Established as Carter's Academy of Self-Defense in 1997. Today, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Lexington is a Level 4 Certified Training Center® authorized by the Gracie Academy Headquarters in Torrance, California.  Our owner and Head Instructor, John Carter, is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 1st Degree Black-Belt, an Aikido 5th Degree Black-Belt, a Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Level 4 Instructor and a Gracie Survival Tactics® Instructor with 40 years of martial arts experience. He is also a Certified Women Empowered® Instructor and is certified to teach the Nationally Recognized Gracie Bullyproof Program.  After graduating from The University of South Carolina, he began teaching Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Aikido and Karate in Lexington, Irmo, Chapin and Columbia with the goal of teaching the highest percentage responses to the most common attacker behaviors. Today, men, women and children from all walks of life come to our academy for the best self-defense instruction in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu®, Women's Self-Defense and Youth Programs. 

Our school offers a professional, safe and fun method of learning martial arts.   All our instructors have had many years of martial arts and self-defense training and are required to meet high standards when achieving and maintaining their national instructor certifications. The academy is open daily and evenings, 7 Days a week. We offer month-to-month memberships, have an easy sign-up process, and keep classes small for personalized attention. If you are considering joining our academy, come by and watch a class, try any class on our schedule for free, meet our Head Instructor and see our training facility. We look forward to meeting you soon.
 

Respect & considerations

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Off the mat

1. Arrive 10 minutes early, & bring your attendance card to class.

2. Wear a clean, white Gracie  (or other approved) Gi.

3. Uniforms should be free of tears, stains or excessive patches. 

4. Always wear a rash guard or t-shirt under your Gi top.

5. Wash your hands before & after class.

6. Always use footwear when using the bathroom facilities.

7. Keep nails trimmed, hair tied back, & remove all jewelry.

8. Profanity or other offensive language will not be tolerated.

9. No shoes on the mat.

10. Apply the principles of efficiency, patience & technique to all areas of your life.

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On the mat

1. If you’re late, check-in with the instructor before entering class.

2. Always respect, encourage, & educate your training partners.

3. Watch with good posture, & communicate with respectful language.

4. Select training partners that make you feel safe & comfortable.

5. Never feel obligated to spar with anyone; listen to your body.

6. Tap early, tap often, & make your partner's safety a top priority.

7. Report any inappropriate, unclean, or unsafe students to the instructor.

8. Report all injuries, abrasions or skin infections to the instructor.

9. When nursing injuries, train less, watch more, but come to class.

10. Chase the knowledge, not the belt.