Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Camp

What better place to learn Brazilian jiu jitsu, the widely-recognized king of modern day martial arts disciplines, than in its birth place - Brazil. Nexus is proud to offer a world-class jiu jitsu camp in Brazil, complete with top-notch instructors (including vice champion from the 2006 world jiu jitsu championships), a setting of pristine natural beauty, deluxe beachfront accommodations, a host of adventure sports, dining and nightlife options, and of course the unparalleled customer service for which Nexus vacations have become famous for. So come learn jiu jitsu with the pros in beautiful Florianopolis, Brazil.

With Nexus you will have the opportunity learn Brazilian jiu jitsu with the world’s best instructors, trainers and fighters in an amazingly authentic setting that could not be duplicated anywhere outside of Brazil. Our jiu jitsu camp provides extensive contact with all aspects of the sport, and no matter what your age, gender or level of current jiu jitsu skill and traning, we guarantee you will come away a better, stronger and sharper jiu jitsu fighter with superior techniques and training methods.

Under the supervision of our highly-qualified professional jiu jitsu instructors, you will have extensive contact with all of the elements that have led Brazilian jiu jitsu to dominate the world martial arts scene over the past century. And of course you will also experience the best of the natural beauty, culture, adventure sports, dining and nightlife highlights that make Florianopolis one of the most interesting places in the world (and which no one can give you the inside track on like Nexus!!).

History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazil is a country known for many rich traditions such as samba, soccer, capoeira and Carnaval. But Brazilian jiu jitsu is arguably the one which has had the most impact globally when one considers the level of influence the art has had on the evolution of modern day self-defense and martial arts techniques around the world.

With roots in India, jiu jitsu later emigrated to Japan, where the art was further honed and developed, prior to being brought to Brazil by Master Mitsuo Maeda Koma. One of the first disciples of the sport in Brazil, Carlos Gracie, became the lighting rod that sparked a craze for jiu jitsu first in his family, and then an entire country. Jiu jitsu’s dominance was brought to the world stage only relatively recently in the famous Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) in the United States, where Royce Gracie (a direct descendant of Carlos Gracie’s) defeated all manners of opponents bigger and stronger than him using only Brazilian jiu jitsu techniques. Today jiu jitsu has become a fundamental part of all Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters’ professional training regimens, and is also the official system adopted by many police and military elite forces such as the U.S. Army Rangers.

Training jiu jitsu allows students to improve their self-esteem, concentration, confidence, coordination, discipline and physical conditioning, all while having an incredible time and creating lasting bonds of friendship and respect with instructors and fellow trainees. It is the sport which, aside from requiring tremendous physical exertion, can best be equated with the mental rigors of chess (except of course that rather than moving wooden figurines, your body and your opponents body become the game pieces!).

Nexus Jiu Jitsu Program

The Nexus jiu jitsu program is designed to accommodate a broad range of students, irrespective of age, gender or current skill level. The standard length of our jiu jitsu camp is 7 nights (custom packages can be tailored to your desired schedule), and there is a program that will suit each level of skill and interest accordingly. Groups are divided into the following classes: beginner (those with limited (i.e., white belt) or no training experience), advanced (those who are already involved with jiu jitsu training (i.e., blue, purple and brown belts)) and black belt (high-level training for proven black belt fighters) and the program includes, as appropriate for each student’s ability level:

• Daily training sessions with top-notch professional jiu jitsu instructors (with gi) – classes will cover basic through advanced techniques, allowing beginner students to learn to roll effectively and advanced practitioners to hone their fight game.

• Advanced sessions (no gi) that will teach techniques allowing the student togain an idea of the training of professional MMA fighters.

• MMA basics lessons teaching movements and techniques that break down the dynamics of MMA fight mechanics and strategies.

• MMA advanced lessons teaching movements and techniques that can help the fighter take their MMA fight capabilities to the next level.• Visits to the one of the top Gracie Academy in the world. Student will have full access to train in the Gracie Floripa Academy, one of the top academies in the world that boasts a number of champion Brazilian jiu jitsu fighters in in all belt classifications.

• Black belt fights will have the additional benefit of private training sessions with the top black belt instructors from the Gracie Floripa Academy, experiencing first-hand the most dynamic and cutting edge training methods available anywhere in the world.

In addition to top-notch jiu jitsu training daily, your stay with Nexus also includes deluxe beach front accommodations in the best location on the island of Florianopolis, rental car, local cell phone use, breakfast service, airport transfers, access to other adventure sports options, as well as guided day and night time activities that will ensure you get a unique insider’s view to the best of local Brazilian culture. See our Packages & Booking page for further information on these aspects of your trip with Nexus.

Head instructor - Marvio Charles

Marvio Charles was born to compete. He was a top fighter in his division until in April 2001, when an injury took him off the mats for 4 years. When he decided to make a come back, in 2006, he took second place in the most important competition: the jiu jitsu World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. This latest taste of the thrill of victory continues to motivate him to dedicate his life to fighting. After seven years as a successful professional dentist he quit in the beginning of 2007 to teach jiu jitsu full time. Marvio will help you to find the warrior’s heart that everyone has inside, but only a select few know how to bring to the surface!