We are educated professionals with families and busy lives dedicated to training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). We understand your need to have a safe environment to stay healthy and in shape while training in this cerebral martial art. At Executive BJJ, we take into account your age and understand your needs as an older athlete.

Why choose Executive BJJ and not another Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class?

Our emphasis is on providing a focused fitness program and the learning of a unique skill without compromising your safety. The majority of students practicing BJJ in Vancouver range from the ages of mid-teens to early thirties. In the majority of the cases, the older BJJ student is more vulnerable to injury – often during training sessions with their younger counterparts.

In addition, our private sessions focuses on science over muscle and power. We are not a “smash and crush” BJJ academy. Our focus is on leveraging and maximizing body positioning for escapes and submissions. Also, training with other students who share common interests such as family, work, education and lifestyle fosters an atmosphere of respect for ones livelihood thereby ensuring a training environment that is safe and enjoyable.

Executive BJJ private lessons are taught by Raz Chan who currently holds the rank of blue belt. He is currently under the tutelage of Todd Nathanson (3rd Degree Jean Jacques Machado black belt). Todd is the head instructor at the Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Chatsworth, California and is the highest ranking black belt under Jean Jacques Machado. He is widely considered by many as one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors in the United States. Recently he was inducted in the Masters Hall of Fame along with the late Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer Helio Gracie.

What can I expect in the private lessons?

The format of the sessions generally follow the same pattern, although the programming will vary from day to day. The sessions will begin with a light warm-up to get the body ready for the instructional portion, where participants will learn techniques through demos with the instructor. Supervised light rolling (sparring) will finish each session.

What do we expect from you as a student?

We do not have a formal code of conduct. However, as a training facility that emphasizes respect and co-operation among our participants, we have some basic guidelines that we fully expect each participant to follow:

For your own safety, we recommend you adequately warm-up and stretch on the side if you are late for class. This will decrease the risk of injuring yourself during the drills.

Hygiene in class is very important. A clean, washed uniform (Gi) is a must for each class. Because of the close contact you have with other participants, it is important that you don clean gear for each class.

For the safety of others, please clean up after yourself. This includes wiping up any sweat or spilled water on the mats, etc.

Anyone engaging in behavior that puts other students at the uncessary risk of injury will be banned from the class.

About the instructor:

Raz Chan is a certified self-defense instructor and blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He became fascinated with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after watching Royce Gracie defeat bigger opponents in UFC 1. He began his formal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in 2005. However it was not until he traveled down to Los Angeles in 2006 to train at Jean Jacques Machado’s that really opened up the possibilities the art had to offer to the older athlete. It was during this time he met Jean Jacques highest ranking black belt Todd Nathanson. Todd amazed and dazzled Raz with his skill by dispatching younger, faster, and stronger opponents with his methodical approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What was amazing was Todd was 170lbs. and over 50 years old. Raz continued to fly down to the academy every year since that meeting to seek Todd’s knowledge. Then in 2008 Todd finally opened his own academy in Chatsworth. With regular visits and private lessons with Todd he became his student.

Today Raz has taken Todd’s philosophy and teachings to students in Vancouver. He has a reputation of paying close attention to minor details and teaching from the heart making everyone feel welcome.

In addition, Raz understands the needs of white collar workers having spent 10 years in the corporate world as an accountant. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and former member of the Society of Management Accountants of Manitoba.

The goal of his lessons is to spread the health benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to people over 40 in a safe, non-threatening, non-posturing and friendly environment.

Time & Date: By Appointment Only

For more information please call Raz at 604-839-2838 or email raz@razchanfitness.com to inquire.