Located right on the central avenue and main thoroughfare of Copacabana, Fabricio Jiu-Jitsu is easy to spot thanks to it’s large yellow signs, just one floor up from street level. In a city where many jiu-jitsu gyms are tucked away and often difficult to locate, Fabricio’s gym is incredibly easy to find.

Fabricio Martins, 7th degree BJJ master

The mat space is ample for the number of people in a class, and the matted walls allow for almost non-stop rolling. The two rooms allow for multiple classes to run at the same time, though unusually they are actually separated by a hairdressing salon! Each studio has it’s own changing area and toilet.

A Typical Class
Warm-ups are your usual mix of bodyweight exercises and some partner drills, done in reps of 10-20 and directed by the teacher. The pace is higher than some gyms, but doesn’t quite stray into conditioning territory.

The technical instruction is detailed and you will be shown a position or technique multiple times, before being partnered up to get a feel for it. Instructors roam the room correcting any details or mistakes. Usually you will be shown between one to three techniques before being partnered up to roll. Techniques range from basic fundamentals through to modern competition-effective tactics.

Rolling is competitive yet not crazy. The instructor will match up partners to roll based on size, grade etc. The high number of black belts means sparring is of a good level, though most of the black belts are part-timers with dayjobs, so it is not a room of high-level competitors. There are fewer coloured belts on the mat, but they appeared to be of a higher level on average than you might find in some other gyms. During a 7.30pm class, there was only one white belt (a visiting foreigner).

Our thoughts
It’s said you can find jiu-jitsu on almost every street corner in Rio de Janeiro. It is worth remembering how deep the talent runs here in Rio. With a team of experienced black belts and many years of history, Fabricio Jiu-Jitsu warmly welcomes visitors.

Academy fact file:
Head instructor: Fabricio Martins, supported by Onofre Ribeiro, Emanoel Morreira, Joaquim Malta,
Price: R$180 / month
Matspace: Room 1: 60sqm, Room 2: 120sqm.
Facilities: Two rooms matted wall-to-wall, small changing area / shower.
Average numbers of BB’s at training: 10
Av number of people per class: 20-25
Speak English?: Enough
Location: One floor above ground level, located on and directly facing main street in Copacabana
Suggested transport: Walk / bus / subway
MMA / no-gi: MMA
Other martial arts: Karate, female MMA
Years open: 21
Titles / champions / championships: Black belt adult state champions

Address:
Av. Nossa Senhora 1017 (201-203)
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro RJ
22060-000

Tel: 21-2247-3452
Email: contato@equipefabricio.com.br

Google Maps link

Location
Highly visible from the street, just two blocks back from Copacabana beach. Enter through the glass door, pass the porter and go up the stairs to the left.

Facebook page:
Equipe Fabrício Jiu Jitsu

Timetable:

Mon: 8am-10am, 10-11.30am, 4pm-6pm, 7.30pm-10pm.
Tue: 8am-10am, 6pm-7.30pm, 7.30pm-10pm.
Wed: 8am-10am, 10-11.30am, 4pm-6pm, 7.30pm-10pm.
Thur: 8am-10am, 6pm-7.30pm, 7.30pm-10pm.
Fri: 8am-10am, 10-11.30am, 7.30pm-10pm.
Sat: 10pm-12.30pm.

Video:

Video by Hywel Teague / BJJHacks for Connection Rio

Links:
Fabricio Martins BJJ Heroes profile
Facebook page

The post Fabricio Jiu-Jitsu appeared first on Train BJJ in Rio.

Located deep in the North Zone of Rio in the neighbourhood of Méier the GFTeam headquarters is a modest academy with few facilities, yet it boasts a huge team of competitors. Few foreigners ever venture there, as it is far from the well-trodden tourist areas of the South Zone (Zona Sul). To get to the academy in Méier from Zona Sul requires either multiple bus rides, a local train service, or sometimes a combination of both. It is an area of the city not exactly friendly to tourists – the local population are mostly lower-income working class, and there are many favelas nearby (some as yet unreached by the growing pacification program).

The academy is best left to those who either speak Portuguese or have strong local connections, preferably with transport. A few outsiders have made numerous trips there, including Canadian black belt competitor Jake MacKenzie, who spends seven months in Rio every year based at that academy. Aside from Jake, who is happy to help visitors, few people based full-time at the academy speak English.

A Typical Class
Classes are always well-attended. Warm-ups vary depending on the day. Some days will see standard bodyweight exercises mixed with stretching, whereas on other days the emphasis is placed on sports-specific movements. On these days, the class will perform sets of entries to judo throws, moving onto armbars, sweeps and other jiu-jitsu movements. During these warm-ups the pace is kept high.

The instructor will show 2-3 moves, giving about 10 mins to work each position time before sparring commences. As mat space is limited, around 6 pairs will roll at the same time while the rest of the class line the walls and watch the space.

Rolling is, as to expected, very competitive. Due to their strong reputation and excellent results in competition, many athletes from other teams have decamped to GFTeam in the hope of also tasting success.

Competition team training sessions are only for brown and black belts (with some purples, but by invitation only).

There is a strong camaraderie in the gym, with a number of the team living in the academy in a small space above the mat. Conditions and facilities are basic and below what a tourist would expect; one English visitor who thought he might save money by staying there left after 36 hours as it was not what he expected at all.

Our thoughts
One of the best-known teams in BJJ, the competitive powerhouse that is GFTeam is not exactly a hotbed for visitors due to it’s remote location and relative inaccessibility to foreigners. But it still has the power to attract brave and dedicated souls who wish to experience one of the best training environments Rio has to offer.

There are a number of satellite GFTeam academies closer to the areas of Rio more popular with visitors, including one in Ipanema and one in Recreio. TrainBJJinRio recommends visitors to consider checking these out before attempting to visit the main academy in Méier.

Academy Fact File:
Head instructor: Julio Cesar Pereira
Price: TBD
Matspace: Approx 70 sqm
Facilities: Basic (mat, punchbag, small changing area)
Av number of people per class: 40
Av number of BB’s at training: Up to 20-25
Speak English?: Some of the guys in the gym may speak limited English, but not many
Location: Méier, Zona Norte
Suggested transport: Bus / train
MMA / no-gi: Yes, both
Other martial arts: No.
Years open: 10+
Titles / champions / championships: IBJJF Brazilian national and state team titles, numerous individual IBJJF titles.

Address:
GFTeam
Rua Arquias Cordeiro, 478
Méier, Rio de Janeiro

Google maps link

Contact:
0055 21 3497 0478
gfteam.diretoria@gmail.com

Location:
The gym is an anonymous blue building next door to a mechanic. There is a small sign on the outside of the academy next to the entrance. The gym sits next to the train tracks from the nearby station Méier.

Website:
www.gfteamglobal.com

Timetable:

Coming soon

VIDEO:

An inside look into GFTeam by BJJPix.com

LINKS:

BJJ Heroes team profile

The post GFTeam HQ (Meier, Rio) appeared first on Train BJJ in Rio.

Founded by Carlos Gracie Jr in the early 80s, Gracie Barra is one of the most successful teams in BJJ history with an almost endless list of champions and top competitors.

Due to their wide-reaching international association of schools, Gracie Barra is a popular choice for jiu-jitsu practitioners to visit when training BJJ in Rio de Janeiro. There are many jiu-jitsu gyms in Rio but Gracie Barra Rio is probably the best-known of all.

A simple yet huge space, Gracie Barra is located on the top floor of a large health club. The sprawling blue mat is one of the largest in Rio de Janeiro, and it needs to be – evening classes can contain well over 50 students.

Though he remains head of the association, co-founder Carlos Gracie Jr stopped teaching and moved to the USA some years ago. Training at Gracie Barra HQ is now overseen by former world champion Jefferson Moura. It is not uncommon for many Gracie Barra alumni to return to HQ throughout the year, with well-respected Gracie Barra black belts and teachers like Marcio Feitosa and Draculino (who respectively head the Gracie Barra academies in Irvine, California and Houston, Texas) training in the same place they began their long jiu-jitsu careers. Even Roger Gracie, who started his jiu-jitsu journey there, is known to drop by when in Rio.

Visitors are welcome and it is not uncommon for there to be a number of foreigners training at Gracie Barra at any given time. All students must wear an official Gracie Barra gi to train, so if you are not already a Gracie Barra representative you will need to purchase one or more kimonos if you plan to train regularly. Jefferson speaks no English, but some of the other black belts do and there are always at least a few fluent speakers in the class. Classes are taught solely in Portuguese, but there will be people able to help translate technical details.

The warm-ups are strictly regimented and follow a specific curriculum that has been standardised throughout Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu schools across the world. Students will move through a series of exercises including various calisthenics, stretches and conditioning exercises. Counting of reps is done together and the knowledge of 1-10 in Portuguese is essential.

Gracie Barra uses an extensive curriculum of techniques, which determines what will be covered in the class. The class usually begins with a self-defence technique from standing, before moving onto ground techniques – instructors deliver around 3-4 techniques per class. The emphasis is very much on fundamentals that will work for all levels.

The students must line up along the wall to witness the instructors demonstrate the technique, and then will pair off to complete repetitions until time is called. Discipline is paramount at Gracie Barra and the extensive code of etiquette determines how you should behave during class, including bowing on and off the mat, bowing to your partner, and even how you tie your kimono.

The Gracie Barra motto is “Jiu-jitsu for all” so expect a wide variety of people in a session, from white belt part-timers to blue belt competitors and experienced brown and black belts.

Our Thoughts
There is a reason Gracie Barra is one of the sot powerful names in BJJ, so while some people may disagree with their business practices or way of doing things when training, results speak for themselves. The discipline and order suit some people more than others, but you will certainly find excellent jiu-jitsu here.

Academy Fact File:
Head instructor: Carlos Gracie Jr / Jefferson Moura
Price: R$172/ month, R$30 joining fee. Discounts available for 3/6 month payment terms.
Matspace: Approx 200sqm
Facilities: The jiu-jitsu academy is a separate, very large plain matted room on the top floor of the ByFit health club. There is a gym, a pool, pilots studio, physio rooms and more.
Average number of BB’s at training: 10 each session.
Av number of people per class: 10-20 (AM), 50+ (PM)
Speak English?: Some people, yes.
Location: Barra da Tijuca, 10m from the main street, very easy to find.
Suggested transport: Major bus stop that serves most of the city only 5 min walk away.
MMA / no-gi: Yes.
Other martial arts: Muay Thai.
Years open: 28
Titles / champions / championships: One of the most successful teams in history. GB has produced multiple World, European, Pan-Am, Brazilian and Rio state champions, and won many team championships.
Notable students: The list is almost endless.

Address:
Av. Comandante Julio de Moura, 300 (above ByFit health club)
Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro
22620-012

Google Maps link

Location:
Gracie Barra is one block away from the amazing Barra beach, Rio’s longest beach and a major surfing hotspot. The gym is metres away from the street Avenida Olegario Maciel, which has many cafes, bars and restaurants. There is no shortage of places to get açai! There are many nearby hotels; some are reasonable (The Royalty Hotel) while others are at the upper end of the price scale (the Windsor Barra, the Sheraton).

Connection Rio can place visitors in an apartment only one block away from the gym. The apartment is modestly sized and can house a single person or a couple. It is clean and well-kept and on the third floor of a secure building located on Avenida Olegario Maciel, though it is shielded from traffic noise and offers a quiet and comfortable experience.

Website:
http://www.graciebarra.com/br/

Timetable:

VIDEOS

External links:
Carlos Gracie Jr BJJ Heroes Profile

Jefferson Moura BJJ Heroes Profile

Gracie Barra BJJ Heroes team profile

The post Gracie Barra (HQ) appeared first on Train BJJ in Rio.

A former world champion himself, Gordo is a sought-after trainer who has helped coach many others onto to championship titles. He was an instructor at Gracie Barra for many years before opening his own academy, and was the head of the Gracie Barra Combat Team, the MMA squad who represented the powerhouse team.

Gordo Jiu-Jitsu in Barra da Tijuca is popular with visitors, both Brazilian and from abroad. Many who choose to visit and train BJJ in Rio will base themselves at Gordo’s due to it’s close proximity to the Connection Rio hostels, located less than a block away from the academy (less than 60 seconds away).

The academy is a standalone building solely dedicated to martial arts. A two-storey building, the large downstairs mat has the main classes while the smaller upstairs area (complete with a half cage wall) hosts the kids classes and boxing fitness sessions. The academy is extremely clean and well-presented, with very nice showers and changing facilities.

Photos by BJJPix.com

Gordo’s is probably the most popular jiu-jitsu gym in Rio de Janeiro for foreigners. It’s not uncommon for the busy classes to be half full of gringos, with people from all over the world. Of the locals, there are many black and brown belts though most of the purples and blues will come from abroad. It’s an environment where many different styles of jiu-jitsu clash, and can make for both interesting and challenging training.

Though he appears standoffish at first, Gordo is friendly to everyone who comes to his academy and he speaks passable English. He will teach in both Portuguese and English, usually repeating the technique 2-3 times in Portuguese before finishing off the instruction in English.

Teaching is divided between a group of instructors, including Gordo’s brother Rafael ‘Gordinho’ and partner Rommel Cardozo, both fourth degree black belts. Classes usually consist of 2-3 techniques and you will have plenty of time to refine the position. The game ‘King of the Mat’ is played during most sessions, with a group of people playing guard and the rest of the group trying to pass. Should you get swept or submitted, you will return to the back of the line but if you pass guard, you will replace the person on bottom and stay in for as long as you can.

The rolling is competitive and rounds are usually around 6-7 minutes in duration. There are players from lightweight to heavyweight, with most in the 80-85kg range.

Depending on the time of year, it’s possible to encounter some big names from the world of jiu-jitsu on Gordo’s mats. When their travel schedule allows, many Gracie family members will train there, including the likes of Kyra, Gregor, and sometimes even Roger Gracie will swing by.

Our Thoughts:
It might seem off the beaten track to someone staying in Zona Sul, but Gordo’s academy is located in the nicest (and oldest) part of the sprawling suburb of Barra da Tijuca. The neighbourhood is peaceful and a popular place for visitors to stay when training jiu-jitsu in Rio due to the convenience of Connection Rio being so close to the gym and the picturesque nature of the area. Commuting to train at Gordo’s would be difficult, but if you’re in the area it’s a fantastic place to train.

Academy Fact File:
Main instructor: Roberto ‘Gordo’ Correa de Lima.
Price: R$65 drop-in (day), R$165/week, R$265/month. (last updated 2013)
Matspace: Approx 90sqm downstairs, approx 30sqm upstairs.
Facilities: Dedicated jiu-jitsu academy, cage wall, puchbags, showers.
Average number of BB’s at training: Between 6-12 each session.
Av number of people per class: 20-25
Speak English?: Yes
Location: Barra da Tijuca.
Suggested transport: Bus. Major bus stop around 15 minutes walk away, another well-serviced bus stop less than 100m away (556/557).
MMA / no-gi: No.
Other martial arts: Muay Thai, boxing fitness.
Years open: 5
Titles / champions / championships: World, Pan-Am and Brazilian champions, UFC fighters.
Notable students: Antonio Braga Neto, Kyra Gracie, Rafael dos Anjos.

Address:
206 Rua Correa de Aruajo,
Largo da Barra
Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro

Google Maps Link

Location:
Gordo jiu-jitsu is tucked away in the charming neighbourhood of Largo da Barra (also known as Barrinha, meaning ‘Little Barra’) the gym can be tricky to find for first time visitors. Next door to the prestigious ‘Swiss school’, Gordo’s gym is a 10-15 minute walk from the Passarela da Barra, the pedestrian bridge at the eastern end of Barra that is a major transport hub served by buses from around the city. Savvy commuters from Zona Sul will use the buses numbered 557 (from Copacabana) that stops just 100m behind the academy.

Website:
Currently no website.

Timetable:

VIDEOS

Video by Hywel Teague / BJJHacks

External links:

Roberto ‘Gordo’ BJJ Heroes profile

The post Gordo Jiu-Jitsu appeared first on Train BJJ in Rio.

His well-known academy is situated in the heart of Copacabana and so is a popular choice for visitors to check out when they want to train jiu-jitsu in Rio de Janeiro.

A modest-sized yet thriving academy, De La Riva jiu-jitsu can be found inside the fitness gym Academia Equipe 1. Classes are always well-attended, usually busy though rarely crowded. De la Riva leads many of the classes himself, from warm-ups to teaching techniques and even pairing people up to roll.

Photos by BJJPix.com

Visitors are warmly received, and there are usually a few gringos in every session. De la Riva himself speaks passable English, as do many of the other regulars, some more fluent than others. Classes are taught solely in Portuguese, though a few of the black belts speak good English and will gladly translate technical details for non-Portuguese speakers.

The warm-ups are casual and consist mostly of static stretches, with some added abdominal conditioning.

On average, expect one technique to be shown per class. You will be given approximately 5 minutes to practice it with a partner. There is an emphasis on fundamental positions, though de la Riva will often show subtle technical details that highlight his knowledge and many years of experience.

The rolling is competitive yet technical, and rounds are usually around 7-8 minutes in duration. Sizes range from feather to heavyweights, with an even mix of coloured belts. Black belts will often make up half of those on the mat.

Our Thoughts:
The De la Riva gym in Copacabana is an extremely obvious choice for anyone staying in the area. It’s well-known, has an open-door policy, and is operated by one of the nicest guys in the game. As such, you’ll meet fellow travellers from around the world who have chosen to train jiu-jitsu while in Rio. Some will be there for extended periods of time, some maybe for only a few days. It’s a bustling environment with an ever-changing cast of characters but always has a friendly atmosphere, something that comes direct from Master De la Riva himself.

Academy Fact File:
Main instructor: Ricardo De la Riva
Price: R$240/month (updated 2015)
Matspace: Approx 72sqm
Facilities: The jiu-jitsu academy is a separate, plain matted room set within a large, busy fitness gym with weights and a pool (available at extra cost).
Average number of back belts at training: Between 6-12 each session.
Average number of people per class: 20-25
Speak English?: Yes
Location: Central Copacabana, main street, easy to find.
Suggested transport: Bus stop within 100m, subway 2 blocks away.
MMA / no-gi: No.
Other martial arts: No
Years open: 20+
Titles / champions / championships: Multiple Brazilian and Rio state champions, team championships.
Notable students: De la Riva awarded both Minotauro and Minotoro Nogueira their black belts in BJJ.

Address:
Academia Equipe 1,
702 Avenida Nossa Senhora,
Copacabana

Google Maps Link

Location:
Right in the middle of central Copacabana, the club is on a main avenue and seconds away from major transport links including buses and subway. The gym is easy to find thanks to the huge ‘Equipe 1′ sign.

Website:
www.delarivajj.com.br (inactive)

Timetable:
Classes Mon-Fri, 7am, 8am, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm (Mon,Wed,Fri only), 7pm, 8pm.
Class duration: 60 minutes.

VIDEOS

Videos by Hywel Teague for BJJHacks

External links:
Ricardo de la Riva BJJ Heroes profile

The post De la Riva Jiu-Jitsu appeared first on Train BJJ in Rio.