ACADEMIA GRACIE DE JIU-JITSU
RALEK
GRACIE
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Grandson of Hélio Gracie
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Son of Rorion Gracie
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Nephew of Royce & Rickson Gracie
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Professional athlete
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The only Gracie teaching in Tennessee
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The last black belt awarded by Hélio Gracie
Head Coach - Currently Teaching all Classes
FRANKLIN, TN CLASS SCHEDULE
Monday
12:00 - 1:00 PM - ALL LEVELS
6:00 - 7:00 PM - FOUNDATIONS
Thursday
6:30 - 7:30 AM - ALL LEVELS
12:00 - 1:00 PM - FOUNDATIONS
4:45 - 5:45 PM - YOUTH (ALL AGES)
6:00 - 7:00 PM - ALL LEVELS
Tuesday
6:30 - 7:30 AM - ALL LEVELS
12:00 - 1:00 PM - FOUNDATIONS
4:45 - 5:45 PM - YOUTH (ALL AGES)
6:00 - 7:00 PM - ALL LEVELS
Friday
12:00 - 1:00 PM - ALL LEVELS
ALL DAY - PRIVATE LESSONS
Wednesday
12:00 - 1:00 PM - ALL LEVELS
ALL DAY - PRIVATE LESSONS
Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 AM - FOUNDATIONS
10:15 - 11:00 AM - YOUTH (ALL AGES)
11:30 - 12:30 PM - INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED TRAINING
YOUTH SUMMER CAMP - JUNE 1-4, 2026 - VIEW DETAILS
Mat size and curriculum to accommodate multi-level participation simultaneously.
FOUNDATIONS
This is where everyone starts—and where many advanced students come back to rebuild themselves. If you’re brand new, this class gently introduces you to the language of martial arts without overwhelm. If you’re experienced, Foundations is a chance to strip everything down and reignite your fundamentals with clarity and purpose.
Think of it as jiu-jitsu yoga for your nervous system—preparing your mind and body for what’s coming—followed by precise technical work and high-level strategic insight. We focus on timeless principles, efficient movement, and understanding why things work, not just how.
ALL LEVELS
Yes—we really mean all levels. This class includes everything from Foundations, with the flexibility to meet each student where they are. If we have brand-new members or visitors dropping in, we intelligently separate groups to manage intensity and keep training productive for everyone.
As the group evolves, advanced sparring, targeted drilling, and specific training layers naturally emerge during and after class. This is where the room comes alive—different experiences, shared learning, and real-time problem solving.
YOUTH
Our goal is to empower the entire family—starting with the next generation.
Youth classes emphasize holistic body movement, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness, building a foundation for both safety and confidence. Through play, structure, and thoughtful guidance, we introduce core concepts that apply to self-defense and sport as they grow.
Every child is different, but all benefit from learning how to move well, stay calm under pressure, and understand their body in space.
Fun, grounding, and development-focused.
WOMEN'S
Women's training is built around confidence, and capability—together.
We start with the essentials: mindset, strategy, standing movement, striking fundamentals, and critical self-defense skills. Training emphasizes rhythm, footwork, and efficient movement while developing core tools —always in a way that feels accessible and empowering.
What makes this class special is the shared experience. Women learn alongside other women, supporting one another, building trust, and progressing at a pace that respects where everyone is starting from. The Women's course is cyclical, meaning you can start at any time to complete the core curriculum.
FRANKLIN, TN
GRACIE FAMILY JIU-JITSU
EST. 1925
The Mission & Vision
World-Class Competition Meets Family Fun & Empowerment
Gracie Competition Team
At the heart of the Gracie Family mission is a deep commitment to excellence in competition training. If your goal is to become a world champion in combat sports or Jiu-Jitsu, this is the place for you—though it may not be what you expect.
Timing is everything. We take the development process seriously, carefully aligning your current skills, goals, and expectations while working toward your fullest potential. “Iron sharpens iron,” and Ralek’s professional competition experience gives him a unique ability to guide your progress and develop your ascent.
Whole-Family Training
While not everyone aims to become a world champion fighter or Jiu-Jitsu competitor, everyone benefits from the self-defense and lifestyle principles we aspire to. We proudly serve members from ages 3 to 75 (yes it's true), and each student is encouraged to go at their own pace, improve, and make the most of every class.
Our youth program emphasizes play, creativity, and instinctual movement as pathways to learning timeless concepts. For adults, we take a similar approach—embracing a “less is more” curriculum that helps you become more efficient and effective under stress.
Rather than cycling through a daily list of disconnected techniques, Ralek designs each class as a complete experience—a whole concept. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of space, movement, and how we interact with our environment, both on and off the mat.
Founded in 1925, the original Academia Gracie established the very first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Rio de Janeiro, located at Rua Marques de Abrantes in Flamengo. Nearly a century later, Ralek Gracie carries that legacy forward in Franklin, Tennessee with AG1925 — a living homage to Academia Gracie’s enduring tradition since 1925.
The legacy of my great uncle Carlos and my grandfather Hélio Gracie gave us more than just a martial art and real Self-Defense—it gave us a profound understanding of human will. Their mission in Rio de Janeiro was to empower their community with practical solutions to real-world situations.
Carlos and Helio handed down a philosophy that emphasized leverage, efficiency, and control over size or strength. Their process of continuous refinement became the foundation of Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which evolved into a distinct system. Through ongoing testing, adaptation, and the creation of a methodology suited to its time, it became clear that the goal was not to accumulate techniques, but to cultivate a deeper adaptability—one that anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability, could depend on in times of uncertainty. That same spirit of beginning with a clean slate, while honoring foundational concepts, continues to shape my practice today.
- Ralek Gracie | AG1925
From Our Family to Yours!
FROM RIO DE JANEIRO
TO THE VOLUNTEER STATE
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