There is no Gracie University or University of Jiu-Jitsu…actually, scratch that, there are both! They aren’t, however, accredited in the same way universities like Harvard or UCLA are accredited, and they do not give out PHD’s.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a PHD in BJJ.
What exactly is a PHD in BJJ, you ask? It’s the ability to not only know the moves you’re doing, but understand them. It’s the ability to understand why BJJ practitioners do these moves but don’t do these ones. It’s the ability to explain something to a brand new white belt in a thorough and accessible manner.
Coach Tom from The Grappling Academy is doing his PHD in BJJ, and this is what he has to say about it:
