Our Mission
There have been many changes since Mitsuyo Maeda first introduced the grappling-based Japanese Jiu Jitsu to the western hemisphere in the 1920s. Increasing positional control over a resisting opponent en route to submitting them with joint locks and strangles, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) was brought into mainstream North American culture in the early 90’s by the Gracie Family. BJJ has established itself as a necessary tool for any well rounded martial artist. In practice, BJJ adapts to fit the parameters of self-defense, competition, and ultimately true self-expression for all practitioners.
At Renzo Gracie Academy Des Moines we dedicate ourselves to becoming well-rounded grapplers in all aspects of the discipline. Classes are taught with a “feet-to-floor,” mentality. This means students will be instructed on the proper, safe application of takedowns, positional control, and submissions. Combining technical knowledge from Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, and Judo, RGADSM strives to introduce to its students a diverse array of grappling techniques in both Gi and No-Gi.
