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Carlos Gracie Jr. was born on January 17, 1956, and grew up under the strong influence of his family of fighters. In sync with the life philosophy and teachings of his father, Carlos Gracie Sr., Carlinhos – as he is called by friends and relatives – observed and learned from some of the most influential figures in the Gracie family of all time: Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, and his brother Rolls Gracie. The most significant years of his childhood and adolescence were spent in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, in the legendary house of Teresópolis – a ranch with dozens of rooms where the children of Carlos Gracie and Helio Gracie lived and trained together for years. It was there that Carlos Gracie Jr. learned to live in a community where everyone needed to coexist, share things, and learn from each other, a life dynamic that became an ideal for him. In many ways, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. seems to replicate this idea of community on a large scale today at Gracie Barra. That environment and the philosophy that came from it shaped his personality and, for many, was one of the ingredients that led him to achieve such great success in different professional fields.

Mani Ahmadi

No place like GB headquarters! Amazing vibe, training and coaches!

Sam Wilson

Fantastic experience! Been training here for almost a year now. Great instructors and great culture.

Anita Chang

I enrolled both of my daughters at Gracie Barra after a scary situation made us realize how important it was for them to feel safe and confident. Before signing up, we checked out a few other BJJ and Muay Thai gyms around Irvine, Tustin and Laguna Hills, and this one stood out as the best fit for kids by far. The staff is so professional and friendly, and the curriculum is really well structured. The demonstrations are clear and easy for my girls to follow, which made a big difference for us. Both of my daughters love Professor Mason and Panda and always tell me they're the best. One thing we didn't expect but really appreciate is the red card. My girls also do competitive swimming, so we travel a lot for meets, and the red card lets them train at other Gracie Barra locations while we're on the road. That's been such a nice bonus. We've already recommended Gracie Barra to our family and friends. If you're looking for a welcoming place for your kids to build confidence and skills, this is it.

Cris Cyborg

Great team atmosphere and friendly welcoming environment. Very clean facility

joyce Liao

We couldn’t be happier with our experience! All three of my kids have been attending for the past three months, and the difference we’ve seen is amazing. The coaches are patient, knowledgeable, and truly care about every child. They create a positive, fun, and respectful environment where kids can learn, build confidence, and develop discipline. My children look forward to every class and have already improved so much in their skills, focus, and self-confidence. The staff is welcoming, professional, and makes every family feel like part of the team. I highly recommend Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu to any parent looking for a safe, encouraging, and high-quality place for their children to learn. Thank you for everything you do!

Adam Blake

I walked into Gracie Barra a few months back as a 53-year-old purple belt coming off a 13-year layoff. Returning to the mats after that much time away was a little intimidating, and I felt like I was looking for a unicorn. An academy that offered a true balance between sport and self-defense-style Jiu-Jitsu. And I am very happy to say I found exactly what I was looking for at Barra. Both the curriculum and the training culture are absolutel top-shelf. Coming back as an older practitioner, safety and control are everything to me. The coaches and training partners here allow you to train hard and technically without the toxic, ego-driven atmosphere you find at some other gyms. On top of that, this is hands down the cleanest and most professionally run academy I have ever set foot in. And they have multiple classes, 7 days a week, which works for those of us with more fluid schedules. Whether you are a rank beginner looking to take your very first class or an experienced practitioner looking for a world-class environment to shake the rust off, this is a phenomenal place to learn Jiu-Jitsu. Five stars all day.

Shirley Hsia

My daughter started almost two year ago when she was 5. She was shy at first. The instructors helped her out. They are all very good with kids and know ways to explain different movements. And demonstrated different situations that they can react to protect themselves. Other than teaching, the staffs here are very responsive. I highly recommend taking your kid to learn jujitsu here.

Greg Choi

Great school!!! Great atmosphere!! So many upper belts to learn from. Clean mats. Humbling. Remember. If 1 man can hold you down, then 2 can have their way! So come train!!

Michael Kane

This is the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy! Great instruction, great facility and lots of positive energy here!

Lysiy Dzwoniarek

fivestar, i smiled way to much for a workout... they realy made me feel part of the community