Adult Jiu Jitsu — Gi

Classic kimono training for real self-defense, technical mastery, and calm under pressure.

Whether you’re brand new or returning to the mat, our year-round Gi classes give you a clear, safe path to build real self-defense, fitness, and skill inside a supportive team culture in Oakley, CA.

What is Gi Jiu Jitsu (and why it matters)?

Gi (kimono) training adds grips and friction—collar, sleeve, and pant holds that slow the scramble and reward precision. That extra control:


  • sharpens balance, posture, and base,
  • develops grip fighting and grip breaks (huge for passing and pins),
  • unlocks gi-specific submissions (cross-collar, bow-and-arrow, Ezekiel), and
  • transfers to no-gi and self-defense by refining frames, angles, and timing.



If no gi is sprinting on a track, gi is chess with handles—both valuable, just different gears.

Train with Purpose. Grow with Community.

Why train Gi Jiu Jitsu at GMC?

Coach Mark holding down a student in side control.

Beginner-friendly structure: Clear progressions, start anytime.
Coach Mark passing the guard.
Coach Mark posing with 3 of his adult jiu jitsu students.
A group of men are practicing martial arts on a blue mat

Coaching & lineage: Head coach Mark Miller, black belt under Eduardo Rocha (student of Royler Gracie). 
Two women sparring during women's self defense class.

How a typical class runs

  1. Prep & movement – joint prep, breath, and fundamentals
  2. Technique block – 1–2 concepts with live, coachable details
  3. Drilling → positional sparring – progressive intensity to lock it in
  4. Live rounds (optional for new students) – safe, coached application

Curriculum: skills you’ll build

Standing to mat: posture, grips, snap-downs, basic judo entries, safe falls (ukemi).
Guard toolbox: closed/open guard, frames, hip movement, sweeps, off-balancing.
Passing systems: knee-slice, toreando, body-lock concepts adapted for gi grips.
Pins & transitions: side control, mount, back control—pressure without panic.
Submissions: cross-collar, bow-and-arrow, armbar, triangle, kimura series.
Self-defense integrations: distance management, clinch to control, verbal boundaries.

A woman in a blue kimono is kneeling on a yellow mat
Two men are wrestling on a blue mat in a gym

New to jiu jitsu or returning?

Brand new? Start in group classes now—we’ll ramp you safely and build confidence fast.

Have experience? Drop into Gi classes, then ask about competition rounds and seasonal prep blocks.
Prefer a fixed-cohort format? See our Courses page.

Schedule & what to wear

Check the live Training Schedule.
Wear a gi (jacket, pants, belt). If you don’t have one yet, we’ll size you—loaners available for your intro. Bring water and sandals for off-mat.

Try a Class—No Pressure, No Pushy Sales

We offer a free trial class for first-time students. Come see the space, meet Coach Mark, and experience our program firsthand.

The logo for growth mindset collective shows a rose with a brain in the middle.

A Short History of Gi Jiu Jitsu

Modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grew out of Kodokan Judo (itself from Japanese jujutsu). In the early 1900s, judoka Mitsuyo Maeda shared his knowledge in Brazil; Carlos and Hélio Gracie refined a system that emphasized leverage and ground fighting for smaller practitioners. Training in the gi (kimono)—with collars, sleeves, and pants—shaped the art’s tactics: grip fighting, control, and gi-specific submissions. As BJJ spread worldwide, sport rulesets (e.g., IBJJF) formalized positions and scoring, and modern athletes developed advanced lapel and collar-based guards. Today, gi training remains a cornerstone for building precise mechanics that transfer to self-defense, no-gi, and MMA.



Why it matters for you: Gi grips slow the scramble, reward posture and timing, and teach control you can apply anywhere.

FAQs: What Adults Ask Before Starting

Is Gi harder than No Gi?

It’s different. The gi slows things down and rewards grip strategy and posture—great for learning clean mechanics.

Do I need to be in shape first?

No. Gi training builds conditioning as you go. We scale rounds and progressions.

Will I have to spar right away?

Only when you’re ready. We emphasize drilling and positional rounds first.

What do I wear for my first class?

Gi if you have one; otherwise we’ll provide a loaner. Wear sandals off-mat.

Can I train Gi and No Gi?

Absolutely. Many students do both. See our No Gi page.

Ready to start?

Come by and meet the coach, see the space, and try a class—no pressure.