training is always done in a very controlled environment, and under full supervision of Black Belt Instructors. This stage of the training is usually where students begin showing interest in competitions. 

Once in this program, students have the opportunity to upgrade their plans to Elite (3 classes/week) or Master (unlimited training), allowing them to reach the next belt rank faster. Besides making huge progress towards mastery of the art, this stage of the training will give them the experience necessary to enter the Black Belt Program.

*Wednesday 7PM classes are currently no-gi.

Black Belt Program (Advanced) - Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat at 11AM & 7PM, Tue/Thur at 6PM

Blue Belts and above (24 months of training minimum). In the Black Belt Program, students are exposed to more intense training sessions from warm-up, to drilling and sparring. This is where the Black Belt instructors do their own training. Techniques taught here are more advanced and it may include gi-less training (students wear a rash guard instead of gi top). In this phase, students experience incredible improvement not only in their technique and reflexes but also in their conditioning.

Many of the students in this program compete often and usually stand on the highest spots of the podiums. Although encouraged, competition is completely optional. Many of the students in this program are very dedicated to the training but choose to stay away from tournaments. For the students that choose to pursue the competitive aspect of Jiu-Jitsu, we provide world-class training camps for all competitions that take place in the state. Over the years, Crosley Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has built a reputation for itself as one of the strongest competition teams in Northern California in both, the Kids and Adult Program.

The Uniform

The uniform is a vital learning tool for your success. It teaches proper gripping and provides additional comfort while training. A white uniform is required for participating in all beginner classes. Our uniforms are manufactured with the highest quality material available, and it is the only brand of uniform allowed in the classes. The cost is $169.99 + tax.

Ranking

A student’s rank is based upon his/her knowledge, physical skill, length of time training, attitude, and overall quality of movement and understanding. While earning any particular rank is an achievement, it is a mistake to place too much focus on this as an end. Focus on your training; develop as much skill as possible; have a good and exemplary attitude. Everything else will follow naturally. 

Individual Lessons are available for those students who wish to advance more rapidly or study a particular area in greater detail. We recommend private lessons for all students since it allows one-on-one time with an Instructor. You can learn more about private lessons here.

All belts have four stripes. Upon earning four stripes and completing all classes at that stripe, the student is eligible to receive a higher belt rank at the bi-annual Belt Ceremony. There are many variables that contribute to how much time a student spends in each rank. The criteria are:

• Attendance
• Discipline
• Effort 

Assuming the student trains at the recommended rate of a minimum of two classes per week, stripes will be earned every three months (40 classes). When first learning a technique we will focus on proper mechanics. The second stage will be working on smoothness of motion and the third stage will be to add speed and power to the technique.

As you progress to an advanced level, there will be more focus on detail, sharpness, and deeper understanding of how the techniques are applied. As you advance, the expectations become higher!

The Official Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt Rank is as follows: White, Gray, Yellow, Orange and Green for Kids; and Blue, Purple, Brown and Black Belt for adults.

Click here to view IBJJF’s official graduation system.

Black Belt

Earning a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt is a life achievement. Many will try and most will fail. Only the committed and the strong will be awarded with such honor. Generally, it takes longer to reach Black belt status than it would to receive a Master’s Degree. It is the belief of the creators of the art, Carlos, and Helio Gracie, that Black Belts must only be presented to adults over 18 years of age.

The Belts represents a character status. This means, one will be promoted not only as they learn, develop and refine their martial arts skills, but they will have gone through an extensive period of self-enduring tests, which resulted in their evolving into someone with an exemplary code of conduct and morals.

Promotions

All promotion of the students falls under the guidelines set by Crosley Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Consideration for promotion is given when a student:

• Demonstrates proficiency of required material
• Displays proper attitude and behavior
• Maintains acceptable academics (Kids)
• Attends class consistently

The criteria above is only a guideline. There are many circumstances (e.g., age, prior experience, attitude, natural ability, etc.), which account for students progressing at different rates. Students must remember that earning rank is a privilege, not a right. We offer instruction in Martial Arts, however, rank progression is always earned and it is not guaranteed. Belt ceremonies are held twice a year, in the Summer and Winter, before the Holidays.

With consistent attendance, the average time on each belt varies from two and three years. Each belt has four stripes. Stripes are earned in an interval of a minimum amount of classes stipulated by our Academy.

Trial Lesson

Trial lessons are recommended to anyone who is interested in enrolling and has never done Jiu-Jitsu or any other form of martial arts before. During a trial lesson, participants will experience firsthand, the atmosphere to which he or she will be exposed during training. Trial lessons take place in the Beginner's Program.

For additional information on trial lessons, please click here.