Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The King of One-On-One Self-Defense, Right Here in Norwich
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has quickly become one of the most popular martial arts in the world. It’s the system that allows the smaller fighter to out-position and win against stronger, more athletic opponents through leverage and strategy.
BJJ is one of the most sought-after systems in America, and it’s available to you right here in Norwich at 360 Defense Martial Arts. Black Belt instructor Charlie McShane has students from all over the map: restaurant owners, cops, house moms, executives, security guards, dog groomers, casino workers. Everyone is welcome to train and experience one of Connecticut's longest-running (and New London county's oldest) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programs in a safe and fun environment. We are proudly a part of the Macarra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team under the leadership of Marcio "Macarrao" Stambowsky and our students are welcomed at all Macarra academies. |
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Train For Self-Defense: BJJ was designed for the smaller fighter to defeat the physically superior. Jiu-Jitsu more than evens the playing field by taking the fight to where you’re most comfortable, and minimizing the bigger guy’s advantages. Headlocks, Bear Hugs, Chokes, Punches: you’ll learn how to defend against them all and bring your opponent into your arena.
Train For Confidence: Your self-esteem skyrockets when you can truly hold your own. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives you not only technique and strategy, but a whole new view on your own abilities. Train For Fitness: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu works muscles that don’t get used in conventional workouts, while at the same time providing an intense cardio experience. Burn calories while you learn! Train For Fun: Bottom line: BJJ is fun. Step out of your routine, relieve your stress, sweat, and work on yourself – with students who are there to help. 
"I have a very specific plan when teaching jiu-jitsu. Most BJJ is taught in a unstructured way, with the instructor just kind of teaching whatever jumps into their head in the moment. I teach fundamentals - only fundamentals - that anyone of any size, age, or body type can perform. We spend a few minutes in the beginning making sure everyone understands the positions and movements, and the rest of class is dedicated to doing - drilling, rehearsing, and performing against resistance. To become usable, BJJ techniques need to be secondary instinct and that's only done through repetition and resistance. I want you walking out of class confident that you own the techniques, not just know them." Click here for Charlie's Beltchecker.com profile.
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Charlie hosts a popular youtube channel "Charlie From The Plaza" which goes over the basics of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Josh Hesser, Relson Gracie, Charlie McShane, Markezinho training in Brazil in 2014.
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What Students Are Saying:
"I lost 46lbs."Bill Delaney, 48, Moosup CT
"I'd recommend it to anybody."David Vane, Salem CT
"Everyone is willing to help and answer questions."
I joined the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program with my younger brother in September of 2017. Charlie is an amazing teacher and I quickly fell in love with training Jiu Jitsu. The school environment is perfect to learn in. Everyone is willing to help and answer questions, now my teammates are some of my best friends. Jiu Jitsu itself has become a great source of motivation to me in life, I always look forward to the next lesson. I would recommend 360 Defense and Jiu Jitsu to anyone and everyone!
Joe Keith, 22, Preston CT |
"This is the place to just jump in and take a class if you are thinking about trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu."
"I was fortunate to find Charlie’s school over a decade ago and have continued to train with him to this day. Charlie is a very motivating instructor and is able to convey concepts and details in an easy to understand way regardless of your experience. I find that his approach to teaching is very effective and also very personal, as not everyone is built the same or learns the same. He will focus on building a strong foundation of fundamentals that apply to everyone and then he tailors specific instruction to each individual and fine tunes it based on their own attributes. As an instructor, Charlie consistently continues to learn and expand his knowledge of the art under Master Marcio Stambowsky, and also travels to attend BJJ camps and seminars. Whether you are looking to learn some self-defense and get fit, be an active competitor, or just train for fun, you will have all the support and guidance you need to achieve your goals. The facility is awesome and provides a spacious, clean, and safe environment to train. The entire team at Macarra BJJ motivates and pushes each other in a positive and encouraging manner. Classes are available so that I can literally train seven days a week if I wanted, and on top of that there is always someone willing to stick around after class and get some extra drills or rolls in. We are also very lucky to be part of a strong network of Macarra schools where we have access to other high level instructors and can cross train with other students. This is the place to just jump in and take a class if you are thinking about trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu."
Mark Zagarenski, 45, Lisbon "Avoiding injury has always been one of my top priorities, so it was nice to find a place with a similar training philosophy."
I started jiu-jitsu almost a year ago, looking for something new to try. My expectations on starting were reasonable; I had small goals of meeting new people, and learning a skill I could progress at over time. Had I only gotten those two things I would’ve been happy, but I feel like jiu-jitsu has given me those and so much more that I didn’t expect.
I’ve lost nearly thirty pounds, and improved my cardiovascular health and flexibility without really focusing on any of those things, they were just an added bonus. It seems to have curbed anxiety that I’ve dealt with on and off for most of my life. Another unexpected thing is I’m finding in BJJ is that your mind and body have to work together in a rather unique way, and it offers unlimited variety and change. Your brain will get as much of a workout as your body. The list goes on and on, at the very least, the discipline and confidence you gain in BJJ will start to cross-over to your daily life, and I’ll leave it at that. I’m lucky that I found 360 Defense Norwich to train at, Charlie cultivates a friendly, ego-free environment where you can train at your own pace, while at the same time will help achieve your individualized goals whether they are interested in getting in shape, learning self-defense, or training for competition. In the year I’ve been here, I have not seen one single person get injured. Avoiding injury has always been one of my top priorities, so it was nice to find a place with a similar training philosophy. ‘Partner preservation’ is always emphasized, keeping everyone safe to train consistently. Additionally, our Macarra Norwich BJJ school has a rather distinctive BJJ lineage, and access to highly skilled practitioners affiliated with the school, Charlie being one of them, as well as Marcio Stambowsky, Greg Wood, Brad Wolfson, and Jay Bell to name a few. If you’re thinking of starting, just jump in. If you’re like me, the only thing you might regret is not starting sooner. Patrick Crowley 33 years old Voluntown CT "I've lost about 20lbs since I started here."Tom Balzamo, 35 years old, Norwich CT
"They welcome everyone to the gym and mutual respect is undoubtedly a major part of the community."
After just 4 months of practicing and training, I know I made the right choice to come to 360 Defense in Norwich. They welcome everyone to the gym and mutual respect is undoubtedly a major part of the community. The classes are intense but are also fun, with a great balance between the two. To me, the classes are physically demanding and a great way to incorporate an aerobic/cardio exercise into my weekly routine. The thing about this place that really drew me in was the effectiveness of the instructors. Coupled with great instructors, all of the senior students are very friendly and promote the learning environment. I feel like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is perfect for me and I look forward to training for many years to come. - Ben O, Charlestown RI
If the thought of training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has ever crossed your mind, stop waiting and come on down!
Macarra BJJ Team Norwich is an excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) school. I have been training since 2007 and have trained at different academies throughout the country. This school is my favorite thus far. Charlie McShane's personality combined with his teaching style creates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that allows the students to retain the material covered. The classes are systematic and curriculum based. There is a lot of pre-thought put into the classes so the students don't end up learning random moves that don't go together. Classes actually build off each other which makes it easy to notice progression.
The other great part of this school is the access you get to world class BJJ practitioners. Charlie McShane has been a martial artist for a long time. With that comes knowing a lot of other martial artists. Not only will you get to train with our sister schools such as Macarra BJJ Team Colchester, Soulcraft Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Gracie Sports... You'll also get access to BJJ greats. Since I have been at this school I have had the luxury of training with Master Marcio Stambowsky, Brad Wolfson, Jay Bell, Royce Gracie, Tim Gillette, Marco DeLima, Marcus Aurelio, and Rhasaan Orange just to name a few. Another aspect I like is how accommodating the schedule is. There are 4 class and 4 open mats every week, including morning classes...and that's just Norwich! Remember you will have access to other Macarra BJJ schools as well. If the thought of training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has ever crossed your mind, stop waiting and come on down! Exor Padro 35 years old Groton CT 
I recently enrolled in the BJJ program at 360 Defense Martial Arts. The classes are very accommodating as there are numerous days and times to choose from. I have been attending for approximately 5 months. During this time I have dropped almost 20 pounds, and being fitness oriented most of my adult life can honestly say that the cardio and work outs from training is
some of the best I’ve ever had. Charlie really takes the time to ensure that you understand the training and the people I’ve met are awesome! Recently I attended a class on one of the night that I don’t normally train, all the other students made me feel extremely comfortable by introducing themselves and taking the time to show me the moves I did not understand. This training will have you feeling better about yourself and when you leave after training you’ll know you had a great work out. I highly recommend you try 360 Defense, and when you do like me, you’ll be hooked! Greg Harpin 
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Frequently Asked Questions:
I've never done martial arts in my life. Can I handle this? We get new students with zero experience starting all the time. You don't need an ounce of previous training to learn BJJ. I break things down into small chunks so even the newest jiu-jitsu player can learn and improve.
Am I too old to start? No, BJJ can be done at any age. Our median age is late 30s, but we have students well into their 50s. Helio Gracie, one of the founders of BJJ, trained into his late nineties. Do I have to fight and get punched in the face? No! While you will learn to defend against a variety of attacks, you'll never have to "get in the cage." You can train in BJJ for your own reasons and goals! Do you spar? The good news is YES! Rolling (sparring) is a critical part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. Sparring is the very best way to gain self-defense confidence. The even better news is that once you know what you're doing, you can safely spar in every class without getting hurt, unlike striking-based martial arts. Secondly, our school has a strong teamwork atmosphere and everyone is here to help each other improve. Is BJJ just for men? Not at all, we have women training too. In fact, I think jiu-jitsu is extremely important for women to learn because of its emphasis on defending against a larger, stronger, more aggressive opponent. Do you always wear a gi in class? We work on gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu to be well-rounded. What's the schedule like? We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes seven days a week with morning, evenings, and weekend options. Can I come watch a class first? Of course. Just call us at 860-889-1818 so we can let you know the best times. Gracie Sports Team - Marcio StambowskyAll ranking is provided by 8th degree Black Belt Marcio "Macarrao" Stambowsky
Marcio Stambowsky is the Master Instructor of Gracie Sports in Norwalk CT and is Charlie McShane's teacher. Marcio received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in 1981 from the legendary Rolls Gracie, one of six to ever do so. With over thirty-five years in BJJ, Professor Stambowsky is a living legend. He received his koral belt (8th degree) in 2017.
All belts at Macarra BJJ Norwich are presented by Master Marcio himself. That means your rank will be legitimate and recognized worldwide. As a member of 360 Defense Martial Arts of Norwich, you will have access to both Marcio Stambowsky on a consistent basis and have the attention of world class instructors. For more info on Master Marcio, head to GracieSportsUSA.com. Here's a documentary on Master Marcio by documentarian David J. Kim from 2018.
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Beginners are joining all the time, and getting started is easy. Simply fill out the form below and hit submit. I'll get in touch, usually within 24 hours, to answer any questions you have.
Talk to you soon... Charlie McShane Authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for residents of Norwich, Preston, Bozrah, Montville, Uncasville, Sprague, Baltic, Plainfield, Voluntown, Griswold, Lisbon, Gales Ferry, Ledyard, and New London.
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360 Defense Martial Arts LLC
15 Wawecus Street
Norwich, Connecticut 06360
860-889-1818
15 Wawecus Street
Norwich, Connecticut 06360
860-889-1818
All material on this site copyright © 2018 360 Defense Martial Arts, LLC.
All rights reserved. Material may not be used or reprinted for any reason
without prior written authorization from 360 Defense Martial Arts LLC.
Most pictures are by Zack Rubin Photography.
All rights reserved. Material may not be used or reprinted for any reason
without prior written authorization from 360 Defense Martial Arts LLC.
Most pictures are by Zack Rubin Photography.
