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| Organized like a team, fighting like a family! |
About Gracie Barra
The Gracie Barra School in Springfield is well known for its commitment to
teaching high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At our school, you will receive hands
on attention from our world class instructors who will monitor your progress
in a clean, safe, and family-friendly environment.
Our black belt instructor Marcos Barros has trained under legendary
Master Carlos Gracie Jr., at the original Gracie Barra Academy, located in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Under Master Carlos' tutelage, Marcos Barros gained
extensive knowledge of the "gentle art" that was formed on the same mats
as some of the best BJJ instructors and fighters ever known.
Our school is for everyone and anyone who is looking to get in shape, learn
self defense, and improve the overall quality of their lives. In addition our
family-oriented environment is a perfect place to teach your children to feel
safe not only when they are at school or outside playing, but also in
developing their self-confidence and discipline.
If you are interested in learning more about the great benefits that Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu can bring to your life, call today to schedule your free trial class!
Gracie Barra official and affiliated schools are located worldwide, find one
near you! For more Gracie Barra Schools. ...click here!
Mission Statement
To train body, mind and spirit through the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
instruction as a vehicle for individual development and the strengthening of
the family spirit, going beyond the 'winning-losing' or 'contest' philosophy.
GB Philosophy: The vision of a disciple
Master Carlos Gracie Jr. believes that making winning the ultimate goal is
not a proper way of teaching. The greatest victories at Gracie Barra were
always a consequence of the process, and embracing the training as a
method through which one could best test their personal limits. Losses,
which helped us to evolve into better athletes and competitors, were not
perceived as failures. Instead, Master Gracie believed that these lessons
should leave our self respect intact, as different facets of the competition
are wholly out of our control: the talent and experience of the other athletes,
errors by referees, injuries, and bad luck. As a result, he could always
accept physical errors but not mental ones: our preparation, planning,
attention to detail, and the development of discipline and willpower were
always seen as the top priority in the training process.
Inside the school, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. did not limit his teaching to
techniques, but also, taught us character. Early on in our training, he
instilled us an understanding that the fundamentals for good jiu-jitsu were
fundamentals of a good character. Without honesty, integrity, discipline and
unselfish acts, one would never become the great athlete he or she
envisioned. As Professor Carlos always taught us, if you want to truly know
someone, pay attention to them as they fight. When one is engaged in
struggle or combat, they cannot hide their true personality.
Gracie Barra's success throughout the years has meant that any other team
has typically sees us as a major rival. While getting to the top is difficult,
staying there or near there for many years running is an even bigger
challenge. Therefore, it takes a special group of people to handle that
pressure. Still, our team has always been ready to deal with those
expectations because of the manner in which Master Gracie conducts the
training and the philosophy at the school, building not only our techniques
but more importantly, the self-confidence giving us a mental edge. He
achieves this through positive reinforcement rather than pressure as a tool
to influence behavior.
The result? Win or lose, he has created a group of athletes who feel a deep
sense of loyalty and commitment to him and the Gracie Barra family.
Master Carlos Gracie Jr. was never the type of coach that would put
pressure on you at every tournament, screaming from the sidelines.
Instead, his lessons are felt each day, slowly growing on you, where you
feel it constantly, in every aspect of your being. The true guidance he
provides is in realizing that success in Jiu-Jitsu must be an extension of
one's life, and that building confidence and a commitment to excellence
must be cultivated over time. Therefore, his method of building champions
was not through last minute quotes providing superficial motivation. Rather,
the athletes at our school learned that becoming a champion on and off the
mat takes time, hard work, and dedication earned and built over the years.
Competition was always a very serious subject, but Master Carlos Gracie
Jr. always described it as a test of our mindset and maturity. Therefore, the
conversations never revolved around opponents but were seen as a fight
against ourselves in our quest for self-mastery. Going into the tournament,
our thoughts were always the same: to trust in our abilities and that our
technique could take the initiative away from our opponents. inspired us to
believe in ourselves and our abilities, and to impose our will upon our
opponents, not reacting to them.
Because Master Carlos Gracie Jr. believes in us, he is always able to make
us feel like we are unstoppable. Even in defeat, he looks upon us not with
scorn, but always shows how proud he is for your efforts "on the
battlefield." He makes you understand how much respect he has for the
way you fight. This is why whenever you see an athlete competing, carrying
the Gracie Barra flag on his "armor," you will see one who is filled with an
overwhelming sense of pride for the legacy and heritage we share.
Today, I am very grateful to Professor Carlos, not only for being a teacher,
but also for having been a great Master, father and best friend. Therefore, it
is not medals or trophies which inspire me - it is the lessons I have learned
from Professor Carlos which give me strength and courage. I will never let
him down.
~ GB Disciple
Gracie Barra Family
GB Family - is a global organization formed by more than 100 BJJ schools.
The mission of each of our schools is to train the body, mind and spirit
through the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction as a means for
individual development and the strengthening of the family spirit - going
beyond the competitive realm. Inside the GB Family, the famous martial arts
principle of maximum efficiency minimum is not restricted to a general
principle behind the practice of self defense techniques, but serves as a
moral beacon that guides the behavior of each and every Gracie Barra
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner - instructors and their students.
Since inception, the GB Family has been in constant growth. Under the
leadership of Master Carlos Gracie Jr., Gracie Barra has evolved from one
small school at the suburb of Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, to more then
one hundred schools all around the globe, forming a community of
thousands of individuals in the five continents.
This growth and change, however, has not undermined our core values that
lay at the foundation of our success:
Brotherhood: Above all, Gracie Barra is a family. Its members are proud of
being a key part of a successful team that has being able to create
something much bigger than themselves.
Cooperation: Inside a Gracie Barra BJJ School Dojo, there are no
opponents. There are only training partners - "Uk") - engaged in a
cooperative learning experience aimed to make each other better not only
as BJJ practitioners but as human beings.
Discipline: To excel on any endeavor, discipline is essential. It couldn't be
different with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At Gracie Barra BJJ Schools the discipline
of training and the willingness to sacrifice for higher achievements is
reinforced in and outside the Dojo.
Respect: Inside Gracie Barra all people must act with warmth and equality
toward one another, regardless of differences in race, creed, nationality,
etc. Respect for the hierarchy of the ranks is also very strong and the
authority of a Black Belt is truly recognized.
If you identify with the values that we live by and have plans to start a BJJ
School or Program, or are already part of the BJJ community, Be Part of the
GB Family (link to the second item of the menu).
For more information access www.graciebarra.com
Gracie Barra Instructors' Code of Conduct
Brotherhood: GB Instructors shall reinforce the family spirit among
students, parents, and other instructors. Their attitude must always be
positive and cooperative in order to channel their creative energy towards
the strengthen and the growth our family, always putting the team in front of
individual selfish needs.
Cooperation: GB Instructors shall nurture and reinforce a cooperative
environment inside and outside the dojo. They must ensure that the
competitive realm is restricted to tournaments as well as the competitor
attitude. They must make the students understand that progress is not
reflected on their ability to overcome a training partner or an competitive
opponent, but rather reflected on their capacity to engage on a cooperative
training experience were the winner is whoever learns more.
Discipline: GB Instructors shall constantly discipline the students and
never punish them. They must make students understand that without
discipline there is no mastery, neither in jiu-jitsu nor in life, and that without
the willingness to sacrifice, excellence is just not possible.
Respect: GB Instructors shall reinforce that students must act with
warmth and equally toward one another, regardless of their differences in
race, creed, gender, nationality, etc. The belt ranks hierarchy must be
respected and the authority of the black belt sincerely recognized.
Continuous Improvement and Growth: GB Instructors shall reinforce that
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a life long journey with no ending point. Students must
perceive the Black Belt as their minimum goal and that their progress
represents an increasing commitment to their growth as BJJ practitioners
and human beings.
Leadership: GB Instructors shall lead by example, kindness and care.
The formal authority shall always and ever be supported by their moral
authority built upon a positive, cooperative, and constructive attitude
towards the students and other instructors.
Inspiration: GB Instructors shall understand their importance on
students lives as role models, as well as their responsibility in bringing out
the best each person has within.
Enjoyment: GB Instructors shall teach a class as a privilege and never
take it as a burden. Each class is the realization of a dream, the instructor
life's work. They must enjoy every minute of it and teach like it was going to
be their last opportunity to change students lives for better.
The Gracie Barra School in Springfield is well known for its commitment to
teaching high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At our school, you will receive hands
on attention from our world class instructors who will monitor your progress
in a clean, safe, and family-friendly environment.
Our black belt instructor Marcos Barros has trained under legendary
Master Carlos Gracie Jr., at the original Gracie Barra Academy, located in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Under Master Carlos' tutelage, Marcos Barros gained
extensive knowledge of the "gentle art" that was formed on the same mats
as some of the best BJJ instructors and fighters ever known.
Our school is for everyone and anyone who is looking to get in shape, learn
self defense, and improve the overall quality of their lives. In addition our
family-oriented environment is a perfect place to teach your children to feel
safe not only when they are at school or outside playing, but also in
developing their self-confidence and discipline.
If you are interested in learning more about the great benefits that Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu can bring to your life, call today to schedule your free trial class!
Gracie Barra official and affiliated schools are located worldwide, find one
near you! For more Gracie Barra Schools. ...click here!
Mission Statement
To train body, mind and spirit through the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
instruction as a vehicle for individual development and the strengthening of
the family spirit, going beyond the 'winning-losing' or 'contest' philosophy.
GB Philosophy: The vision of a disciple
Master Carlos Gracie Jr. believes that making winning the ultimate goal is
not a proper way of teaching. The greatest victories at Gracie Barra were
always a consequence of the process, and embracing the training as a
method through which one could best test their personal limits. Losses,
which helped us to evolve into better athletes and competitors, were not
perceived as failures. Instead, Master Gracie believed that these lessons
should leave our self respect intact, as different facets of the competition
are wholly out of our control: the talent and experience of the other athletes,
errors by referees, injuries, and bad luck. As a result, he could always
accept physical errors but not mental ones: our preparation, planning,
attention to detail, and the development of discipline and willpower were
always seen as the top priority in the training process.
Inside the school, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. did not limit his teaching to
techniques, but also, taught us character. Early on in our training, he
instilled us an understanding that the fundamentals for good jiu-jitsu were
fundamentals of a good character. Without honesty, integrity, discipline and
unselfish acts, one would never become the great athlete he or she
envisioned. As Professor Carlos always taught us, if you want to truly know
someone, pay attention to them as they fight. When one is engaged in
struggle or combat, they cannot hide their true personality.
Gracie Barra's success throughout the years has meant that any other team
has typically sees us as a major rival. While getting to the top is difficult,
staying there or near there for many years running is an even bigger
challenge. Therefore, it takes a special group of people to handle that
pressure. Still, our team has always been ready to deal with those
expectations because of the manner in which Master Gracie conducts the
training and the philosophy at the school, building not only our techniques
but more importantly, the self-confidence giving us a mental edge. He
achieves this through positive reinforcement rather than pressure as a tool
to influence behavior.
The result? Win or lose, he has created a group of athletes who feel a deep
sense of loyalty and commitment to him and the Gracie Barra family.
Master Carlos Gracie Jr. was never the type of coach that would put
pressure on you at every tournament, screaming from the sidelines.
Instead, his lessons are felt each day, slowly growing on you, where you
feel it constantly, in every aspect of your being. The true guidance he
provides is in realizing that success in Jiu-Jitsu must be an extension of
one's life, and that building confidence and a commitment to excellence
must be cultivated over time. Therefore, his method of building champions
was not through last minute quotes providing superficial motivation. Rather,
the athletes at our school learned that becoming a champion on and off the
mat takes time, hard work, and dedication earned and built over the years.
Competition was always a very serious subject, but Master Carlos Gracie
Jr. always described it as a test of our mindset and maturity. Therefore, the
conversations never revolved around opponents but were seen as a fight
against ourselves in our quest for self-mastery. Going into the tournament,
our thoughts were always the same: to trust in our abilities and that our
technique could take the initiative away from our opponents. inspired us to
believe in ourselves and our abilities, and to impose our will upon our
opponents, not reacting to them.
Because Master Carlos Gracie Jr. believes in us, he is always able to make
us feel like we are unstoppable. Even in defeat, he looks upon us not with
scorn, but always shows how proud he is for your efforts "on the
battlefield." He makes you understand how much respect he has for the
way you fight. This is why whenever you see an athlete competing, carrying
the Gracie Barra flag on his "armor," you will see one who is filled with an
overwhelming sense of pride for the legacy and heritage we share.
Today, I am very grateful to Professor Carlos, not only for being a teacher,
but also for having been a great Master, father and best friend. Therefore, it
is not medals or trophies which inspire me - it is the lessons I have learned
from Professor Carlos which give me strength and courage. I will never let
him down.
~ GB Disciple
Gracie Barra Family
GB Family - is a global organization formed by more than 100 BJJ schools.
The mission of each of our schools is to train the body, mind and spirit
through the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction as a means for
individual development and the strengthening of the family spirit - going
beyond the competitive realm. Inside the GB Family, the famous martial arts
principle of maximum efficiency minimum is not restricted to a general
principle behind the practice of self defense techniques, but serves as a
moral beacon that guides the behavior of each and every Gracie Barra
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner - instructors and their students.
Since inception, the GB Family has been in constant growth. Under the
leadership of Master Carlos Gracie Jr., Gracie Barra has evolved from one
small school at the suburb of Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, to more then
one hundred schools all around the globe, forming a community of
thousands of individuals in the five continents.
This growth and change, however, has not undermined our core values that
lay at the foundation of our success:
Brotherhood: Above all, Gracie Barra is a family. Its members are proud of
being a key part of a successful team that has being able to create
something much bigger than themselves.
Cooperation: Inside a Gracie Barra BJJ School Dojo, there are no
opponents. There are only training partners - "Uk") - engaged in a
cooperative learning experience aimed to make each other better not only
as BJJ practitioners but as human beings.
Discipline: To excel on any endeavor, discipline is essential. It couldn't be
different with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At Gracie Barra BJJ Schools the discipline
of training and the willingness to sacrifice for higher achievements is
reinforced in and outside the Dojo.
Respect: Inside Gracie Barra all people must act with warmth and equality
toward one another, regardless of differences in race, creed, nationality,
etc. Respect for the hierarchy of the ranks is also very strong and the
authority of a Black Belt is truly recognized.
If you identify with the values that we live by and have plans to start a BJJ
School or Program, or are already part of the BJJ community, Be Part of the
GB Family (link to the second item of the menu).
For more information access www.graciebarra.com
Gracie Barra Instructors' Code of Conduct
Brotherhood: GB Instructors shall reinforce the family spirit among
students, parents, and other instructors. Their attitude must always be
positive and cooperative in order to channel their creative energy towards
the strengthen and the growth our family, always putting the team in front of
individual selfish needs.
Cooperation: GB Instructors shall nurture and reinforce a cooperative
environment inside and outside the dojo. They must ensure that the
competitive realm is restricted to tournaments as well as the competitor
attitude. They must make the students understand that progress is not
reflected on their ability to overcome a training partner or an competitive
opponent, but rather reflected on their capacity to engage on a cooperative
training experience were the winner is whoever learns more.
Discipline: GB Instructors shall constantly discipline the students and
never punish them. They must make students understand that without
discipline there is no mastery, neither in jiu-jitsu nor in life, and that without
the willingness to sacrifice, excellence is just not possible.
Respect: GB Instructors shall reinforce that students must act with
warmth and equally toward one another, regardless of their differences in
race, creed, gender, nationality, etc. The belt ranks hierarchy must be
respected and the authority of the black belt sincerely recognized.
Continuous Improvement and Growth: GB Instructors shall reinforce that
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a life long journey with no ending point. Students must
perceive the Black Belt as their minimum goal and that their progress
represents an increasing commitment to their growth as BJJ practitioners
and human beings.
Leadership: GB Instructors shall lead by example, kindness and care.
The formal authority shall always and ever be supported by their moral
authority built upon a positive, cooperative, and constructive attitude
towards the students and other instructors.
Inspiration: GB Instructors shall understand their importance on
students lives as role models, as well as their responsibility in bringing out
the best each person has within.
Enjoyment: GB Instructors shall teach a class as a privilege and never
take it as a burden. Each class is the realization of a dream, the instructor
life's work. They must enjoy every minute of it and teach like it was going to
be their last opportunity to change students lives for better.
| GB updates |
| Gracie Barra Springfield 3001 West White Oaks Drive Suite F Springfield, IL 62704 (Behind Cub Foods) Phone: 217-698-9549 Schedule a free class! |
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