adult training

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu means 'the gentle art' and it is truly a complete martial art. This discipline teaches complete self defense in that it uses not only physical preparation, but also trains you in the mental aspect of combat and conflict.

The application of traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu transcends the application of chokes, joint locks, immobilizations, 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 Gracies 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 introductory class and provide a uniform. Since we book your trial by appointment only, call in advance to schedule your first class. You must arrive 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.

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. 

Fighter Fitness

Urban Jungle's Fighter Fitness program is typically a small group of about 8-15 individuals. It brings forth the action, fun and excitement of mixed martial arts, or MMA. Students will train, condition and drill like a fighter in a safe and effective manner, without the risk of injury.

The Fighter Fitness program curriculum involves techniques from a variety of martial arts, and features drills from boxing, kickboxing, MMA and wrestling. It provides students with a full body workout as well as intense cardio component. At times, students will work with a partner, or perhaps move through a series of stations. It is always challenging to keep your body guessing and your mind engaged.

Fighter Fitness provides all of the essentials toward better fitness, weight loss, greater self-confidence and sense of accomplishment. Experience a new and fun way to get fit and learn some practical skills.

This class is scheduled on Monday and Wednesday night from 6:15-7:15pm

Class Requirements:
No experience necessary. Everyday gear includes comfortable workout clothes, running shoes, bottled water and a large towel.

functional Fitness

Urban Jungle's functional fitness program is a small group of typically 8-15 individuals. All classes are appropriate for any fitness levels as you are encouraged to work at your own pace. Working in a small group or with a partner encourages overall fitness activity, while it still allows for personalized training that's both challenging and beneficial.

You will sculpt and define your body with topnotch, well-rounded combinations of cardio, weight training, plyometrics and stretching. The curriculum of this program, when combined with proper nutrition, will reveal what your body is truly capable of achieving.

This class approaches fitness from a functional prospective and is led expert certified personal trainer, Michelle Torres-Aponte. Michelle is also certified in sports nutrition, rehabilitative exercise and 200 hour yoga teacher training. With over 20 years of experience and the mother of 3 children, she can competently guide you every step of the way throughout your physical and mental fitness journey.

Class Requirements:
No experience necessary. Everyday gear includes comfortable workout clothes, a large towel, and bottled water. All classes are done with bare feet.

Private Lessons

Urban Jungle also offers personalized, private lessons with one of our certified training instructors. It's perfect for anyone interested in customizing their own workout based on their own progression level and can include specific focus in one main area, or can focus on a number of areas that you and your trainer feel could use more effort.

Private lessons are great for students looking to improve on their current skill level, fast track their goals or for those who prefer one-on-one instruction. We offer lessons in BJJ (gi or no gi), boxing, kick boxing, MMA, wrestling, weight training or strength conditioning. To book your private lesson, simply request a time, day and trainer through the front desk. If it is available your lesson may only be booked with full payment.

Before lessons begin, we make it a point to sit down and discuss training goals, program level interest and fees. All of our trainers at Urban Jungle are prepared to tailor workouts to fit students' needs and specific requests.

Cancellation policy:
Urban Jungle requires a 24 hour notice to cancel to reschedule your lesson. Refunds are not permitted as monies for private lessons are immediately earned.

Class Requirements:
Everyday gear includes comfortable workout clothes, bare feet, a large towel and bottled water.

Self Defense Workshops

Urban Jungle Self Defense also offers self-defense workshops that are specifically designed to keep you safer in the real world. While our martial arts courses also focus on dealing with daily stressors or situations that could be considered threatening, the self defense workshops are perfectly suited for those that do not have any martial arts training.

Our three-hour workshops in self defense demonstrate and teach a variety of techniques and a blend of street-smart mixed martial arts designed to use setting, breaking and using leverage to effectively defend oneself against an attacker.

Tony and Michelle are both passionate about empowering not just people, but especially little girls, young women and mothers. By providing these women with self defense techniques and skills, they are able to more effectively deal with abuse such as domestic violence, rape, physical attacks and home invasions, just to name a few. So many attacks are from people that we may already know and it's important to be able to expect the unexpected from someone familiar.

The Urban Jungle Self Defense Workshops cover the basic, countermoves that will provide instant results. These moves are wonderful in that they do not require any further or ongoing training. Although the subject matter can be intense, the class is fun and lighthearted and quickly builds confidence and self-empowerment in the students.

As the class becomes more familiar with the moves, the instructor moves into the more uncomfortable moves that push the boundaries of personal space. While it may not feel comfortable, it is where an attacker wants to be, and moving the attacker out of that personal space becomes key.

Students start to see the practical applications of the moves and they quickly soak up the techniques and knowledge being offered. The class finished with the attacker getting geared up in a full padded suit. Each woman gets the chance to experience a simulated attack and then apply her recently acquired knowledge to get out of the comfort zone, defend herself and neutralize the threat.

The great thing is that you cannot make a mistake in the class. The only mistake is not fighting. The instructors and other students coach each woman through the experience, reminding them of the moves and confidence they now have in their arsenal. The students begin to realize the power of what they have learned, and share that knowledge with the other students with an energy that cannot be found elsewhere. That energy comes from the fact that you now know that when faced with a dangerous situation, you have the ability to make a difference.

Our workshops are extremely valuable for women as it teaches skills, endurance, education and determination. Urban Jungle's workshop teaches women simple, yet highly effective techniques to help them escape and/or stop a potential attack. Instructors place ultimate emphasis on teaching skills to improve a woman's ability to defend herself against a larger opponent, and to live with a greater awareness of her surroundings.

The class is guaranteed to instill a confident mindset in what could be a life-and-death situation. Knowing that you have the capacity to effectively deal with a threat is supremely empowering. This course was built and intended for women 18 years and older.

At the end of the course, each participant is presented with an official Urban Jungle certificate of completion. Many women that need the class the most may never sign up for it and participants are encouraged to share their new skills with a woman they know needs that information.

Urban Jungle also offers their self defense workshops for corporations and small businesses. They have traveled and done workshops for large international companies and are now being requested for corporate meetings and events. To book a workshop for your company, please call Urban Jungle Self Defense at 713-861-7252.

Class Requirements:
Everyday wear includes comfortable clothing, a large towel and bottled water.

Note: Spectators are not allowed. There are no refunds or make-ups for missed sessions, as class size is limited. Pre-registration is required.

Womens Self Defense workshop is:
Women's Workshop TBA