Now its YOUR TURN to learn REAL MARTIAL ARTS!

Have you always desired the benefits of martial arts, but never seemed to be able to get the chance to train? Maybe you did train a while ago, but you stopped for whatever reason, and you are looking to get back to it. Have you heard of the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through the UFC, and always wanted to try it out. Maybe you miss playing a sport like you did as a youth, and now you are looking to be part of a team again.

Whatever the reason, Baltimore Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is here for you. We want you to train with us, get in the best shape of your life, learn real martial arts skills, and have a blast doing it. That is what we are all about.

Ok, so you have seen the countless other martial arts sites and schools, so I don't want to bore you, but I do want to tell you all of the reasons why we are different, and hopefully you will want to come to a free trial class to see us in action.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CLASS SCHEDULE

Why not tae kwon do, karate, kung fu, aikido, etc?

First off, why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, why not the other styles tae kwon do, karate, kung fu, aikido, etc?

Here is the BIG problem. Please bear with me because I am going to explain something that was UNKNOWN to many martial artists for decades:

You HAVE TO train your skills against a resisting opponent to be able to reliably use them in a real situation. That’s right, you HAVE TO.

Let’s take a look at the way traditional martial arts are taught. I am going by experience here because I have a Black Belt in Karate, and I spent countless hours on the tasks below.

Step 1: Learn a movement in the air, possibly practice striking a pad or target
Step 2: Incorporate that move into a “kata” or “form”, which is just a sequence of moves practiced in the air
Step 3: Practice that movement on a partner who is totally compliant, sometimes even encouraged to “be a good dummy”
Step 4: Participate in “point sparring” where the artificially imposed rules have so closed off what is possible that the sparring resembles a game of tag, rather than an actual confrontation.

Here is a video of a Gracie Family member defeating a traditional martial artist, most likely trained using these methods

Is YOUR training a WASTE OF TIME?

This type of training DOES NOT prepare you for an actual encounter! In fact, it gives you a FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY because you are lead to think your techniques will always work on the first try.

I trained like this for years, thinking I would be ready for anything, totally convinced my skills were legit. One day in 1993 I witnessed the event that shocked the martial arts world here in the US. It was the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championships(UFC), and a skinny Brazilian named Royce Gracie who crushed the competition, made up mostly of karate, kung fu, and other traditional styles. Gracie used techniques that were foreign to most of the American martial artists, who had been raised on a steady diet of Bruce Lee movies and Kung Fu Theater. I thought it was fluke at first, but Gracie went on to win 3 of the following UFC events, proving that the Brazilian style of Jiu Jitsu was essential for martial arts success.

What was ultimately most revealing about the victory of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the UFC was learning HOW THEY TRAINED to achieve such results. Gone were the flashy kicks in the air and kata, and in its place was a lot of time spent grappling with other opponents, spending time working on moves that looked a lot less like the movies, and a lot more like an actual confrontation. Even MORE amazing was that there were literally THOUSANDS of people, of all ages and abilities, who had been learning jiu jitsu in this way in Brazil. The training was not “too brutal”, as some traditionalists claimed, but rather exactly what was necessary to develop real skill. Jiu Jitsu was in no way limited to the Gracie family, but instead it was a large movement, started by the Gracies, that originated in Brazil. Finally, having reached America, it’s spreading like wildfire!

"Training at Baltimore BJJ has helped me improve my entire game and made me aware of a whole other side of BJJ that I never knew existed. Lee is so knowledgeable and helpful, he makes every class fun and truly cares about the progress of his students."

Dave Espinoza, Personal Trainer

Its time for YOU to get good!

Now, that you know something about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I would like to tell you why our program gets results. The first thing is the removal of ego in the training area. We simply cannot have any kind of "tough guy" attitude or behavior in the gym. Anyone who has been involved in combat athletics for any length of time knows that sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. We are comitted to a friendly atmosphere for training where you are made to feel welcome.

The second reason is the structure of our program. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in itself is a HUGE area of study. But then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one piece of the total combat puzzle. So how do we get anywhere considering the size of our objective? The answer is a solid curiculum that covers the fundamental skills of each area. You will build a rock solid foundation of fundamental skills that will be the basis for your growth. At the highest levels of sport, it always comes down to fundamentals.

The program is designed so that a student can attend two times per week, and be exposed to all the fundamentals in a six month period. From there on out time is spent developing your skills so you can perform them on better and better opponents.

"Lee is an excellent teacher. His technical knowledge of BJJ is outstanding, and his ability to impart that knowledge to his students is superb. He carefully instructs all of his students so that they understand and master both basic and advanced techniques of BJJ. Lee is also an excellent mentor who helps all students at Baltimore BJJ achieve great progress."

Jim Conway, Neuroscience Resident, Johns Hopkins University

Is Baltimore Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for YOU?

I hope so. I know many people go through life always wanting to get into martial arts, but for whatever reason, they never do. If you are reading this, maybe you are one of those people.

Here are my hopes for YOU, the new student:

First, you are curious, you have a nagging feeling that the martial arts might be for you. So what if your family thinks you can’t do it, you are too old, not in good, enough shape, etc you have always thought it seemed cool, and you are going to give it a try. You look around a bit, find our site, and do a little reading. Something we are saying here sounds right to you, so you call. You even check out some other schools too, to see who has the best program.

You call and set up a trial class. You come in, a little nervous about what to expect. You are made to feel welcome in the training environment. The workout was challenging, but you got through it and had a blast doing it. You decide that you would like to train here. You start regularly coming to class, and although you are not the best fighter around, you start making improvements each time you come. Some other new students join the gym, and you see how far you have come. Eventually someone who is bigger, stronger and more athletic than you joins the gym, and you are able to comfortably handle them with your skills. You take satisfaction in what you have accomplished, and have increased confidence and sense of well being from making Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a part of your life.

Call 443-850-7224 or email baltimorebjj@hotmail.com to set up a free trial lesson today!

No contracts! No high pressure sales pitch! No bull! Just good training!

"Baltimore Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great place to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Lee Synkowski is a highly motivated and skilled instructor who provides a safe environment in which to train and develop as a grappler both stand-up and on the ground."

Donald Tremper, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’m out of shape, can I do this?

I get this question ALL the time. You cannot train here unless you can run a six minute mile, do 20 pull ups, and squat your bodyweight 20 times. HA HA, just kidding. Look, we all go through periods of being in and out of shape throughout our lives. The trick to getting in shape is finding an activity you like, and sticking with it long enough to produce results. I want jiu jitsu to be what gets you into shape now, and I want it you to enjoy it.

When you start training, we will see what you are comfortable with, and you will go slowly. If you are not comfortable with any exercise or drill, we will modify it so you can do it.

Grappling is one of the greatest fitness activities ever created. You use your strength, endurance and co-ordination working against another human being in a physical chess match. When you learn how to grapple, you will have a whole new perspective on the capabilities of your body.

I’m too old, can I do this?

Yes! Just like above, you will start with what you are comfortable with, and work from there. You have to have realistic expectations of what you want to accomplish. If you are starting over age 50, it is less likely that you will ever be the world champion. However it is highly likely that you will be able to learn from the training, get in shape, and make jiu jitsu a positive part of your life.

Can women do this?

YES! In fact this type of training is one of the few systems that can reasonably prepare a woman for the level of physicality involved in an actual encounter. It is VERY common for a smaller, experienced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu player, to have the ability to subdue a larger, stronger person. A woman who has studied BJJ, will have a proven advantage that no other martial art can replicate. Also since so much time in BJJ is spent covering close positions on the ground, you develop skill for a place where an attack is likely to end up.

On another note, the sport of women’s jiu jitsu and grappling is taking off here as well, with larger and larger women’s divisions. We see more and more women regularly competing in sport tournaments. Women who take up the sport have the opportunity to participate in this if they desire.

I’ve never done martial arts before, will I look stupid?

New people are starting all the time, and everyone remembers what it is like to be a beginner, so no, you won’t look stupid. Beginners are ALWAYS welcome. How will we grow the school without you, the new student?

Think of it this way, we are really into jiu jitsu, and martial arts training. We think there is something special about it, and we want to share it with everyone. When somebody has an interest in it, we think it is cool, and we want to share it with them. This is how our school works.

How many times a week do I have to train to get good?

The frequency of your training determines how fast you progress. Obviously someone who trains 5 times a week will progress quicker than someone who trains twice a week.

I would like to see students train twice a week. You can still make progress training once a week if you are consistent, and train with the right mindset.

How long do I have to train to get my Black Belt?

If you just want to be a Black Belt, I suggest you try another martial arts school. If you actually want to have some real skills, and don’t care what color your belt is, then you should train here.

In BJJ a Blue Belt, the first belt attained, is a sign of actual competency. By the time you reach your first rank, you will have real skills higher than most black belts in traditional styles. I know because I had a Black Belt, and Blue Belts were able to take care of me pretty easy when I started.

Getting your Blue Belt takes usually about 150 to 200 class hours to achieve. If you are training 2 times a week, this would be one to two years.

Where can I get a gi?

Here are some sites to buy gi's, also known as kimonos. Any color is fine. The different weaves are the thicknesses and differ from each manufacturer. Beginners usually prefer a thinner gi. Sizing can be different too, so check what each manufacturer recommends. They will usually shrink a bit when washed and dried. Try to buy from a place in the US rather than directly from Brazil.

http://www.siriusathletic.com/

http://www.howardliu.com/

http://www.nhbgear.com/

http://www.casca-grossa.com/store/dynamicIndex.asp

http://www.atama-kimonos.com/index_enter.htm

 

 

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6233 KENWOOD AVENUE, BALTIMORE MD 21237
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(443) 850-7224
email:
baltimorebjj@hotmail.com