Nihon Kodokan Jujutsu

This program is one of the only of its kind.

It is based on my training with Professor Takahiko Ishikawa in Kodokan as was originally taught to Helio Gracie. This is as close as you can get to the basic Brazilian Jujutsu before being modified by the Gracie Family to focus on the ground work and submissions. This class is for the serious student that wants to understand the history and background of Gracie/ Brazilian Jujutsu and the fact that it is being taught by one of the few Black Belts of the only man that tied Mashiko Kimura in the All Japan Judo Championships only a few years before Kimura defeated Helio Gracie in his own modified rules by breaking both bones in his arm with Ude Garami now called by BJJ stylists the “Kimura”.

For registered students I have included the full letter from Mashiko Kimura talking about this very famous landmark event and why we should all understand what an incredible innovator and serious warrior Helio Gracie was, not only in his development of Gracie Family Brazilian Jujitsu but what kind of man he was to still never submit even with both bones in his arm being broken by arguably the best Judo Champion in the last century.

Again this class is to show my utmost respect for the Gracie family and Brazilian Jujutsu as it has evolved in the last 60 years.

Beginners Curriculum

Beginners will be taught through the following stages:

1. Break-fall: This is the first step that the jiu-jitsu student will take. The jiu-jitsu program also includes elements of judo. There are many different throws in and so the student has to learn how to fall without injury, learning how to defend the shoulder, arms, head, neck and hips. This knowledge can be taken throughout life, practicing other kinds of sport, or just for the surprises life can present
2. Jujutsu throws (take-downs): After learning how to fall safely without injury, it is time to know how to take down your opponent by learning some basic throws, for that there are many different ways. We are going to learn the basics Jujutsu take-downs
3. Escape pins and inferior positions: By learning to escape from pins and inferior positions, the student gains better awareness of your own body, developing skills and knowledge in ground movement. Through learning to escape inferior positions, the student learns how to remain calm in dangerous positions and reverse the situation to gain good position and carry out his objective.
4. Defending chokes and arm-locks: The student will begin to develop their technique by learning how to defend chokes and arm-locks. The premise of Jujutsu is to defend oneself first and then attack safely.
5. Open and passing the guard: Opening and passing the guard (when one guy is on his back and the other is on the top inside his legs, or guard) consists of keeping posture inside the opponents guard, avoiding chokes, arm-locks and sweeps. The next step is to open the opponents guard and pass, arriving by the side of the opponent establishing a dominant position. For this, several types of techniques exist.
6. Gain and maintain superior positions: There are many different techniques to gain and maintain a superior position. We are going to learn the basics positions. These are the basics techniques that the Jujutsu student will learn at this stage, and associate with the ground skills that were acquired throughout the previous levels: break-fall, escape inferior positions and passing the guard), and by now be getting ready to achieve their goal.
7. Performing basic submissions: After the previous initial basic levels, the student will be able to defend himself from certain attacks, will have learnt to remain calm enough to stop, think and understand his opponent steps and movements and will have time to perform his first attempt of submission. The basic submissions that we will learn will be discussed in the next section for intermediate level students.