GRACIE ALLEGIANCE HEADQUARTERS

HEAD INSTRUCTOR : CLARK GRACIE

The Clark Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy offers the best training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from beginners to professional Mixed Martial Artists and Law Enforcement. At our academies, we focus on the team; meaning you, the student. Not everyone has the same reasons for training in Martial Arts. Some enjoy the exercise, others want to learn self-defense, and some may wish to pursue a career in MMA or competition. The philosophy of this team is to teach functional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that you will keep with you for the rest of your life. You will not get watered down techniques, or be taught how to win a tournament without knowing how to defend yourself on the street. We will teach you to be comfortable anywhere, with or without strikes; on the feet, on the ground, off your back, how to control the situation, and how to have fun while learning it! Many of our students are Law Enforcement, Mixed Martial Artists, and members of the Armed Forces. People have diverse needs; that is why we have assembled equally diverse resources for the students at our school.

We are led by our Black Belt Professor, Clark Gracie, who is the grandson of Carlos Gracie, the founder of this Martial Art. Clark is the only Gracie family member living in San Diego who is teaching and still competing regularly, and winning! Carlos Gracie is the older brother and teacher of his younger brother, Helio Gracie. Between the two of them, they developed the most efficient fighting system ever created, Brazilian (Gracie) Jiu-Jitsu.  They were able to defeat numerous different challengers, big and small, of all other martial arts. Clark’s father, Carley Gracie, is known as the “Lion of the Gracie family” and earned his black belt from his father, Carlos Gracie. Carley Gracie is the last of the Gracie fighters to be personally trained and coached by Carlos Gracie.  Carley Gracie is now a 9th Degree Red Belt. Carlos taught the art of style, skill, thought, and technique. His style and success were not developed through brute strength and aggressive power but rather, formulated from an almost scientific process of maneuvering, patience, flexibility, diet, strength of mind and will, and self-control.

Clark earned his black belt under his father, Carly Gracie. Like his father, Clark practices and teaches techniques that rely on position and leverage. At our academy, we teach that small details are very important to get the full advantage of our techniques. Our instructors are hands-on teachers, often rolling with students of various ranks and skill levels. We teach philosophy, focusing on clearly explaining the principles of the techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in a way that people can understand.  We then incorporate drills that help students internalize those techniques in order to use them in live situations.