By (Professor) Franco Vacirca, 6th Degree Black Belt – Founder of the Gracie Concepts® HQ Network | Update: January 1, 2024/FV

After numerous requests and several years of hard work, we have developed a method and curriculum for distance learners and instructors who do not have the opportunity to visit a Gracie / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor or school in their area. The following distance learning home study course is the answer:

This program was developed to help both beginners and experienced martial artists. You don’t need a lot of experience. Everyone must start somewhere. If you already have experience, you just need the right attitude to apply your previous knowledge and progress through the levels step by step. You need commitment and dedication, no matter how much expertise you have. Perseverance brings results. Quality is what we all need to focus on. You don’t just want to be given something. Especially not if it’s something that could one day – or even now – change your life. That is the quintessence of the realization… Self-improvement and self-defense.

To this end, we offer a combination of thoroughly explained, fully illustrated written basic manuals and online programs. All requirements for each belt level, from beginner to black belt, are explained in detail. Following the teachings of our Grandmaster Pedro Hemetério, the first red belt holder of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, we only teach authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. We have achieved international success since the Gracie Concepts program was introduced. Some of our “long distance” students are also instructors in other martial arts. This gives them the added benefit of being able to expand their dojo offerings. Gradually, they also receive authorization from us to represent the Gracie Concepts® program in their region. This is certainly a win-win situation!

And this is how it works:

1. Membership – Network license:

You must register as a Network member and purchase an annual Network license (EUR 60.00 / CHF 70.00), regardless of whether you are a student or instructor. To register as an individual, we need your first and last name, e-mail address, telephone number, date of birth, postal address, name of BJJ/GJJ instructor and BJJ/GJJ belt color. All information will be treated confidentially. Registration is only possible after we have received all the information. The invoice will be sent by e-mail and must be paid into the specified account within 10 days. The license is always valid for the current year (1.01. to 31.12.20XX) and must be renewed or purchased for the new calendar year by 1 November at the latest.

1.2 Partner schools, partner Dojos:

Schools or instructors with at least 10 students are accepted. A license must be acquired for each member. Instructors with fewer than 10 people are provisionally accepted as “study groups” for the first year. After the first year, however, they must have at least 10 members. To register, you will receive an Excel file which you must complete and return to us.

As a partner school the following network services are included:

1. Free ICP/Instructor Certification Program training in Zurich; dates on our homepage under Events.
2. GOLD access to our Gracie Concepts-Online University.
3. Free Gracie Jiu-Jitsu belt grading, which is recognized by the JJGF and IBJJF; this also applies to students. As a school, you will also be registered with the Vacirca Brothers team free of charge at JJGF.com.
4. Discount on all seminars, workshops, and training camps as well as on our online store.
5. Free participation in our special “Trainer Team Meetings”, which take place throughout the year in different regions.
6. Direct contact with Prof. Franco Vacirca and his Gracie Concepts team for professional support in all matters.

We are constantly striving to expand our range of services in line with the needs of our members to strengthen and improve cooperation with our partner schools. We therefore ask you to let us know your concerns.

2. The first contact:

Clear goals first. Perseverance and a good training plan are essential for distance learning. Together we proceed step by step. Start with the first 23 lessons of the Gracie Fundamentals program. You will go through the program (alone or in a group) a total of 4-5 times. Once you have completed the program, we suggest that you visit Professor Franco Vacirca in Zurich or organize a seminar at your Dojo. If we are in your area, you can also participate in a seminar.

BJJ beginners: After each rotation, the student receives a white stripe on the black belt. As soon as the white belt holder has at least four white stripes on the belt, he has not only attended at least 23×4=92 lessons, but also has a good Gracie Jiu-Jitsu foundation.

BJJ students who already have previous knowledge of BJJ: They also start with the Gracie Fundamentals, except that they can contact us beforehand to have their current Gracie Jiu-Jitsu belt “evaluated” by us. This can only be done in person on site. We do not issue belts over the internet!

3. The continuation of the program:

As soon as you are recognized as an “advanced” (blue, purple, brown or black belt), you continue with lessons 24 to 54 and start again with lesson 1 after lesson 54. In addition, you should also be familiarized with the additional programs (alternatives, specials, etc.) from the purple belt onwards to expand your knowledge as an advanced GJJ student.

The minimum training time (“time-in-belt”) set by the JJGF and the IBJJF, the two international umbrella organizations of BJJ. To guarantee the quality of our GJJ/BJJ students and instructors, we strictly adhere to this.

Schools that integrate our Gracie Concepts program into their offerings guarantee BJJ students at least two sessions per week after the Gracie Concepts program. Of course, they can continue to offer MMA, grappling and sport BJJ. This also applies to partner schools from the fields of Karate, Kung-Fu, Krav-Maga, etc. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a complete program that can easily be taught as a supplement.

4. Online support without borders:

You can contact us at any time. Either via webcam (such as Skype, FB Messenger, or WhatsApp) or you can make a video recording of yourself and send it to us. If you are registered as a partner school, this will not cost you any additional euros!

All videos are carefully reviewed. If necessary, the questionnaire is also shared with the other partner schools and the trainers. The same applies to the videos sent to us. So please make sure that the instructional videos always reach us in the best quality, that you always wear clean clothing (Gi, white – blue or black), no shoes and that your training partners are also clean and well-groomed.

5. Graduations and certificates:

Our Gracie Jiu-Jitsu members all receive an official graduation. If the graduation takes place in a partner school, the host (principal) must purchase the BJJ belts himself from a specialist store and have them ready on the “examination day” before the start of the seminar so that the examiner knows in advance who is to be graduated. The examination and certificate are included in the network license. There are therefore no additional costs. The school director is always responsible for the acquisition of the BJJ belts.

Our authentic “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 54-class program”, which was passed on from Grandmasters Carlos and Hélio Gracie to Grandmaster Pedro Hemetério and Professor Franco Vacirca, does not have a “color belt program” as in Karate or Judo. The 54 lessons teach the most important techniques for self-defense and self-confidence. This includes techniques in all kinds of critical and real-life situations, both standing and, on the ground, as well as defense against armed attackers. BJJ can also be practiced as a competitive sport, but is never mandatory, not even to achieve the Gracie-Jiu-Jitsu black belt. The minimum age is also set by the umbrella organizations, which we adhere to.

Contact Email: vacircabrothersjiujitsu@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +41 79 415 0808