Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where are you located?

I offer group and private gi and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, submission wrestling, and MMA-style grappling in San Bernardino County, Riverside County and the Inland Empire. On-site seminars are in high demand and can be scheduled year-round at any location.

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What is Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art intended to control your opponent. Using leverage, balance and technique, you gain a dominant position for subduing and submitting your opponent and increasing your chances of escaping a bad situation.  

BJJ has proven to be an effective method for self-defense and overcoming most physical confrontations. This is evident in reality-fighting events like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where the majority of fighters are skilled in a grappling art like BJJ or wrestling.

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Do I need to be fit or strong to learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

The great thing about the art of BJJ is that it requires little or no strength. Control is established through leverage, balance and technique. And you don't need to be fit to start BJJ—regular training will improve your general fitness, flexibility, strength, coordination, reaction time and, above all, self-confidence.

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How long will it take me to become good at BJJ?

With just a few months of classes, you'll have a huge edge over the average person who has no grappling skills and no idea what to do when the fight goes to the ground. Within 12 months of training with me, even someone with little or no athletic ability can learn to successfully deal with a larger and stronger opponent and increase his / her chances of coming out on top.

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I'm pretty good at other forms of martial arts—should I still learn BJJ?

Most of the time a real-life aggressor simply doesn't care about sparring and all the classroom etiquette and rules you may be used to—he just gets up in your face and before you know it, you're on the ground grappling.

Grappling is an excellent complement to any existing stand-up fighting skills you may already have. And , let's face it, there are simply times where it's just best to take the opponent down and completely control him without hitting or striking him. 

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Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu good for women?

It's better for women than for men! Learn more about my thoughts on women in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

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Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu  recommended for children?

BJJ techniques are great for children! My own son started training at 4 years old.  It's a remarkable confidence-builder. And in some situations, especially at school and in environments with lawsuit-happy parents, it's preferable for children to escape a confrontation by forcing their opponent into submission with BJJ techniques rather than beating down their opponent with their fists. Learn more about my thoughts on children in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

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I own a martial arts school. Should I start a BJJ program?

Including grappling or BJJ as part of your martial arts program is a great way to:

  • offer more value to current students
  • attract new students (more and more students are looking for grappling instruction)
  • retain students who feel they've reached a plateau in their current training
  • offer a way for your Black Belts to gain an edge over other Black Belts

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What are the benefits of private BJJ instruction?

Private BJJ classes are great for Inland Empire residents or workers who want one-on-one guidance, want to focus on a particular skill or simply have unpredictable schedules that make attending regularly scheduled group classes difficult. Learn more about my private grappling classes.

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I've seen jiu-jitsu spelled different ways: ju-jitsu, ju-jutsu, and jiu-jitsu. Which one is correct?

Wow, that's a good question and a great observation! Ju-jutsu and jiu-jitsu are both correct variants of ju-jitsu. The word ju-jitsu dates back to 1875 and is from the Japanese ju (meaning weakness, gentleness) and jutsu (meaning art, skill). So now you know!

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