Gracie Combatives is our beginner program for adults. In this program, you will learn the 36 core techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in a fun, safe, and cooperative environment. Each one-hour lesson addresses one standing and one ground self-defense technique. You can start the program at any time and participate in any class without previous experience and, since safety is our number one concern, there is no competitive sparring in this program. Upon successful completion of the Gracie Combatives program we will promote you to blue belt, and you will qualify for advancement to the Master Cycle program.

36 Essential Techniques

Although Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of over 600 techniques, studies of real fights conducted by members of the Gracie Family have shown that 36 techniques have been used more often and with greater success than all the other techniques combined. Originally developed for the U.S. Army, Gracie Combatives is the only course that is entirely dedicated to the mastery of these 36 essential techniques. You need absolutely no experience to start this program. Our instructors conduct all classes in a cooperative training environment and are committed to ensuring that every new student has an informative, enjoyable experience regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability.

Step 1: Learn the Techniques

We have divided the 36 Gracie Combatives techniques into 23 one-hour classes so that you can complete the course at your own pace. We designed each lesson so that you can start at any point in the course. As a result, you can complete the 23 lessons in any order. Upon enrolling, we will issue you a Gracie Combatives attendance card on which we will track your progress every step of the way.

Step 2: Develop Your Reflexes

Once you complete each of the 23 Gracie Combatives lessons twice, you will qualify to participate in the Reflex Development (RD) Classes where you will learn how to combine the 36 techniques to address the most common occurrences in a real fight.

Step 3: Earn Your Blue Belt

Once you complete each of the Gracie Combatives lessons three times, and you’ve completed at least 12 Reflex Development Classes, you are eligible to test for promotion to Blue Belt! If your performance meets Gracie Academy standards, you will qualify for promotion to blue belt and you will be allowed to attend our advanced Gracie Jiu-Jitsu program, the Master Cycle.