Who we are:

– The 1st school in Europe offering authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and officially representing the Gracie family… The Gracie Way since 1995.

– Hélio Gracie -> Pedro Hemetério -> Franco Vacirca “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” line.

– Since 1996 the first Gracie / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu network in Europe.

– We are represented by over 45 schools throughout Europe that officially promote the Vacirca Brothers – Gracie Concepts® teaching program in their partner schools (Dojos).

– Franco Vacirca was the first European (in 1996) to receive the black belt in G/BJJ, President Carlos Gracie Jr. – Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ / IBJJF).

– Prof. Franco was the last private student of Grand Master (Grande Mestre) Pedro Hemetério to be trained in classical Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. In 2009 he was awarded the 5th degree black belt by Grandmaster Robson Gracie Sr. (Jiu-Jitsu Fed. Rio de Janeiro) with the title “Professor de Jiu-Jitsu”.

– Prof. Franco now holds the 6th degree black belt of the “Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation”. He received this award from the founder and president of the JJGF, Master Rickson Gracie.

– Prof. Franco continues to be a student of Royce Gracie and Rickson Gracie, where he began his BJJ training with Grandmaster Rorion Gracie at the famous Gracie Garage (in California) in 1989.

– Since 1986, Prof. Franco has written hundreds of articles on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ, Mixed Martial Arts and other martial arts that have been published in professional journals worldwide. Since then, he has authored the monthly Vacirca Brothers column in the trade magazine BUDO – Martial Arts International, which is published worldwide in nine languages.

– Since 1996, Prof. Franco has published more than ten instructional videos on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ. Since 2020 there is also the Vacirca Brothers – Online University, which is available for trainers, students and those interested in the Gracie Concepts® program.

– Also in 2021, Prof. Franco’s first book was published with the title “Sons of Maeda – Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Unlocked”, which was published worldwide in three languages (German, English and Spanish).

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What we offer:

– Prof. Franco’s modern approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has prompted hundreds of police, special forces, and military groups to study Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as practical self-defense, inviting him again and again as a guest instructor or full-time trainer.

– Prof. Franco’s international open seminars and special trainer training courses (ICP/Instructor Certification Program™), which have been taking place worldwide since 1995, are not only attended by self-defense, BJJ or MMA professionals, but also by absolute beginners who want to see him work live on the Tatame. The seminars are often organized by non-affiliated Partner-Dojos so that they can use Prof. Franco’s knowledge to think outside the box.

– Bully and bullying are also an issue in all schools, regardless of which country Prof. Franco is visiting, which is why special workshops are increasingly being held at public schools and universities, where Prof. Franco teaches children and young people, as well as students and teachers, practical and useful techniques (for self-defense / self-protection).

– Gracie Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as taught by Prof. Franco under the “Gracie Concepts®” brand, consists of 54 consecutive classes taught in a rotating model. This form of BJJ instruction helps members gain a solid foundation, but also the opportunity to progress to black belt in authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

– There is also the opportunity to train and become an official and certified Gracie Concepts® instructor to be recognized as a Gracie Concepts partner school.

– With an annual fee (membership license) you support the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Network Europe, become officially Gracie Concepts/JJGF graduated (there are no additional costs) and receive personal and free access to the Vacirca Brothers – Online University, which now provides Gracie Concepts members with hundreds of instructional video clips on BJJ and self-defense.

– Partner schools do not pay for additional licenses and have the additional advantage of being able to train their instructors free of charge at the ICP workshops in Zurich (at Gracie Concepts HQ). All graduations and certificates are free of charge for all network members. Graduations take place at Gracie Concepts® HQ or at one-day workshops and two-day seminars led by Professor Franco Vacirca himself.

We look forward to seeing you!

– The Gracie Concepts HQ Team
E-mail vacircabrothersjiujitsu@gmail.com