Why We’re Moving Forward: Our Next Chapter at Bowie Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Same focus, new freedom: keeping self-defense and safety at the heart of all we do.

First and foremost, we want to thank Gracie University. Their program gave us the foundation, structure, and emphasis on self-defense that helped shape our school from the very beginning. Many of you joined because of that structure, and we’re grateful for what it’s done for our community.

As we grow, we’ve come to realize that the best way to serve our members is to step into more autonomy. This allows us to keep the strong framework you’ve come to expect, while also making improvements that fit our community. Most importantly, our focus remains self-defense, safety, and building confidence—that will never change.

What’s Changing: Program Names and Evolutions

Because the program names belong to Gracie University, you’ll notice some new names in our academy. These names better reflect our philosophy, while keeping the same heart and structure you already know. Here’s what’s new:

Kids & Teens Programs

• Bullyproof → Bully Blockers (trademark pending) Our umbrella program for kids, still centered on standing up to bullies and developing real self-defense skills.

  • Within Bully Blockers, we are introducing the Control Code—our new Bully Management System that teaches kids when and how to act responsibly:

    1. Space is Safe – When you can, step back or walk away. Distance keeps you safe.

    2. Words Before Wrestling – Use your voice first; jiu-jitsu is only for when words don’t work.

    3. Position Over Pain – Control protects you; hurting someone is never the goal.

    4. Gentle but Firm – Use just enough strength to stop the problem and negotiate.

    5. Let Go and Go – When the danger is over, release and walk away.

  • This keeps our kids calm, safe, and in control, while still empowering them to protect themselves.

• Mat Munchkins → Mat Minis (ages 3–5) Our youngest students building balance, coordination, and confidence on the mats.

• Little Champs → Mat Movers (ages 5–8) High-energy classes with an emphasis on movement, focus, and self-defense basics.

• Jr Grapplers → Mat Masters (ages 8–12) More advanced techniques and responsibility, preparing kids for middle school and beyond.

• Black Belt Club → Grounded Grapplers (invite only, ages 8+) Our advanced kids’ track. Invite-only for students who show focus, effort, and the right mindset.

• Character Development → Mat Mindset We’re keeping the character piece alive with rotating themes that develop the whole child: Responsibility, Focus, Effort, Respect, Resilience, and Discipline.

• Gracie Game Day → Mat Mayhem Still a chance for kids to shine every two months, but now paired with daily wristband incentives in Mat Movers and Mat Masters. At the end of each class, up to two kids can earn a themed wristband by demonstrating focus and effort. This makes recognition more immediate, fun, and motivating.

• Big Kid Helpers → Mat Mentors Older kids helping younger students—learning leadership and responsibility while giving back on the mats.
  

Adult Programs

• Combatives → Sweet 16 Fundamentals Courses A series of 16 classes that introduce the essential techniques and strategies of jiu-jitsu self-defense. Each class stands alone, so new students can join at any point without feeling lost.

• Reflex Development → Flow Foundations Students can join once they’ve seen each Sweet 16 class at least once and earned their first stripe. Here, we introduce flow rolling and basic defensive strategies against live opponents, while continuing to emphasize partner safety.

• Master Cycle → Advanced Jiu-Jitsu Students may join after earning their second white belt stripe (and with instructor approval). While the training intensity increases, the focus is still on keeping training partners safe and learning to apply advanced concepts realistically—not using each other as grappling dummies.

• Women Empowered → DefendHer (trademark pending) A women’s self-defense program designed to empower women to withstand and emerge stronger from real-world threats. A major update: DefendHer now has a simpler path to the co-ed advanced classes. Students will begin sparring in Flow Foundations, creating a safe and supportive space for women who may not want to spar with men in co-ed advanced classes. And as always, once you earn your pink/white belt, DefendHer becomes free, so members can come back anytime to brush up on self-defense skills.
  

Why This Matters

These changes aren’t about throwing away the past—they’re about building on it. By stepping away from GU’s structure, we can:

• Remove unnecessary barriers (like long waits and stressful tests).

• Create recognition and progress paths that are faster and more motivating for students.

• Hire and develop instructors in ways that reflect our community’s needs and culture.

• Keep our focus exactly where it belongs: self-defense, safety, and building strong people inside and out.
  

FAQ

Will my child still have stripes and belts? Yes. Stripes and belts remain part of our structure. The path to earning them will feel smoother, with more opportunities to be recognized along the way.

Do the classes or schedule change? No. The same class times continue, only with new names and some improvements to how progress is recognized.

What about the structure? Structure and safety remain at the heart of everything we do. You’ll still see attendance cards so everyone knows exactly where they are on their journey—only now they’ve been updated to be more visually appealing and informative. Our online calendar is still available so you always know what you’re learning and when. In short: the tools you’ve relied on aren’t going anywhere, they’ve just been improved.

Do I lose anything by not being connected to GU? The only things going away are GU’s program names and online video library. We’ll be building our own curriculum and resources over time, designed for our community.

How will instructors get promoted now? We’ve partnered with local first degree black belt Anthony Nelson and his longtime friend Alberto Da Silva, a 3rd degree black belt who owns a gym in Florida. Together, they’ve created an association that supports schools like ours while keeping us fully independent. Anthony will be teaching here on occasion and promoting Coach Kenny, who in turn will promote our instructors.

Does this mean we’re becoming a sport competition school? No. Our focus remains the same: self-defense first, safety always. While advanced students will continue to roll with intensity, our culture will never prioritize medals over safety and learning.

What if I have more questions? You can always reach out directly—or check out the [blog updates here], where we’ll continue posting details and answering common questions.