Gracie Barra Rohnert Park Testimonials

Enrique

Assistant Faculty Member

“I have been training BJJ with professor Bill for over 3 years now the reason why I'm still around (and I'll probably be for a long time) is because I do believe that the Gracie Barra system and the way professor bill teach BJJ are one of the most successful and effective systems for training and teaching martial arts.

I also believed that BJJ is the most effective and realistic among all martial arts. It gives the practitioner a set of skills that can be used inside the school as well as outside since the first day of training. The school also provides a welcoming and friendly environment so that the student doesn't feel intimidated about training even with no previous experience. There's no restrictions or prerequisites to start training BJJ and anyone can do it. So what are you waiting for...?”

Paul and Family

Assistant Faculty Member

“I would like to start by saying I am very proud to be apart of the Gracie Barra Family! My family and I ( wife, daughter and son ) all train Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. I have been training for close to 2 years now, I really enjoy all of the people that train at the academy, everyone is helpful to each other. Jiu-Jitsu to me is a big stress reliever and the academy has a very positive vibe. I really like having Prof. BIll as my instructor he is very straight forward with teaching and this makes learning very easy. Not only is he a great instructor but he is a great friend to me and my family.

My kids also have a lot of respect for Prof. BIll and Prof. Fabianna, They have taught them a lot about respect, discipline and self confidence. My kids really enjoy the classes ( they train two times a week) We have seen a big change in our kids attitudes and self confidence.

My wife has also recently started training, She really enjoys the classes. My wife is happy that we have found a sport that we can all enjoy as a family. I recommend anyone who wants to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to come train with us. Everyone at the academy is great and a good bunch of people that I will say are like family. Take care and see you on the MAT.”

Kyle

Assistant Faculty Member

“When I first walked into Gracie Barra Rohnert Park I wasn't sure what to expect. I have had bad experiences with martial arts gyms in the past, but when I met Professor Bill I knew this was different than any school I had ever visited before. His love and passion for the art was so real that I knew that this was where I wanted to be.

I had been a heavy smoker for over 13 years. I tried numerous methods to quit, including classes, gum's, patches and even being hypnotized, with no success. My first day at GBRP was an eye opening experience. I could barely make it through the warm up, and had to stop half way through the class because of exhaustion. That night I threw away my last pack of cigarettes and I am proud to say that I have been smoke free since. I truly believe that Professor Bill and the Gracie Barra family in Rohnert Park saved my life. I have now been training a little over six months, I have lost over 25 pounds and have made it through the fundamentals program and now train in the advanced classes also. I hope to compete soon and represent the Gracie Barra Family and Professor Bill with pride and honor.

I would highly recommend Gracie Barra Rohnert Park to anyone who is looking for a change in their lives. It will challenge you, not only physically but mentally as well. Professor Bill is the real deal.”

Elliott Hastings

Assistant Faculty Member

“Gracie Barra Rohnert Park is a great school. The benefits that I receive are not only the physical aspect of training like the techniques, workout and the self defense, but also the perspective on life and the self respect that comes from training here. The Gracie Barra system is the best system in all of martial arts and we are lucky enough to have one here in Rohnert Park with a two time world champion as our Professor. I love the environment here, everybody is respectful. I would highly recommend this school for kids, Teens, women, adults, everybody.”

William and Family

“I have always been apprehensive about training at a martial arts school.  It was always a little intimidating not knowing how intense and potentially dangerous the training environment would be.  I lost those concerns as soon as I met Professor Bill.  I started training with Professor Bill in March of 2008.  I knew immediately that Gracie Barra Rohnert Park had something special to offer and I was hooked.  There are so many benefits to training at Gracie Barra Rohnert Park that I really don't know where to start.  The physical conditions and the techniques learned seem like they would be the most obvious but, it is really a lot more than that.  Jui Jitsu has a strange way of calming me.  I can go to class after having a bad day and my day always gets better.  I'm sure the friendly environment has a lot to do with that.  Professor Bill's friendly attitude is contagious and can be seen in everyone that I have had the opportunity to train with.  It creates a personal relationship between the students who train here.  It really is a family environment. 

It requires a certain amount of trust to train with others who could potentially hurt you.  It takes even more trust to let someone train your child.  My son Brady started training with Professor Bill about six months ago.  I am continually amazed at the communication skills that Professor Bill and Professor Fabiana have with children.  After the first few classes I started thinking, I wish my son listened as well at home as he did at class.  There was such a noticeable increase in his attention span, focus and self control.  The changes were not limited to just when he was training but quickly became apparent at home and school.  His teachers have noticed these improvements as well.

I was taught as a child to respect women.  It is important to me that my children learn this lesson also.  Although it has never been an issue, I like that my son has had the opportunity to train with Fabiana.  He is very impressed by her ability and he is aware that girls can be as tough as (or tougher than) boys.  There is no doubt that gender equality exists at Gracie Barra Rohnert Park.  I think this is equally beneficial to the young girls in the kids class.

I am thankful that my family and I have the opportunity to train at such an amazing school.  I know Jui Jitsu will always be a big part of my life.  Gracie Barra Rohnert Park is a great place for people of any ability to learn Jiu Jitsu as well as many other life lessons.  Thank you Prof. Bill and Prof. Fabiana for all that you do. WIlliam”

William

“I started out at Gracie Barra Rohnert Park in may of 2008. I was really surprised at how welcoming everyone here was. I was really impressed with the way all the students treated everyone with respect. I started out with no jiu jitsu back round and the fundamentals program helped me out a lot. Once i moved into the advanced program i had a good understanding of the basics because of the fundametnals program.

Professor bill is a great instructor. You can really tell that jiu jitsu is not just his job but it is his life. It is hard to find an instructor as dedicated as he is. When he teaches class you can see the passion he has for the jiu jitsu life. To me it is really important to have an instructor who cares this much.

I recommend Gracie Barra Rohnert Park to everyone, once you start here you will be happy that you did!!”

Jeremy and his daughter

“I was first introduced to the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu jitsu when I watched the first ufc fights in the early 1990's. In 1996 I began a career in law enforcement and quickly learned that people regularly resist arrest. In 1997 a survey of Los Angeles police officers that had been involved in hand-to-hand combat with suspects, reported that 85% of the altercations went to the ground. From what I had seen in the ufc fights, the experience I had gained arresting resistive suspects and knowing that 85% of physical altercations go to the ground, jiu jitsu seemed an excellent self-defense system for law enforcement. Not only for the protection of the officer but also the combative suspect. Because the techniques in Brazilian jui jitsu allow you to quickly gain control of the suspect, therefore decreasing the length of the altercation, it not only decreases the likelihood of injury to the officer but to the suspect as well.

I began sporadically attending jiu jitsu seminars specific to law enforcement and learned some basics of the art. I also learned that I wanted to know more, but had trouble finding a school that I felt comfortable with. In early 2008, a colleague told me about professor bill's school in Rohnert Park. He could not say enough about how he was enjoying the classes he was attending.

In March of 2008 I met with professor bill to see if I would feel comfortable training at his school. It did not take long to realize that professor bill was philosophical and regarded jiu jitsu as much more than a combat sport or a self-defense system. Professor bill regards jiu jitsu as a vehicle in which life skills are forged. Professor bill spoke of how jiu jitsu strengthens community, gives focus and self esteem to at risk youth, develops determination, it develops respect for others and oneself, you learn that in helping others you help yourself. Professor bill also spoke of the psychological and physical benefits of training in art of jiu jitsu. How in today's fast paced world jiu jitsu provides stress relief and exercise.

Professor bill informed me that several law enforcement professionals were attending his school and reiterated what I believed already, that jiu jitsu is very applicable to gaining quick control of a combative suspect.

I began attending classes that march. Since then I have seen or experienced all the benefits of jiu jitsu that professor bill spoke of and more. When I first started training with professor bill all I wanted was to gain the knowledge necessary to survive a critical incident with a combative suspect. While I am learning those skills, I am also learning much more than I anticipated, skills that have improved my quality of life.

I am proud to convey that my five and a half year old daughter has just begun attending the kid’s classes. I am proud to convey that she is learning those same life skills and applying them. My daughter looks forward her classes with an enthusiasm that I have not seen in her for any other sport.

I recommend professor bill's school; there is much to gain here.”

Mark

“I recommend Gracie Barra to anyone from kids to senior citizens that want to develop both mentally and physically by training in the best martial art available.

The training at Gacie Barra is systematic, fun and challenging. All classes are taught by Professor Bill, a world champion in BJJ, or a qualified assistant. Professor Bill is careful to train and match students according to experience, age, size, etc. Classes always start and end on time.

Professor Bill and his staff are really nice, decent people. The attitude at Gracie Barra is friendly and everyone is treated with respect. Classes start with a bow and end with handshakes and a bow. I sincerely look foreword to attending my Jiu Jitsu classes and I know you would too.”

Michael

“Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Barra in Rohnert Park has been one of the most challenging, rewarding, demanding and fun experiences I've had in a long time.  While I am not particularly gifted athletically, the wide range of abilities and the friendly atmosphere combine to create an environment where I can grow and develop through Jiu Jitsu.

Professor Bill and his staff provide me with hands on training, direction and motivation with each training session.  I've been a team member for over a year now and am very happy with the progress I've made in my Jiu Jitsu.  I am excited about the physical changes I've noticed as well- better strength, endurance, flexibility, etc...

I really feel that training Jiu Jitsu is addictive- it becomes a lifestyle.  I have just started down the path but I am excited to see where it takes me.  I've been hooked and can't think of a better place than Gracie Barra to continue developing my skills and fitness.”

Don and his sons

“I have had the privilege of being a student of Professor Bill ever since he taught his first class in Rohnert Park. I attended his first seminar and was hooked for life and haven’t looked back. Through the years I have learned countless lessons from Bill and the other students while builing great friendships. Everything about Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Professor Bill’s instruction appeals to me and has made me who I am today. Jiu Jitsu isn’t a thing you do, it becomes a part of who you are and it is truly a way of life. It is a way of life that teaches you so many things on so many levels. From the perseverance to continue when you feel you can’t go on, showing you no challenge is too tough, no mountain is too high. It teaches you to use technique over strength, strategy over aggression. With BJJ I have learned to live with a deeper meaning of respect, honor, discipline, and pride. When I am on the mats training or sparring with a tough opponent I am not alone. I know everyone in the Gracie Barra family is with me. It is a true honor to be part of such a family.”

“These lessons Bill has taught me through Jiu Jitsu are so important to me that both of my young sons have begun their journey through BJJ. I can see the lessons I have learned being ingrained in my two sons. The confidence, humbleness, respect, and honor they learn in the gym they directly apply to their life. I can see Jiu Jitsu becoming a part of who they are. When they face those challenges in life that test all youths today, I know they will make the right decisions, steadfast in their resolve and self respect because of who they are becoming with Jiu Jitsu and Professor Bill’s instruction as part of their life. I have heard it said that every Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt is a White Belt that never gave up. I see that exact thing in my two boys and I thank my Professor and Gracie Barra family for having such an impact on my family...”

“Thanks so  much for everything you do for us Bill. I truly am who I am today because of the lessons I have learned with the BJJ way of life.”

Byron

“In the many years I have been competing and practicing Martial Arts I have found  Professor Bill to  truly  be one of the most encouraging and charismatic teachers I have trained under. His attitude and welcoming nature make his classes somewhere you look forward to attending even after a long days work. I always leave thinking, breathing and excited about Jiu-Jitsu. I have forged friendship with the other students that I will carry for the rest of my life. On any given day you will see Fathers and Mothers watching their children learn our art and several days later you see them on the mat as well. His Academy is also the only true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School in the North Bay. This area has been lacking such a professional for many years and it is a welcome addition to our community.

Aside from our traditional Art of Jiu-Jitsu Professor Bill also is an experienced Law Enforcement Teacher. He recently began training officers from my Police Department in Officer Survival Techniques. He has given us the extra tools needed to diffuse violent situations without harm to the officer and the public. Being a Captain at the Veteran Affairs in San Francisco we routinely deal with personal who have advanced ground fighting capabilities. His Clinics have allowed my officers the level that playing field  and keep everyone safe.

I highly recommend Gracie Jiu-Jitsu even for the most seasoned Martial Artist. I have duel Black Belts in San Shou and Kung Fu, and have been training Muay Thai for over 20 years. This art compliments all other arts in every way it has made me a better martial artist and person. Sometimes just getting through the door is the hardest part but once your in it is definitely hard to leave.”

" Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself " - Chinese Proverb  
Captain Byron R. Alvarez Jr

Richard

“I have always enjoyed jiu-jitsu and the fact that it involves both your mind (strategy) and your body (technique).  But not until I started training at Gracie Barra Rohnert Park did I experience the added benefit of great instruction, quality training partners in a comfortable environment.  I would recommend GBRP to anyone.”