Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Lima Taekwondo & Martial Arts Academy
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Lima Taekwondo Academy: Pioneers in Culver City
LIMA TAEKWONDO & MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY was the first martial arts center in the Culver City area to offer BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU (BJJ) in the 90s. Today, the program continues to be extremely successful.
Class Structure and Atmosphere
Classes at Lima Taekwondo Academy are safe and structured so that beginners focus primarily on the fundamental techniques of self-defense, rather than sparring. The atmosphere is friendly and stimulating. While students usually wear a “GI” (uniform or Kimono), the academy also offers “NO GI” training.
Student Body and Program Standards
The program is conducted with high professional standards and attracts a large number of students. Participants range from individuals seeking to get in shape while learning self-defense, to high-level professional Mixed Martial Arts fighters.
Origins and Development of BJJ
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an effective self-defense and grappling system that was developed in Brazil as a variation of Japanese Jiu-jitsu. The art was introduced to Brazil in the early 20th century by Master Matsuyo Maeda, also known as Conde Koma, who settled in Belem, in northern Brazil. The Gracie family learned from Master Maeda, and over time, they adapted and modified the techniques, ultimately creating the Brazilian style of Jiu Jitsu.
The primary founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are Master Carlos Gracie and Master Helio Gracie, who were instrumental in the development of the art in Brazil during the early 20th century, around 1915.
BJJ in the United States
The Gracie family and Machado brothers were instrumental in the early spread of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the U.S., producing the first American black belts who opened schools nationwide. Among them, Taekwondo Grandmaster Andre Lima started BJJ in Brazil in the 1980s and trained with the Machado Brothers from 1992. Grandmaster Christianny Paiva Lima, a pioneering female BJJ practitioner, began her studies in the mid-1990s.
BJJ and the Rise of Mixed Martial Arts
The popularity of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has surged in recent years, largely because it played a central role in the rise of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The MMA era began in 1993 when BJJ Master Rorion Gracie created the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), providing global exposure for the art. Lima Academy has welcomed several prominent MMA celebrities, including Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson, Rob Kaman, Thierry Sokoudjou, Hong Man Choi, and Ricco Rodriguez, among others. Additionally, notable figures from the martial arts world, such as Dan Inosanto (a student of Bruce Lee and a BJJ black belt), have visited the academy.
BJJ Techniques and Training
The techniques in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are divided into categories such as takedowns, arm locks, leg locks, and chokes. Falls, which are an essential skill, are almost always included in warm-up routines. Classes typically last 1½ hours, and most students can learn the basics and earn a promotion from white belt to blue belt in less than a year. However, achieving a black belt in BJJ usually requires 5-7 years of dedicated study, compared to the 3-4 years typically needed in Taekwondo or Karate. Mastery of BJJ requires significant commitment, but those who achieve it agree that the effort is truly worthwhile.
Take the First Step
If you are serious about learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, take the first step and schedule a FREE TRIAL CLASS by calling (310) 391.4950 (Culver City) or (310) 530.0777 (Harbor City) .
