Harris County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals

Jiu-Jitsu means 'the gentle art' and it is truly a complete martial art. Our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ( BJJ ) Program in Houston teaches complete self-defense in that it uses not only physical preparation, but also trains you in the mental aspect of combat and conflict. We are minutes away from Houston Heights neighborhood..

The application of traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu transcends the application of chokes, joint locks, immobilization's, throws and strikes. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a way of life. Beyond the mat, practitioners of the Gracie style live balanced, healthy lives based on the same philosophy that governs their unique self-defense system. The Gracie's believe that the principles of efficiency, patience, and control held the key to success in all aspects of life.

Efficiency is the ability to achieve maximum output with minimum input, and this is a core principle of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. At Urban Jungle Self Defense, our instructors assume that your attacker or opponent will always be larger and more athletic than you. Our students quickly learn that the only reliable way to succeed is to exhaust your attacker while conserving your own energy through the use of leverage-based techniques and natural body movements. In life, as in a fight, a student who learns to expend energy efficiently will achieve maximum results with minimal effort.

Patience is often the key to success in a struggle against a larger opponent. Usually, it is not the person who attacks the most, but the one who exhausts the least who will win. Acting impulsively, aggressively, or without focus wastes energy. Patience also applies to timing. Even a perfectly executed technique will fail if attempted at the wrong time. In life, too, patience and timing enable you to "make your own luck" by calmly watching and waiting until the right moment when you can apply your energy most efficiently.

Our students learn techniques to manage daily interactions with others, including being patient with friends and family, allowing impulses to pass, and taking a deep breath to consider all possibilities before committing to action. Patience and timing allow you to know when to commit while efficiency ensures that you have sufficient energy to achieve your objective when the time is right for action.

The final objective in a fight is to impose your will on your opponent. Nothing achieves this more quickly than physical domination after which surrender usually follows. Physical domination means controlling your opponent. Without control, you risk losing the fight. In life, control applies not only to a simple contest between you and an opponent, but also to the struggle within yourself. Self-control reflects your personal discipline and is the foundation for every decision you make in life.

The Gracie Triangle, the widely recognized symbol of the Gracie Academy, has evolved over the years. Today, it appears on the storefront of every martial arts school that is committed to teaching the techniques and philosophy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in its purest form. The triangle represents the stable base possessed by a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu master. Regardless of which side it rests on, the Gracie Triangle always has a strong base. The three sides represent the mind, body, and spirit – the three components of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu mastery. The slight inclination near the top of the triangle forms the letter "G" for Gracie. The two fighters on the inside represent all the practitioners of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu who seek to master themselves in mind, body, and spirit – on and off the mat.

BJJ is the premiere martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling or ground fighting, with the goal of gaining a dominant position by various learned BJJ techniques including the "guard" control position and submissions such as chokes and arm locks. BJJ entails skill, not only in maneuvering, but also in finding and keeping composure, which are all abilities that can carry a student a long way.

Urban Jungle's mission is to continue to seek innovative teaching methods to motivate students toward their greatest ability in BJJ. We strongly believe BJJ is one of the most powerful foundations a student can have, whether one is a novice or an experienced practitioner.

This class is ideal for people of any age, strength or stature as techniques rely on leverage and focus. We believe the class is a starting fundamental and a necessity for further training either competing or in mixed martial arts (MMA). Open mat classes are scheduled on the weekends, allowing students the freedom to work on individual skills.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu compels students to be in the moment. You must focus to get the full benefit of the training, so you must completely give yourself to the moment in class. This is one reason why people train; they train to escape the day to day stressors that they face on a regular basis.

Schedule a free introductory class.

We offer a free week of training and provide you with everything that you will need for that week.  Call in advance to schedule your first class or simply 15 minutes before class to participate in your first session. Prices may be obtained on your first visit as we have several options to choose from.
Parking is available across the street along 7th street.  We also have bike racks with complimentary locks if needed.

Class Requirements:

No experience is necessary. Everyday gear includes: Urban Jungle t-shirt, full gi (uniform). Long hair must be restrained. No jewelry or hair clips. All nails must be clipped and kempt, hands and feet. Classes are done with bare feet.