Gracie Barra Mansfield | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Category: Uncategorized

Professor’s Eleven – BJJ Clinic
11 Black Belts. 7 BJJ Positions.

We are very excited to host a gathering of the finest black belts in the metroplex for, what we believe will be, an unparalleled learning experience! This two-hour long seminar will address the 7 positions of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Mount, Guard, Side Mount, North-South, Modified Mount, Back Mount, Knee-on-Belly) with questions and answers from the perspectives of 11 Jiu Jitsu black belts!

Click here to register online.

Starring (in alphabetical order):
- Gilbert Ariza – RCJ Machado Black Belt – Black Belt under Carlos Machado
- Herman Chun – Evolution Martial Arts – Black Belt under Carlos Machado
- Casey Gray – 360 Jiu Jitsu – Black Belt under André Galvão
- Collin Grayson – Caio Terra Academy – Black Belt under Caio Terra
- Wafeeq Sabir – Gracie Barra Mansfield – Black Belt under Carlos Machado & David Sullivan
- Eddie Saenz – Kingdom Jiu-Jitsu – Black Belt under Rafael Lovato Jr.
- Alejandro Siqueira – Gracie Barra Southlake – Black Belt under Admilson Brites “Juquinha”
- Mauro Soares – Gracie Barra Tyler – Black Belt under Alexandre de Souza
- Valerio Ubaldini – Gracie Barra Carrollton – Black Belt under Jefferson Moura
- Orlando Waugh – Waugh Jiu-Jitsu – Black Belt under Carlos Machado
- Herman Young – Gracie Barra Mansfield – Black Belt under Carlos Machado & Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães
Date: Sat. Oct 21
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM
Location:Gracie Barra Mansfield
780 W Debbie Ln. #300
Mansfield, TX 76063

Contact Us
October 2, 2017
Winter Holiday Schedule 2014-2015 at Gracie Barra Mansfield

Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Mansfield and Arlington Texas

2014-2015 Winter Holiday Schedule

Students, please refer to the calendar for official closings for the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years holidays. We normally follow the Mansfield ISD schedule for school holidays, but this year we have made the decision to open more days during the holidays. We will still be closing on some days so that staff and instructors can be with their families during the holidays.

Days Marked in Orange are school wide closings.

Important Dates:
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
December 24 – First Day of Christmas Break
December 29 – Christmas Break ends
December 31 – New Year’s Break
January 5 – New Year’s Break Ends
January 19 – MLK Jr. Day

October 20, 2014
BJJ Lifestyle: Spar and Learn

Sparring is going against a teammate in a fight, where enough rules are set to avoid injuries. Often sparring is a good way to gauge someone’s skills, especially in BJJ.

Now the big question is, should you spar? Or better yet, are you ready to spar?

I can still remember the first time I was asked to spar. I sparred with this blue belt guy. In sparring, no one gets to lose (well, getting choked or being submitted counts as losing.) The idea of the spar is quite simple: knowing your skills so when you hit the competition arena, you know where you stand, and know how well you can do.

Anyhow, I sparred with the guy, and sad to say, I was submitted 8 times within 5 minutes. After all, his belt level is higher than mine – but it was a tough lesson to learn: there is no BJJ miracle. You have to work hard to get the skills to become really good at it. I thought that I was going to get a submission, but it was far from happening back in the day.

However, sulking as anyone should be after being submitted that much in less than 5 minutes, I began to focus on what I needed. I began working on a gameplan: not getting submitted.

In the following weeks of sparring, I was able to ward off attacks and subs, but I knew that it would not get me anywhere if I did. However, being able to learn how to defend myself is the key to learning the very basics of the guard and the counters.

With sparring, I started becoming very good at my skills. I started to learn how submissions really work. And it’s all because of sparring.

I’ve seen students who refuses to spar, or at least are too shy to. But the lessons to be learned from sparring are really great. Remember this: BJJ is a skill-based art. It’s something that you need to be able to do and not just know how to do. It’s training your body. It’s feeding your mind to develop muscle memory.

Make it a point to spar at least once a week. Think of it as a culmination of an entire week’s worth of training. Apply what you have learned. Get used to it and be good at it!

June 26, 2014
The 7 People You Meet Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The 7 People You Meet Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Anyone who has trained in martial arts long enough will be exposed to a wide range of people and personalities. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is no exception and can arguably have the greatest diversity. As one of the fastest growing forms of self-defense, it attracts people from all walks of life. The following types are commonly found in every Jiu-Jitsu academy.

#1 The MMA Junkie:

The popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can largely be attributed to the rise in Mixed Martial Arts. Since BJJ is vital to the success of a mixed martial artist, it has highlighted the art for the mainstream. Many MMA fans flock to Jiu-Jitsu academies hoping to learn armbars, triangles, and omoplatas. The UFC’s Joe Rogan does a fantastic job of breaking down techniques for viewers but nothing compares to the actual experience.

#2 The Weekend Warrior:

Doctors, lawyers, teachers, parents, and even the occasional movie star can be found rolling at academies across the world. These individuals have professional careers and generally work full time. They somehow find time in their busy schedule to train. Don’t let someone’s mild mannered background fool you. Clark Kent is Superman after all.

#3 The Competitor:

Competition is an aspect of Jiu-Jitsu many embrace. These students train in order to compete at the highest level of the sport. Often they supplement training with additional strength and conditioning. They push themselves for the rush of competition and the chance to stand on the podium when it’s over.

#4 The Future Instructor:

The head instructor can’t be there to watch every moment. Often times, they recruit the help of other students. A fair amount of instruction may actually come from one or two experienced students who have been in your shoes. Remember, a black belt is just a white belt that never quit.

#5 The One Addicted to BJJ:

This may be a phase every Jiu-Jitsu student goes through at one point. These students fall head over heels for the sport and take in the lifestyle. You or someone you know may fall into this category! This person…
- Subscribes to more Jiu-Jitsu channels on YouTube than they can watch
- Attempts new techniques on friends and loved ones
- Has a pet named Kimura, Ezekiel, etc.
- Finds themselves hip escaping while sleeping
- Spends more money on coconut water and acai than gasoline
#6 The Comedian:

These are the people that make the time off the mats just as enjoyable. They like to chat, and crack jokes (sometimes even while rolling.) They have an upbeat positive attitude and are a joy to be around. They always have the best stories and remind us how much of a bonding experience Jiu-Jitsu can be.

#7 The One Nobody Expects:

Every now and then someone walks into a Jiu-Jitsu academy that you really wouldn’t expect to see there. From beauty queens, to senior citizens, Jiu-Jitsu demonstrates people breaking away from social stereotypes. They prove to everyone Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu really is for everyone.

Credits: Patrick J. Flores
Gracie Barra Chino
June 22, 2014
Tips For Washing Your Uniform
Sometimes no matter how many times you wash your uniform it just keeps smelling bad. Bacteria can be hard to kill, and regular washing just may not be doing the trick. So we did some research and found a few ways to help eliminate that funky odor with some great uniform washing tips to get the smell out.

Tip 1: Leaving your gi or rash guard outside in the sun.
UV rays from the sun can kill bacteria that cause bad odor. However, this may not always work as our Earth’s nifty atmosphere blocks most harmful UV rays, and coincidentally, blocks the wavelength of UV needed to kill bacteria.

– How does it work? –
Short wavelength UV rays cause the breakdown of nucleic acids in these organisms. When these acids breakdown, these organisms (bacteria) are unable to perform vital cellular functions caused by the disruption of their DNA via UV radiation. Using UV radiation to kill bacteria has been an accepted practice since the mid-20th century and has aided in medical sanitation and in sterile work facilities. Niels Finsen won the 1903 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his use of UV against tuberculosis of the skin (lupus vulgaris).

Tip 2: Using homemade laundry detergent
Credit goes to Josh via Reddit.com

Having trouble viewing this album? Go Here

Tip 3: Using vinegar
1. Grab a large bucket (preferrably 5 gallons), and cram your stinky gi inside.
2. Dump enough white vinegar into the bucket so that you just cover your gi. You can get white vinegar from any grocery store. You don’t need the expensive stuff, you can grab a gallon jug for probably around $2, but make sure you get enough to cover whatever’s in your bucket!
3. Leave it for at least 2 hours, but you can just leave it overnight if you don’t like waiting like us.
4. Dump it all out and wash & dry it as normal.
August 19, 2013