Gracie Fernandina

10/09/2026

Great Thursday evening class at Gracie Fernandina, and let’s just say… gravity was very busy.

The adults were flying, the kids were throwing, and everyone was learning how to make the floor someone else’s problem.

It’s been awesome watching this class grow already. New skills, new confidence, and just enough chaos to keep the possums interested. 🦝

Judo is officially picking up speed.

Guard pullers, stay nervous. 😂🥋

Great Thursday evening class. We worked on drop ippon seoi nage, drop o uchi gari and drop morote seoi nage. The speed of the throws was remarkable. Kids learned osoto gari and ippon seoi nage.

10/08/2026

Last night at Gracie Fernandina, two absolute bozos, Happy and Ashley, decided the academy needed more elegance, more confidence, and apparently… matching pink leopard gis. 🩷🐆🥋

Not only did they buy the same gi, they made sure everyone knew about it by proudly parading around class like they were walking the world’s most questionable jiu-jitsu fashion runway.

Technique? Maybe.
Style? Unfortunately, yes.
Shame? Nowhere to be found.

I can’t be 100% sure, but I do believe I saw a single tear fall from Paul’s face as he realized this is the team he belongs to.

Gracie Fernandina: where the jiu-jitsu is serious, but the fashion choices are absolutely not. 🦝🔥

10/04/2026

1st Saturday Judo class at Gracie Fernandina had us all tossing people around like sacks of potatoes. If you like potatoes AND throwing people, join us every Thursday at 7pm and every other Saturday at 11:30am.

The second adult class went very well. We practiced gripping and movement along the mat utilizing different grips. And then throwing, lots of throwing.

This is your chance adults to come out and learn a real Japanese martial art and a little Japanese language along the way.

10/02/2026

🥋 First Judo class is officially in the books! 🥋

Tonight we had 15 people on the mat, from kids to adults, for our very first Judo class at Gracie Fernandina.

We started with the most important skill in Judo: learning how to fall safely.

Everyone worked on:

🔥 Front breakfalls
🔥 Back breakfalls
🔥 Side breakfalls
🔥 Grip fighting
🔥 Moving and controlling a partner with grips
🔥 O Soto Gari

It was a great first night of learning how to move, control balance, use grips, and introduce people to the beautiful art of making gravity someone else’s problem. 😄

Huge thank you to everyone who showed up, tried something new, and helped make the first class a success.

Judo is officially rolling at Gracie Fernandina.

Guard pullers… your natural predator has arrived. 🥋🦝

The first Judo class at Gracie Fernandina Academy is in the books. The turnout and enthusiasm was great. Many more classes, throws and falls to come. Thank you to everyone who came out and made this a great inaugural class.

10/01/2026

🚨 ATTENTION JUDO PEOPLE 🚨

We saw your little post.

“Stop pulling guard.”
“Learn to throw people.”
“Use gravity as a weapon.”

Cute. 🥋😂

Meanwhile, Morning No-Gi would like to formally announce:

WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN STANDING UP.

Why would I spend all that time fighting for grips, pummeling for underhooks, and learning beautiful takedowns when I can simply sit on the floor and make you come deal with me?

Yes, I’m pulling guard.

Yes, I’m butt scooting.

Yes, I’m going to stare directly into your soul while slowly approaching you like a malfunctioning Roomba hunting for an ankle.

You want me to stand up?

Absolutely not.

The floor is safe.
The floor is comfortable.
The floor has heel hooks.

☀️ Morning No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu at 10am

Come learn the ancient art of refusing to participate in the stand-up portion of grappling.

Coffee encouraged.
Wrestlers tolerated.
Guard pullers celebrated.

Judo says:
“Stop letting gravity scare you.”

Morning No-Gi says:
“Gravity already won. Sit down.” 😂🔥

09/30/2026

Are you tired of being a butt scooter?

Tired of watching your friends laugh while you pull guard?

Tired of your significant other having to stand up to the guy taking your wallet because you voluntarily sat down?

Good news. We have a solution.

🥋 Judo classes start October 1st at 7:00 PM! 🥋

We are proud to bring pure Kodokan Judo to Nassau County, taught by Michael Shenkman, a 40-year judo veteran and 3rd degree USJA black belt.

This class is for adults, kids, beginners, experienced grapplers, and yes… even recovering guard pullers.

First class is always free.

Stop letting gravity scare you.
Start using it as a weapon. 🥋🔥

09/23/2026

These kids were so tough👊

📸 in-house tournament at Gracie Fernandina last weekend… 350+ photos here👇
https://cassthecreative.pixieset.com/graciefernandinainhousetournament91926/

09/22/2026

After some complicated mathematics that required SEVERAL ones to be carried over we have calculated a winner of our in house tournament visiting team trophy!

Drum roll...

Congratulations Gator Bridge BJJ! Your did it!!

Expect your trophy (pictured below) to arrive in the next 6-8 weeks via COD delivery.

Thank you again to all the teams who participated and made this thing what it was.

09/20/2026

Wow! What a Saturday! 🥋🔥

Our homies from Amelia Island Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Gator Bridge BJJ, Grimsley's Fighting Arts, McCleary Jiu-Jitsu Camden, and Lykeion Jiu-Jitsu all gathered to make the In house tournament a success.

With more than 85 matches, spread over 23 divisions with more than 80 competitors earning nearly 50 trophies, it truly was a day of great community and improvement. 🏆💪

There were tears, there was laughter, there was yelling, there was even a giant check like Happy Gilmore.😂

Thank you to everyone for making this what it was and for investing in yourself enough to take a risk to stand out in front of strangers and put your pride on the line. Thank you to the other academies for believing in the idea that we can all be friends and only fight each other when want to 🦝 🥋

09/19/2026

The calm before the storm. Our 493th (pronounced three-th) annual in house no gi Tournament starts today. Doors open at 12:30 first matches start at 1pm. The greatest tournament on planet Yulee!