Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Ottawa

Fundamentals,Fundamentals, Fundamentals!
We got you covered with Gracie Combatives®! 36 techniques that are the fundamentals of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu®,historically the most common techniques used in self defense, AND the most effective!
Build a solid foundation of technique and strategy for your future on and off the mat. 🥋










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Gracie Bullyproof® registration is now OPEN for kids ages 5-11! Message us to book your child’s 10-Day FREE Trial! We’ll see you on the mat! 🥋😊

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Victory. What is your definition of victory? What do you consider a ‘win’? When we begin something new, it’s very possible we set tremendously high expectations for ourselves. If we don’t meet them on our timeline, we believe we fall short and disqualify ourselves from continuing. As a result, we make no progress in our given endeavor. Instead, it would serve us better to start small, and incrementally move toward our ‘win.’ Collecting those small ‘wins’ over time is what will build confidence and move you toward the goal. A small win could be simply showing up. Remembering a detail. Helping a teammate. Whatever the goal is for you, consistent and incremental action can be what leads you to victory. Stay on the Path.

“They’re the most basic techniques. But they’re also the most effective.” -Brian “T-City” Ortega knows!


As seen in his UFC co-main event victory, the Gracie Combatives® program teaches the 36 most important techniques for self defense and the most effective techniques in all of Jiu-Jitsu.

Gracie Combatives® is THE perfect program for everyone with no experience to develop your skills in a safe,fun, friendly and cooperative environment.

www.graciejjottawa.com for class schedule, pricing or book a 10-Day Free Trial! We’ll see you on the mat!

Defense + Escapes= Confidence. One of the greatest attributes we can build in ourselves through our Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practice is CONFIDENCE. Your level of confidence in self defense is directly correlated not to your offensive ability,but rather to your skill and understanding of DEFENSE. Your ability to shut down someone’s offense and ESCAPE dangerous positions is where your confidence will take root. Which escape then, should be learned and practiced first? Which escape has the ability to get you out of most,if not all bad positions in a fight? The answer is none other than the ELBOW ESCAPE. By learning and practicing the Elbow Escape, being pinned down and struck or strangled is no longer an option for the opponent because the elbow escape moves us from a position of danger (bottom position) to a position of safety- the Guard. Build your escapes,build your confidence. 😎

The Infinite Game. There are two types of games. A finite game has a set of parameters. Soccer for example. The other is the Infinite Game. Where the point of the game is not to win, but to KEEP PLAYING. The practice of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® is an Infinite Game. The point of training is not to win anything, but instead to continue it as part of your life as something to enjoy and reap all the benefits. Health,fitness, problem solving, camaraderie, community, friendship self defense, etc. By playing the Infinite Game and adopting this mindset of “Jiu-Jitsu for Life” we can stay on the mat,free of expectation,regardless of when,where, or how we start. Stay on the Path. 🥋😊

Gracie Bullyproof® KIDS! Our focus for January and February will be Responsibility!! What are your responsibilities? What are things in your life you can control? What are the things we need to do every day? Every week? What things can we do that are good for us? What habits can we build? How can we grow our self discipline to do those things even when we don’t feel like it? Focus on your responsibilities, train hard, do your best, collect your points and we’ll see you at Gracie Game Day in March! Let’s GO!!
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Headlock Counters! One of the most common behaviors of untrained attackers is wrapping your neck up in a headlock. Either standing or on the ground.Whether it’s a bully in the school yard or an adult attacking an unsuspecting someone.(I’m sure some of you reading this were subject to a headlock or two as a kid!)Because it’s so common and such a primal, instinctual attack for humans, Headlock Counters are some of the first techniques we learn in Gracie Combatives® AND Gracie Bullyproof® for kids! The good news is that Headlocks are very escapable and very counter-able IF you know Gracie Jiu-Jitsu®!! Come see for yourself!!
DM for a 10-Day FREE Trial!

PROMOTION TIME!! Congratulations to Luigi on his promotion to Gracie Combatives® Belt! Luigi has been putting in mat time for years,is an awesome training partner for everyone, and had a few setbacks. But a setback is always right before a comeback! He pushed forward and man did he make a comeback!! Congratulations bro! Proud of you! Welcome to the Master Cycle®

Many people ask “how do you stay motivated and want to go to class all the time??” The truth is, we don’t. We as humans are not motivated or filled with desire all the time. Motivation and desire is like a thunderstorm, it’s crazy and powerful when it’s here, but it comes and goes. It is in DISCIPLINE where we find results and success. It is discipline that will get you to where you want to go. Discipline begins with having a clear goal, whether it’s short term or long term, and then breaking the goal into small achievable steps. Completing those steps daily or weekly build HABIT. The more you reward your good habits, the stronger your discipline becomes. When the day arrives and motivation isn’t around or desire isn’t there, it is your discipline that will carry you through. Discipline is built through small habitual action and small reward. Do you have a goal that requires discipline? Start small and reward yourself a little bit when you complete something pertaining to the goal. You might be pleasantly surprised.

PROMOTION TIME!! Congratulations to Kaitlyn on her promotion to Gracie Combatives® Belt! When I originally began Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I had no intention of becoming a teacher.One day I went to class and my instructor wasn’t there(whole other story).Two teenagers showed up at the same time for their first class.Kaitlyn and her classmate the legendary Daylon Robinson! “We want to learn!”they said. Only a blue belt at the time,I responded “I’ll try!” We trained together for years with our original squad of 6 and had a blast. I never would have started teaching if her and Daylon didn’t believe in me. When I decided to get certified with Gracie University as an Instructor, one of the reasons I did so was because if my old training partners or students wanted to return to training, I could offer them MUCH MORE than ever! Structured classes, safety, a complete curriculum,a path to promotion and higher levels of knowledge and skill. So grateful for Kaitlyn for helping to put our team on the path toward becoming a Certified Training Center®! Congratulations on your promotion and welcome to the Master Cycle!
Next stop- Blue Belt! 😊😊
-Coach James

Absolutely! We understand that starting something new or being a beginner again can be a bit nerve wracking. But we also know what’s on the other side of stepping on the mat for the first time! Come and see for yourself and start where you can start! Book a 10-Day Free Trial of Gracie Combatives®! Bring a friend if you’d like! We are here for you when you’re ready!

Vacation. Many people take time each year for vacation. Some travel.
Some don’t. We vacation with the goal in mind of taking a break, unplugging from life, relaxing or nourishing ourselves so that we can come back to our life recharged. This can be very beneficial. But what about a weekly vacation? You might say that’s the weekend. For sure. A few days you’re not at work is great. What about daily? What would you need on a daily or weekly basis to nourish your mind, your body, your spirit so you can not only do what you need to do but be BETTER at it?Maybe some detachment? A change of scenery or new environment? Some movement? Some positive people? A goal? Something new every day? A puzzle to solve? A challenge maybe? Something to build your efficacy so you’re ready for what life brings? If there was such a thing that gave you all of these on a daily or weekly basis, would you take that vacation? We’re headed there if you’d like to tag along!

Tonight!! Wednesday at 6:30 is our Reflex Development Class!! This is where we take all our techniques we learn in Gracie Combatives® and execute them in any order. This practice is absolutely critical to build a solid foundation of fundamentals and self defense. It is open to all advanced students and any white belt who has seen all the Gracie Combatives® techniques twice. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the mat Wednesday night and keeping the sword sharp!

Could you do this?? We think so!!

Rener Gracie gives Lewis Howes his first Gracie Jiu Jitsu® Lesson!!

ALL the techniques they were practicing are from our Gracie Combatives® Program for beginners.

If you’re wondering what precisely you’d being doing during a class, check out the video!!

This how we do it every class!

I survived my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class with Rener Gracie Lewis Howes is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, former professional athlete, and the host of The School of Greatness podcast. He invited Rener to appear...

Family on the mat last night! Wednesday night is our Bring a Friend Class. Last night my brother showed up not with a friend,but with FAMILY! The one and only (Uncle) Jack Doyle! Jack has always been such a positive influence on me, my brother and all my cousins to strive for excellence. Crazy when you teach one of your mentors! So honored I got to teach his first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® class last night. Welcome to Gracie Combatives® Jack!

Absolutely! The white belt is the MOST IMPORTANT BELT in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Why? Because it means you have STARTED. Every journey begins with a first step. And the first step to learning anything is realizing we don’t know something. Adopt the beginner’s mindset. With open ears and eyes. Although it is fairly simple, this can also be very difficult. But then again, everything is difficult.AT FIRST.Allow yourself time and space to become a beginner,show up to class and you will have taken the first step in earning the most important promotion, the white belt.We have one for YOU! When you are ready.🥋

Epic Monday Night! We had our great friends Francesca and Alessandro (he’s the photographer!) visiting from Italy and their Certified Training Center® in Cesena !!
One of the best parts of Gracie University is making friends from all over the world and training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu together. I was in Italy last month and had a blast! Even though Francesca and I have been friends for years since completing our Instructor Certification (ICP) together, the same rules apply for students! As long as you are an active student at one CTC, you can drop in at any CTC around the world for FREE! If you are traveling, get to a local CTC and get on the mat! Great work Alessandro on your first Gracie Combatives® class! So excited for you to continue your training when you get back! Thank you to all our students for making my friends feel at home! Looking forward to more visits in the years to come!😊😊

Great reminder! Keep building those habits strong so you can do what you love for the rest of your life! 😊

Instructor Certification Program July 2023 at !!
Congratulations again to all the graduates and new instructors. Looking forward to sharing the mat with new students here at home and around the world!

Awesome night at !!
Grateful that I can do what I love with my friends around the world!
Thank you so much for training (and pizza after class!)!!
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Hope you guys have a great year! Can’t wait to come back!! 🙏🙏

First class as a purple belt in the books at !!

Thank you so much to everyone I learned a lot.

Posted • Master Cycle class with our friends James and Dante

California how I have missed you! Unbelievably awesome week at with our team for Instructor Certification! Special thanks to the ICP team and the staff who made us all feel like rockstars! Thank you to all the black belts and instructors for sharing their knowledge



I learned so much from all the instructors I talked to and collaborate with this week. Can’t wait to get home and get rollin’ with everyone! See you soon!

Peace and Love,
(And Triangle Chokes)
James

“Leave out the fiction.
The fact is that friction. Can only be worn by persistence.

Leave out conditions.
Courageous convictions will drag a dream to existence.”

Proud and grateful today to be promoted to the rank of purple belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me along the way, it means the world to me.

Thank you Alex for taking the time to test me (and humble me!😆)

Working through the Gracie University Blue Belt Stripe 1-4 was a massive,5-year, 240 lesson,800 technique, 1000 hour training project . Literally one of,
if not the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

So! The utmost and special thanks to the great and powerful Daylon Robinson, Chris Bertolissi, and Joey Doyle for being the most exceptional and excellent training partners!You guys are the best!🙏🙏🙏🙏

After 10 years at blue belt,I feel as though a very long and important chapter of my life has closed today.

New belt. New chapter.
Looking forward to it.

Miss you all. Love you all.
See you on the mat.

Peace and Love,
James

Next week in Master Cycle® !! Submissions, Submissions and more Submissions!! And of course, Fight Simulation and Roooollin’ !!
When you get knocked down, stay safe and learn to attack off your back! 😎

Good reminder for us today! Enjoy the ride and help others on the Path.
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Posted • 2023 Gracie University Belt Ceremony 🥋
It’s always so moving to watch the acknowledgement of dedication and transformation. Being a part of any students journey is a privilege I do not take for granted. 💗 And standing along side all of our talented instructors is humbling.

The program is special because it focuses on the most common attacks/challenges women face.

So many people ask about the pink belt… it’s not a belt that is often seen outside of our school systems… why? Because is a specific course for the challenges women face and this belt was created to signify a dedication and mastery of the programs’ contents. So it’s a pretty unique and hard earned badge of honor. Because it’s contents include psychological understanding of different phases of an attack, differentiation between stranger and non-stranger assailants, protecting yourself from abduction, defending against physical and verbal aggressors, and
even a deep dive into weapons. This program is unlike any other and it deserved a belt that didn’t exist.
Pink is Power and I wear it proudly.

If you want to train for the rest of your life, you MUST adhere to the 5 Rules!

One of my all time favorite videos on Jiu-Jitsu mindset! Enjoy!

Coach James

Jiu-Jitsu Over 40 (5 Rules to Roll Till 95) This is the most important instructional video ever released by Ryron and Rener Gracie. Regardless of your age, if you adopt the 5 rules outlined in this vid...