
Welcome to Indianapolis Jiu-Jitsu. We are Indy's first and oldest operating Jiu-Jitsu academy. We have over 34 years experience in Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Here you will learn the most effective techniques to defend yourself. Some Jiu-Jitsu schools only prepare their students for sport or tournament competitions, however, we focus on preparing our students for the street or self defense situations. We have highly trained and qualified instructors in which 4 of them are Black Belts. I invite you to schedule an appointment and come check out what we have to offer. I Hope to see you soon. Professor Greg Eldred - 5th degree Black Belt.
**ATTENTION**
We are accepting new students for our Kids and Adult programs. The process to get started is to contact us by the message box on our HOME page or on our CONTACT page. You'll find lots of information here on our website and we can answer any of your questions by email. If you are ready to take the next step we'll make an appointment for you to come in to check out the academy to discuss things further and to see a class in action. We look forward to hearing from you.
**We are accepting NEW Students**
Why Kids should learn Jiu-Jitsu (posted 5/7/2025)
Jiu-Jitsu offers children a unique combination of physical and mental benefits, making it an excellent martial art for young learners. First and foremost, it promotes physical fitness by improving strength, flexibility, and coordination. Jiu-Jitsu classes often involve exercises that challenge both the body and mind, helping kids develop endurance and agility while also instilling a healthy respect for their own bodies. Furthermore, children acquire essential self-defense skills through Jiu-Jitsu training. They learn techniques to protect themselves effectively and safely, which boosts their confidence in handling potentially dangerous situations. These physical benefits lay the foundation for a lifetime of fitness and health, making it an ideal activity for growing children.
Beyond the physical benefits, Jiu-Jitsu is a powerful tool for teaching essential life skills. It fosters discipline, focus, and perseverance, all of which are crucial for success in any area of life. Children learn how to set goals, work through challenges, and manage frustration when faced with difficult situations—skills that will serve them well both on and off the mat. Jiu-Jitsu also emphasizes the importance of respect and humility, as kids interact with training partners, listen to instructors, and adhere to the principles of the sport.
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons for kids to learn Jiu-Jitsu is the boost in self-confidence i... Read More
Picking a place to train (posted 3/15/2025)
With the growing popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu more people are giving it a try. But how does one decide which academy is right for you? Wherever you train you need to plan on going to class at least 2 times per week. Going to a jiu-jitsu academy is not like belonging to a health club, where you show up, use the equipment and leave. It’s an educational and learning environment. So, first and foremost you need to look into the quality of instruction. You should look into the background of the head instructor. You can do some of that homework online. You should meet with the owner or head instructor and ask about how they do things and get to know them a little bit. You should also sit in on a class to see how a class is organized. Is it a structured class? Does the instructor communicate in an understanding and logical way? Do they have a beginners curriculum? Does the school focus more on Self Defense (street) or competition jiu-jitsu? Also, ask students in the class about their experiences there. Some academies may have a trial period which is a great way for you get a better feel for the quality of the instruction.
Another big thing to consider is what the atmosphere is like. Is everyone friendly to one another? How are people treating each other? Are the students helpful to you and to others. Do the other students seem to be happy there? Is it a place where you seem to belong? You will be spending a lot of time there each week so you want to m... Read More
Prof Eldred receives 5th Degree (posted 12/10/2024)
Prof Greg Eldred received his 5th degree Black Belt from Master Caique at our Dec 7th Seminar. Master Caique is an 8th degree Coral Belt. Prof Eldred received his Black Belt (with red bar) from Caique in November 2005. Once receiving a Black Belt with a "red bar" all future promotions followed a fixed timeline. After receiving his Black Belt and a minumum of 3 years Professor Eldred received his 1st degree in 2008. After 3 more years in 2011 he received his 2nd degree. Then an additional 3 years in 2014 he received his 3rd degree. Then after 5 years in 2019 he received his 4th degree. And then in an additional 5 years he received his 5th degree here in December 2024. So what's next? In 5 more years 6th degree, then 7 additional years to reach Master Coral Belt. The Coral Belt is for the 7th and 8th degrees, then after that eventually the Red Belt is for 9th and 10th degrees. So the minimum timeline from Black Belt to Coral Belt is 31 years. You'll notice 2 additional stripes on the outer edges of the red bar. Those don't count as degrees, but rather they are called Professor Stripes. They show that the practioner has had the training and is qualified to teach Jit-Jitsu and be called Professor rather than an Instructor.
Should you take Womens Self Defense Lessons? (posted 9/16/2024)Let’s be real, the world we live in is not a safe place. There are bad people out there looking for victims to prey on. Therefore, you need to know how to protect yourself in case someone targets you for reasons of harassment, theft, rape, or to cause bodily harm. Not being prepared can result in serious consequences such as unwanted sexual proposals and action, serious injury or even death. You cannot control the desires and behavior of such bad people, but you can certainly take actions to minimize and prevent yourself from being the one chosen for the attack. And if you are attacked the use of self defense techniques and strategies can save your life.
Whether the attack is physical or sexual, the experience can leave both emotional and physical scars that can last a lifetime. You will never be the same. You will always replay the attack over in your mind wondering what you could have done differently to avoid or escape from the situation. You will question yourself as to why you never took a women’s self defense class.
There are three steps you must do to better protect yourself from would be attackers. 1.) You must have a greater awareness. You need to pay better attention to your surroundings, as this is your first line of defense. Attackers are looking for easy victims who are not aware, as they are easy targets, because they have the element of surprise at their advantage. 2.) You must take measures to reduce your risks. This can be from ... Read More
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (posted 3/11/2024)The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. Nearly 1 in 5 women have been raped at some time in their lives and about every 2 minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. Get involved by educating yourself about the issue. There are many online resources and state and local groups and organizations that can provide help. Also, no matter how well you are educated about the topic, nothing can compare to having the self defense training which gives you the skills to escape from an attacker.