About our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program

The Yamasaki Academy offers a complete Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction program that incorporates excellent technique, live sparring, competition training, and fitness. Although our classes are intense and utilize a vigorous exercise program, our instructors recognize that each student is an individual with unique goals and progresses at his or her own level according to that student’s athletic and martial arts background and level of fitness. We are the only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in the area with 4 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belts from Brazil and now we have 2 American born Black Belts in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In general, our classes are formatted as follows: The classes begin with a warm-up to help protect against injury and increase stamina and fitness. Following the warm-up, the instructors teach various techniques so that the students have a full of arsenal of submissions, takedowns, sweeps, reversals, and escapes. Students’ questions are always welcomed during the technique portion of the class. Finally, the students engage in live sparring in order to practice and execute the various techniques that they have learned.

The Yamasaki Academy has an excellent staff with many years of teaching and competition experience including our 6 black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Mario Yamasaki (3rd degree black belt origianlly from Sao Paulo, Brazil), Fernando Yamasaki (3rd degree black belt origianlly from Sao Paulo, Brazil), Francisco Neto (1st degree black belt origianlly from Sao Paulo, Brazil), Beto Arruda (origianlly from Sao Paulo, Brazil), David Jacobs (USA) and Paul Bush (USA). Additionally, the academy’s top students have been selected to assist with the teaching responsibilities. To learn more about our staff, please visit the instructors section.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu History

Jiu-Jitsu or the "gentle art" is the oldest form of martial art. It originated in India more than 2000 years before the birth of Christ. It was created by monks who could not use any type of weapons to defend their lives against barbarian attacks. It spread throughout China, and eventually took root and was modified in Japan where it became the first martial arts style. The samurai clans in Japan adopted Jiu-Jitsu as their own traditional style to defeat an opponent regardless of whether striking, throwing or grappling was involved. With the passing years, they split the techniques and developed other martial arts styles, such as judo, akido, karate, etc.

In 1914, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion Esai Maeda migrated to Brazil where he was instrumental in establishing a Japanese immigrant community. His efforts were aided by Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian scholar and politician of Scottish descent. As an expression of his gratitude for Gracie's assistance, Maeda taught the Brazilian's oldest son, Carlos, the essential secrets of the ancient martial arts technique. Carlos taught Maeda's techniques to his four brothers, and in 1925 they opened the first Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil.

Propelled by the Gracie lineage, the superiority of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been represented throughout the world both in the ring and on the street.

See schedule for class times and locations.