Translated as Gentle Art/Soft Art, rather than resisting force with force, the idea is to yield to force and then use an opponent’s strength against him or her using an efficient technique in an intelligent fashion to overcome raw strength and aggression. This is the philosophical core of Jiu-Jitsu.

Before Class Please make sure you have showered the day of class, brush your teeth, cut your finger/toe nails, and wear deodorant. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a full contact sport and you don't want to be the stinky training partner, or have nails so long that you're worried about scratching your training partners. During Class Clothing Bring tight fitting athletic clothing. Cotton t-shirts will stretch and sag as you workout and get sweaty. Loose clothing can be a safety hazard in BJJ as your partners fingers and toes can get tangled and potentially broken. Shorts or leggings can be worn, but avoid shorts with pockets, zippers, or Velcro as these can all potentially cause injury to your training partners. If you are a heavy sweater, have a long drive home, or plan on showering at the academy, bringing a fresh change of clothes for after class can help. Sitting in your wet stinky clothes on a long car ride is not only gross, but can increase the chances of getting STAPH and ringworm. Food and Drink Eating during class isn't recommended, but if exercising on an empty stomach can make you feel light headed, eating a piece of fruit or a granola bar 30-60 minutes before class can help. Bringing a power bar or protein shake for after class can help speed up recovery as well! Bring a water bottle. You are going to sweat a LOT and will need to replace those fluids. Drinking water throughout the day is best, but you'll also want some available for immediate thirst quenching relief. Safety Gear Most gyms don't require you to wear personal safety gear, but there are a few items that can help keep you safer on the mats and prevent injury or discomfort while training. The most common safety equipment pieces for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are cups, mouth guards, and wrestling style headgear. After Class All you really need after class is a towel if you intend to shower at the gym, or want to protect your car seats from your sweat. If you are using a gym bag, its a great idea to bring a separate mesh or plastic bag to hold your sweaty equipment in when you're done training. Putting used equipment into your gym bag can not only cause your bag to start getting STINKY, but can also cultivate nasty bacteria and lead to infections.

You don’t need to be super fit to start training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, you do jiu-jitsu to get fit. As long as you don't have a dibilitating injury, at Vaughan Jiu-Jitsu Academy everybody is welcome on the mats regardless of their level of fitness. We focus on technique and this is something absolutely anyone can do.

You are too old when you are dead. It’s never too late to start training jiu-jitsu. Our self-defence and jiu-jitsu programs are designed to cater to everyone. All students are encouraged to train to their own limits and can push as hard as they want. The average age of a jiu-jitsu practitioner or athlete is 32 years of age. However, there are practitioners who are being presented with a black belt in jiu-jitsu who are over 60 or 70 years old.

Self Defense Curriculum (World Renowned) Improved Self Confidence Improved Self Esteem Size and strength of the individual are irrelevant given the focus on leverage. Excellent for smaller individuals and females. Physical Fitness: Jiu-Jitsu training incorporates, Judo, Wrestling, Yoga, Plyometrics, and Pilates. Improved body awareness Lifelong sport participation potential, competitors range in age from 8- 90.

At Vaughan Jiu-Jitsu Academy we believe in the “student code,” a list of rules we find that are of great benefit to running the program. To some it may seem rigorous since in most cases Jiu-Jitsu is practiced in an informal manner. Even so, we feel that a great part of our success is based on the code listed below. A. During class, strict attention is given to the Professor at ALL times. Talking, laughing, loss of temper, profanity or a display of lack of discipline will NOT be tolerated. B. All students will bow when entering or leaving training area. C. All students must wear clean gi’s and t-shirts D. No footwear, other than socks and wrestling shoes allowed on the mats. E. No students may leave the mats for any reason without asking for and receiving permission from the Professor or Instructor. F. No leaning against the wall during class. G. Willingness to try new things regardless of personal feelings is required. (ex. Getting over the “I feel awkward” phase.) H. 110% effort is expected at all times. I. Abuse of knowledge outside of the Dojo is strictly forbidden J. “Patience, Persistence, and a Positive Attitude will always Produce Results,” is our Vaughan Jiu-jitsu Academy motto.

Communication is vital. The academic and athletic progression of your child is a team effort; student, parent, instructor, teacher and school. For the Lil'Ninjas BJJ Program, we provide a quarterly Progress Report where we list and highlight what your children have covered in class. Your e-mail address will be requested when you sign up and join our programs.

There are several easy ways to talk to us! Schedules and information regarding your child’s programs are made available through e-mail announcements, website blog and social media. Staff and Instructors will let you know where you need to be and what is happening if and when there are seminars, gradings or competitions scheduled. You can contact Vaughan Jiu-jitsu Academy by phone: 647-828-0185 or email us at vaughan.bjj@gmail.com.

The average cost of a BJJ membership monthly is about $150 per month. BJJ classes tend to be more expensive than other martial arts such as Judo and Karate. This is because the head coach is often a full time gym owner and BJJ schools tend to offer a lot more classes. In general, the bigger the gym, the higher the cost of membership. Some of the factors that can impact BJJ pricing includes: How many classes does the gym offer per week? Is listed price include full or limited membership? What are the teacher’s qualification? Gym location? Does the academy or have multiple locations/affiliates where you can train? Quality of the facilities? Do you pay monthly, yearly, weekly, or by class? Speak with our staff about our memberships, schedules and our affiliate schools where you can train. There are additional costs with memebership that you have to take into consideration. BJJ Uniform (Gi or Kimono) - These range from $70 to $250 depending on brand. Average cost is about $100 to $150. Competitions/Tournaments Seminars