GRACIE JIU JITSU
Here at Delaware Bushido Academy we are proud to represent the world renown Gracie Family as an independently owned and operated Gracie University Certified Training Center. This allows us a direct lineage to the founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, GrandMaster Helio Gracie. With direct access to the GrandMaster’s eldest son, Master Rorion Gracie and his Grandsons Ryron and Rener Gracie we pride ourselves on teaching Gracie Jiu Jitsu with the utmost honor and integrity.
Our head instructor Howard Steele received his Black Belt directly from Master Pedro Sauer and the Pedro Sauer Brazillian Jiu Jitsu association. Master Sauer was a student of Grandmaster Helio, as well as his son Master Rickson Gracie and is one of the most sought after Jiu Jitsu instructors in the world. He is well known for his Gentleman qualities as well as his impeccable understanding of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Mr. Steele most recently promoted to first degree Black Belt by Ryron and Rener Gracie in January 2022.
ADULTS
Although Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of more than 600 techniques from white to Black Belt,studies of the challenge matches, conducted by members of the Gracie family over the last 80 years, show that 36 techniques have been used more often and with greater success than all the others combined.
Originally developed for the U.S. Army Rangers, Gracie Combatives is the only course that is entirely dedicated to the mastery of these 36 essential techniques. In this course, we use a new training process called Dynamic Reflex Development™ to take you, regardless of age or athletic ability, from no knowledge to "street ready" in the least amount of time possible. These 36 techniques are combined into 23 one hour lessons including a standing technique and a grounded technique using a series of simplified drills or Technical Slices™ to help the student understand as many details as possible.
All lessons are taught in a way that a beginner student can start at any time with no previous lessons or experience in Jiu Jitsu. After you perfect each variation of the technique, we will teach you how combine them in a Reflex Development Drill™. Once your reflexes are strong in the execution of all variations of the technique, we will show you how to combine the new move with 5-7 previously learned techniques in a carefully scripted Fight Simulation Drill™.
By mastering all the techniques in this course, individually and in every possible combination, you will qualify to be tested for a Gracie Combatives belt promotion and once achieved you will move on to the Master Cycle®.
Visit www.gracieuniversity.com for more information concerning Adult Jiu Jitsu.
YOUTH
Children’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. The victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. But, they simply can’t follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully’s every action. And, therein lies the challenge – how do you instill in a victim of bullying the confidence to face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack, and the rest will follow.
Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Martial arts that rely on strikes provide no way to control the level of violence: “You punch me, and II’ll punch you harder. You push me and I’ll kick you in the head.” While a strike may have its place in a life-threatening street fight, it has no place on the playground, and will always do more harm than good. Essentially, you’re fighting fire with fire. It is unnecessarily violent and rightfully unacceptable to school authorities. It can even turn victims into bullies.
In the Gracie Bullyproof program, we take a different approach. All the techniques are purely defensive and utilize no strikes. Furthermore, we teach children how to defuse confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression. If attacked, we offer techniques to non-violently neutralize the threat and gain control until help arrives. In the Gracie Bullyproof program, we teach the children how to fight fire with water.
Visit www.gracieuniversity.com for more information concerning Youth Jiu Jitsu.
BULLYPROOF THE BULLIES
Bullies are created, not born. Somewhere along the line, every bully learns that the way to elevate their social status is to use any power advantage, actual or perceived, to abuse others. More often than not, the bullies learn their aggressive behaviors from their parents, peers, or siblings, and there is no question that much of the influence can often be traced to media portrayals as well. The only way to effectively bullyproof a bully, is to reeducate them regarding the proper use of power.
The Primary Role Models
The same way children learn how to eat, read, and speak from their parents, they also learn how to manage power. So, if the parent has aggressive tendencies and habitually abuses their power, it’s almost certain that the child will do the same. Any parent who is concerned with making sure they do not raise a bully must be particularly careful with how they manage their power, not only in dealing with their children, but in dealing with everyone. If the parent is courteous, humble, and respectful to their child, but verbally abuses the server at a restaurant when the order takes 10 minutes too long, there is a substantial probability that the child would verbally abuse a friend who accidentally kicks the ball out of bounds during a soccer game.
If you’re a parent, the most important thing you can do is lead by example. If you’re doing this, and your child continues to display aggressive behaviors, chances are they are being influenced by someone/something else like a friend at school or someone in the media. In this case, it’s highly recommended that you find new role models that will help influence your child in the right direction, and one proven way to do this is to enroll your child at a Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center like ours. At our Academy we have been very successful at bullyproofing bullies. When a child with aggressive tendencies enrolls at our Academy, our goal is to gradually reeducate the child regarding the proper use of power. First, we focus on establishing strong rapport with the child so they will be receptive to our influence. Once the connection is established, we begin layering in the lessons that will help the child learn how to manage their power with discipline, humility, and the utmost respect for their peers. The primary reason we have been so successful at these types of transformations, is because we lead by example. Once we earn the child’s respect and admiration, we qualify to begin instilling the critical character traits that will shape the rest of their lives.
How You Can Help
If you’re not a parent or a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor, one of the most powerful things you can do is to become a role model for the children in your community. Whether it’s through a church, an after school club, or a local community center, if you can connect with the kids in your community, then you can guide them in the right direction. Never underestimate the power of a positive role model.
Bullyproof the Schools
To end bullying in America, we must bullyproof the schools. The only way to bullyproof a school is to make intervention the social norm on campus. The challenge we face is that as long as the risk of intervention outweighs the reward for intervention, kids will not step in due to fear of retaliation
