Gracie Barra - Burton

I have trained at quite a few Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools over the past few years and none of them offer the same detailed instruction, wealth of information, technical soundness, and positive team environment as Gracie Barra Burton. Professor Burchfield is by the far the best instructor I have ever trained under. He truly cares about your improvement and structures his classes in the best way possible to maximize your progress. Professor Burchfield has trained with some of the absolute best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the world including Flavio Almeida, Rickson Gracie, Saulo Ribero, Braulio Estima, Lucas Leite, Marcus Almeida Buchecha, Romulo Barral, Samuel Braga, and the list goes on. In addition to what the school offers on an everyday basis, Professor Burchfield flies in many of these and other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champions from across the globe to come and offer seminars and private instruction at our academy. I highly recommend training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra Burton.

I entered the gym in June of 2012, and expected to be a black belt in a couple of years, and to just train a couple times a week. At the time I weighed about 225 lbs, and had started my fitness program at home and lost about 10 lbs in 6 months, now I'm less interested in the outward belt promotion, my primary concern is not just getting the black belt which takes much longer then I realized, but to instead live a healthy lifestyle and to continuously improve in every aspect of my life. My relationships are healthier, i have a batch of like minded friends, and I'm happier in every aspect of my life. I presently weight 190 lbs, I've taken more then 15% body fat off, I can run, I weight train, supplemental yoga, I train kettle bells and am stronger now then ever before in my life despite being an accomplished athlete in high-school. My confidence has improved, I've grown in humility, I am less stressed, and I have something to look forward to 4 nights a week and I attend 4-5 practices a week. There is no way to fully express how grateful i am for the opportunity to train in this environment, and how much happier I am as a person. I am confident that the Gracie Barra Burton is not only the best organization in this region but also the state, and I promise that for committed individuals wishing to pursue a healthier lifestyle, and to learn the art of Jiu Jitsu will be pleased!

So I stepped on the scale at the YMCA today and hit my desired weight only after a couple of months back training at Gracie Barra. I didn't have much to loose, but it wasn't coming off for the previous 6 years just working out on my own. I have known Jim Burchfield for 20 years and had trained continuously with him for 13 years before taking a break due to the arrival of our children. After a 6 year lay off I'm back on the mat and loving it. In the 6 years I had been off, Jim has shown remarkable improvement in his own skill level and teaching method. Most people would not travel 50 minutes each way to train martial arts, but that's what his skill level and our relationship means to me. Jim has travelled the world to learn from some of the best practitioners around, and now regularly brings them in for seminars. YOU can now get that world class training right in your own backyard without having to traverse the globe. Ever wanted to give it a shot? How can you go wrong with his 30 day free trial and 60 day money back guarantee? Who else is so sure of their program that they offer that? Hmmmm, I'm drawing a blank too. See you at the club!

I have been training at Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy for just over a year now. My ground game has improved more so in this past year, than it has in the former three years that I trained at other martial arts gyms. Not only has my jiu jitsu improved immensely, but the team is organized and runs as a family type unit. We not only train together, but we go to tournaments, go out to eat, and have fun together. When one of the team members is struggling one of the other members will help pull them back up. We just recently added a Muay Thai curriculum to our program as well. The gym also offers conditioning classes that are curtailed towards improving Jiu Jitsu (Bulgarian bag, kettle bells, and other core strengthening equipment). Before training at Gracie Barra I thought I was a good martial arts practitioner, after my first day at Gracie Barra I realized I only thought that I was good, because I was training at other local gyms that said they knew Jiu Jitsu, but were a far cry from really even teaching the fundamentals appropriately. Mr. Birchfield has been studying martial arts for over twenty years and there is no other instructor in the Genesee County area that can even compare to him when dealing with his knowlege and skill level. Mr. Birchfield is arguably one of the top martial arts teachers in the county, if not the state. Before training at Gracie Barra, I struggled with positive self-esteem and being self-motivated to improve my life, since training at the gym I have graduated from U of M, become a counselor, and have a motivation that supersedes any I have ever had. I would invite you to come try us out, you have nothing to lose, but excess weight and multiple positive gains.