About Our Partner Dojo Program

Who are we:

• We are the first network in Europe to offer authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and we are the Gracie family’s official representative (since 1995).
• Our Gracie Lineage: Hélio Gracie -> Pedro Hemetério -> Franco Vacirca.
• We are represented by over 55 Partner-schools throughout Europe that officially promote the Vacirca Brothers’ Gracie Concepts^® program.
• Franco Vacirca is the first European to receive a Black belt in BJJ from President Carlos Gracie Jr. of the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ/IBJJF) back in 1996.
• Prof. Franco was the last private student of great Grand Master Pedro Hemetério (Professor Pedro) to be trained in Hélio Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. In 2009, Grandmaster Robson Gracie Sr. (President of the Jiu-Jitsu Fed. Rio de Janeiro) and Grandmaster Reylson Gracie (Technical Director, JJFRJ) awarded to Prof. Franco the 5th degree Black belt and the title “Professor de Jiu-Jitsu”.
• Professor Franco currently holds a 7th degree Coral belt (Mestre title) under Grandmaster Joe Moreira (Red belt and students under great Grandmaster Francisco Mansur, who received his Red belt personally from great Grandmaster Hélio Gracie).
• Prof. Franco continues to study under master Royce Gracie and Master Joe Moreira. He began his BJJ training with GM Rorion Gracie at the famous “Gracie Garage” in Manhattan Beach, California, in the early ’90s.
• Since 1986, Prof. Franco has written hundreds of articles on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and other martial arts that have been published in professional journals worldwide.
• Since 1996, Prof. Franco has published more than ten instructional videos on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. All videos are available through Budo International.
• In 2020, the Vacirca Brothers “Online University” was established for trainers, students, and individuals interested in the Gracie Concepts^® program, which is free for all GC members holding an annual membership license.
• In 2021, Prof. Franco published his first book, Sons of Maeda: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Unlocked, which was published worldwide in three languages (German, English, and Spanish).

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What do we offer:

• Professor Franco’s modern approach to “Survival Applied” Jiu-Jitsu has prompted hundreds of police, special forces, and military groups to study Gracie Concepts^® as practical self-defense, inviting him repeatedly as a guest instructor or full-time trainer.
• Prof. Franco’s international seminars, training camp, and special trainer training courses (ICP/Instructor Certification Program), which have been taking place worldwide since 1995, are not only attended by self-defense, BJJ or MMA professionals, but also by absolute beginners who want to see him work live on the Tatame.
• Mobbing and bullying are also an issue in all schools, regardless of which country Prof. Franco is visiting, which is why special workshops are increasingly being held at public schools and universities, where Prof. Franco teaches children and young people, as well as students and teachers, practical and useful “Verbal” and “Physical” techniques and tactics for self-protection.
• Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as taught by Prof. Franco under the “Gracie Concepts^®” brand, consists of 54 consecutive classes taught in a rotating model. This form of BJJ instruction helps members gain a solid foundation, but also the opportunity to progress to black belt and beyond.
• There is also the opportunity to train and become an official and certified Gracie Concepts^® instructor. However, a BJJ black belt is not automatically also an instructor. To be recognized as a Gracie Concepts^® Partner-school you must always follow the ICP course and program and continue to visit us regularly.
• With an annual (students) fees you and your students support our network, become officially GC/JJGF graduated (there are no additional costs) and receive personal and free access to the Gracie Concepts^® Online University, which provides members with hundreds of instructional video clips on Jiu-Jitsu, self-defense, and much more to come.
• Partner-schools do not pay for additional licenses (apart from the above-mentioned annual students licenses). All Graduations and Certificates are free-of-charge with annual student license. Graduations by Prof. Franco may take place at Gracie Concepts^® HQ in Zurich, or at seminars, camps, and other training by appointment, or in your local Partner-school.

We look forward to seeing you!

-HQ Team Vacirca Brothers

Contact us at: vacircabrothersjiujitsu@gmail.com
WhatsApp +41 79 415 08 08