Jiu Jitsu Classes in Columbia, MD and Finksburg, MD
Learn Authentic Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Columbia, MD and Finksburg, Maryland
Grandmaster Relson Gracie is the second oldest son of Grandmaster Helio Gracie, who is accredited with creating the martial art of Gracie jiu jitsu, more commonly known as Brazilian jiu jitsu. Students who train under Relson Gracie and his team can expect to learn realistic, street-effective martial arts skills in a safe and positive environment.
Our students can expect to learn battle tested martial arts techniques taught by veteran black belt instructors who have received countless hours of instruction directly training with Relson Gracie. Students can also expect to learn directly from Relson Gracie himself, who makes visits to our Columbia, MD and Finksburg, MD locations. We are the only Brazilian jiu jitsu school in Howard County and Carrol County, MD that has a Grandmaster investing his time and sharing his knowledge on our mats.
The primary objective in Brazilian jiu jitsu as a self-defense system is to close the distance, take the opponent to the ground, and submit the opponent using leverage-based grappling techniques such as arm locks, chokes, or leg locks. Gracie jiu jitsu is a martial arts system based on maximizing timing, technique, and leverage to overcome an opponent. We teach our students how to take down aggressive opponents and use various grappling techniques that will cause an opponent to “submit”. Gracie jiu jitsu also considers the dangers of having a larger opponent on top. Gracie jiu jitsu allows us to stay safe and attack with our back on the ground, either submitting an opponent or “sweeping” from a bottom position to land on top of our opponent. Even when one is battling a larger or stronger opponent, our system allows a smaller opponent to survive and prevail effectively. In a fight the safest place to be is on top of your opponent, which nullifies the athletic and size advantages of a larger opponent, and Gracie jiu jitsu teaches such moves.
Moreover, a common misconception is that jiu jitsu is entirely ground fighting and that zero striking or stand-up techniques are practiced. This is generally true within the realm of sport/competitive Brazilian jiu jitsu. However, at Rising Tide Academy, we are fully committed to teaching our students real life-saving martial arts techniques that include both ground fighting and stand-up techniques. Our goal is to develop a well-rounded martial artist who can become the best at both stand up and ground fighting. Relson Gracie places a deep emphasis on this type of practical martial arts training. His style of jiu jitsu is ideal for helping students prepare for real-life street self-defense situations where there are no rules or time limits. After students progress through the curriculum and learn to master unarmed self-defense techniques, they begin learning weapons defense, disarming techniques, and retention methods. Jiu jitsu is the most commonly used system of martial arts practiced among law enforcement agencies and members of the U.S. military for those reasons.
These considerations for safety, technique, and natural movements create an amazing martial arts activity where you can learn new skills, break a good sweat, lose weight, gain strength, and be mentally engaged in a supportive, friendly atmosphere. We strive to help you develop towards your self-improvement goals.
Fundamentals Adult Classes
These classes focus on teaching fundamental takedowns, positions, sweeps, and submissions that can be applied to real self-defense situations. Fighting is always a last resort, but when faced with an unavoidable conflict against an untrained opponent, we want our students to know how to handle themselves with this proven martial arts system.
Goals:
- Improve fitness, coordination, and movement;
- Develop an effective, real world self-defense skill set; and
- Build a consistent practice of self confidence and self discipline.
Fundamentals Adult Classes include:
- An instructor led warm up;
- One standing situation with 1-3 techniques plus partner drilling;
- 1-2 ground techniques with partner drilling; and
- Controlled grappling matches or "rolling".
Advanced Adult Classes
Our advanced classes dive further into more advanced concepts for self defense and pure sport and competition. Sport jiu jitsu, which involves grappling under a rule set with no striking against a trained opponent, requires a different approach to this martial art than what one might encounter in a street fight. We first and foremost teach common sense jiu jitsu for self defense. However, for advanced students, some of whom are focused on competing in tournaments, we add advanced layers of jiu jitsu and consider the reactions of a trained opponent.
We advise that new adult students focus of earning their second stripe in our Fundamentals Adult classes before participating in our Advanced Adult classes.
Goals:
- Improve coordination and movement;
- Instill positive values including confidence and self discipline; and
- Develop the student's self-defense fundamentals, takedowns, positions, and transitions.
Advanced Adult Classes include:
- High-paced warm ups;
- Standing distance management with a takedown and one variation;
- Ground technique training (pins, escapes, sweeps, and submissions) with one or more variations; and
- Controlled grappling matches or "rolling".
