Schedule

14/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Sun
14
Mon
15
Tue
16
Wed
17
Thu
18
Fri
19
Sat
20

14
Sunday

No sessions

15
Monday

12:00 - 13:00

Gracie Combatives

Nathan Thorne
Class 08 - Elevator Sweep - Guard | Rear Takedown

Class 08 - Elevator Sweep - Guard | Rear Takedown

 

Elevator Sweep - Guard
If you can’t maintain the mount, use the guard to control your opponent. While trapped in your guard, an unskilled larger opponent may attempt to drive their weight forward onto your upper torso, in an attempt to immobilize your or submit you with their body weight. Little do they know, because they are inside your legs, their weight is distributed in such a way that it makes it quite easy to withstand the forward pressure. In fact, any time a larger opponent is driving all their weight forward from within your guard, there is a good chance that they are actually creating an opportunity for the Elevator Sweep. In this lesson you will learn two variations of the Elevator Sweep starting with the Standard Variation.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Rear Takedown
When you establish the clinch, your opponent’s arm may end up over your head. In some cases it happens inadvertently, in other cases it’s a deliberate attempt to catch you in a Guillotine Choke. Either way, any time your head ends up under your opponent’s arm, you can use it to transition into the Rear Clinch control position, from where you can set up the Rear Takedown. In this lesson you will learn how to transition from front to back of your opponent as well as how to take them down once you get there.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

16:00 - 17:00

Gracie BullyProof (Invite only) Black Belt Club

Nathan Thorne
17:00 - 17:30

Gracie BullyProof (3 - 5 years old) Mat Munchkins

Nathan Thorne, Stephanie Graham
18:00 - 19:00

Gracie Combatives

Stephanie Graham
Class 12 - Headlock Escape 1 - Side Mount | Standing Armbar

Class 12 - Headlock Escape 1 - Side Mount | Standing Armbar

 

Headlock Escape 1 - Side Mount
Besides punches, headlocks are the single most common form of aggression used by untrained individuals on the streets. Although they aren’t as effective as a true submission hold, getting caught in a headlock by a stronger opponent can be a very painful and demoralizing experience. The Frame Escape is the first of two headlock escape strategies that we recommend you perfect for use against larger adversaries in a ground fight. In this lesson, you will start by learning the Standard Frame Escape, and then you will see what to do if it doesn’t work.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Standing Armbar
Although we normally recommend you take the fight to the ground, sometimes your opponent will give you an opportunity to end the fight while standing. Many confrontations begin with an opponent pushing your chest with one or both hands unknowingly creating the perfect opportunity for you to apply the Standing Armlock. First, you will learn the Basic Application, then you will see how to use it in a more dynamic situation.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

19:00 - 20:30

Master Cycle Gi (RDC)

Michael Palin

16
Tuesday

6:30 - 7:30

Gracie Combatives

Ashlea van Rooyen
Class 04 - Take the Back + R.N.C. - Mount | Clinch (Conservative Opponent)

Class 04 - Take the Back + R.N.C. - Mount | Clinch (Conservative Opponent)

 

Rear Naked Choke
Of all the techniques in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the Rear Naked Choke has been responsible for more fight victories than all the rest combined. Based entirely on effective use of leverage, you can use this submission to defeat an opponent of any size. In this lesson, you will first learn the Basic Application of the choke, and then you will learn the Strong Side and Weak Side variations that can be used in a street fight.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Clinch (Conservative Opponent)
The goal in a fight is to avoid getting knocked out, establish the clinch, and get the fight to the ground where we can neutralize the opponent with greater efficiency. The easiest time to do this is when your opponent commits to attacking you aggressively. For this reason, it is best to keep the distance and wait for their attack if at all possible. In the event that your opponent approaches you conservatively during the fight, and you would like to close the distance, you can use the “surprise entry” method to establish the clinch.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

12:00 - 13:00

Master Cycle Gi

Stephanie Graham
16:30 - 17:15

Gracie BullyProof (5 -7 year old) Little Champs

Nathan Thorne, Stephanie Graham
17:15 - 18:00

Competion Class

Nathan Thorne
18:00 - 19:30

Master Cycle Gi

Stephanie Graham
19:30 - 20:30

Gracie Combatives

Michael Palin
Class 18 - Punch Block Series (5) – Guard | Haymaker Punch Defense

Class 18 - Punch Block Series (5) – Guard | Haymaker Punch Defense

 

Punch Block Series (Stage 5) - Guard
From Stage 4 it is important that you drop your opponent back to Stage 1 as quickly as possible so that you are safest from punches and have the best control over their body. If, while in Stage 4, your opponent is not leaning forward heavily enough to be dropped to Stage 1, it is best to kick them away to Stage 5. In this lesson you will learn how to defend from Stage 5 as well as what to do if the opponent tries to throw your legs aside in their quest for a knockout punch.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Haymaker Punch Defense
In many cases, the precise movement and aim of your opponent’s strikes are hard to predict. Sometimes, however, your opponent is so eager to attack you that their punch is totally predictable. The Haymaker Punch Defense is used when a determined attacker comes at you from a distance with the objective of putting all of their bodyweight behind one fight-ending punch. Because of this punch’s power and predictability, the best option is to slip underneath it and get behind your opponent.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

17
Wednesday

12:00 - 13:00

Gracie Combatives

Nathan Thorne
Class 09 - Elbow Escape - Mount | Pull Guard

Class 09 - Elbow Escape - Mount | Pull Guard

 

Elbow Escape - Mount
Any time you find yourself trapped underneath your opponent in the mount position you should aim to use the Trap and Roll Escape, since it will place you on top of the fight. If your opponent is too big, or the Trap and Roll is not possible, the Elbow Escape will serve as your emergency escape. First, you will learn the Standard Elbow Escape and then you’ll learn several variations to call on when the primary doesn’t work.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Pull Guard
In an ideal situation, you would be able to close the distance, establish the clinch, execute a takedown, achieve the mount and win the fight. Sometimes however, your opponent is expecting the clinch and is very resistant when you try to establish control of them. If you get into a clinch and you are unable to take your partner down because they are too strong or you lose control of their hips, you have two options: let go and try again or Pull Guard. If you let go, you risk getting knocked out when you try to reestablish the clinch. If you pull the opponent in your guard, you can neutralize the punches, exhaust their energy, and eventually win the fight in a variety of ways.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

15:00 - 16:00

Gracie BullyProof (7 - 12 year old) Jnr Grapplers

Stephanie Graham
16:00 - 17:00

Gracie BullyProof (Invite only) Black Belt Club

Stephanie Graham
17:30 - 18:30

Women Empowered

Stephanie Graham
Class 09 - Rear Choke Defenses (2 variations) | Drag Defenses (Wrist Drag | Ankle Drag)

Class 09 - Rear Choke Defenses (2 variations) | Drag Defenses (Wrist Drag | Ankle Drag)

A surprise attack from behind is one of the most challenging attacks to overcome. In this lesson, we teach you how to defend when someone attempts to choke you or bear hug you from behind. If an assailant is able to knock you to the ground and is trying to move you, it can be difficult to get back to your feet and break away. In this lesson, we will explore three reliable techniques you can use to avoid being dragged, starting with the Wrist Drag defense.

Rear Attack Defense (2 variations):
View on GracieUniversity.com

Drag Defenses (Wrist Drag/Ankle Drag):
View on GracieUniversity.com

18:30 - 19:30

Gracie Combatives

Ashlea van Rooyen
Class 13 - Armbar - Guard | Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)

Class 13 - Armbar - Guard | Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)


Armbar - Guard
The most common type of attack you will encounter from an opponent who is trapped inside your guard is a punch to the face. Once they realize that they can’t effectively punch you they will try to get access to your neck or face by any means necessary. Whenever someone attacks your neck or face from within your guard, they are giving you the opportunity to catch them in a Straight Armlock. In this lesson you will learn two variations of the Straight Armlock as well as what to do if the opponent escapes by pulling their arm out.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)
Most martial arts rely heavily on the use of strikes to defeat the opponent. This strategy may work against a smaller opponent, but is very risky against a larger, more athletic opponent who could potentially knock you out each time you put yourself in range to strike them. The best strategy is to establish a clinch and take the fight to the ground where you can conserve energy, neutralize strikes, and win the fight with ease. The key to establishing a clinch on an aggressive opponent is to understand that there are two safe distances in a fight: all the way out, or all the way in.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

19:30 - 20:30

Master Cycle NoGi

Ashlea van Rooyen

18
Thursday

6:30 - 7:30

Gracie Combatives

Michael Palin
Class 05 - Punch Block Series (1-4) - Guard | Guillotine Choke

Class 05 - Punch Block Series (1-4) - Guard | Guillotine Choke

 

Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)
The ideal position in a ground fight is the mount. If you are unable to maintain the mount, you can use your legs to wrap the opponent in a position called the guard. The guard is the “secret weapon” for any Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. From the guard, you can apply joint locks and choke holds to subdue even the largest opponent. These submissions can only be executed, however, if you survive long enough to attempt them. With an outraged opponent in your guard, it is almost certain that punches will be thrown at your face from every possible angle. The Punch Block Series will enable you to neutralize all punches and exhaust your opponent until the opportunity arises to execute a sweep or submission. The Punch Block Series is broken down into four stages which you learn individually and in combination with one another.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Guillotine Choke
In a street fight, your opponent will most likely try to defeat you using one of two methods: 1) knock you out while standing, or 2) tackle you and then knock you out on the ground. You have already learned how to establish the clinch if they attempt to knock you out while standing. If instead, they try to tackle you, you should resort immediately to the Guillotine Choke. In this lesson you will learn the Basic Application first, and then you will learn the two variations that you can resort to in a street fight.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

12:00 - 13:00

Master Cycle Gi

Stephanie Graham
16:00 - 17:00

Gracie BullyProof (7 - 12 year old) Jnr Grapplers

Nathan Thorne
17:15 - 18:00

Competition Class - NoGi

Nathan Thorne
18:00 - 19:30

Master Cycle Gi

Nathan Thorne
19:30 - 20:30

Gracie Combatives

Nathan Thorne
Class 19 - Hook Sweep – Guard | Guillotine Defense

Class 19 - Hook Sweep – Guard | Guillotine Defense

 

Hook Sweep - Guard
If your opponent leans all their weight forward from Stage 4, drop them into Stage 1. If they stand in Stage 4 without leaning any weight, kick them back to Stage 5. If they are leaning forward from Stage 4 but have one leg forward for base, you may have difficulty dropping them back into Stage 1, and this is precisely when you would use the Hook Sweep to reverse the position.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Guillotine Defense
When you establish the clinch, and your opponent no longer has the space or distance to strike you effectively, they will often wrap your neck in an attempt to submit you. For this reason, the Guillotine Choke is one of the most common techniques used by unskilled individuals because it’s simple and it gives them a feeling of control during the chaos. Although the proper clinch position should prevent the Guillotine Choke, your opponent may surprise you if your head is too low, and in this lesson, you will learn the most important Guillotine Defense principles.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

19
Friday

17:30 - 18:30

Gracie Combatives

Dayne Dippenaar
Reflex Development - Guard Focus

Reflex Development - Guard Focus

 

Reflex Development - Guard Focus Class Previe

In this class we'll bring together all of the guard controls, escapes, and submissions with some extra details, bonus slices, and scripted fight simulation drills that will help prepare you for your transition into Master Cycle!

Gracie Combatives Test - Drill 2: Guard Techniques
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

18:30 - 19:30

Members Open Mat - Gi

Dayne Dippenaar

20
Saturday

8:00 - 9:00

Women Empowered

Stephanie Graham
Class 10 - Rear Bear Hug Defenses (2 variations) | Guillotine Choke (Standing | Guard Pull)

Class 10 - Rear Bear Hug Defenses (2 variations) | Guillotine Choke (Standing | Guard Pull)

A surprise attack from behind is one of the most challenging attacks to overcome. In this lesson, we teach you how to defend when someone attempts to choke you or bear hug you from behind. If we can wrap our sneaky arms around his neck, we have several reliable chokes that can help us end the fight. In this lesson, we will learn the Guillotine Choke for when the attacker lowers his head to tackle you.

Rear Bear Hug Defenses (2 variations):
View on GracieUniversity.com

Guillotine Choke (Standing/Guard Pull):
View on GracieUniversity.com

9:00 - 9:45

Gracie BullyProof (5 -7 year old) Little Champs

Stephanie Graham, Ashlea van Rooyen, Dayne Dippenaar
10:00 - 11:00

Gracie BullyProof (7 - 12 year old) Jnr Grapplers

Stephanie Graham, Ashlea van Rooyen, Dayne Dippenaar
11:10 - 12:00

Master Cycle (Fundamentals) Gi

Michael Palin
12:00 - 13:00

Gracie Combatives

Dayne Dippenaar
Class 09 - Elbow Escape - Mount | Pull Guard

Class 09 - Elbow Escape - Mount | Pull Guard

 

Elbow Escape - Mount
Any time you find yourself trapped underneath your opponent in the mount position you should aim to use the Trap and Roll Escape, since it will place you on top of the fight. If your opponent is too big, or the Trap and Roll is not possible, the Elbow Escape will serve as your emergency escape. First, you will learn the Standard Elbow Escape and then you’ll learn several variations to call on when the primary doesn’t work.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

Pull Guard
In an ideal situation, you would be able to close the distance, establish the clinch, execute a takedown, achieve the mount and win the fight. Sometimes however, your opponent is expecting the clinch and is very resistant when you try to establish control of them. If you get into a clinch and you are unable to take your partner down because they are too strong or you lose control of their hips, you have two options: let go and try again or Pull Guard. If you let go, you risk getting knocked out when you try to reestablish the clinch. If you pull the opponent in your guard, you can neutralize the punches, exhaust their energy, and eventually win the fight in a variety of ways.
Click here to view lesson on gracieuniversity.com

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PARTICIPANT NAME:  {name}

PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN/STUDENT:  

I understand and have had explained to me that the martial art known as “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu” is taught using precautions to avoid any injuries.   However, participation in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu classes carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries.  The specific risks range from minor injuries such as scratches, bruises, and sprains, to major injuries such as eye injury or loss of sight, joint or back injuries, heart attacks, and concussions, to catastrophic injuries including paralysis and death.  Furthermore, I understand the practice of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu presents a risk of skin infections, communicable diseases, bacteria(s) and viruses.

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Thank you for your booking. We look forward to booking your 10-calendar day free trial with us and introducing you to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

ADDRESS:

Pineslopes Office Park, Office BB FF02, Cnr. Forest Drive & The Straight Avenue, Fourways

Please arrive 20 minutes before your booked time so that we can welcome you and get you ready for the mat.

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During your 10-calendar day free trial we will provide you with a loan Uniform and belt.

On signing, you will be required to buy and wear the traditional Gracie uniform.  We will arrange a fitting for you in store to place an order.

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