Our Training Philosophy

We are not a "traditional martial arts" school and, as such, we do not emphasize formal customs or hierarchy. Rather, we teach submission grappling as an art and as a sport. Although we do not focus on imposing any belief system, this incredible martial art naturally tends to become a powerful force in enriching our understanding of ourselves and others. Since we began instructing group classes in June 2010, our academy has become known for the exceptional atmosphere that is fostered here, and for the ability of our teachers and students to bring out the best in each other. For many of us, our training has become a way of life and a journey into a richer human experience. Without forcing our beliefs or experiences on others, we hope that this art and sport will also become a way of life for all who join us on the mat.

Students are always encouraged to speak with the instructors about their personal goals: we recognize that different people have different goals: some may wish to prepare for high-level competition, others choose to participate in the sport for the fun of it and for the physical fitness and mental clarity it promotes, while many simply participate in order to engage in the art's incredible demonstration of the human body and spirit.

For those wishing to pursue your training at a more intense level, our instructors look forward to working closely with you and helping you reach your maximum potential, both physically and technically.  But we also expect our more competitive students to respect the fact that people choose to experience the art for different reasons and that, ultimately, everyone is equal in our training facility. It is our belief that this sort of inclusive, ego-free training environment sets a positive standard for everyone in our gym, from our instructors to our students, to help bring out the best in each other.

A Typical Grappling Class

Stretching and Conditioning: Each class begins with a 15 minute stretching and warm-up session. The purpose of this portion of class is  to minimize the chances of strains or other such injuries during training, and to mentally prepare and "wake-up" for the forthcoming instruction. Many of the warm-up drills will emphasize movements typically required for effective grappling.

Group Instruction: The conditioning portion of class is followed immediately by group instruction. During this portion of class, the instructor will demonstrate three or four submission grappling techniques. These techniques can include: submission holds, positions, transitions, escapes, reversals, and counters. The instructor, with the aid of an assistant instructor or student, will generally begin with a demonstration of the technique. After demonstrating the technique, the students pair off and practice the technique (often through limited-resistance drills). The instructor will observe the students to ensure proper form.

Sparring (optional): Each class ends with free sparring (always optional). This is sometimes referred to as "rolling" or “open mat”. The purpose of this portion of class is to allow students to develop the ability to apply the cumulative lessons of class in realistic situations. The students will pair off and engage in free-form grappling. All grappling will be loosely supervised by the instructor in order to encourage good form and proper application of techniques. In addition, the instructor will “roll” with all of the students on a regular basis in order to evaluate progress and give students the opportunity to train with their teacher. By including free-form grappling in each session, students are given a chance to maximize their practical application of all submission grappling techniques.