BJJ Fundamentals — Learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Berkeley, CA
The BJJ Fundamentals program at Lycan Jiu Jitsu is designed for brand new students and those in their first year of training. Every class covers foundational techniques that form the backbone of effective Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — the positions, escapes, and submissions that appear in every roll, at every belt level.
Coach Joe Monroe structures the fundamentals curriculum to build from the ground up: you learn where to be, how to move, and why certain positions are dominant before worrying about complex technique chains. The goal is not to collect a hundred moves — it is to truly understand ten.
What You'll Learn
The fundamentals curriculum at Lycan covers the core building blocks of BJJ:
- Defensive survival and escapes — getting out of mount, side control, back control, and headlock situations
- Guard positions — closed guard, half guard, and basic guard retention
- Guard passing — knee slice pass, torreando, and leg weave
- Basic submissions — rear naked choke, armbar from guard, triangle choke, kimura, and Americana
- Takedowns and trips — osoto gari, double leg, single leg, and body lock takedowns
- Movement fundamentals — shrimping, bridging, technical standup, and hip escapes
These techniques are drilled repeatedly across many classes so that the movements become second nature. Fundamentals are not just for beginners — black belts drill these same techniques because they work at every level.
What to Expect on Your First Day
You do not need to know anything to walk in. You do not need to be in shape. You do not need experience in wrestling or any other martial art.
Coach Joe has trained students from every background — veterans, office workers, former athletes, and people who have never done anything physical in their lives — and he meets each one where they are. The gym culture at Lycan is welcoming and non-competitive. Nobody is trying to prove anything in class.
A typical fundamentals class runs approximately 90 minutes:
- 15 minutes — Warm-up: movement drills, shrimping, bridging, and light physical prep
- 45 minutes — Technique instruction: two or three related techniques, explained in detail, then drilled with a partner at controlled intensity
- 30 minutes — Positional sparring: guided, structured live practice with instructor feedback throughout
After your first class, Coach Joe will check in with you directly — answering questions, explaining what you experienced, and helping you understand what to focus on going forward.
Why Start with Fundamentals?
BJJ has a reputation for being complex and hard to get into. The fundamentals program exists to make that first step approachable and to give new students a real foundation — not just a crash course in how to survive the first roll.
Students who invest time in fundamentals develop faster over the long term. They understand positions rather than just reacting to them. They know why a technique works, which means they can adapt when it does not go exactly as drilled. They also get injured less, because they learn how to move safely from the start.
At Lycan, Coach Joe and Coach Ken take fundamentals seriously because they know it is the difference between students who stay and grow versus students who get frustrated and quit. The goal is to make sure every person who walks into the gym understands what they are doing and why — and feels good about their progress.
Schedule and Location
Adults Gi BJJ (fundamentals-friendly):
- Monday 5:30pm – 7:00pm
- Wednesday 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Adults No-Gi BJJ (fundamentals-friendly):
- Tuesday 6:30pm – 8:00pm
- Thursday 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: 2905 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
New students are welcome to drop in any class for a free trial week. No sign-up required — just come in and introduce yourself before class starts.