Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training facility located in Pleasant Hill, California

Pleasant Hill, California

Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...

 and is home to numerous highly ranked mixed martial artists who compete in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

 and Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

.

History

The academy was opened by Cesar Gracie

Cesar Gracie

Cesar Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trains a number of top fighters in Pleasant Hill, California. Gracie is a member of the Gracie family, the son of Sonja Gracie-Gronning and not to be confused with his cousin also named Cesar Gracie who is the son of Reylson Gracie.- Biography...

.

Prior to Jake Shields' UFC signing in 2010, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu housed champions in three of five weight classes in the Strikeforce promotion. This success helped Cesar Gracie secure a position among the nominees for "Coach of the Year" at the Fighters Only 2010 World MMA Awards.

On April 17, 2010, members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu camp were involved in a brawl following the main event at Strikeforce: Nashville

Strikeforce: Nashville

Strikeforce: Nashville was a mixed martial arts event held on April 17, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States and broadcast domestically on CBS.-Background:...

 in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

. The incident began as Jason Miller, a former opponent of Jake Shields, interrupted Shields' post-fight interview following his decision victory over Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson

Daniel Jeffery Henderson, is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, who competes as a middleweight and light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion...

. Shields, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and Gilbert Melendez scuffled with Miller after he asked Shields for a rematch. In response to the brawl, the Tennessee Athletic Commission recommended a range of fines and suspensions for the fighters involved.

Notable fighters

Bret Bergmark

Bret Bergmark

Bret Bergmark is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is a Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and an amateur Sanshou and Muay Thai kickboxer. He has competed in many MMA promotions, including Strikeforce, World Extreme Cagefighting , Pancrase, Ultimate Athlete, Warriors Quest...

 - Strikeforce welterweight fighter Gil Castillo

Gil Castillo

Gil Philip Castillo is a retired American mixed martial artist who has studied under Cesar Gracie. He made his UFC debut at UFC 33 where he suffered a loss from Dave Menne via unanimous decision in a match to crown the first UFC Middleweight Champion...

 - UFC veteran, welterweight fighter Nate Diaz - UFC lightweight fighter Nick Diaz

Nick Díaz

Nicholas Robert Diaz is an American mixed martial artist. He is the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, WEC and IFC Welterweight Champion. He has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships and Elite Xtreme Combat. Diaz was promoted to black belt in Brazilian...

 - Former Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

  welterweight

Welterweight (MMA)

The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...

 champion. David Douglas - Strikeforce lightweight fighter Gilbert Melendez

Gilbert Melendez

Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...

 - Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

  lightweight

Lightweight (MMA)

The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...

 champion and one of only four to hold a win over Shinya Aoki

Shinya Aoki

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...

 Daniel Roberts

Daniel Roberts (fighter)

Daniel Lamar Roberts is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. Currently he is signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championships, fighting in their welterweight division and training out in San Francisco....

 - UFC welterweight fighter Jake Shields

Jake Shields

Jake Shields is an American mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the last Rumble on the Rock 175 lb champion. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also the former Shooto Middleweight Champion and is the former...

 - UFC welterweight, former Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

  middleweight

Middleweight (MMA)

The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...

 champion and Elite XC welterweight champion, third place finisher in the under 77KG division at the 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship David Terrell

David Terrell (fighter)

David Michael Terrell is a retired American mixed martial artist from Santa Rosa, California. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie, no one has scored a point against Terrell in a grappling match...

 - UFC veteran, middleweight fighter, third place finisher in the under 88KG division at the 2003 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship

External links

• Gym information at FiveKnuckles.com