News & Articles
Events, seminars, techniques and thoughts from across the network.
Parents Watching Sparring
It is not health for a child’s Gracie Jiu-Jitsu journey if their parent sits on the side lines shouting instructions to them with the intent to help them to win during sparring wit…
FREE Seminar for Beginners 12th July 2025
10am-12pm on 12th July 2025 Dont miss out its totally free. Book here…
How to Tie Your Belt
A short Video showing the different ways to tie your belt in Jiu-Jitsu How to Tie your Own Belt How to Tie your Childs Belt…
Welcome to Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Watch this 2 minute video to learn more about our Academy.…
Eddie Kone Seminar 24th Nov 24
We are pleased to announce Eddie Kone is returning on the 24th November 24 to do a seminar on Street Guard and Side Mount Escapes.…
FREE Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals Seminar
Get ready for a powerful two-hour seminar where you’ll experience first hand why Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is unmatched in handling bigger, stronger opponents! This event is open to anyone …
New EST2014 Gis (Limited Edition) for Adults & Children
Speak to our reception team to order yours or your childs now.…
WatfordGJJ Premium Gi Discounted
Our Team Watford GJJ Premium Gi has a £50 discount. Reduced from £120 down to just £70. Only while stocks last!!!…
Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defence Seminar
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Eddie Kone Seminar
It is a pleasure to have Professor Eddie Kone at our academy to share his knowledge of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Eddie learnt directly from Helio Gracie and later Rickson and Royler Gracie…
Move of the Week - "Arm Lock From the Back"
“Arm Lock From the Back” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your i…
Move of the Week - "Rear Knee Split Pass"
“Rear Knee Split Pass” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your int…
Move of the Week - "SIDE CONTROL CRUCIFIX"
“Side Control Crucifix” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your in…
Move of the Week - "Americana Armlock Counter"
“Americana Armlock Counter” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register you…
MOVE OF THE WEEK - Ushiro X-Guard - Part 3
“Ushiro X-Guard – Part 3” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your …
Move of the Week - "Ushiro X Guard - Part 2"
“Ushiro X Guard – Part 2” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your …
Extreme Weather
Dear Students Due to the extreme weather conditions we have decided its best to cancel the classes for today and tomorrow (Monday 18-7-22 & Tuesday 19-7-22). With the forecast toda…
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Ushiro X Guard - Part 1"
“Ushiro X Guard – Part 1” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your …
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Single Leg X Sweep"
“Single Leg X Sweep” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your inter…
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Single Leg Recovery"
“Single Leg Recovery” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your inte…
Move of the Week - Rear Leg Drag Takedown
“Rear Leg Drag Takedown” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your i…
Move of the Week - Wall Takedown
“Wall Takedown” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest a…
Move of the Week - "Trap and Roll"
“Trap and Roll” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest a…
Move of the Week - "COMBAT BASE 411 ENTRY"
“COMBAT BASE 411 ENTRY” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your in…
Move of the Week - "REVERSE KNEE ON STOMACH, MOUNT ENTRY"
“REVERSE KNEE ON STOMACH, MOUNT ENTRY” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to r…
Move of the Week - "Russian 2 on 1"
“Russian 2 on 1” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest …
Move of the Week - "SPIRAL ARMBAR"
“SPIRAL ARMBAR” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest a…
Move of the Week - "STANDING GRIP FIGHTING"
“STANDING GRIP FIGHTING” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your i…
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Octopus Guard"
“Octopus Guard” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest a…
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Darce Counters"
“Darce Counters” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest …
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Rolling Guillotine Guard Pass, with Anaconda
“Rolling Guillotine Guard Pass, with Anaconda” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click h…
Move of the Week - "K-Guard Leg Lock Entry"
“K-Guard Leg Lock Entry” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your i…
Move of the Week - "Half Butterfly Arm Drag"
“Half Butterfly Arm Drag” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your …
Move of the Week - "Lapel Choke"
“Lapel Choke” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your interest and…
Move of the Week - "Armlock, Backtake Connection"
“Armlock, Backtake Connection” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register …
Move of the Week - "Lapel Choke from the Back"
“Lapel Choke from the Back” is the Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register you…
Move of the Week - "Corkscrew Leg Lock"
“Corkscrew Leg Lock” is the upcoming Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10-consecutive-day free trial to all new members. Click here to register y…
Move of the Week - "Americana Defence from the Mount"
“Americana Defence from the Mount” is our Move of the Week at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! Interested? We offer a 10 consecutive day free trial to all new members. Click here to regis…
Move of the Week - "Sit Up Escape from Side Mount"
“Sit Up Escape from Side Mount” is the upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford! Interested? We offer a 10 consecutive day free trial to all new members. Click here to…
Move of the Week - "Wrist Lock from the Mount"
“Wrist Lock from the Mount” is the upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford! Interested? We offer a 10 consecutive day free trial to all new members. Click here to reg…
Move of the Week - "3/4 Guard Pass"
“3/4 Guard Pass” is the upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford! Interested? We offer a 10 consecutive day free trial to all new members. Click here to register your …
MOVE OF THE WEEK - "Knee on Stomach Escape Using the 411"
“Knee on Stomach Escape Using the 411” is the upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford! Interested? We offer a 10 consecutive day free trial to all new members. Click …
Move of the Week - "Guillotine from the Butterfly Guard"
The upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford is “Guillotine from the Butterfly Guard”. If you’d like to support us, please consider following us on Instagram and like …
Narrated Sparring December 2019
Music: https://www.bensound.com…
Move of the Week - "3/4 Mount Pass"
The upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford is “3/4 Mount Pass”. If you’d like to support us, please consider following us on Instagram and like our Facebook page.…
Move of the Week - "Guard Passing"
The upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford is “Guard Passing”. If you’d like to support us, please consider following us on Instagram and like our Facebook page.…
Move of the Week - "Combo Turtle Escape"
Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’s second ever BJJ Move of the Week consists of the “Combo Turtle Escape”! Let us know what you think in the comments below. Please consider following us on…
Move of the Week - "411 Heel Hook Entry"
The upcoming Move of the Week at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Watford is “411 Heel Hook Entry”. Leave a comment below to let us know what you think! If you’d like to support us, please conside…
Introducing Ben's BJJ Move of the Week - "Strong Side Back Attack"
Introducing our first ever Move of the Week here at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. This week Ben and his partner Alex demonstrate the “Strong Side Attack”. If you’d like to help support…
Narrated Sparring October 2019
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Keeping Yourself Injury Free
There’s no way around it, “The Gentle Art” is rough on the body. A brief survey of any Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym will most likely get you a wide range of injuries from most students.…
Narrated Sparring August 2019
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Narrated Sparring May 2019
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Narrated Sparring April 2019
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Narrated Sparring No-Gi Feb19
Here is a narrated sparring video from Feb 2019.…
Narrated Sparring March 2019
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Can Gracie Jiu-Jitsu really Empower the weak?
On the day James was born he was rushed to hospital as he had too many red blood cells and had to have a blood transfusion when he was less then twelve hours old and spent the firs…
Beyond the Technique: Discipline
While there is a lot of technique involved in Jiu-Jitsu, the beauty of this gentle art, as it is known, is that many of the lessons are applicable beyond the intricate details of e…
Animal Warm-up Competition
Gracie Games Day is coming up (Sunday July 5th 2-4 pm) and we’re looking to introduce a few new animal warm-ups to our routine! We’ve given our Bullyproof kids forms to fill out wi…
Beyond the Technique: Focus
While there is a lot of technique involved in Jiu-Jitsu, the beauty of this gentle art, as it is known, is that many of the lessons are applicable beyond the intricate details of e…
Women-Only Self-Defense Classes at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
When asked "What would you do if you were attacked by a man?", the most common answer women give is, "I'd kick him in the groin." There is no doubt that this type of strike would b…
Gracie Games Day March 2015
We welcomed March with another awesome Gracie Games Day with our Little Champs and Jr. Grapplers. Over the past two months our Bullyproof kids have been practicing ‘responsibility.…
Black Belt Club - 1st Members
Today was an exciting day at Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as we promoted a number of our Jr. Grapplers into the Black Belt Club. Through our Bullyproof program, we teach our students h…
Narrated Street Sparring
The gloves go on every Friday and Sunday MC class now. As well as standard rolling with no strikes. In this video I talk through my mind-set as I spar with one of our new Combative…
Return visit to the Gracie Academy HQ
They will help the club as we add more classes and expand going into the future.…
Back on the Mats
We’ve started 2015 with a bang! It’s been a busy first week for us here at the club – with full mats, enthusiastic students, and a number of promotions! Our first day back this yea…
Great First Year - 2014
2014 was a great year for Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Being the year that we opened the club, we couldn’t be happier with how it went. Starting with our first adult’s class back in J…
Christmas Lunch 2014
NOTE: Venue has changed to ZAZA’s in Rickmansworth please see address below It’s been a fantastic first year for Watford Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and we have seen huge growth in the club a…
Gi & No-Gi Rolling Session
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Launching WatfordGJJ Fast Track Program
Want to get to Blue Belt as fast as possible? Then the WatfordGJJ Fast Track is for you! For an extra £25 per month on your monthly membership we will give you 1 monthly private. T…
Bullyproof Changes - Black Belt Club
Jr Grappler student can no longer attend Little Champs classes unless they have a sibling in the Little Champs Class or they are a Black Belt Club member. Although the time for thi…
Our First Master Cycle Fight Sim Class
If you want to be street ready then this is the most important part of your training.…
Gracie Games Day this Sunday 7th Sept 2014
Gracie Games Day this Sunday 7th September 2014 Gracie Games Day Details Sunday 7th Sept 2014 2:00pm – 4:00pm @ Watford Leisure Centre Address: Watford Leisure Centre, Pearce Prosp…
Launching our Meet-up and Train
From September we will have lots of mat space which is used for our Combatives, Reflex Development & MasterCycle Classes. While our numbers are not too large we are making this spa…
MasterCycle Classes Launch
Its official our MasterCycle classes will launch on the 2nd September 2014 @ 7:30pm. You can see our class schedule below. You will need No-Gi uniform which can be purchased from o…
WatfordGJJ is now Level 2 Probation CTC
We have pass level 1 probation and immediately gone to Level 2 probation. This authorizes us to officially teach the Mastercycle beyond Blue Belt. Mastercycle includes: MasterCycle…
Our First Blue Belt
Well done to Tom for achieving his Blue Belt and passing with an awesome score of 96. Tom is a dedicated student and has worked hard to perfect the Gracie Combative techniques. You…
Ryron Gracie promotes Ben Tippen
Thank you for all of those that believe in what we are doing.. All of us are on the same road and we are all progressing at our own pace, regardless of our age, size and physical a…
Gracie Games Day 17th May 2014
This Chapter it will replace the Saturday Classes for the Little Champs & Jr Grapplers. Future Games days will be an extra time slot on Sundays, details to follow… Gracie Games Day…
Our New Notice Board
We now have a new notice board on the front page of our website. This will notify you of any important news such as: - Class Time Changes - Class Closures - Class Content Changes E…
Aprils Class Schedules
Our last class at Westfield sports hall will be the Little Champs on Tuesday 1st April 2014. After which all our classes will be held at Watford Sports Centre. Also please note the…
Royce Gracie is not Happy with Eddie Bravo
Seems like the Eddie Bravo vs. Gracie family rivalry won’t end after Metamoris 3. Eleven years after Bravo’s historical submission victory over Royler Gracie at ADCC, they fought t…
New Venue for our Children's Bullyproof Classes
Address: Watford Leisure Centre, Pearce Prospect, Watford WD17 3HA View Larger Map Monday: Little Champs 5:45pm – 6:45pm Wednesday: Jr Grapplers 4:45pm – 5:45pm Saturday: Little Ch…
Gracie Games Day Details
Address: Watford Leisure Centre, Pearce Prospect, Watford WD17 3HA This chapter’s focus was on responsibility. So your child(ren) should have been making their bed, tidying their r…
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu vs the other Martial Arts
Watch this video to learn the history of the UFC and how Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has been proven as the most effective 1v1 Martial Art in the world.…
Bullyproof Class changes from April
Hi All, As discussed in Class we will be moving all our Children (Bullyproof) classes to: Watford Leisure Centre (next to the townhall in watford) from April. This means our days a…
Royce Gracie vs Undefeated Kung Fu Fighter
One of my favourite examples of the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu vs a striking Martial Art. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has been created and shared to the world in a number of “phases”. …
Extra Combatives Class
We are pleased to announce a 3rd Combatives Class each week will start from 1st March 2014. There will be no additional charge for our existing students plus at the moment we are s…
VIDEO: "Online Belts" vs. "Live Belts"
Gracie University was created in 2008, and as of this month there are over 90,000 students learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu online in 196 countries. In this important discussion, Ryron an…
Why Bullyproof your child?
Find out why it is so important to have your child learn these skills. Watch our NEW Bullyproof promotional video and learn more.…
Our First Gracie Games Day
To be responsible is to be accountable for what you do and who you are. If you are responsible, you can take charge of your life. Things the children need to do to get their points…
NEW LOGO
I am pleased to announce our NEW logo is complete. There will be some T-Shirts coming soon for you guys to get your hands on.…
How to Tie the Belt
Here Rener explains how to tie the belt. I use the superlock when I tie my belt. Ben Tippen…
Adult Combatives Launched
We had a great turnout for our first ever Combatives Class. In the picture above you can see all the students who turned up and trained with us. Big thank you to everyone for your …
Two new GJJ Moves
Here you can see Ryron and Rener teaching two new GJJ moves. Better learn these or I will be catching you guys with them in the new year :) Ben Tippen Head Instructor Watford Graci…
The Bullying Experiment!
FouseyTUBE, a YouTube channel, created an incredible video designed to open the eyes of the world when it comes to bullying – check it out before reading the rest of this article. …
10 Reasons to Try Jiu-Jitsu!
Since 1925, over 40 members of the Gracie Family have dedicated their lives to developing the jiu-jitsu system of self defence. From its roots also sprang the ever popular MMA and …
GJJ vs BJJ - What's the Real Difference Between Gracie & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
At the Gracie Academy, our primary objective is to preserve the legacy of Grand Master Helio Gracie by making the invaluable benefits of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu available to the greatest …
Mike Tyson Admits He Would of Lost to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Back in 1993 Royce Gracie was dominating Mixed Martial Arts with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and while Mike Tyson was in prison his boxing dominance still resonated with the globe. Many c…
Unbeatable Defence
On February 13, “O Globo”, the most prominent newspaper in Brazil, published the following article by brothers Pedro and Gui Valente in its prestigious opinion section. The Op-Ed b…
Jr Grapplers Classes Launch
On the 4th December 2013 we will have our first Jr Grapplers Class. at: Wednesdays 6pm-7pm (starting 4th Dec 13) Westfield Sports Hall Tolpits La, Watford WD18 6NS Jr. Grapplers (8…