HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministrative Permit APX2008005 - Project Description•
Gracie Barra Huntington Beach Facility
Gracie Barra Huntington Beach facility will have 2.400 Square feet total, with 1.400 Square feet of
mat space.
All classes will happen on the mat area.
It will operate Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 PM , and Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 2 pm.
We will have students of all ages, from Kids to seniors divided in different classes of age and level.
The academy will have two employees; one is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt first degree that has
being teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around the world for more than 7 years and will be responsible for
the classes. The second employee will take care of office work.
Due to , the Additional Provisions Ap , that says that the Maximum number of person per classroom
cannot exceed the number of parking spaces allocated to the suite, based upon 1 space per 200
square feet, the academy will have the maximum number of 12 students per class.
Gracie Barra Huntington Beach will not make any changes in the store plain. Everything will
be, like it has always been.
City of Huntington Beach
FEB 2 6 Z008
Gracie Barra Huntington Beach
The Gracie Barra School in Huntington Beach, California, will offer world-class level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
instruction for individuals, families, and Law Enforcement Officials of Orange County and is being
developed to become a reference for physical education, character development, self-defense, and
world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training at the communities of Huntington Beach and neighborhood.
The GB Huntington Beach classes are aligned with the Gracie Barra Program Structure developed by
Master Carlos Gracie Jr. to meet specific learning needs from people with different ages, gender and
levels. Our clean, friendly and progress oriented environment allows the students to have a
challenging, inspirational and warm learning and training experience that always make them feel like
coming back.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Philosophy
The application of traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu transcends the practice of chokes, joint locks
immobilizations, throws and strikes. A true Gracie philosophy prepares men, women and children for
life, showing them paths to a healthier life and the most effective use of physical, mental and spiritual
strength. Eating well is Jiu-Jitsu, taking care of your body is Jiu-Jitsu, saying no to cigarettes, alcohol
and drugs is Jiu-Jitsu, as well as keeping a close bond with relatives and friends. This philosophy,
which can be called a "way of life", has been propagated by Grand Masters Carlos and Helio Gracie for
almost a century
History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Some historians of Jiu-Jitsu say that the origins of "the gentle art" can be traced back to India, and
was practiced by Buddhist Monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques
based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner
where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu
spread from Southwest Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where it developed and gained further
popularity.
In the last days of the 19th century, some Jiu-Jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents,
teaching the martial arts, as well as competing in fights and competitions. Esai Maeda Koma, also
known as "Conde Koma," was one such master. After traveling with a troupe which fought in various
countries in Europe and the Americas, Koma arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para
the next year, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie. The father of eight children, among them
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five boys and three girls, Gastao became a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to
learn to fight from the Japanese master.
For a naturally frail fifteen-year old Carlos Gracie, Jiu-Jitsu became a method not simply for fighting,
but for personal improvement. At nineteen, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family and began
teaching and competing in the martial arts. In his travels, Carlos would teach classes, and also proved
the efficiency of the art by beating adversaries in competitions that were more physically strong. In
1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first school, known as the "Academia Gracie de Jiu Jitsu."
Since then, Carlos started to share his knowledge to his brothers, adapting and refining the techniques
to the naturally weaker characteristics of his family. Also, Carlos taught them his philosophies of life as
well as his concepts of natural nutrition. Eventually, Carlos became a pioneer in creating a special diet
for athletes, "the Gracie diet," which transformed Jiu-Jitsu into a term synonymous with health.
Having created an efficient self defense system, Carlos Gracie saw in the art a way to become a man
who was more tolerant, respectful, and self-confident. With a goal of proving Jiu-Jitsu's superiority as
well as to build a family tradition, Carlos challenged the greatest fighters of his time, as well as
managing the fighting careers of his brothers. Fighting opponents fifty or sixty pounds heavier, the
Gracies quickly gained recognition and prestige.
Attracted to the new market which was opened around Jiu-Jitsu, many Japanese practitioners came to
Rio, but none were able to establish schools as successful as the Gracies. This was due to the fact that
the Japanese stylists were more focused on takedowns and throws, and the Jiu-Jitsu the Gracies
practiced had more sophisticated ground fighting and submission techniques. Carlos and his brothers
changed the techniques in such a way that it completely altered the complexion of the international
Jiu-Jitsu principles. These techniques were so distinctive to Carlos and his brothers that the sport
became attached to a national identity, and is now commonly known as "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu," practiced
by martial artists all over the world, including Japan.
With the creation of an official body overseeing the administration of the sport, the rules and the
ranking system started the era of sport Jiu-Jitsu competitions. Today, Jiu-Jitsu is much more
organized, with an International and National Federation, founded by Carlos Gracie Jr. Through his
work with the Confederation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Carlos Gracie Jr. contributed to the growth of the
sport by holding some of the first organized competitions. Currently, the Confederation holds
competitions in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Asia, realizing Carlos' original dream to spread
Jiu-Jitsu around the world.