In 1925, Carlos Gracie established the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Brazil. In 1978, Rorion Gracie brought Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the United States, and in 1989 he established the first Gracie Academy on North American soil in Torrance, California.
To accommodate the worldwide expansion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in 2017, Ryron and Rener moved the family business to an even larger facility and established “Gracie University” to reflect the shift from a single academy to a global organization. Not only is our Torrance location one of the most successful martial arts schools in the world, with over 1,000 students, but it also serves as the global headquarters for hundreds of Certified Training Centers and over 150,000 home-study students learning online in 196 countries. Whether you live in Southern California, or you’re just visiting, we invite you to join us on the green mats in “Jiu-Jitsu Heaven” to experience first-hand the beauty, simplicity and effectiveness of the art.
Specialized Programs for the Entire Family
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone! While most schools teach the art with a "one size fits all" approach, at Gracie University, we offer specialized group class programs for the entire family: Gracie Bullyproof for kids (ages 5-12), Women Empowered for the ladies, Gracie Combatives for beginner adults, and the Master Cycle for advanced practitioners. For three generations, the Gracie family’s primary focus has been to teach jiu-jitsu in a way that is welcoming, safe, and easy for new students, especially those with no previous experience. Today, our proprietary programs, safety-first teaching style, and our beginner-friendly introductory classes, allow anyone to experience the magic of jiu-jitsu without feeling intimidated or overwhelmed.
To watch some awesome intro videos and to learn more about each of our proprietary self-defense programs, click here.
Visitors from Around the World
At Gracie University, we are very accustomed to having visitors join us on the big green mat from all over the world, and we love it! If you are a dedicated Gracie University online student and would like to come to Torrance to meet your instructors and have your techniques verified in person, we can’t wait to see you! If you are a CTC student and would like to take a family vacation to Southern California, don’t hesitate to swing by for some classes taught in familiar fashion! If you are a dedicated BJJ student from another affiliation, and would like to come spend some time learning our curriculum and experiencing the Gracie way, our mat is always open to you!
Whether you visiting are for one day, or for several months, contact a Student Services Representative at info@gracieuniversity.com so we can help you plan your stay!
Personal Training
While our proprietary group class programs are enjoyed by tens of thousands of students all over the world, it’s been proven that personal training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides students with greater comprehension in less time. In a one-on-one environment, the instructor has the flexibility to operate outside the established structure and specific techniques of the group class programs to create a personalized curriculum based on your unique strengths and weaknesses to help you reach your training objectives in the least amount of time possible.
Personal training offers maximum scheduling flexibility, day or night; if it works for you, we’ll make it happen. Moreover, if you can’t come to us, just let us know where you live, and we’ll come to you! To learn more about personal training or to schedule your first class, click here.
10-Day Free Trial
Most BJJ schools limit new students to one free trial class. We offer new students a 10-day risk-free trial that includes a free uniform and unlimited access to all of our beginner group classes. We’re confident that the curriculum, the camaraderie, and quality of the instruction will exceed all your expectations. If that’s not the case, just let us know, and we will never charge you a penny (all we ask is that you return the free uniform that we provide you).
To take advantage of our 10-day free trial, or to schedule an introductory private class, simply contact our Student Services Director, Jackie Aure, by calling (310) 893-0400 or send an email to Jackie@GracieUniversity.com!