Gracie Barra Richmond – The Top Place to Begin Your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey in Metro Vancouver

It doesn’t matter if you’re a lifelong martial arts fan or someone who simply understands that self-defense is an essential life skill — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the best choices you can make.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed in the early 20th century by Carlos Gracie and Hélio Gracie, adapting techniques from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu to create a martial art focused on leverage, strategy, and control. It rose to worldwide fame in the early 1990s when Rorion Gracie, nephew of Carlos and son of Hélio, helped create the UFC — where smaller Gracie family fighters proved BJJ’s effectiveness by defeating much larger and stronger opponents.

Why beginners love starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

• Practical Self-Defense: Learn how to neutralize bigger, stronger opponents using leverage and technique.
• Accessible for Everyone: Perfect for kids, women, and adults of all fitness levels.
• Physical Fitness: Improve flexibility, endurance, coordination, and overall health.
• Mental Benefits: Build confidence, discipline, focus, and stress resilience.
• Supportive Community: At Gracie Barra Richmond, you’ll train in a safe, friendly environment where students encourage and help each other.

When you start at Gracie Barra Richmond, you don’t just learn techniques — you begin a life-changing journey surrounded by people who want to see you succeed.

How to choose a first class?

If you have no experience and want to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s important to choose a gym that offers dedicated beginner classes. Many BJJ gyms mix first-time practitioners with advanced students, which can increase the risk of:

• Injury — practicing with experienced partners before learning basic safety and control.
• Frustration — feeling overwhelmed by advanced techniques without proper introduction.

At Gracie Barra Richmond, we make your first steps in BJJ safe, enjoyable, and productive by providing:

• Beginner-Specific Classes — tailored to help you progress at the right pace.
• Structured Curriculum — designed to build your skills from the ground up.
• Dedicated Coach Supervision — a qualified instructor guides you through every step of class.
• Peer Support — practice alongside other students who are at a similar stage in their journey.

From the moment you step on the mats, you’ll be supported, encouraged, and given the right tools to enjoy learning BJJ in a safe and welcoming environment.

What to Expect in Your First Class at Gracie Barra Richmond

It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or an adult — in your introductory class at Gracie Barra Richmond, your safety and comfort are our top priorities. After signing a waiver, you’ll receive a clean, spare uniform (Gi or No-Gi) provided by the gym at the front desk for your training session. You’ll then be introduced to the coach responsible for guiding you through the class.

From the warm-up to technique practice and drills, your coach will be by your side, helping you understand each step of the lesson led by the professor in charge. Our coaching team is made up of professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners with extensive experience in teaching and competition. They are also CPR-certified and have passed comprehensive criminal background checks, ensuring you learn in a safe, professional, and supportive environment.

Every beginner class is structured to last one hour, divided into:

• 10 minutes – Warm-up
• 10 minutes – Self-defense training
• 20 minutes – Sport Jiu-Jitsu techniques
• 15 minutes – Practice (sparring)
• 5 minutes – Cool down

After you finish your class, the only thing you need to do is return the uniform to the front desk and share your feedback with the coach in charge of your first trial.

This balanced format ensures you develop a strong foundation in both self-defense and sport aspects of BJJ while building fitness and confidence.

How Do I Book My First Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Class at Gracie Barra Richmond?

Now that you know what to expect in your first trial, click here to view our schedule and book your first class. At Gracie Barra Richmond, we offer both Gi and No-Gi beginner classes seven days a week, with convenient time slots at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 7:00 pm.

If you’re looking for an introductory kids’ class, we have sessions Monday to Friday between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm (depending on age group), and Saturday classes at 9:00 am and 10:00 am, also organized by age.

If you have questions or need more information before booking, click here to chat with us instantly. We look forward to welcoming you — see you on the mats!