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Chatting with Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
- November 15, 2021
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About Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is an officially Certified Training Center of Gracie University.
Our community is a safe and inclusive space where we teach self-defense programs to everyone, regardless of skill level, gender, race, nationality, or creed. Our practice empowers kids and adults with confidence, safety and knowledge through a fun, structured and sustainable practice of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
What is “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”?
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defense martial art. Students of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are taught non-violent techniques that focus on leverage, timing, energy efficiency and natural body movements.
Beyond the physical techniques, we emphasize confidence, awareness principles, risk assessment, and strategies to help students recognize bullying tactics, effectively communicate and set their boundaries.
What inspired you to start Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
Co-owner Ray Lee started practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2008 as a hobby while working full-time as a professional adult educator. In 2014 he discovered Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and loved the teaching method.
In 2016 both Ray and his wife Bethany passed their Instructor Certification live-evaluations with Gracie University with the dream of opening their own Certified Training Center one day. During COVID they were inspired to make their dreams a reality and opened their own studio in Port Moody in July 2021.
How old can kids start Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
The goal of our Gracie Bullyproof program is to give children unshakable confidence so they can overcome bullies without violence. We offer courses for kids aged 5-17.
We teach kids to use verbal assertiveness to deter bullies and several non-violent self-defense techniques to stay safe. Most importantly, we don’t teach how to punch or kick, since this often does more harm than good. Instead, we use leverage-based control holds to neutralize threats without violence. Our goal is to prepare your child to defend themselves against bullies without turning them into one.
What are the benefits of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu for kids?
Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children, and according to some surveys, less than 15% of kids actually report acts of bullying. A child’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in fear for their personal safety.
We give kids the confidence to face a bully, look them in the eye, and get the bully to back down. We teach how to defuse and de-escalate confrontations with words and never initiate physical aggression. We offer techniques to non-violently neutralize the threat and gain control until help arrives.
What would the kids learn?
The Gracie Bullyproof program is one of the only youth Jiu-Jitsu programs that separates its kids by age and experience level so that every child gets the perfect balance of fun and challenge in their weekly classes.
Kids begin in playful entry-level programs for their age group. When a child reaches a certain level of maturity, they are promoted to the next age-appropriate training program where they’ll learn non-violent self-defense techniques that teach children to “neutralize and negotiate” with bullies.
What is the difference between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu compared to other martial arts?
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is taught as a system of self-defense, with the objective of giving the student the ability to stay safe. It is not a competition-based sport. The focus in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is safety, structured collaborative learning, personal empowerment, confidence through knowledge, community, and a fun and sustainable practice of Jiu-Jitsu.
What advice do you have for parents thinking about having their kids learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
Give us a try! At Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu your first 10-consecutive days are free with complimentary uniform rental. We invite anyone who is curious about learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to come and experience the magic with us on our big green mat!
You can also explore our space through a 3D tour on our website.
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 | Free 10-consecutive day trial membership including complimentary uniform rental at Tri-Cities Gracie Jiu-Jitsu |
