Great school for beginners and experienced grapplers. Friendly atmosphere and professional way of teaching on any level. Nice locker room and clean bathroom. read more

Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

I started taking a jiu jitsu self defense course at CWRU with Mark Stefanac from Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu and, confession...I got totally hooked. Mark offered to let us try out some classes at his school in Willoughby and, from the very first time I went, I felt completely welcome and at home. The other students were happy to practice with me and to provide little bits of advice here and there so that I could learn without it seeming overwhelming. Saturday morning the school runs a women's self defense course, which is free and immensely practical. The beauty of jiu jitsu is that you don't have to be strong - you just have to be smart. This martial art (used by the Samurai and subsequently developed in Brazil by the Gracie brothers - very interesting history) uses leverage and physics so that 100lbs girl in our class was able to beat a 200lbs guy. What I really appreciate about Mark and Ron's school is how welcoming they are. They really care about making a difference in Cleveland through jiu jitsu. They have the free women's self defense course, a fantastic kids program, and they are building a brand new facility so that their regular students will have more space to practice, locker rooms, an area where their kids can play while they take classes, and so much more. If you are interested in trying a martial art, I definitely recommend trying jiu jitsu and, moreover, trying Mark and Ron's school because you can come here knowing that you will be able to learn and practice in a welcoming environment in which everyone is focused on learning *safely* rather than trying to prove that they know more than you. Very glad that I had the opportunity to train here for a few months before I go back to Buffalo and, because of this school, I will definitely be looking for a place to train in Buffalo. read more

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I am really proud to be part of this school, the upper belts with the acceptation of one are very helpful and do leave the egos at the door. The instructors are very cool and very kind they really want you to learn. I spent 20 plus years doing standing arts I have very limited ground game as of March 2017 in 4 months on and off I have learned and am growing not only as a practitioner but as a person at 28 every time I leave there I feel better for it. This is a true challenge and anyone of any age can grow from it, as a former tkd instructor for kids I recommend this place for kids it's a great place to raise great people and will humble any teens that need to chill out a bit and give them proper guidance. The owner is a great man and is very personable you won't find that around a lot The senior instructors are great Doug will have you moving and takes the time to really show you what your missing and answer your questions. mark is very hands on and will guide you mark also seems to be very personable which is a huge plus. In mylife most instructors including myself at times can be neglectful due to a number of reasons (not here) so 5 stars to both of them for staying with the newbies and working with them and pushing them to improve. Brian is very knowledgeable and keeps it fun and takes time to answer questions after class and genuinely cares about what he teaches he has a passion for this. Sean- sorry if this isn't the right spelling, to many Irish I know!! is also a great instructor focuses solid basics and a few more advanced stuff and keeps it fun genuine person and there to help you improve. In conclusion, this is where you want to be if you wish to make friends, learn jujitsu, and grow as a person! This has been a rebirth for me as a martial artist. Thank you relson Gracie jujitsu for being there! read more

I was visiting the area and stopped by to train with the guys at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. I was immediately welcomed in by the head instructor Mark, as well as by the other instructors and students. All were extremely friendly, which always makes for a pleasant experience for someone who is just passing through. Much in the tradition of Relson Gracie, the academy likes to emphasize real world applications and self defense, a nice change to what I am used to. They also do quite a bit of sparring and open mat sessions, where students can work with other students or instructors on different aspects of the art, or to spar with others. Overall, the instruction was excellent, and I walked away with quite a few techniques that I didn't have beforehand. The facilities are first rate, with plenty of mat room, great ventilation, standard locker rooms and showers. Everything about the place was clean, which is important in grappling. In the end, I really liked this place. They are friendly people who love the art and are very eager to teach others. If I every find myself in the area again I would look forward to stopping in and training with them. I highly recommend Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy to anyone who is interested in Jiu Jitsu or self defense. read more