Our Philosophy
Promoting Mental and Physical Health
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has built its reputation on its effectiveness for self-defense. This is valuable, and indeed important for one’s own safety and self-confidence, but the desire for hand-to-hand skills can only take a person so far. The deepest value that our art offers, and the one that keeps its practitioners training for years and years, is its impact on one’s mental and physical health.
A single trial class will likely leave no doubt as to how BJJ can benefit your physical fitness. What unfolds over time, though, is the way in which it impacts your mind. It makes you feel more at ease, less fragile, and just… happier. You get the endorphin release that you would from any form of exercise. But, through jiu-jitsu in particular, students come to realize that they are stronger than they knew. They slowly acquire a mental fortitude and skill set that allows them to face their regular day-to-day lives with less stress and fear. We hear again and again how training has provided students with “new life” — an energy and ease they haven’t felt in a long time.
Finally, the Academy really fosters positive social connections. Human beings are not built to be alone, and we have fostered a very positive and supportive gym culture that helps everyone feel like they belong and are contributing. The process of improving oneself, seeing one’s friends on a regular basis, and advancing in rank together feels meaningful. Practice with one’s friends becomes something to look forward to.
Overall, the practice of BJJ offers a holistic approach to mental health: it trains the whole body-mind complex and equips individuals with many of the tools necessary to navigate life's challenges with resilience and clarity. If you deal with anxiety, depression, or a sense that something is lacking in your life, come experience the art for yourself with a no-obligation trial week. Jiu-jitsu may be just what you needed.
For that reason, we’ve partnered with and become an approved training facility for the We Defy Foundation. We Defy provides scholarships such that disabled military veterans can train jiu-jitsu for free. It allows them to reap the physical and mental health benefits of our art regardless of their financial circumstances, and we’re proud to be involved!
Professional, Cutting-edge Instruction
The head instructor (Jeran Miller) is an elementary school teacher, holds a graduate degree in education, and created our curriculum from scratch to bring you from white to black belt as efficiently as possible. Expect a fun, safe, supportive, and productive training environment run by a professional.
Our approach to instruction is the “secret sauce” of The Frameworks Academy. You’ll find it nowhere else.
Inclusivity
The Frameworks Academy is firmly committed to serving the whole community. Everyone with a positive attitude and willingness to learn is welcome at this academy, regardless of their race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, etc. Marginalized groups of all sorts are subject to disproportionate amounts of violence. They need us the most, and we are happy and honored to help them learn to stay safe.
Finally, we understand that jiu-jitsu academies can be intimidating, or seem like they’re only for the macho and the fit. But let’s be clear: You do not need to be in shape before coming in! Part of our job is to help you get in shape. Obviously, check with a doctor if you’re worried about something that may put you in danger, but jiu-jitsu is designed for the weaker, smaller person to prevail over the strong and fit. You’re ready as you are!
Student Independence
Sadly, martial arts communities sometimes become cult-like, making demands of their students in a way that hurts their learning… and indeed sometimes their lives. Anyone who has spent a few years training has almost certainly seen this in action somewhere. Recognizing this, we attempt to jettison the negative aspects of martial arts tradition and build an environment where students’ needs come first.
For instance, we do not believe instructors should be in a position to dictate to students where they can and cannot train. As a member, you are free to cross-train wherever you like, whenever you like. You may also cancel your membership at your own discretion, and you will never be coerced into signing a binding, year-long contract — a very common practice in the martial arts world. We also have no requirements that you purchase and wear the academy’s official, branded gear.
The idea is, and has always been, to build the sort of environment that is most beneficial to its members, preserving the ethos of traditional schools where it helps our students, and rejecting it when it’s clear that updated ways are better.
