BJJ Training: Gracie Barra Agoura | Phone Number: +1 805-800-9681

 

Gracie Barra Agoura is widely recognized as one of the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training facilities in North America. When you sign up for “BJJ Training” here, you are not merely joining a gym; you are enrolling in a structured academic institution for martial arts, overseen by Hall of Fame competitor Professor Romulo Barral.

 

Here is a detailed, step-by-step description of everything involved in the training experience at this specific academy.

 

1. The Facility and Environment

Training begins with the physical space. GB Agoura operates under the “Red Shield” standard, which dictates the highest levels of cleanliness and professionalism in the Gracie Barra network.

 The Mats: The academy features a massive, continuous mat space designed to prevent gaps where toes could get caught. The mats are sanitized multiple times daily with hospital-grade cleaners to prevent ringworm or staph.

 Uniformity: To train, you must wear the official Gracie Barra uniform (Gi). This eliminates socio-economic barriers—everyone from the CEO to the college student looks identical—and fosters a sense of team unity.

 Climate: The facility is climate-controlled, which is essential for the intense heat generated during a crowded sparring session in Southern California.

 

2. The Program Structure (The Curriculum)

Unlike many “old school” BJJ gyms where the instructor teaches whatever move pops into their head that day, Gracie Barra follows a standardized, cyclic curriculum. You know exactly what you are learning before you arrive.

 

 GB1: The Fundamentals Program

     Target Audience: White Belts (Beginners).

     The Focus: Self-defense and survival. You learn the 16-week cycle of essential positions (Guard, Mount, Side Control) and how to escape them.

     The Training Style: There is no live sparring (full fighting) in this program. Training consists of cooperative drilling and “specific training” (positional starts) to ensure safety.

 

 GB2: The Advanced Program

     Target Audience: White Belts (3 stripes and up) and Colored Belts.

     The Focus: The sport of Jiu-Jitsu. Here, you learn takedowns, complex guard sweeps, and submissions.

     The Training Style: This class introduces “Live Rolling.” You will spar with partners at varying intensities to test your technique against resistance.

 

 GB3: The Black Belt Program

     Target Audience: Blue Belts and higher.

     The Focus: High-level strategy, flow, and developing a personal “game.”

     The Training Style: Longer sparring rounds and advanced concepts often taught directly by Professor Romulo.

 

3. Anatomy of a Class

A typical 60-minute training session at GB Agoura follows a strict protocol to maximize efficiency:

 

1. The Bow In: Students line up by rank. The instructor bows to the portrait of Master Carlos Gracie Jr., and the class bows to the instructor. This sets the tone of respect.
2. The Warm-Up (10-15 mins): This is not just jumping jacks. It involves BJJ-specific movements (shrimping, bridging, break-falls) that build the muscle memory required for the technique of the day.
3. Technique Instruction (20-30 mins): The professor demonstrates a sequence (e.g., “Escape from Headlock to Armbar”). Students pair up and drill the move repeatedly while coaches walk the room correcting leverage and grip details.
4. Specific Training | Rolling (15-20 mins):

     In GB1: You reset in the position of the day and try to execute the move against light resistance.

     In GB2/3: You spar freely, resetting only when a submission occurs or time runs out.

5. The Bow Out: The class lines up again, bows out, and every student shakes the hand of every other student to signify that any aggression left on the mats stays on the mats.

 

4. The “Romulo Style” of Training

Training at Agoura is distinct because of Professor Romulo Barral’s influence.

 The Spider Guard: As the greatest Spider Guard player in history, the academy is famous for producing students with impassable open guards (using feet on the biceps to control opponents).

 Pressure Passing: Conversely, students are taught “Knee-on-Belly” and heavy top pressure. You are trained to make yourself feel heavy, suffocating your opponent with weight distribution rather than strength.

 Intensity: While the environment is safe, the training is rigorous. Romulo is known for his work ethic, and “drilling hard” is a requirement. Lazy repetition is not tolerated.

 

5. Safety and Hygiene Protocols

Training close-contact requires strict rules, which GB Agoura enforces rigorously:

 The “Tap”: The most important rule. If you are caught in a submission, you tap your partner or the mat twice. Your partner releases instantly. This trust is the foundation of training.

 Cleanliness: Students must have trimmed nails (to avoid scratching), a clean Gi for every class, and must wear shoes anytime they step off the mats (even to the bathroom) to avoid tracking bacteria back onto the training surface.

 

BJJ Training at Gracie Barra Agoura is a blend of academic learning and intense physical conditioning. It is a place where you will sweat more than you ever have, be humbled by the technical depth of the art, and learn to fight by training under some of the most accomplished grapplers in the world.

 

Hours

Mon-Thurs: 12 PM to 9 PM

Fridays: 12 PM to 7 PM

Saturdays: 9 AM to 2 PM

Sundays: CLOSED

 

Contact

Phone Number: +1 805-800-9681

info@gbnorthridge.com

 

Location

19520 Nordhoff St Unit 10 Northridge, CA 91324

BJJ Training: Gracie Barra Agoura | Phone Number: +1 805-800-9681