Gracie Fundamentals

Street readiness in 23 lessons

Although Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of over 2,000 techniques, studies of real fights conducted by members of the Gracie family have shown that 40 techniques have been used more often, and with greater success, than all the other techniques combined. Gracie Fundamentals is dedicated to the mastery of those 40 techniques. No experience is necessary; the programme is designed to be enjoyed by any new student regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

The 40 techniques are divided into 23 one-hour lessons. Each lesson addresses one standing and one ground self-defence technique. You can start at any point and complete the lessons in any order, and because safety is our first concern, there is no competitive sparring in this programme.

Step 1: Learn the techniques

We publish a calendar each month (below) showing exactly which lesson is taught in each class. On enrolling you receive a Gracie Fundamentals attendance card and your progress is tracked every step of the way.

Step 2: Develop your reflexes

Once you have attended every lesson twice you qualify for the Reflex Development (RD) classes, where you learn to combine the 40 techniques to deal with the most common occurrences in a real fight. This is where reflexes sharpen and confidence jumps to the next level.

Step 3: Earn your Fundamentals Belt, then your Blue Belt

Once you have completed every lesson three times and at least 12 Reflex Development classes, you can test for your Fundamentals Belt: a 20-minute test of your ability to defend yourself. Pass it and you qualify for the Intermediate and Advanced programmes; complete your Intermediate card and you are awarded your Blue Belt.

Log on and boost your progress

As a student of the Gracie Fundamentals programme at the academy you get a free subscription to the online video course. Use it to review past techniques and prepare for upcoming lessons on your computer or phone, and to watch a complete demonstration of the belt test.

The 23 lessons

Street Jiu-Jitsu and sport Jiu-Jitsu: what's the difference?

In the beginning there were no tournaments associated with the practice of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The dangerous and unforgiving street fight was the only testing ground. In 1967 the first Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was established so practitioners could test their skills in a safe setting. The fun and excitement of competition, and the prestige of tournament victories, drove the vast majority of instructors to focus entirely on preparing students for the Jiu-Jitsu game. That shift away from self-defence had a profound effect on the art. Gracie Fundamentals is where we put it back. Read the full story.