At the present time, we are unaware of a Gracie Barra in Athens, GA.
What is the difference between SBG Jiu Jitsu and Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu?
There are probably more similarities between SBG and Gracie Barra than most students would imagine as both organisations operate global franchises with affiliated training groups across countless countries, that said, there are significant differences too. Gracie Barra follows a very structured curriculum that seems designed to give the student a similar experience wherever you go in the world. SBG’s also have a structured curriculum but on balance, there is probably more freedom for SBG coaches, based on the feedback of prior Gracie Barra students who now train with SBG. SBG operates curriculums focused more heavily on Mixed Martial Arts and Self Defense. A comparison of a typical SBG timetable with a Gracie Barra gym would show more striking classes, more Mixed Martial Arts classes and probably more No Gi. That said, SBG trains a lot of Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it just is not the main focus as you find at Gracie Barra.
Both Gracie Barra and SBG train in IBJJF competitions wearing the Gi. This competition format is probably the main focus of Gracie Barra schools whilst SBG has a broader focus on martial arts competitions generally with separate competition teams for Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts alike. SBG Athens is probably best known for producing UFC Champion Forrest Griffin and countless UFC competitors. At the same time, SBG Athens possesses the highest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grades in the Athens area as recognised by Master Rickson Gracie and his Jiu Jitsu Global Federation, with coaches Adam and Rory Singer (holder of the fastest submission in UFC Middleweight history) at 4th degree Black Belts respectively! SBG possesses a long history with Rickson with many of the SBG faculty having been graded by him over the years.
