Welcome to Gracie Sydney Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

Gracie Jiu Jitsu – also known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) – is universally regarded as one of the most effective martial arts for self defence. It is a style of which can be mastered by people of all ages and fitness levels. BJJ’s driving principle is that a smaller, weaker person using proper technique like leverage, joint-locks and chokeholds can successfully defeat a bigger, stronger opponent.

Why choose Gracie Sydney?

• Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a proven, effective form of self defence. The same techniques you will learn that are taught to the U.S. Army, FBI, Secret Service and many other elite military and law enforcement agencies around the world. With 95% of all streetfights ending up on the ground, Gracie Jiu Jitsu’s focus on grappling on the ground makes it the best martial art for self defence.
• You’ll get fit! Training with Gracie Sydney’s experienced and qualified instructors will dramatically boost your conditioning, endurance and flexibility – all contributing to an improvement in your general health. It’s fun! Gracie Sydney prides itself on its relaxed, safe, enjoyable and ego-free training environment and our students always look forward to the next session.
• Competing is completely optional for any student, but for those looking to test themselves, a number of our students compete regularly in Grappling Tournaments and Mixed Martial Arts events (gi and no-gi). Our student base includes many Jiu Jitsu champions and professional Mixed Martial Arts fighters.
• Our network of affiliated academies around Sydney guarantee you’ll find one of our excellent academies near where you live or work.

Contact us to find out more: joining Gracie Sydney is a decision you’ll never regret.

About Us

Gracie Sydney was founded in 2001 when Bruno Panno emigrated from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, specifically to introduce Gracie Jiu Jitsu to Sydney, Australia.

Prof. Bruno Panno is a student of the Gracie family of Brazil, the founders of this style of Martial Art. After learning the art in the most prestigious academy in the world and being awarded his teaching qualifications directly from the arts founders, Bruno is the Gracie family’s chief representative in Australasia.

Bruno was only eight years old when he started training Gracie Jiu Jitsu at the Gracie Humaita Academy in Rio de Janeiro in 1985. The Academy’s director was grand master Helio Gracie, and Bruno trained under masters Royler and Rolker Gracie. The legendary Rickson Gracie was also coaching at Humaita during that time. When Bruno was nineteen, Royler and Rolker Gracie awarded him a purple belt, and invited him to work as an assistant instructor for the Gracie Academy, which he proudly did for five years.

On 31 March 2001, after three years of hard training as a brown belt, Bruno received his hard earned and desired black belt directly from the hands of Royler Gracie. Bruno arrived in Sydney in July 2001 with the goal of developing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Australia. In 2002, Bruno founded the NSW BJJ Federation and remains a director of the organisation today.

Since arriving in Australia and establishing Gracie Sydney’s headquarters in Coogee, Bruno has established many Jiu Jitsu academies in the Sydney area. Bruno’s passion and talent for teaching is exemplified in his success in sharing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to such a diverse student base and where his dedication is producing Australian athletes of international standards.