Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art developed by the Gracie family in Brazil, known for its focus on takedowns, chokes, arm locks, leg locks, and other submissions. It’s an incredibly effective self-defense system and has become a cornerstone of modern mixed martial arts (MMA), particularly in promotions like the UFC. However, due to the cost of training and equipment—especially the gi uniform—BJJ has historically been limited to those in higher income brackets.

While New York City is home to some of the world’s top BJJ gyms, Upper Manhattan has lacked prominent programs. HFFA is working to change that by making Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu accessible to everyone, regardless of income or experience level. Our program focuses on teaching fundamental grappling techniques for self-defense and competition, providing every student with a gi and the necessary training gear to train safely and consistently.

Coaches Matthew Gioia and Andrew Lee bring extensive training under world-class grapplers, and their passion is to instill values of humility, confidence, and collaboration in Harlem’s youth. At HFFA, we’re not just teaching martial arts—we’re empowering students to grow, both on and off the mat.