The path to Black Belt
Beyond the Fundamentals Belt, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of hundreds of advanced techniques organised into a clearly defined, systematic curriculum: Gracie Advanced. Its structure simplifies the journey to Black Belt by organising the whole art into seven positional chapters, each studied for several months before moving on to the next.
If you have achieved the Fundamentals Belt or higher and would like to continue on the path to Black Belt in a safe, structured and friendly environment, Gracie Advanced is for you.
The seven chapters
| # | Chapter | Sub-sections |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount | Top · Bottom |
| 2 | Side Mount | Top · Bottom |
| 3 | Guard | Passing · Top · Bottom |
| 4 | Half Guard | Top · Bottom |
| 5 | Back Mount | Offensive · Defensive |
| 6 | Leg Locks | Straight Ashi · Cross Ashi · Reverse Ashi |
| 7 | Standing | Clinch & Takedowns · Wall Fighting |
What a class looks like
Review and warm-up. Every Advanced lesson begins with a 10-minute review period in which you revisit previous lessons or explore techniques you may have learned from the online videos. Collaborate with your training partners and ask the instructors questions.
Technical instruction. The instructor presents 3 to 4 new techniques from the current chapter. You practise them with a cooperative partner until the movements become natural.
Focus sparring. At the end of class you test your skills against a variety of partners in controlled exercises: Rapid Mastery Drills, Focus Sparring and Fight Simulation Drills. Safety is the primary concern; any student who does not train safely and productively is not allowed to take part. Sparring is 100% voluntary for Advanced students.
Class types
Class types are listed on your academy's schedule so you bring the right equipment.
| Class | What to bring | |
|---|---|---|
| Gi | Traditional white Gi | As worn in the Fundamentals classes |
| No Gi | Rashguard and shorts | Official academy rashguard (top); official fight shorts or Gi trousers (bottoms) |
| Street | Street sparring | 5.5 oz gloves and mouth guard, both mandatory |
| Weapons | Weapons defence | Practice weapons (stick, knife, gun) provided on Standing Self-Defence days |
| Sparring | Sparring | Mouth guard mandatory; groin box optional; no sparring unless an instructor is present |
Every class is either Gi or No-Gi and includes sparring. Some classes include street sparring; check the schedule.
Free online access
There is a remarkable difference in the rate of progress between students who study in their own time and those who don't. As an active Advanced student at the academy you qualify for free access to the Advanced video curriculum: review past lessons, learn new techniques and prepare for belt tests 24 hours a day from any device.
Which lesson is taught in each class. The classes cycle through the whole curriculum, so you can join at any point.
| Dec 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Dec 1 | Dec 2 | Dec 3 | Dec 4 | Dec 5 | Dec 6 | Dec 7 |
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (Gi)
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12:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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| Dec 8 | Dec 9 | Dec 10 | Dec 11 | Dec 12 | Dec 13 | Dec 14 |
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (Gi)
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12:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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| Dec 15 | Dec 16 | Dec 17 | Dec 18 | Dec 19 | Dec 20 | Dec 21 |
|
19:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (Gi)
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12:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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| Dec 22 | Dec 23 | Dec 24 | Dec 25 | Dec 26 | Dec 27 | Dec 28 |
|
19:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (Gi)
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12:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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| Dec 29 | Dec 30 | Dec 31 | Jan 1 | Jan 2 | Jan 3 | Jan 4 |
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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19:00 Guard: Bottom (Gi)
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12:00 Guard: Bottom (NoGi)
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