Welcome to Gracie Lake Norman Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! The Charlotte/Lake Norman area’s premier martial arts school specializing in the instruction of Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ).
Jiu Jitsu Instructors
Founded and run by Royce Gracie brown belt student Ranard Brown and Rodrigo Gracie purple belt student Mike Bertram, Gracie LKN BJJ offers exceptional instruction and training in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Our large 2,500 sq. ft. facility offers a comfortable atmosphere for men, women, and children new to the sport and for those already familiar with BJJ. To see for yourself, sign up today for our FREE introductory special! Gracie Jiu Jitsu LKN serves Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Mooresville, Denver, Davidson, Troutman, and Statesville, North Carolina areas.
About Martial Arts
You may be wondering exactly what is martial arts? Martial arts is a broad term that encompasses many different practices of physical combat and has an extensive history dating back to the 1500′s. Various martial art forms include Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, and many others. These various forms of martial art can be armed or unarmed, upright or ground based, or a combination of these known as mixed martial arts. Today, many people participate in martial arts for multiple reasons, which include competition, self-defense, physical fitness, or mental and spiritual development.
What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, known as “the gentle art,” can be traced back to northern India and traveling Buddhist monks over four centuries ago. During a time that was not friendly to traveling people, Buddhist monks developed a form of protecting themselves that involved grappling and subduing their attackers without killing them. In time, this martial art made its way to Japan where it was altered and improved upon becoming known as jujutsu or jiujitsu. As time progressed, this form of martial art made its way to Brazil via Mitsuyo Maeda, a master of Kodokan Judo which is also derived from jujutsu.
Gastao Gracie
In Brazil, Maeda was the houseguest of Gastao Gracie, a well-respected businessman. During this time an arrangement was made between Maeda and Gastao. The arrangement was that in exchange for Gastao’s assistance in business dealings, Maeda would instruct Gastao’s eldest child, Carlos, in the art of judo. Carlos then went on to teach what he had learned from Maeda to his younger siblings, including Helio Gracie, the youngest and smallest of the clan.
Helio Gracie
Helio often found himself at a disadvantage with his brothers as judo favors strength and size of the participants with many of its techniques. To gain an advantage over his brothers, Helio began developing altered techniques that involved the use of leverage that trumped strength and size. What Helio developed is referred to today as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is known for its takedowns, ground control, grappling, and submissions.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is growing in popularity throughout the U.S. and is one of the featured sports of mixed martial arts (MMA). The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an MMA promotion, is the most popular venue featuring contestants well-trained in the art of BJJ. Gracie BJJ practitioners Royce Gracie and Rodney “Sho-Nuff” Wallace have both been featured fighters in the UFC and have close, personal ties to the Gracie Lake Norman School of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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