Most people feel this way before starting. The curriculum, pace, and instruction of the course are designed specifically for beginners.

Advanced students are there to help, guide, and support newer students, not to outpace or overpower them. This creates a safe, encouraging learning environment where beginners can progress confidently.

The program focuses on 36 core techniques that are:

- Simple to learn

- Highly effective for self-defence

- Designed to work for most body types and athletic levels

You don’t need experience, coordination, or confidence to start. You just need the right environment, and that’s exactly what Gracie Combatives® is designed to provide.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it’s completely understandable.

Jiu-jitsu is a contact martial art, so no one can promise zero injuries. However, most injuries happen because of unhealthy gym culture or rushing beginners into sparring too soon.

At our academy, safety is built into everything we do.

We maintain a culture where students care about their training partners’ safety as much as their own progress. Ego-driven training is not tolerated.

We also delay live sparring on purpose, allowing beginners to first develop proper control, positioning, and awareness. This dramatically reduces unnecessary risk and helps students build confidence.

Classes are closely supervised by Certified Instructors, and students are encouraged to train at appropriate intensity, tap early, and communicate at all times.

While no activity is risk-free, our structured, safety-first approach makes jiu-jitsu far safer than most people expect, especially for beginners.

No need. Getting in shape first is not required.

Most of the conditioning people associate with jiu-jitsu comes from live sparring, which beginners do not do right away in Gracie Combatives®.

Instead, beginner classes focus on carefully structured, progressive drills designed to build your fitness gradually.

As you train, you will naturally develop:

- Better conditioning

- Increased flexibility

- Improved mobility

The goal of the beginner program is not to test your fitness, but to build it safely over time.

You don’t need to be fit to start jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu helps you get fit as you learn.

This is a very common concern, especially for people walking into a gym for the first time by themselves.

Many martial arts gyms attract people who want to prove themselves through ego or aggression. That environment often leads to discomfort and unnecessary injuries.

That mindset does not last here.

Our academy has a clear culture built around mutual respect, safety, and support. Students are expected to care about their training partners’ progress and well-being, regardless of background, age, or experience level.

If you come in by yourself (which most do), you will not be left on the sidelines. Instructors help pair students appropriately, and advanced students are encouraged to support and guide newer students.

Anyone who does not respect this culture is simply not welcome. The result is a welcoming, beginner-safe environment where you can walk in alone and feel supported from day one.

For your very first class, you'll only need to wear suitable gym attire that you can move freely in.

After this, all beginner classes are taught wearing a white Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi. You can purchase directly from us (we often have great offers for new members) or from anywhere else you like.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has an interesting and engaging art/sport that has a big competition scene, and whilst some of our members have decided to test their skills in this format, we don't go out of our way to prepare students (rules, strategy etc) for competition.

However, our first priority for our students is that they learn the fundamentals of self-defence. What you need to do to survive against an aggressive, untrained opponent may be different from what you would need to learn for a sport jiu-jitsu tournament.

We understand that most people who train with us are doing so for fitness, health and confidence. When practised correctly, BJJ can be an activity to enjoy for many years!

That’s not a problem at all.

Gracie Combatives® is built around a 23-class curriculum that allows you to start at any time. There is no fixed start date and no pressure to keep up with a group.

You can attend the classes in any order, repeat lessons as often as you like, and progress entirely at your own pace. Whether you train multiple times per week or just once in a while, the system adapts to you.

In addition to in-person classes, you also receive access to Gracie University® Online, where you can review techniques, preview upcoming lessons, and reinforce what you’ve learned outside the academy.

This flexible structure ensures that busy schedules, travel, or time off never prevent you from making steady progress.

You don’t need to keep up with anyone else. You just need to keep showing up when you can.