FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Adult Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu translates to "the gentle art"; it is referred to as such because it utilizes leverage and balance rather than force and strength. Also, the finishing submissions are viewed as a more humane alternative to striking.
There are numerous differences. The main one is that Brazilian Jiu-Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) focuses more on ground grappling while Classical Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes standing grappling and striking. All types of Jiu-Jitsu are based on submitting your opponent; however, BJJ is the only form of Jiu-Jitsu that heavily emphasizes positional strategy and control before doing so. This strategy will allow you to be completely dominant, safe, and calm to apply a finishing hold. Another fundamental difference is that in BJJ, students will have the chance to practice and drill moves while their partner resists 100%.
The Jiu-Jitsu we teach includes standing techniques, takedowns, and ground fighting techniques. It is a fact that nearly all real fights end up on the ground. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu always prepares its practitioners for a physically superior opponent who is much bigger and stronger. On the ground, leverage can be used to even out the playing field, allowing you to control and submit even the most prominent foes. We teach all facets of Jiu-Jitsu, including defense against stand-up aggression and ground fighting strategies. So you will be learning how to deal with an individual from the beginning.
The uniform is a vital learning tool for your success. It teaches you proper grips and provides additional comfort while training. Fighting with the gi requires a high level of precision and attention to detail, two essential tools for efficient Jiu-Jitsu. In addition, the gi creates a lot of friction between you, your opponent, and the ground, helping your stamina and overall conditioning.
Of course! Our beginner classes are an excellent way to get into shape. Not only will you learn the essential skills of self-defense, but you will also focus on muscle strengthening, endurance, cardio, and flexibility.
Belts in BJJ include white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, and black. Each successive belt represents an increased mastery of the art.
This varies for each individual and their level of commitment; however, it usually takes between 8 and 12 years.
Jiu-Jitsu has consistently proved its supremacy in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions. Evidence of this can be found in the videos "Gracie in Action I & II," a documentary in which the Gracie Family took on and defeated all challengers for over 70 years without losing one single fight.
BJJ will improve conditioning, strength, coordination, flexibility, reflexes, and overall motor-skills.
Jiu-Jitsu is excellent for rape prevention and other forms of self-defense necessary for women since most attacks occur on the ground. Strategic grips and proper application of leverage and body weight distribution will allow women to escape from attackers standing or on the ground.
The class incorporates several plyometric exercises and movements to help improve conditioning, coordination, flexibility, and strength. This period will be followed by the technique of the day demonstrated by the instructor, which is drilled for approximately 15 minutes. A 20-minute sparring session for the intermediate and advanced students is held towards the end of each class.
To accommodate your hectic schedule, each of our Jiu-Jitsu programs (Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced) run several times per week in the morning and evening hours, allowing you to customize a training schedule that suits your needs. Besides our instructional program, we also provide "open mat" times for those who want to come in and work out independently. We also offer private lessons, which can be scheduled at several time slots throughout the day.
Most people feel some anxiety about starting a martial arts program, hence why we created our Beginners' 16-week program. Individual attention is a feature in every class, allowing all students to progress quickly and confidently towards the more advanced programs. This system will make sure you familiarize yourself with the Academy's culture, its instructors and help you feel comfortable with the material you will be learning.
Competition is always completely optional. Our school has produced many local, national, and international champions. However, many of our students enjoy the training and its benefits without ever participating in any competition. Our school provides a positive environment for students with a great approach to personal excellence pursuit and realistic self-defense.
Just 60 minutes, twice a week, will produce exceptional results. We want to make sure you don't have to give up all your free time to benefit from our programs. If the class schedule conflicts with work hours, individual lessons are always an excellent alternative to speed up your learning process.
We have various programs and flexible payment plans for your convenience. Without understanding your specific needs, it is difficult to recommend a program and pinpoint an exact price; however, feel free to speak to one of our representatives, and we'll work with you to make them fit into your budget.
Kids Jiu-Jitsu
We recommend that children start at four years old. However, no two kids are the same; there can be differences in coordination and maturity. We are willing to evaluate children younger than four.
Jiu-Jitsu will teach your children that they don't need to learn how to punch and kick to control and protect themselves from bullying. Instead of learning moves through prearranged movements carried out on a cooperative training partner, they will learn how to apply grappling techniques on a resisting training partner who's not cooperating and is counteracting with his moves. Strategic grips and positioning control make Jiu-Jitsu.
Class sizes may range between 18-30 students per class, depending on age group. Each time our class sizes increase, we accommodate an increase in instructors per class as well. We attempt to maintain a 1 to 10 ratio of Instructor/student; however, we train our children to maintain discipline, respect, and focus throughout the entire course of practice, regardless of how many instructors are present.
Training at our academy will provide an outlet for children to channel aggression and excess energy. Our children's programs focus on developing behavioral and attitudinal aspects of martial arts such as respect, confidence, discipline, and self-control. By providing a fun and safe atmosphere for kids, we can foster a healthy environment in which they can learn and develop not only self-defense skills but also life skills. They learn Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for personal growth and development, not as a weapon to cause harm. Once ready, they will be sparring daily in class, often with bigger and more experienced children than them. Not winning every match will teach them humility and respect. Kids learn to treat others as they want to be treated. Often, violent kids before they joined our program changed and became non-violent. However, we teach them to take action whenever physically threatened by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Often children who don't find success in team sports come to Martial Arts, and they love it! That's because, with martial arts, you go at your own pace. Team sports may harm the self-esteem of children who aren't very athletic. When they don't perform well, other kids can be pretty mean, affecting their self-esteem. But with Martial Arts, they can't let anyone down. Our students are never asked to do things beyond their capacity. Some kids learn quicker than others, but those who advance quickly are not valued more than the kids who move slowly. Everyone is greatly encouraged, regardless of their athletic level, and praised for achieving things they couldn't before.
We take our students' safety very seriously. The attention to safety and the student's well-being always comes first. Proper self-defense and martial arts training, however, includes contact. If it doesn't, how can it possibly be called self-defense? Being that Jiu-Jitsu is a combat sport, there is a chance for injuries to occur; however, by being extremely strict in our enforcement of mat rules and etiquette, we drastically reduce those chances.
Girls love Jiu-Jitsu just as much and get the same fulfillment out of it as boys do. Also, if we have learned anything in our years of teaching, girls are just as tough as boys. Many are even tougher! So you don't have to worry about your little girl getting hurt or feeling scared because she'll be practicing with boys. The boys may even be the ones who are afraid of them, as we have learned that, on average, girls are fiercer than boys.
We believe we offer the most consistent, modern, and overall atmosphere for personal growth when it comes to martial arts and self-defense training in Santa Barbara. This is due not only to our experience and mastery of our craft but to the fact that we are life-long students of our product. We believe in going through life, seeking professional growth daily, and applying such knowledge where our students are constantly evolving as well.
The techniques differ based on what age group we teach, but the format is the same across all five youth programs. We break down the classes into three stages: Warm-ups, which includes several plyometric exercises and movements designed to improve their athleticism; technique drilling, to help them develop skill retention, muscle memory, and reflexes; and live training, which is where they entirely resist against one another, trying to execute their moves while defending their training partner's attacks. And for obvious reasons, this is the most significant factor in boosting their confidence.
To teach anyone, but especially children, you must earn their respect and show them what's acceptable and what's not. Our students learn to know when to focus and work hard and when it's time to have fun. They will learn self-defense, respect, discipline, honor, and discover that hard work and effort always pay off and bring positive results—all in a strict yet fun and engaging environment. As far as your child wanting to stick to the program, it will largely depend on your commitment to keeping them in it. We have an extremely low cancellation rate due to a lack of interest. While we understand that not every student will train to black belt rank, we are dedicated to doing all we can to extend the mat lifespan of every student.