A self-defense foundation you can build, one lesson at a time.
Gracie Combatives organizes 36 core standing and ground techniques into 23 lessons. You learn with a cooperative partner, with movements broken into smaller drills and no competitive sparring in the beginner program.
Each numbered lesson includes standing and ground material. Because lessons can be taken in any order, your first class fits into a clear curriculum from day one.
01 / STANDING
Manage the encounter.
Learn responses to common grabs and holds, along with takedown and distance-management principles. The focus is understanding position and leverage when the other person may be larger.
02 / GROUND
Understand your position.
Develop escapes, control, and defensive skills for situations on the ground. Practice the individual movements before connecting them to the next response.
PROGRESS WITH A PURPOSE
FROM FIRST LESSON TO A STRONG FOUNDATION.
Your attendance card records the lessons you complete. Repetition builds familiarity; evaluation checks what you can demonstrate.
01
Learn the techniques
Begin anywhere in the 23-lesson cycle. Watch the demonstration, practice the details, and ask for help.
02
Build your reflexes
Complete every lesson twice to qualify for Reflex Development. These classes combine techniques in changing situations.
03
Demonstrate your skills
GU testing eligibility requires each lesson three times plus at least 12 Reflex Development classes. Passing the assessment earns the Combatives belt.
04
Continue into Master Cycle
The Combatives belt opens the next curriculum. Your instructor helps you prepare for more advanced training.
At a Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center®, you follow the Gracie University curriculum. Your lesson number, progress record, and online videos work together to give your training continuity.
Cooperative practice gives beginners space to understand the movement. There is no pressure to win a round while you’re learning the fundamentals.
The same material online
Enrollment includes the Combatives video curriculum through Gracie University Online. Revisit class material and prepare for upcoming lessons from home.
A guided first visit
We provide a gi and a focused introduction before you join the group, so you have someone to walk you through your first steps.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
STARTING FROM ZERO? START HERE.
Will I have to spar?+
There is no competitive sparring in Gracie Combatives. Beginners practice cooperatively; Reflex Development later helps connect the techniques you have learned.
What if I miss a lesson?+
You can take the numbered lessons in any order and revisit them as the curriculum cycles. Your attendance record helps you see which lessons you still need.
Is the Combatives belt a blue belt?+
No. It recognizes proficiency in the beginner self-defense curriculum and is the entry point into Master Cycle. It is separate from the blue belt.
Can I start if I’m out of shape?+
Yes. No fitness prerequisite is required. Tell your instructor about your starting point and any concerns before class.
GRACIE NWA · CENTERTON, AR
YOUR FIRST LESSON. A CLEAR NEXT STEP.
Come meet your instructor and experience how a cooperative beginner class works.
Free introductory lesson · 10 days completely risk free
