Gracie Jiu-Jitsu St. George

09/15/2026

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/life/a-twist-on-self-defense-st-george-jiu-jitsu-school-trains-everyone-from-tots-to/article_0343081a-9783-4c03-93cd-ad39989f5020.html

Long before Brazilian jiu-jitsu had a permanent home in Southern Utah, the mats had to travel there first, packed into a Ford Explorer and unloaded for small groups of students

09/05/2026

LABOR DAY WEEKEND CLOSURE

The academy will be closed today, Saturday, September 5, and Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day weekend.

Regular classes will resume on Tuesday, September 8.

Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend!

08/28/2026

DIFFERENT BY DESIGN

There seems to be a misunderstanding that our goal, as a Gracie University Certified Training Center, is to eventually look and feel like modern BJJ.

It is not.

We are not trying to catch up to that model. We have deliberately chosen a different road.

Over 34 years, I have watched Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu become increasingly centered around competition. There is nothing wrong with choosing that path, but it is not our mission. We teach the entire art as a system of self-defense, including distance management, striking awareness, clinching, takedowns, ground control, submissions, weapon defenses, and knowing how to escape safely and get home.

Some people have suggested that traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu resembles pre-World War II Judo or classical jūjutsu more than modern BJJ. I cannot speak for everyone else, but I can speak for our school: I do not consider that an insult.

Call it Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Call it Judo. Call it jūjutsu. In many ways, the values and purpose behind those older arts feel closer to what we are preserving.

Our students do not spar on their first day. That is also by design. First comes understanding. Then control. Then resistance. Then pressure. We give people time to develop the knowledge and confidence necessary to train safely and remain healthy enough to practice for years.

I began training at 19 in an environment that was intense, dangerous, and often demoralizing. I survived it, and it shaped me. But survival should not be the price of admission.

At 53, after 34 years of training, I teach the way I believe I would need to be taught if I were beginning today. Toughness is not measured by how many beginners a room can break. A strong school develops capable people while giving them a safe path to remain long enough to become truly skilled.

If your primary goal is competition, trophies, and medals, we may not be the right fit.

If you are looking for genuine self-defense, confidence, character, respect, longevity, and an art you can practice for life, you may have found your place.

Our difference is not an accident. It is not a failure to keep up.

It is the design.

And we are proud of it.

08/28/2026

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He asked for a purple belt. So we sent him one. At Gracie Univers...

08/28/2026

⚠️ CLASS CANCELLATION & FRIDAY SCHEDULE ⚠️

Due to the ongoing power outage and uncertain repair timeline, Black Belt Club and Master Cycle are canceled tonight.

Tomorrow’s schedule:

• 4:30 PM: Black Belt Club makeup class
• 5:30 PM: Reflex Development, Guard Focus
• 7:30 PM: Master Cycle Fundamentals, Back Mount Focus

Thank you for understanding. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the mat tomorrow!

08/11/2026

Give your child the opportunity to build confidence, learn self-defense, stay active, and have fun at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu St. George.

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL
10 DAYS FREE
PLUS A FREE UNIFORM

Come experience Jiu-Jitsu and see why so many families make Gracie part of their weekly routine.

Claim your free trial today!

07/04/2026

Tonight reminded me why I still love teaching after all these years.

We spent the evening exploring one of my favorite subjects: armbars. Armbars from everywhere, the details that make them work, and the escapes that keep you calm when you’re caught. By the end of the night, the techniques were only part of what made the seminar memorable.

The energy in the room was something special.

When you’ve devoted well over half your life to a craft, there is nothing quite like seeing a room full of people who genuinely want to learn. Every question, every repetition, every moment of curiosity is a reminder that knowledge only has value when it’s shared.

Thank you to everyone who gave up part of your Friday evening to be there. You made the seminar what it was.

Gracie St. George has never been about collecting students. It’s about building a room full of people who are willing to help each other grow, who celebrate each other’s progress, and who understand that there is always another layer to discover. That spirit is rare, and I never take it for granted.

I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who make this place feel less like a gym and more like a community.

Thank you for trusting us with the journey.

06/03/2026

Happy Birthday, Melissa.

Some people spend their lives trying to become the person they were meant to be. You seem to have arrived there long ago.

You give more of yourself than anyone I have ever known, and somehow you do it without complaint. No matter what life places in your path, you find a way to be grateful for it. Through every challenge, every setback, and every hardship, I have watched you grow stronger, wiser, and more grounded in your faith.

The thing that amazes me most is how many people carry a piece of your heart with them. Students, friends, neighbors, and even people connected to them find their way to you when they need guidance, encouragement, or simply someone who will listen. Everywhere you go, you have friends. Not because you try to, but because people are naturally drawn to the kindness, warmth, and sincerity you bring into the world.

The longer I know you, the more I find myself wanting to be a little more like you.

I hope today is filled with love from the countless lives you’ve touched. You deserve every good thing this world has to offer.

We all love you, Melissa.

Happy Birthday from the bottom of my heart.

I love you.

05/29/2026

Quick reminder that tonight’s Glow Roll during Master Cycle will be extended to 90 minutes as we celebrate Marco’s last night on the mat with us before his move to Austin, Texas.

Even if you don’t qualify to spar yet, we would still love for you to be part of the energy tonight. Come hang out, watch the rounds, laugh with friends, and help us give Marco the kind of sendoff he deserves.

White gis. Black lights. Full room.

See you tonight.

05/22/2026

Thirty-four years of memories, friendships, lessons, battles, laughter, and growth… all somehow captured inside this shadow box.

From 1992 to 2006, every piece in here carries a story from a chapter of life that helped shape who I became on and off the mat.

A huge thank you to one of our main instructors, , for putting this together and gifting me something that means more than I can properly explain. Truly one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received.

Some things are worth far more than money. This is one of them.