Quality Instruction by a Champion with a Love of BJJ and Teaching
The history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be traced back to the no holds barred competitions which began on the streets of Brazil. These hardcore street fights spanned a wide array of martial arts disciplines, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rising from the fray to become one of the most revered.
Born and raised in Brazil, the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Marcelo Lucena rose through the ranks of this prestigious sport with its largest legends to become the first world’s first Ultimate Fighting Champion. Affectionately referred to as Professor Bob by his students, Marcelo Lucena is the lead instructor of the Ralph Gracie Mission Viejo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.
Professor Bob teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the same passion he has for the sport, and when he is not busy training the students of the Ralph Gracie Mission Viejo Academy, Professor Bob keeps up to date with the latest techniques in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and continues to personally train and compete at a Black Belt Master level in tournaments including the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation World Master in Las Vegas.
A Friendly, Fun Environment
I think we can all agree the atmosphere surrounding an activity can be just as important as that activity itself in ensuring that a positive experience is enjoyed by all. The atmosphere at Ralph Gracie Mission Viejo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy team is reflective of Professor Bob’s mindset and approach – congenial, with an unrivaled devotion to the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and its teachings.
In fact, all of the Mission Viejo Ralph Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy instructors have helped cultivate a friendly, inclusive atmosphere built upon camaraderie, respect and genuine caring, and welcoming to students of every age and all backgrounds. Whether you are an energetic teen, a health-conscious adult or someone who is interested in self-defense training, every student at the Ralph Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy is treated like family, and every skill level – from beginners to competition level black belts – is provided with a safe and friendly place to learn the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The Ralph Gracie Legacy
Ralph Gracie is a name with a reputation earned on merit, gained through grit and deserving of its highly accredited distinction within the world of martial arts. It is a name possessing a long-standing legacy synonymous with skill, strength, determination and the time-tested techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The Ralph Gracie history and legacy began in the early 1900s with Mitsuyo Maeda, one of Jigoro Kano’s premier groundwork experts who left Japan to travel the world. Throughout his travels, he taught elite martial art students Judo with an emphasis on ground fighting techniques.
When Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in Brazil in 1914, one of his students happened to be Carlos Gracie. Diligently studying the techniques, methodology and philosophy of this martial art for over five years under the expert guidance of Master Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie became a very practiced and accomplished master of the sport.
Shortly thereafter, Carlos Gracie’s younger brother, Helio, received personal training from Jigoro Kano Master Maeda. Smaller in stature, Helio enjoyed the leverage that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s unique ground fighting techniques provided, utilizing his mastery of the sport and that leverage to easily overcome larger, stronger opponents…and, ultimately, helping to propel Brazilian Jiu Jitsu into its own, distinct martial art.
That talented Gracie family tree continued to branch with Carly Gracie who was aptly referred to as the “Lion of the Gracie Family”. The first Gracie family member to move to the United States, Carly became a respected Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor here in 1972. In 1978, Rorion Gracie followed suit. As Brazilian Jiu Jitsu continued its evolution, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was born with Rorion Gracie at the helm as one of its founders. The extraordinary Gracie family legacy continued with Royce Gracie who defeated many prominent martial artists from a wide array of martial arts disciplines, further showcasing the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
When Pay-Per-View began televising the fights, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, along with the Gracie family, gained momentum with a much broader audience and an exponential increase in popularity. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting also played a prominent role. As MMA rose in notoriety, so did the teachings and training of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Today, largely due to its distinguished history created by masters of the sport including so many members of the Gracie family, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has earned its rightful place in competitive martial arts and the entire world.
The esteemed Ralph Gracie family legacy continues at the Ralph Gracie Mission Viejo Academy, named “Best Martial Arts School of 2022” by the Mission Viejo Awards Program and inducted into the Business Hall of Fame for the last five consecutive years. If you are interested in learning more about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can call the Ralph Gracie Mission Viejo Academy at 949-400-7108, email ralphgraciemv@gmail.com or visit us at our convenient location: 26861 Trabuco Road #H, Mission Viejo, California.