BJJ Beginner Question.

[ps1]

Glad to hear you had a good time. Let us know how your search goes!

[bushido_man96]

Sounds like you found a good school there. Enjoy!

[TJ-Jitsu]

I'd try to attend ALL the academies and check to see how the classes are run and how you enjoy them.

"Gracie Jiu Jitsu" really doesn't mean all that much now. It used to mean that there was a strong emphasis on self defense and practical street oriented jiu jitsu. Now all it means is that you're paying Rorion royalties....

So to go in depth its incredibly easy to get an affiliation with Gracie Barra and lots of people use the name to get students in the door. Don't mistake this to suggest that Barra is a bad school by default (they certainly aren't- they've got lots of top level competitors) but by the same token just because someone is flying the Gracie banner doesn't mean they're hot stuff or incredibly well versed in what they're teaching. So in short, the proof is in the pudding.

It'll be difficult for you to ascertain how skilled each instructor is, so make sure you do your homework. Perhaps most importantly though is how much you enjoy being at one school or the other. Most people choose one school over the other not so much because its the "best" but more because they felt most welcome.

[ps1]

"Gracie Jiu Jitsu" really doesn't mean all that much now. It used to mean that there was a strong emphasis on self defense and practical street oriented jiu jitsu. Now all it means is that you're paying Rorion royalties....

Not completely true here. Gracie Barra has nothing to do with Rorion, Gracie Humaita is under Royler, Pedro Sauer was given permissions by Helio to use the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu name and logo before he died...and it's documented and Legal. Carlos Gracie schools are not the same as Rorion's schools, nor are Renzo's. The Machado brothers, despite a different last name are all Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (they are cousins who trained with them). Last but not least is Royce, who has his own association. Lot's of options for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu if you don't want to pay Rorion.

Of course, there's the main Gracie Academy and their affiliates, which are directly under Rorion and his sons. But that's not necessarily a bad thing

[TJ-Jitsu]

"Gracie Jiu Jitsu" really doesn't mean all that much now. It used to mean that there was a strong emphasis on self defense and practical street oriented jiu jitsu. Now all it means is that you're paying Rorion royalties....

Not completely true here. Gracie Barra has nothing to do with Rorion, Gracie Humaita is under Royler, Pedro Sauer was given permissions by Helio to use the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu name and logo before he died...and it's documented and Legal. Carlos Gracie schools are not the same as Rorion's schools, nor are Renzo's. The Machado brothers, despite a different last name are all Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (they are cousins who trained with them). Last but not least is Royce, who has his own association. Lot's of options for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu if you don't want to pay Rorion.

Of course, there's the main Gracie Academy and their affiliates, which are directly under Rorion and his sons. But that's not necessarily a bad thing

I didn't say a Gracie affiliation was an affiliation with Rorion- hes just the one that copyrighted it and has legal premise to use it.

Yes, Im aware Humaita is under Royler- Barra is pretty much Carlson Jr and several relatives falling in between. Lots of people are affiliated with one instructor or another- some coming around more than others.

It still comes down to what I said previously- Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a marketing strategy nowadays. That doesn't mean its good nor does it mean that its bad. I'd simply say its a neutral observation. Proof is in the pudding- how does the guy teach and perform on the mat.