About Us

Our Mission Statement:

We want to provide personal growth through the modality of Jiu Jitsu.

We will build confidence and resiliency by having a personal commitment to continuous improvement. Our students will develop self-defense skills, mental toughness, and physical fitness. In doing so, this will help them overcome challenges inside and out of the gym in the real world.

Lionheart believes that Jiu Jitsu is a personal journey, and we are here to support our people every step of the way.

Origins of Lionheart Jiu Jitsu:

The idea for Lionheart started much differently than a full-fledged academy, but the evolution has brought us to a greater concept with a larger ability to do good for our community.

We originally only wanted a small space for friends to gather and train. At first, we thought about the concept of a grappling co-op, where members would pay only enough fees to keep the lights on for our private training area. We liked this idea, since it would keep profit motives out of the training and would allow us to focus solely on the art. Initially, we never intended to start an academy and wanted to stick with the small, private format.

However, circumstances changed, and it was clear that a small, private training area would no longer fulfill our evolving vision. With the need and desire to teach Jiu Jitsu as much as he can, Professor Brett Werner wanted to open an academy of his own. He had a vision for how he wanted to teach Jiu Jitsu and now was the perfect time to make that become a reality.

Lionheart is owned by Jiu Jitsu practitioner and Beginner's Class Instructor, Anthony Garcia - a long time friend of Professor Brett Werner. Originally, the space had been purchased for the small group format, but after the need became clear to open the academy, the idea for Lionheart was born - with Anthony financially backing the project and Professor Brett taking the Head Instructor role.

Together we have a vision for this academy. Lionheart Jiu Jitsu is:

-An affordable place to train for anyone who needs it

-An accepting and inviting place for individuals from all walks of life

-Focused on helping the community through self-defense outreach programs

-Having instructors go through trauma awareness training to best help those students who need it

-Focused on high quality and exacting instruction, from beginner fundamentals through advanced competition

-Committed to objective and openly available promotion standards

-Constantly pressure testing our techniques through competition, if desired

-Expanding the Jiu Jitsu community by encouraging members to cross-train at other academies

So much of what we want to accomplish is going to be serving our community in the largest ways we can. From hosting women's only classes, to teaching self-defense to DV or SA survivors, to fostering growth in the Jiu Jitsu community at large, we want only to improve and enrich the lives of those who train with us.

One of the largest ways that we're "putting our money where our mouth is," is evident in our salary and compensation structure. The owner and Head Instructor are both unpaid. All other guest instructors are volunteers. Thankfully, we're both in unique positions where we don't require a salary from the academy, and thus the academy can run at a loss indefinitely. Due to this, we can provide the affordable and community-based training we really want to, without ever needing to be pressured by profit motives.

We're excited for the opportunity to train with our fellow community members, to build the fellowship of Jiu Jitsu, and to spread the art that we love so much.

About Our Logo:

Perhaps the best way to tell you about what we stand for is to describe our logo.

The lion rampant (upper right): The lion rampant is a sigil used since medieval times. The lion itself symbolizes courage and strength, while the rampant attitude (standing on hind legs) symbolizes its ferocity in the face of adversity.

The column (upper left): The column represents our base. In Jiu Jitsu our base is the ability to cement ourselves in one position and avoid being swept or reversed out of a dominant stance. In life as well, we rely on our base to keep us grounded in what really matters to us.

The anvil (bottom center): The anvil represents pressure, and our resistance to it, both in Jiu Jitsu and in life. As Jiu Jitsu is frequently an allegory for life, so is the anvil, representing our steadfast resistance to that which bears down on us and our use of pressure in the art of Jiu Jitsu.

The waves (bottom surrounding the anvil): The ocean waves represent flow. Flow is our ability in Jiu Jitsu, and life, to adapt to what may come. We are always faced with new situations and events, and must move to counter or accept them.

The shield (coat of arms design): The shield and coat of arms design represents the ancient roots of discipline, integrity, combat, grit, and the ability to defend oneself.

Professor Brett Werner is the Head Jiu Jitsu Instructor for Lionheart Jiu Jitsu.

He started his Jiu Jitsu journey in 2011 at Zingano BJJ Brighton under the watchful eye of Professor Hans Thompson.

By 2013, Professor Brett was already teaching kids classes and assisting with adult classes. From 2015-2020 he ran the kid's competition team and taught beginners through intermediate adult classes.

As a Brown Belt in 2021, Professor Brett moved on from Zingano BJJ after an ownership change and began studying under Professor Cameron Cordova at Vibrant Jiu Jitsu. Professor Brett also ran the competition program during his time there.

On July 15th, 2023, Professor Brett received his Black Belt from Professor Hans Thompson with Professor Cameron Cordova as the second.

In 2024, Professor Brett parted from Vibrant Jiu Jitsu and then became Head Instructor of Lionheart Jiu Jitsu.

Professor Brett believes that Jiu Jitsu can be a game changer for a person's life journey and wants to help you grow through Jiu Jitsu.

Like many legitimate black belts, Professor Brett Werner can trace his black belt lineage directly back to Mitsuyo Maeda and the Gracie family in Brazil:

Mitsuyo Maeda -> Hélio Gracie -> Rickson Gracie -> Carlos "Caique" Elias -> Mauricio Zingano -> Hans Thompson -> Brett Werner

The origins of Jiu Jitsu trace back to ancient Japan, where it developed as a method of unarmed combat for samurai warriors. The term "Jiu Jitsu" ("Ju Jutsu") translates to "gentle art," reflecting its emphasis on using an opponent’s energy and force against them, rather than relying on brute strength.

This concept of leveraging an adversary's momentum and balance was crucial for samurai, who often found themselves disarmed in battle.

Ancient Roots and Development: Jiu Jitsu’s techniques evolved from various Indigenous Japanese martial arts practiced during the feudal period. These early forms of combat included striking, grappling, joint locks, and throws. The art was formalized during the Edo period (1603-1868), a time of relative peace in Japan, allowing martial artists to refine their techniques without the immediate pressures of warfare. Numerous schools (Ryu) emerged, each with its own variations and specializations.

Transition to Modern Judo: In the late 19th century, Jiu Jitsu underwent a significant transformation with the efforts of Jigoro Kano. Kano, a practitioner of traditional Jiu Jitsu, sought to modernize and systematize the art. In 1882, he founded Kodokan Judo, which retained the grappling and throwing techniques of Jiu Jitsu but placed a greater emphasis on physical education and sport. Kano's Judo spread rapidly, becoming a foundation for modern martial arts training in Japan and beyond.

Introduction to Brazil: The journey of Jiu Jitsu to Brazil began in the early 20th century with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka and member of the Kodokan. Maeda traveled extensively, demonstrating and teaching Judo around the world. In 1914, he arrived in Brazil, where he met Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian businessman and politician. Grateful for Gracie's assistance, Maeda taught Judo to Gastão's son, Carlos Gracie.

The Birth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ): Carlos Gracie, along with his brothers, particularly Hélio Gracie, adapted and refined the techniques taught by Maeda. Hélio, in particular, focused on modifying the techniques to suit his smaller frame, emphasizing leverage and technique over strength. This adaptation led to the development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), which places a strong emphasis on ground fighting and submissions.

Global Expansion: Throughout the 20th century, the Gracie family, and other practitioners of BJJ spread the art globally. The rise of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the 1990s, particularly through events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), highlighted the effectiveness of BJJ, significantly boosting its popularity worldwide.

Today, BJJ is practiced by millions, known for its practical self-defense applications, competitive sport, and comprehensive approach to physical and mental training.

From its ancient roots in Japan to its modern incarnation in Brazil, Jiu Jitsu has evolved into a sophisticated and widely respected martial art. Its history is a testament to the enduring appeal of the “gentle art" and its ability to adapt and thrive across cultures and eras.