Please wear a white gi if possible. This is a great opportunity to train, learn, and gain insight from a true master in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu lineage. All levels welcome. Don’t miss it—see you on the mats! 屢
Master Luiz Palhares is a highly respected Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor and 8th-degree coral belt, trained directly under the legendary Helio Gracie lineage. With decades of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Master Palhares is known for his deep technical knowledge, dedication to teaching, and commitment to preserving the art’s traditions. He has trained generations of students, emphasizing discipline, skill, and respect on and off the mat.
The other day at my academy, I had a young 14-year-old and his older brother helping me clean up. As we worked, he stumbled across a pile of my old, worn-out belts—white, blue, purple, and brown. They were stained, frayed, and clearly had a lot of miles on them.
He picked one up and asked, “How much would these belts cost?”
I smiled and said, “A lot of hard work.” He paused, then clarified, “No, I mean if I wanted to buy one, how much would it cost?”
I told him the truth. “About $15 on Amazon. But why would you want to buy a belt that isn’t worth anything? That’s like buying a high school or college diploma online.”
That moment stuck with me. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the belt isn’t the achievement—the work behind it is. Every belt I’ve ever earned represents years of showing up, failing, getting frustrated, getting injured, doubting myself, and coming back anyway. The sweat, the losses, the lessons, and the discipline are what give that belt its value. Without that process, it’s just a piece of fabric.
And it made me wonder about the world we live in now.
Have we lost our determination to earn things the hard way? Do people still have the patience to stick with something when it stops being exciting or starts becoming uncomfortable? When progress slows, when motivation fades, when results aren’t immediate—do we stay, or do we quit and look for shortcuts?
In martial arts, as in life, there are no shortcuts that actually lead anywhere meaningful. You can’t rush growth. You can’t fake experience. And you can’t buy credibility. Whether it’s a belt, a diploma, a career, or a relationship, the value comes from commitment over time.
Those old belts on the floor weren’t trophies. They were reminders—of persistence, humility, and staying the course when quitting would have been easier.
You can buy a belt. You can buy a certificate. You can buy the appearance of success.
But you can’t buy the journey—and without the journey, none of it really matters.
25 Years Building Champions. Monday-Friday 6PM Tuesday & Thursday 730 AM Saturday 11AM Sunday 1PM. $149 Month (No Long-Term Contracts) Your Uniform (gi) can be bought on Amazon for $65 (No $250 Club Uniform Required) No Belt Testing Fees (No Hidden Fees) Hurry Up While This Lasts!!!
Aric wanted to find a place that his children, wife and Himself could train at that they felt safe. He found everything he was looking for, that he now calls Home at GAMMA.
“ I have trained Jiu-Jitsu for ten years. I was 369 pounds, and I started kickboxing and they were doing Jiu-Jitsu in the corner and it looked fun. I put my children in it. It looked really fun, so I signed up.
It’s allowed me to loose weight live a healthier lifestyle. Have a constructive outlet. I have learned that culture is what draws people to make their gym their home gym.
I have two daughters and a wife who trains as well. So to have a female presence and inclusive atmosphere. Was what I was looking for in a gym. I tried all gyms before picking my final gym and this gym felt like home.
It is never too late to start. I was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu when I was 21 and didn’t start till I was 39. It’s the best self-defense and an amazing work out.
The last thing I want to see is a loved one or anyone get hurt. So training Jiu-Jitsu is a way to prevent that. You have to put in the reps to defend yourself.” яндекс
Here at GAMMA we excel In ensuring that everyone has a safe and fun training environment to accomplish their goals. Professor Jay Speight is not only a skilled Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and MMA competitor, he is also a fantastic mentor who pushes us to achieve our fullest potential as athletes and as healthy happy everyday people.
From the fierce arena of competition to the nurturing environment of the kids’ class. Jay dedicates his expertise towards building competent martial artist and developing future champions.
For People Who Are Concerned About Parking. From 3rd Street To 1st Street.(the river) free parking, no app use, no limit. And don’t forget after 5pm you can park a Truist Bank at the corner of Reade Circle and Evans street.
If someone is a new student and had done a waiver online, they have already set up their username and password. They can download the application and access the application.
Older students they need to download the app, need to give us a user name. We put it in the system we will send an email to set up their password to them.
We will host John Perry for a special seminar. John Is a Black Belt Under Royce Gracie and one of James and Jay Speight Oldest Students. He was the First Student who the Speight’s Trained to fight MMA and has had a successful record in the cage. He now trains and teaches at Capital MMA and Elite Fitness in Alexandria, VA
Master Luiz Palhares will be at our academy on Thursday, October 3rd at 5PM for the Children and 6PM for the adults. This is an event you don’t want to miss.
“Master Luiz Palhares is an 8th degree, Coral Red White Belt Under Grand Master Helio Gracie and Master Rickson Gracie. Luiz was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on January 19, 1959. He started training in Rio De Janeiro in 1977 at the age of 18 under Rolls Gracie and continued to train with him until Rolls died in 1982, in a hang-gliding accident. After Rolls’s passing, He continued to train under Rolls’s brother, Rickson Gracie. After 7 years of practicing BJJ, he was awarded his black belt in 1984 by Rickson Gracie together with Grand Master Helio Gracie. Luiz received his Coral belt in 2010 by Grand Master Carlos Robson Gracie, Red Belt 9th Degree (President of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro). In 1999, then a 6th degree black belt, Luiz was asked to move from Brazil to teach at Rickson Gracie’s Academy in Los Angeles. Master Luiz currently resides in Jacksonville, FL, where he and his son, black belt Pedro Palhares, run Jacksonville Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
