FAQ

Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu suitabable for me?

BJJ is suitable for everyone, regardless of age, weight and ability. Unlike some other martial arts or sports, each person should be able to train, learn, and even spar with any other students because of its use of technique over brute strength or athleticism. We have adults rolling with our junior students, and women working with men in a safe training environment, building confidence and fitness. The best way to see if BJJ is suitable for you is to attend your first class and give it a go. We are so confident that you'll enjoy it, we offer one week of training for free!

What do I need to bring with me to train?

For all your introductory lessons, everything you need to train will be provided for you. We have a great facility, over 120 sq meters of thick 50mm vinyl topped closed cell foam matting to reduce impacts whilst practicing techniques. Uniforms will be provided for your 1 week free trial, but after this students will be required to purchase their own Gracie Barra uniform. The GB fundamental classes require students to wear an official Gracie Barra Gi (also known as a Kimono) and a Gracie Barra rashguard, which can be purchased through the school by speaking to your instructor or via gbwear.co.uk . For the No-Gi class, students will need to wear GB shorts or their Kimono Pants and a Gracie Barra Rash guard. We also wear colored belts to denote rank and experience in all classes, these will be provided by your instructor upon promotion to your next grade. Other equipment such as mouth guards and ear protectors may be worn, but these are not mandatory, and are at the discretion of each student.

I want to learn self defense, is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu suitable?

I want to learn self defense, is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu suitable?

BJJ is a fantastic martial art for self defense as it was designed to enable a smaller and potential weaker practitioner to control and subdue a larger, heavier, or stronger opponent. Working on principles of leverage, hierarchy of the body, and pressure through technique, you will learn to throw or 'takedown' an attacker, sweeping and controlling them, as well as submissions such as chokes and joint locks. The Gracie Barra Curriculum cover self defense in every fundamental class, which deals with different styles of attacks included strikes from a stand up position, strikes from the ground. As well as self defense tactics to avoiding confrontation, and avoiding situations where defending yourself is the last resort. This is the same for Men, Women, and Children.

Can my children learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Yes, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is suitable for all ages. Our GBK (Gracie Barra Kids) Classes started in January 2020. This will cover all ages from 3 and up. Please leave your details below, and a member of staff will be in touch to schedule a 1 week free trial.
Teens and secondary school aged children are welcome to join our adults program, but we recommend that they are supervised by a parent or guardian. Why not join them on the mats yourself, and train as a family.

I have tried martial arts before, but didn't enjoy it, why is GB Frome different?

Each martial art and school is different, and many students can have polar opposite experiences in their first session. Our goal at Gracie Barra Frome is to provide a friendly, safe environment to learn practical techniques and improve everyone well-being. With over 900 schools worldwide, GB has a tried and tested curriculum and teaching method. All instructors are required to complete an Instructor Certification Program (ICP2021) to ensure all classed are delivered in a professional manner, plus they must attend regular seminars and conferences to ensure they are upto date with the newest BJJ techniques and teaching methods.

Your first week of training is free, so why not come and try us out and see what we can offer.

Is there a belt system in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Gracie Barra Frome we follow the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federations (IBJJF) guideline with regards to grading systems and belt promotions. Students under the age of 16 with be graded from White belt to grey belt to yellow belt to orange belt and finally Green belts, with a number of stripes between each belt grade. Adult student will follow the grading system of White belt, Blue belt, Purple belt and Brown belt, each of these colour belts require a student to earn 4 stripes before progression to the next belt. Eventually students can aspire to become a black belt or Professor, with the possibility of earning upto 9 stripes or degrees and a further 3 belts (Black/Red, White/Red, and Redbelt) although the Master status does require a lifetime of training.

I have a pre-existing injury, can I still learn Brazilian jiu jitsu?

BJJ is for everyone, and we will tailor each class to best suit your ability. If you have any pre-existing injuries or illness, it is best to talk to our instructor to discuss your situation and evaluate how BJJ can work for you. We aim for everyone to train sensibly, with the goal of longevity in the sport. One of the great side effects of learning BJJ is the physical benefits, such as increased flexibility, strength, and conditioning, which can help many conditions both physical and mental.

Where can i find the school?

We are located on a new industrial estate (Commerce Park, Frome) called Jenson Court, sometime this is not present on satnavs or apple maps, Please watch https://youtu.be/vJRNLFpvRZw to help you find the school. If you still have any problems please give me a call on 01373470272.

What can i expect for a typical class?

All Gracie Barra schools follow a 16 week curriculum covering the basic fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in all GB1 classes, this will build a core knowledge of techniques for each student to construct their own foundations in the martial arts. Once a strong base has been constructed, we can start introducing intermediate and advanced techniques. A typical class will start with a simple warm up and stretching routine, followed by a large amount of time learning new techniques including positional control, sweeps, throws, defenses and submissions. The final parts of the class will be devoted to positional drilling, which refers to practicing a certain move or technique with varied levels of resistance, or live sparring. Often referred to as 'Rolling', our live sparring is the best way to practice and perfect your new techniques, we will match students up with a suitable training partner and 'roll' for 6-10 minutes per round. All new students will be paired up with an instructors, coach, or senior students to explain how live sparring works and guide them through their first roll.

What about Covid-19?

COVID-19 restrictions have made 2020 a difficult year for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but thanks to our stringent safety & hygiene protocols, we have had zero cases as a result of students attending our classes.

We will be exiting lockdown restrictions for the final time on July 19th 2021.



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