Gracie Barra

Our son (5yrs old) started here about 6 weeks ago. We have been very impressed with every aspect of the school. It is family run by Otavio Souza and his wife Marina. Otavio and the entire staff are great with the kids and spend as much time with discipline as they do with strength training and technique. All of it is wrapped in encouragement and fun so that the kids are excited to come back. I have not participated as an adult, but highly recommend them for kids!

Awesome training tonight at the Huntington Beach Gracie Barra School. Love the energy and love the details in the sweeps tonight and the way professor showed the interchange from either when they stand or how to execute it from if they smash into half guard. I love visiting my first professor ever to teach me at GB its always an honor to be also a friend of Otavio. As great a champion as he is, whether white belt or black belt he treats everyone with the same respect ON and OFF the mat.

I started training with professor Otavio 7 months ago and since then my life has changed for the better. I had just moved to Huntington Beach and now I would have the opportunity of a lifetime to train with a living legend in the Jiu Jitsu world. He has taught me so much and the journey continues every day. I can’t thank Otavio enough for inspiring me every day to push harder, train longer and be the best I can possibly be! My girlfriend comes to watch me train and the vibe is so positive and contagious, she wants to start doing Jiu Jitsu. When we have kids I will definitely want them to train with Otavio. It doesn’t get any better than this.

I was visiting family in OC from Utah for the holidays and wanted to train. A friend of mine recommended Gracie Barra in Huntington Beach and I thought I’d drop in to train.
Got there about 15 minutes before class started on a Wed evening. I walked into the office and met Professor Otavio and he was very warm and welcoming. I filled out a quick information and liability form and they mentioned they have an academy gi that I could use. He asked how long I’ve been training (2 years) and my rank (blue).
Mats, bathroom, and changing rooms were very well lit and well kept; clean mats are super important to me and the mats looked like they were brand new. Academy loaner gi was clean, fully laundered and smelled of snuggle fabric softener which I like.
I took both the fundamentals class and the advance class. There were about 12 – 15 students of varying ranks in each class which I liked (I’m not too fond of huge classes). Each 1-​hour class started with a typical warm up, followed by instruction/​drilling and then rolling (sparring). Professor Otavio’s instruction was highly technical and focused yet easy to understand and build upon. In sparring I like how we were able to start standing vs on knees (I believe this is because the team was preparing for a competition the upcoming weekend). While we were drilling Professor was walking around and watching to ensure we were drilling proper technique. The students were warm, welcoming, supportive and simply a pleasure to meet and roll with.
Definitely looking forward to training with them again and would highly recommend.

Very nice to learning jujitsu as a beginner, professor is very patient and knowledgable, and friendly. you get many chances to have a hands on fighting with friendly guys much better than you. Btw, jujitsu is very good if you want to improve your flexibility. Enjoy it very much!

So much to say! If I can give it 10 stars I would. Here we go…
To the new and prospective students: there are many gyms to choose from, and I’m sure many of them are well-​intentioned and have good curriculums. To me though, there are several things that make Gracie Barra Huntington Beach stand out.
First, the quality. These days you can pay $ 45 at 24 fitness for basic membership, or up to $ 200 per month at a fancy gym. You may even get in shape at those other places and have a positive experience. However, like so many gym memberships, eventually you’ll need a new challenge. At Gracie Barra Huntington Beach, Professor Otavio’s skills have been proven at the highest levels of competitive jujitsu, and continue to be honed through his relationships with the large Brazilian jujitsu community in Southern California, and around the world. If you’re going to prioritize your health and fitness, you need to be know that your health, and hard earned time and money are in the best hands. Here, you will.
Second, the community. Jujitsu is one of the most positive communities I’ve ever come across as an athlete. For most people outside of the martial arts community, that is probably the last thing you expect because of how martial arts and MMA are marketed, but it is so true. Professor Otavio and Coach Marina are some of the nicest and most down-​to-​earth people you’ll ever meet, and committed to developing positively minded and committed athletes. The rest of the students at the school follow their leadership. Supporting new students is one of the fundamental principles of jujitsu, all the way from white belt to black belt. There is a saying that says if you cannot teach your jujitsu, then you haven’t truly learned jujitsu.
Third, your character. Things like humility, discipline, positivity, patience, perseverance are traits that will get you that will take you far in life. But the truth is, you need to exercise those just as you would any other muscle. Yes you can go to the gym, lift weights, and do cardio, but I won’t necessarily make you a better person. Jujitsu, on the other hand, challenges and develops those traits in every student. It happens one class at a time, one technique at a time, one sit up at a time. Ultimately, these are the things that matter in life, and it’s what you will keep you coming back.
I can speak for myself and so many other students, but you’re welcome to join us anytime, we look forward to training hard and getting to know you!

This is a easy five star review for me, if I could I would give them ten stars. In my experience with Gracie Barra Huntington Beach I was a walk in student. I had no experience in any kind of mix martial art and really didn’t know what to expect. But after the first intro class and the hearty warm welcome, I was hooked. Professor Otavio’s passion for jiu jitsu is undeniable, and his love for seeing people improve only pushes you to do better.
Not only is Professor Otavio a world champion and a great teacher of jiu jitsu but the people in this academy is what sealed the deal and kept me coming back. Friendly, helpful, and motivated individuals that will welcome you with open arms. I couldn’t say enough good things about this academy and I’m honored to call them family.

Starting at a new place isn’t easy. Initially, I was intimidated and not sure what to expect, but after day one I knew I was in the right place. From the first time I stepped into the gym at GBHB I felt like family. The atmosphere in the gym is both inviting and encouraging. We work as a team motivating each other to become better. Of course, every team needs it’s leader and that is exactly what we have with Professor Otavio. He is detailed, disciplined, and cares about the progress of every student.
The facility is fantastic. Everything is clean and the layout of the gym is centered around the purpose of training jiu jitsu.
I have nothing but good things to say about this gym, I have enjoyed the jiujitsu there so much that my family signed up as well. Both Professor Otavio and Coach Marina have created an environment where great jiu-​jitsu and family unite. Overall, it’s an amazing gym!

My son trains at GBHB and he loves attending class here. As a parent, you always try to find teachers who will be a good influence on your child. Professor Otavio is a wonderful role model. He inspires the entire class with his positive energy, passion for BJJ, humble demeanor, and hard-​working nature. Coach Marina is also awesome with the kids. She is nurturing, caring, and encourages each child to do his/​her best, in every class.
Professor Otavio and Coach Marina are a great team and they have created a welcoming, family-​friendly atmosphere at the gym. Their good energy has attracted a like-​minded community of kids and parents, where people of all ages and skill levels will feel comfortable.
Regarding the facilities, they are beautiful. A lot of love and care has been put into all aspects of the gym, and it shows.
At this gym, your child will learn a lot of valuable life lessons: self-​defense, self-​discipline, self-​respect, and the value of working hard for your goals. We are very grateful to Professor Otavio and Coach Marina for the top-​notch program they have created at GBHB. They are the best!

I signed my son up for Jiu Jitsu with Professor Otavio and he loves it. He is so very patient with new students and professional as well. I love the studios anti bullying campaign, all children should learn this concept.
The studio was just refurbished so it is new and clean. It has bathroom and changing rooms.

Absolutely the finest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction, hands down. An extension of the Gracie Barra Family in Huntington Beach under the watchful eye of The renowned professor Otavio Sousa is a no brainer. Why haven’t you signed up yet?