Gracie Acadamy in Torrance

[cakegirl]

Does anyone on this list train at the Gracie Acadamy in Torrance?

If so, what are the classes like - how many students per class, what's covered, format of lessons, etc.

I know they divide by beginner, interemediate and advanced - what are thos divisions based on? Is it belt colour, years of training, skill level, or something else?

Just asking because I may be passing through Ca sometime shortly...

Cakegirl

[SweepEm]

I have a friend that trains at Torrance and will ask him your questions.

If you want a good all female BJJ class, check out the Machado's which is nearby.

[JaredExtreme]

If they have a no-gi all females class I will pay to watch.

[cakegirl]

Originally posted by SweepEm
I have a friend that trains at Torrance and will ask him your questions.

If you want a good all female BJJ class, check out the Machado's which is nearby.

Thanks for that - I look forward to hearing what your friend has to say...

I saw on the website that Gracie Acadamy has all-women's classes once a week too.

Cakegirl

[cakegirl]

Originally posted by cakegirl
I saw on the website that Gracie Acadamy has all-women's classes once a week too.

Although this would probably be weird - I've never trained with women before!

Cakegirl

[Hakoko]

If I'm not mistaken World Champion BB Leka Viera teaches the women's class at the Machado Academy. Also, they have pretty tough girls there, and some pretty formidable fighters that used to train there (ie. Erica Montoya and Kathy Brothers). Maybe Sweep Em can elaborate better than myself.

[SweepEm]

Originally posted by Hakoko
If I'm not mistaken World Champion BB Leka Viera teaches the women's class at the Machado Academy. Also, they have pretty tough girls there, and some pretty formidable fighters that used to train there (ie. Erica Montoya and Kathy Brothers). Maybe Sweep Em can elaborate better than myself.

I don't know much about the Machado school but I have friends that train there and can ask about the women's class but yes, BJJ black belt Leka does lead the women's class. There is also Cindy Omatsu, the first female American black belt at the Machado's also.

here's my friend's reply to your questions:

Class size ranges from 10-20/25 per class (Intermediate) Obviously it varies depending on the specific day and time of day, but for the classes I attend which is usually Monday, Friday and Saturday they hover in the 20's. Monday is light, which is cool sometimes it's only 6-10 people so essentially you can get a semi private with Rener and Ryron, Friday is heavier and Saturday is usually upwards of 30 per. Beginner classes are larger 30 plus.
Rener and Ryron starts each class asking us if there are anything specific we would like to work on. It depends on the dynamic of the class.
If no one has any specifics, then they usually teach a series. Sometimes it can be positional, ex. 3-4 ways to hold the mount, 3-4 ways to escape the mount, sometimes a series of attacks from a certain position, ex. guard-choke-armabar-triangle-to reverse armabar, you get the idea. I like the way they are teaching now it's never just one or 2 random moves then spar - it actually has progression steps which to me is most valuable.

I know they divide the classes by beginner, interemediate and advanced - what are those divisions based on? Is it belt colour, years of training, skill level, or something else?

Beginner - White Belts up to a certain number of classes, and overall readiness Basic foundation is established here. There are plenty of white belts in the intermediate classes. I forgot how many classes need to be spent here before moving on to Intermediate, but I know it's a matter of time but most importantly skill and readiness. We no longer have "Advanced" we only have beginner, intermediate and mixed.

Cake Girl, if you're coming to LA, check out the Torrance academy and just down the street, very close by is the Machado's and you should take the oppurtunity to train with Leka and Cindy and the other women. Just a few miles away is Caique's school that has many women also. The oppurtunities to train here in Los Angeles is unbelievable with all the notable schools and the much smaller schools. I train with Rey Diogo (www.reydiogo.com) and his wife is a purple belt and really tough.

[cakegirl]

Thanks very much for your help!

Cakegirl