Jiu Jitsu

choke Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a cutting edge fighting art founded and developed from traditional Jiu-Jitsu by the Gracie family of Brazil. Carlos Gracie learned jiu-jitsu from a Japanese Judo-ka named Maeda who emigrated to Brazil. The art's roots are derived from pre-war Kodokan Judo, western wrestling, and Maeda's own insights into combat. Though Brazilian Jiu-jitsu contains standup techniques for winning a fight, it is known for its devastating ground techniques. It is prefered to bring an opponent to the ground and then relying on grappling techniques to subdue the opponent.
armbar This strategy takes away the advantage of an opponent with superior striking abilities. It can also mitigate the advantage of a stronger and much larger opponent relying on wrestling or grappling. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was specifically developed to allow a smaller person to defeat a larger person by sophisticated application of leverage and technique. Gaining superior position on your opponent and applying a myriad of chokes, holds, locks and joint manipulations becomes the foundation for this fun martial art.

About the Instructors

Alex Costa

Alex's martial arts career began in 1986 when he began practicing Judo. At this time he also began his involvement in Capoiera, a Brazilian martial art involving music, dance and fighting techniques. He continued to practice both sports until the age of 18.

In 1994, with the growing movement of Mixed Martial Arts, Alex began to train Jiu-Jitsu. He studied from 1997 through 2004 with the great master Ailson Brites "Jucao", who came from the traditional Gracie Barra School (Rio de Janerio, Brazil) of the world famous Carlos Gracie, Jr. In 2004, Alex then transferred from the Gracie Barra Team to Renzo Gracie of New York. Alex personally received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr.

Achievements and Titles

1996 First Place Regional Jiu Jitsu Championship Brasilia, Brazil
1997 Third place National Jiu Jitsu Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2000 Third Place Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship Orlando, Florida
2004 Second Place Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship
2004 Third Place Absolute Division Pan Am Championship

NAGA Fighter
North American Grappling Association

2003 First Place NAGA Battle of the Beach, New Jersey
2004 Third Place NAGA Battle of the Beach, New Jersey
2005 Second Place NAGA


Dave Ginsberg

ginsbergDavid Ginsberg has been teaching Jiu Jitsu, MMA and fitness for over a decade. His studies include a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu earned in 2003, time spent in Thailand for Muay Thai, and extensive exposure to boxing and wrestling. He has trained at numerous Gracie schools and in Brazil with Dela Riva and BTT --many of the pioneers of Jiu Jitsu and MMA.

In addition to numerous NAGA titles and the 1999 New England Gold, David won back-to-back gold medals at the Pan American Games for Jiu Jitsu in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he was the only American on the podium in his division where he garnered the Blackbelt Silver Medal. He has trained numerous MMA fighters for large shows including the UFC, as well as for local shows.

His background in gymnastics and competitive athletics inform his teaching style, as does his education in yoga, meditation, and mind-body training. In the MMA world, in addition to cornering, training, and coaching fighters, David serves as judge, referee, and has interviewed and commentated live on-camera for Pay-per-view shows.