GROUNDWORKS Jiu Jitsu Academy

GROUNDWORKS Jiu Jitsu Academy delivers grappling and self-defense education at 1938 Huntington Drive in South Pasadena, California. Founded in 2022 by head instructor Rich, the academy focuses on conceptual grappling mechanics, positional awareness, and personal growth for youth and adult students. Head instructor Rich is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Eric Ramey of 10th Planet Thousand Oaks and a Marine Corps veteran who served two combat deployments. His athletic background includes high school scholastic wrestling, coaching youth wrestling with Beat the Streets Los Angeles, and completing a degree in transportation design at the ArtCenter College of Design. Coaching at the academy utilizes a constraints-led training framework, incorporating task-based games and conceptual problem-solving rather than rote technique drilling. Adult coursework spans beginner introductory classes and grappling fundamentals. Youth martial arts programming is organized by age into eMotions for ages 3.5 to 5, Grappling Fundamentals for ages 5 to 9, and the Main Body program for ages 9 and older.