What martial arts classes are offered in Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks, CA?
The instructional program at Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks is built upon a standardized global framework designed to take a student from their very first day on the mats through advanced technical mastery. Each class is led by certified professors, including multi time world champion Gabriel Arges, and follows a structured curriculum that emphasizes safety, technical precision, and the philosophy of “Jiu Jitsu for Everyone.”
GB1 FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM
The GB1 program is the primary entry point for adults and serves as the foundation for all future learning. It is designed to be accessible to individuals of any fitness level or athletic background.
16 Week Rotating Curriculum: This circular system covers essential self defense and ground techniques, allowing new students to join at any point and eventually learn the entire foundational Vocabulary of Movement.
Focus on Core Principles: Lessons prioritize the mechanical use of leverage and skeletal alignment to neutralize opponents, ensuring that technique overcomes raw physical strength.
Safety and Etiquette: Beginners are introduced to the Art of the Tap and academy protocols in a zero ego environment, focusing on cooperative drilling before moving into situational training.
GB2 AND GB3 ADVANCED PROGRAMS
These classes are designed for students who have earned at least a blue belt and are ready to explore the deeper technical complexities of the art.
Advanced Submission Chains: Students study intricate transitions and high level attacks that build upon the movements learned in the fundamentals program.
Panic Inoculation Training: The advanced sessions include more intensive live rolling (sparring), helping practitioners develop emotional regulation and mental clarity under physical pressure.
Modern Competition Strategy: Led by world class competitors, these classes incorporate the latest strategies used in international IBJJF tournaments, such as advanced guard systems and specialized counters.
FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOUTH PROGRAM
The youth classes are divided into age appropriate tiers to ensure that the physical and social demands match each child’s developmental stage.
Little Champions I (Ages 3 to 6): This program focuses on building foundational motor skills, coordination, and social habits through Jiu Jitsu based games and basic movement drills.
Little Champions II (Ages 7 to 9): Students transition into technical self defense and the Anti Bully curriculum, building confidence and discipline through the Red Shield values.
Juniors and Teens (Ages 10 to 15): These sessions prepare young adolescents for the rigors of the adult program, emphasizing resilience, physical fitness, and leadership skills.
SPECIALIZED SESSIONS AND COMPETITION TRAINING
In addition to the primary curriculum, the academy offers focused training for specific goals and groups within the community.
Women’s Program: These classes provide a respectful environment for women to learn practical self defense and improve functional fitness alongside supportive teammates.
Competition Team Training: For those driven to represent the Northridge and Thousand Oaks headquarters, specialized sessions focus on tournament rules, strategic scoring, and cardiovascular conditioning.
Private Instruction: Students seeking accelerated progress can book one on one sessions with certified professors to refine specific technical areas or prepare for upcoming rank evaluations.
Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks represents a unique intersection in the martial arts world: it is a local, family-oriented academy that operates with the facility standards and championship pedigree of a professional athletic training center.
Located inside the renowned Sports Academy (formerly Mamba Sports Academy) in Newbury Park, it offers a distinct “University of Jiu-Jitsu” experience led by one of the most successful active competitors in the sport’s history.
- World-Class Leadership
The primary draw for students—from hobbyists to professional fighters—is the caliber of instruction.
Professor Gabriel Arges: The academy is owned and led by Gabriel Arges, a 3-time IBJJF Black Belt World Champion. In the BJJ world, this is the equivalent of learning basketball from a current NBA All-Star. His leadership ensures that students learn modern, battle-tested techniques rather than outdated methods.
The Romulo Barral Lineage: Arges is a black belt under the legendary Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra Northridge). This connection integrates the academy into a powerhouse regional network, granting students access to elite seminars and high-level training partners from across Southern California.
- A Professional Athlete Facility
Unlike many BJJ schools located in small industrial warehouses, Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks benefits from being housed within a major athletic complex.
The “Pro” Environment: Located at 1011 Rancho Conejo Blvd, the academy is part of a 96,000 sq. ft. facility. It features professional-grade lighting, expansive mat space, and an atmosphere of high-performance athletics.
Hospital-Grade Hygiene: Leveraging the standards of the Sports Academy, the mats are kept to a clinical level of cleanliness (“Red Shield” standard), drastically reducing the risk of skin infections common in lesser-regulated gyms.
Amenities: Students have access to premium changing rooms, showers, and a pro shop, catering to the “Executive” crowd who need to head straight to work after morning training.
- Adult Programs: Structure Meets Intensity
The curriculum is designed to accommodate two distinct groups: the working professional who cannot afford to get injured, and the young athlete chasing gold medals.
GB1 Fundamentals: This is the safe on-ramp for beginners. There is no live sparring in these classes. The focus is on self-defense mechanics, safe falling techniques (breakfalls), and core positional drills. This structure makes BJJ accessible to doctors, executives, and parents in the Conejo Valley.
GB2 & GB3 (Advanced): Once students earn 3 stripes on their white belt, they unlock advanced classes. Here, the focus shifts to the “Arges Style”—dynamic guard play, modern leg locks (like the “Kneebarge”), and the strategic “Physical Chess” required for competition.
Competition Team: Under Arges’s guidance, the competition team is one of the most successful in the region. Intense “comp classes” attract practitioners from Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Camarillo looking to test their limits.
- The “Future Champions” Youth Program
The youth program is a cornerstone of the academy, divided by age to ensure developmental appropriateness.
Anti-Bullying Philosophy: The curriculum teaches children to neutralize bullies without violence. They learn to control an aggressor using leverage and pins (“negotiation from the top”) rather than striking, protecting them from both physical harm and school suspension.
Age-Specific Classes:
Little Champions (Ages 3–6): Focuses on motor coordination, listening skills, and “animal movements” to build body awareness.
Juniors (Ages 7–9): Introduces technical grappling, partner drills, and the concept of leverage.
Teens (Ages 10–15): A critical program for adolescents that combines self-defense with the athleticism of sport BJJ, helping teens navigate social pressure and build a healthy, disciplined peer group.
- Culture and Atmosphere
Despite the elite pedigree of its instructors, the culture is famously “no-ego.”
The “Red Shield” Etiquette: The academy strictly follows traditional martial arts etiquette—bowing onto the mats, addressing instructors as “Professor” or “Coach,” and respecting training partners.
Mentorship: Higher belts (“Big Brothers/Sisters”) are expected to guide and protect lower belts. It is common to see a World Champion competitor helping a Day-One white belt tie their belt.
Family-Centric: The schedule often aligns adult and kids’ classes, allowing parents to train simultaneously with their children.
Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks offers a premium martial arts experience where “World Class” is a reality, not just a slogan. Whether you are a parent seeking confidence for your child or an adult wanting to learn from a living legend, the academy provides a safe, clean, and highly professional environment to start your journey.
Would you like me to find the current class schedule for a specific age group, or would you like directions to the Sports Academy facility? https://gbthousandoaks.com/free-trial/
Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu & Martial Arts Academy Thousand Oaks CA
1011 Rancho Conejo Blvd, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
Phone Number: +1 805-721-6776
Office Hours
Mon. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Tue. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Wed. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Thu. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Fri. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Sat. 09:00 am – 07:30 pm
Sun. Closed
Route
Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Thousand Oaks & Martial Arts CA
Secondary phone: +1 805-721-6776
