Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Welcome to FMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Franklin, MA).

We hope this site is helpful in acquainting newcomers to the school, as well as educating visitors to the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu, which include physical and mental health while learning the most effective martial art of sport fighting and self defense.

Benefits:

- Develop an in depth understanding of self defense principles
- Safe classes taught by experienced professionals
- Greatly improve flexibility
- Participate in a challenging workout
- Improve cardio and muscle endurance
- Meet like-minded people

Our goal at FMA BJJ is to teach genuine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self defense in the safest manner available. The workouts are geared toward the average person, are informative and fun. The instructors at FMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have years of experience in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and teaching. They are dedicated to carefully working with you and helping you achieve your personal goals.

BJJ, The most battle tested martial art

The techniques taught in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are extremely effective and have been tested on knowledgeable and experienced martial artists who were not cooperative. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is meant to be practiced as a martial art where you can use little to no strength to subdue a much larger opponent without causing them harm.

Limited Time Offer Web Special, Free Trial Class

For a Limited time, new members enjoy a free trial class when enrolling through our website. Your first class will be a step-by-step and safe introduction to this exciting sport. Please fill out the information box below.

Why Choose Franklin Martial Arts Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Aside from offering true expertise in genuine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, FMA instructors lead fun workouts and teach awesome self defense, while keeping student safety as our #1 priority. We understand students have different abilities - and most importantly - different goals. The BJJ instructors at FMA are dedicated to carefully working with you and helping you achieve your personal goals.

Some of the highlights of our program are:

True Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian native and head instructor Bruno Souza has practiced BJJ for over ten years in the US and Brazil. He holds the rank of brown belt under the guidance and mentorship of Roberto Maia, renowned instructor, and member of the Gracie family.

Expert teachers. At FMA instructors are trained to offer challenging and rewarding classes, while remaining vigilant of each student’s safety. We aim to create a fertile learning environment, and we pride ourselves in being a team of excellent communicators. We understand how to deliver the best training for you – because not all students (or instructors) are the same.

Friendly learning environment. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a challenging martial art and sport, and it is also a great activity to exercise the body and mind. At FMA we believe a friendly environment is necessary for students to come to class, feel good, and improve. We want to share Jiu-Jitsu with you, not throw you into a survival battle ground.

Educational Tip: Key questions to ask an instructor:

What style of Jiu-Jitsu do you practice? The answer should be "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu", period. Any other answer should be looked into.

What is your belt rank in BJJ? The adult belt ranks for BJJ are: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Any true BJJ instructor has earned at least a blue belt. An unclear answer, such as “certified instructor”, is a red flag.

Who promoted you to this belt? All true BJJ instructors have a higher-up, someone who trained and promoted them. Often they love their instructor and mentor and can tell you stories about their training together. A vague answer like “I’ve trained with a lot of people” is bad, bad, bad.

Do you train with the gi? The answer should be an enthusiastic "yes!". This will tell you if the person actually trains BJJ or not. Anyone who knows BJJ, knows it is practiced with a uniform and belt. Yes, the art has recently expanded to include no-gi and MMA principles, so some classes and tournaments will focus on it. While no-gi can be a plus to a BJJ academy, training with the gi is a must for any organization that advertises themselves as a BJJ school.

Who is your teacher's teacher? With this information you should be able to trace your own BJJ lineage back to Carlos or Helio Gracie. If such lineage cannot be traced, there has been some misinformation (BJJ lineage information is available on the web).

Other questions could include how long he has trained for, when he was last promoted, etc. If you’re looking for a teacher for competition, ask about their competition experience. Remember, true professionals LOVE to talk about their training and experience. Ask them!

What you can expect during your first class:

Before Class

Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check out the school, fill out guest waiver and try on uniforms. You do not need to own a uniform for your first class. The school will provide you with one for the class.

Warm Up

Classes begin with a light group warm up that may include running, jumping jacks, push-ups, etc. Class warm-up may also include ground specific drills that will be thoroughly explained and demonstrated by the instructors.

Techniques

Next, the students line up and the instructors demonstrate techniques. You will be paired up with another student of similar weight to practice while the instructors pay close attention. After you try the moves a few times, the instructors will give your group and other groups individual help to better fine tune the techniques.

Positional Drills or Specific Training

Depending on the class, towards the end, you will be able to try the moves against a partner

that may be resisting. The instructor will indicate how much resistance students should use according to each drill (Example: 50% resistance or 80% resistance). This is a great way to improve your newly learned skills and an awesome, safe workout.

Sparring (Rolling)

Rolling is always a controlled training session where students practice their Jiu-Jitsu techniques on each other. As a new member of FMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, during your first class, you will not participate in any sparring or rolling and will instead watch this part of the class. For safety and other reasons, this part of the class is reserved for students with some experience. The instructors will first teach you specific positions and drills so that over the upcoming weeks you are slowly and comfortably introduced to training live with a partner.

End of Class

Students line up, bow to instructors and shake hands with instructors and fellow BJJ practitioners. After having enjoyed a great BJJ class as a new student, you can speak to staff about enrollment in our school, purchasing a uniform or ask any questions you may have about training Jiu-Jitsu at our school.

The History of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Some historians of Jiu-Jitsu say that the origins of "the gentle art" can be traced back to India, and was practiced by Buddhist Monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu spread from Southeast Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where it developed and gained further popularity.

Jiu-Jitsu Goes To Brazil

In the last days of the 19th century, some Jiu-Jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, teaching the martial arts, as well as competing in fights and competitions. Esai Maeda Koma, also known as "Conde Koma” or Count Koma, was one such master. After traveling with a troupe which fought in various countries in Europe and the Americas, Koma arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para the next year, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie. The father of eight children, among them five boys and three girls, Gastao became a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos Gracie, to learn to fight from the Japanese master.

Birth of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

For a naturally frail fifteen-year old Carlos Gracie, Jiu-Jitsu became a method not simply for fighting, but for personal improvement. At nineteen, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family and began teaching and competing in the martial arts. In his travels, Carlos Gracie would teach classes, and also proved the efficiency of Jiu-Jitsu by defeating in competition adversaries who were more physically strong. In 1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first school, known as the "Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu."

Jiu-Jitsu, Synonymous With Health

Since then, Carlos Gracie started to share his knowledge with his brothers, adapting and refining the techniques to the naturally weaker characteristics of his family. Also, Carlos Gracie taught the other Gracies his philosophies of life as well as his concepts of natural nutrition. Eventually, Carlos Gracie became a pioneer in creating a special diet for athletes, "the Gracie diet," which transformed Jiu-Jitsu into a term synonymous with health.

Limited Time Offer Web Special

Free Trial Class

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