Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19
growing public-health concern
40 Min Lessons
Each lesson will be approximately 40 minutes long.
We will cover all the same techniques that we would in a regular class, except done solo and with an increased emphasis on macro movements, micro movements, mobility and mindset
No Partner Required
We have completely re-structured the curriculum so that every Zoom class can be completed with 100% solo participation.
If you have a partner, that’s fine, but a partner will not be necessary for any of the lessons we conduct.
If there is anyone in your household that wants to join in on the fun, they’re certainly invited to do so.
No Special Equipment
All you’ll really need is a small amount of open floor space (6ft x 6ft is plenty) and some form of padding to move on.
Mats are great, but not necessary. A soft carpeted area will work fine
Full Attendance Credit for Every Zoom Class
We are so confident you will make measurable progress, that each time you attend a Zoom session, and complete the entire class,
we will be pulling your attendance card and issuing full credit (check mark) for your participation!
These are official classes, and each Zoom session will be conducted with the same respect and considerations that are utilized in regular classes. Here are some of the best practices to keep in mind:
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Attire: If possible, please wear your full gi uniform OR your gi pants with a rashguard.
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Camera On: When you join the class, please turn on your webcam and angle it so we can see you practice and give you feedback.
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Minimize Distractions: Do not use background images on your video and avoid using the chat feature unless you have a question for the instructor.
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Raise Your Hand: Use the “Raise Hand” feature if you have a question, we will get to it during Q&A portion of the class.
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Mute Your Audio: Unless you are called on by the instructor, please mute your audio.
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Screen Name: Please make sure your Zoom screen name matches the name we have on file so we can issue you credit for the class. To change the name, you can click on the three dots on the top corner of your Zoom video during the meeting.
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Participate: Watching is great, but to get credit for the class, we’d like to see you participate in the drills and exercises to the best of your ability!
At-Home Progress Program
Unlike any other jiu-jitsu school on the planet, Gracie University has a complete online curriculum that mirrors exactly what is taught in live lessons at the school every day.
Utilizing Gracie University’s online system, all students who remain on the Tuition Continuation Program will have the opportunity to study their classes online, learn from home, and earn official class credit for any techniques learned during the closure period.
Students will have the chance to demonstrate the newly learned techniques at a free in-person Verification Seminar, and for each completed lesson that they successfully demonstrate, they will get a check mark on their official attendance card.
At a time when large group gatherings are being advised against, it will be very important for all of us to find activities that we can engage in with family and close friends.
Given that Gracie University’s online learning program is the most robust of its kind, and the fact that the online lessons mirror exactly what is taught in our live classes, we have created a special at-home progress program that will allow you to continue your jiu-jitsu journey and earn actual class credit (on your attendance card) during this period of uncertainty.
Here is how the process will work for our students:
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STEP 1:
LOG ON AND LEARN
Log on to GracieUniversity.com from any computer or mobile device, to access the online lessons that correspond with the program you are currently enrolled in (if you have trouble logging in let us know and we’ll get you set up).
Watch the lessons, and although not mandatory, if possible, practice the techniques with a friend or family member.
STEP 2:
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Keep a simple training log,
and each time you complete a lesson (or review a lesson you’ve previously completed),
write down the date and the name of the technique(s) learned.
STEP 3:
ATTEND A VERIFICATION SEMINAR
We will host a series of free in-person Verification Seminars at the school for active students in each of our programs: Gracie Combatives, Gracie Bullyproof, Women Empowered and Master Cycle.
In these Verification Seminars, you will have a chance to demonstrate the techniques you learned during your at-home study sessions.
STEP 4:
GET CREDIT ON YOUR ATTENDANCE CARD
For each technique that you demonstrate correctly (it doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as the core concepts of the techniques are understood) you will get official class credit on your attendance card.
Attendance Card Considerations
As you know, each of our programs has a unique attendance card on which we track progress for each student. Depending on which program you’re enrolled in, there are some special considerations to keep in mind when it comes to at-home tracking, progress verification, and the issuance of class credit upon the reopening of the school.
GRACIE COMBATIVES
Since each Gracie Combatives (GC) group class features two separate techniques, GC students will need to learn both techniques in a particular class in order to get a check mark on the card for that class. Issuance of class credit is not limited to new classes you haven’t done before;
if you repeat a previously completed class, and you successfully demonstrate it upon your return, you will get a check mark for that class as well.
For your reference, we’ve inserted the Gracie Combatives official card below. We’ve highlighted the online lesson numbers for each technique in red, so you can easily locate them when you log on to study from home.
WOMEN EMPOWERED
Since most Women Empowered (WE) group classes features two separate techniques, WE students will need to learn both techniques in a particular class in order to get a check mark on the card for that class. Issuance of class credit is not limited to new classes you haven’t done before; if you repeat a previously completed class, and you successfully demonstrate it upon your return, you will get a check mark for that class as well.
For your reference, we’ve inserted the Women Empowered official card below. We’ve highlighted the online lesson numbers for each technique in red so you can easily locate them when you log on to study from home.
GRACIE BULLYPROOF
If you are the parent of a child that trains with us, there is a good chance that many of their regular activities are, or will soon be, temporarily cancelled.
Using the Gracie Bullyproof online program to continue their progress from home is a great way to keep them active around the house while also building the bond between you and your kids.
Start by watching the “Parent Preparation Course.” Once completed, move on to the Gracie Games and Jr. Combatives courses.
The lessons are short, very fun to watch, and specifically designed to be practiced between parent and child. Keep the at-home sessions short (15-30 minutes) and keep track of each lesson in a log.
Upon the school’s reopening, your child will have the opportunity to demonstrate all the techniques they learned from home (with you or with an instructor), and for each technique demonstrated they will receive a check mark on their official attendance card.
MASTER CYCLE
If you’re an active Master Cycle student, you have been granted access to the Master Cycle online Blue Belt Stripe (BBS) courses that correspond with your rank. If you are a purple belt or higher, you should have access to all four BBS courses.
Keep a log of each BBS lesson you complete and upon your return to class you’ll have a chance to demonstrate what you learned.
For each lesson that you can demonstrate all the slices/variations, you will get a check mark on your card.
Training Partners
One of the main benefits of training at a school is the plethora of awesome training partners to choose from every day you come to class.
Given the circumstances, there’s no doubt that you’ll have fewer partners to choose from, but here are some recommendations that might help.
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FRIENDS & FAMILY
If you have friends or family members that you’ve always wanted to introduce to jiu-jitsu, now is the time! Chances are they are also experiencing the cancellation of many of their favorite activities so they’ll be much more open to trying something new, especially if it means they can spend more time with you. Just be sure to start them gradually from lesson 1, don’t be overly critical, and praise every bit of progress.
PRIVATE CLASSES
We will continue offering private classes to our students. Whether or not you currently participate in private classes, if this is something you’d like to explore, simply reply to this email and let us know which instructor (if any) you had in mind and we will put you in direct contact with him/her.
JIU-JITSU BUDDIES
Even though large group gatherings are advised against, there is no reason why a small group of healthy people can’t get together to practice jiu-jitsu. Use social media to contact your friends from the school and set up small training sessions using the online curriculum as a guide.
GRACIE UNIVERSITY ONLINE STUDENT DATABASE
GracieUniversity.com has over 240,000 online students and we’ve created a very sophisticated member search tool that helps you find people in your community that are also looking for training partners. Give it a try, click here!
GRACIE GARAGES
Gracie Garages are unofficial at-home training centers led by one or more dedicated students who have access to the online curriculum and at least 100 square feet of grappling mats. To search for Gracie Garages near you, or to learn more about starting your own Gracie Garage, click here.
We’re in This Together
One of the greatest benefits of jiu-jitsu is that we learn to find comfort in worst-case scenarios. This will be a very tough time for our business, and a very tough time for all our dedicated students who love coming to class as much as we love teaching them. We are in this together and we are determined to make the most of these challenging circumstances.
We can’t thank you enough for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask. We will be sending out updates to keep you informed of everything on our end.
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