Our Promise
About Essence BJJ Walnut Creek
EBJJ's purpose is to bring back the original values of Jiu-Jitsu. We want to give the opportunity for all communities to know that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is much more than a sport; it's a lifestyle to carry on forever.
Jiu-Jitsu is about honor, respect, and perseverance. It's amazing to see the rewards coming your way after hard work.
It's also about getting to know yourself, having the determination to overcome your own limitations, improving self-confidence and a balance of body and mind.
It's about forming not only a team but a like-minded community, sharing knowledge, and cheering for each other growth, from little kids to seniors: Jiu Jitsu unite, and it is for everyone. Our Martial Arts School also offers Muay Thai classes, teaching you self-defense, discipline, and many other valuable skills.
At EBJJ, we want you to be ready for life in every way. Teaching you beyond the martial art or the sport for competition, but the essence of Jiu-Jitsu as a whole. We base our teaching on the 7-5-3 code, inspired by the samurai's philosophy or "bushido code". It was organized by the Valentes brothers to preserve the Jiu-Jitsu philosophy created by Carlos and Helio Gracie, it can bring enormous benefits, be practiced by anyone and we want to be the one teaching you!
The
Jiu Jitsu History
In literal translation, Ju Jutsu (Jiu-Jitsu) means “gentle art” in Japanese. The origin of this martial arts form cannot be pinpointed. Similar fighting styles have been verified in different people, from India to China. It is known that the Jiu-Jitsu development environment and its refinement were the samurai schools, the warrior caste of feudal Japan.
Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil around 1917 by the champion Mitsuyo Maeda, known as “Conde Koma”. Part of a Japanese immigration colony, Maeda settled in the state of Pará, where he founded his martial arts academy and had Carlos Gracie as one of his students.
Due to his improvement in life through Jiu-jitsu, Carlos disseminated his knowledge to his four younger brothers: Gastão, Oswaldo, George, and Hélio. In the 1930s, the Gracie brothers opened the family's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Rio de Janeiro, initiating the Gracie teaching methodology composed of self-defense, takedown, standing fighting, ground fighting, and philosophy which are the pillars of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
For five generations, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners contributed to developing the art and strengthening its expansion throughout Brazil and the world, influencing hundreds of thousands of people.
Meet Our Head Instructor
Vini Nunes
Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Armando Wridt > Ataíde Junior > Vini Nunes
"I was born in Rio de Janeiro, but at the age of three I moved to Brasília-DC where I grew up. My mom raised me by herself and because I had a lot of energy, she decided to enroll me in Judo classes, I remember I was still a little kid at the time.
I loved training Judo, especially the takedowns, but as I grew I wanted something more challenging. That's why I started training in Jiu-Jitsu at 16 years old. I fell in love with the gentle art and I was lucky to have as a Master one of the few people in the world that owned a Red Belt, Master Deoclecio.
After I got my blue belt I wanted to test myself in competitions, I knew I needed to improve my performance even more and develop new skills, so I joined a strong competition team, the Constrictor Team led by Master Ataide Jr. During my time at Constrictor Team, I was many times champion at local and national tournaments, and in 2013 I had the honor of receiving my Black Belt.
I moved to the US in 2016 and joined Ralph Gracie Team, I continued competing and I've been champion and medalist at many tournaments including at the No-Gi Worlds in 2016.
In the USA I found my passion for teaching, I'm a very social person and I love sharing everything I've learned on my martial arts journey.
I'd love to have the opportunity of teaching you and see how Jiu-Jitsu can change your life."
Jiu-Jitsu is more than a sport; it's an amazing lifestyle!
Vini Nunes