Jiu-Jitsu 101: The Gracie Barra Northridge Curriculum

 

Gracie Barra is famous globally for standardizing the teaching of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Unlike many “old school” gyms where the instructor teaches whatever move pops into their head that day, Gracie Barra Northridge follows a structured, cyclical, and tested methodology designed to take a student from zero experience to mastery.

 

This curriculum is divided into three main stages: GB1 (Fundamentals), GB2 (Advanced), and GB3 (Black Belt Program).

 

1. The Core Philosophy: “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone”

The curriculum is built on the belief that BJJ should be accessible to everyone—regardless of age, fitness level, or body type. Therefore, the “101” level (GB1) focuses on:

 Self-Defense: Street readiness is prioritized over tournament sport tricks.

 Safety: Cooperative drilling is prioritized over competitive sparring in the early stages.

 Simplicity: High-percentage basic moves are prioritized over complex, athletic moves.

 

2. The GB1 Program (The Fundamentals)

This is “Jiu-Jitsu 101.” All new students at Gracie Barra Northridge start here.

 

 The Structure: 16 Weeks

The GB1 curriculum is organized into 16 weeks. Each week focuses on a specific theme or position (e.g., Week 1 might be “Mount Escape,” while Week 5 is “Guard Passing”).

 Cyclical Nature: Once Week 16 is finished, the cycle restarts at Week 1. This means a student can jump in at any point (e.g., Week 7) and simply stay in the program until they loop back around to cover what they missed.

 

 Class Structure (60 Minutes)

Every GB1 class at Northridge follows the exact same timeline to build routine and discipline:

1. Warm-up (10-15 min): Calisthenics and BJJ-specific movements (shrimping, bridging, break-falls).
2. Self-Defense (10-15 min): Standing techniques. You learn to defend against headlocks, bear hugs, punches, and wrist grabs. This ensures you are ready for a real fight, not just a grappling match.
3. Ground Technique (20-25 min): The core lesson. The professor demonstrates a technique (e.g., the Armbar from Guard). Students pair up and practice with no resistance.
4. Specific Training (10-15 min): “Positional Sparring.” You spar with a partner, but with limited goals (e.g., “Start in Guard. Top person tries to pass; bottom person tries to sweep.”). If someone succeeds, you reset. This is safer than free fighting.

 

3. The Major Positions of the Curriculum

The GB1 curriculum ensures you understand the “Positional Hierarchy” of BJJ. You will learn offense and defense for the following:

 

1. The Guard (Closed & Open)

 Concept: You are on your back, but you have your legs wrapped around your opponent or controlling their hips.

 Curriculum Focus: How to protect your face, how to sweep the opponent (flip them over), and basic submissions like the Triangle Choke, Kimura, and Guillotine.

 

1. Side Control

 Concept: You are on top, chest-to-chest, perpendicular to the opponent.

 Curriculum Focus: How to hold a squirming opponent down (pinning) and how to escape if you are the one being pinned (hip escape/frame recover).

 

1. The Mount

 Concept: You are sitting on the opponent’s torso. This is a dominant position.

 Curriculum Focus: Maintaining balance so you don’t get bucked off, and finishing the fight with an Armbar or Cross-Collar Choke.

 

1. The Back Mount (Back Control)

 Concept: You are behind the opponent, usually with your legs hooked around them (“hooks in”). This is the most dominant position in fighting.

 Curriculum Focus: The Rear Naked Choke (RNC) and Bow-and-Arrow Choke.

 

4. Progression to GB2 (Advanced Jiu-Jitsu)

While GB1 is “101,” GB2 is the natural evolution. Once a student earns 3 or 4 stripes on their White Belt (usually after 6-12 months of consistent GB1 attendance), they are invited to GB2.

 

 The Shift: The focus shifts from “survival” to “evolution.”

 Curriculum: You learn how to connect moves together (combinations). You learn more complex guards (Spider Guard, De La Riva) and more dynamic takedowns (Judo throws and Wrestling shots).

 Live Sparring: GB2 classes end with “Rolling” (Free Sparring). You fight for 5-minute rounds with partners, trying to submit them while they try to submit you.

 

5. The “GB3” Black Belt Program

This is usually reserved for Blue Belts and up (though some advanced White Belts may attend with permission).

 Curriculum: This is less about teaching moves and more about refining style. It covers high-level BJJ strategies, advanced leg locks, and competition-specific tactics.

 Flow: The class is often much shorter on instruction and much longer on hard sparring.

 

6. The Northridge Difference

While the curriculum is standard across all Gracie Barra schools, Gracie Barra Northridge adds a layer of intensity and detail because of its leadership.

 Romulo Barral’s Influence: As a world champion known for his “Spider Guard” and passing pressure, the curriculum at Northridge often features specific details on grip fighting and pressure that you might not get at a hobbyist gym.

 Competition Focus: While self-defense is the root, Northridge is a factory for competitors. The curriculum is taught with a high emphasis on “what works against a resisting opponent,” ensuring that even the “101” basics are battle-tested for tournaments like the IBJJF Worlds.

 

Jiu-Jitsu 101 at Gracie Barra Northridge is a system, not a random collection of moves. It is designed to give you a roadmap:

1. Stand up (Self-Defense).
2. Get to the ground (Takedowns).
3. Survive and Escape (Defense).
4. Control and Submit (Offense).

 

By sticking to the 16-week cycle, a student guarantees that they will not have “holes” in their game, building a solid foundation for a lifetime of grappling.

 

Gracie Barra Northridge Location & Contact:

 

Address: 19520 Nordhoff St 10th, Northridge, CA 91324

 

Phone: +1 818-357-4074

 

info@gbnorthridge.com

 

Website: gbnorthridge.com

 

Hours

Mon-Thurs: 12 PM to 9 PM

Fridays: 12 PM to 7 PM

Saturdays: 9 AM to 2 PM

Sundays: CLOSED

Jiu-Jitsu 101: The Gracie Barra Northridge Curriculum