Jay Gerbino
All LevelsWhat You'll Train
Closing The Standing Gap
Most BJJ training starts from the knees or already on the ground, which leaves a real, unaddressed gap the moment a standing exchange actually matters. Judo for Jiu-Jitsu is built to close it directly - grip fighting, core throws, and sacrifice throws taught the way Judo actually teaches them, plus the specific skill of taking a throw straight into a dominant ground position instead of stopping once someone hits the mat. No grappling background is required to start. The class is led by Jay Gerbino and built specifically for BJJ practitioners who want the standing game most gyms never touch.
Zero ExperienceNo Grappling Background Needed
All levels welcome. No grappling experience required. Led by Jay Gerbino.
Why Grip Fighting Comes Before Throws
Maximum Result, Minimum Effort - Applied Standing, Not Just On The Ground
Judo's founding principle, maximum efficiency with minimum effort, gets applied on the ground constantly in BJJ conversation - it's the whole logic behind leverage over strength. What gets skipped is that the same principle governs the standing exchange first, before a throw is even attempted. A grip fought for and won before contact decides most of what happens next; muscling a throw against a good grip is the inefficient version of the same idea BJJ already respects on the mat. That's why this class spends real time on grip fighting on its own, not as a two-minute warm-up before the throws start - the efficiency principle a BJJ practitioner already trusts on the ground is the same one that makes the standing exchange make sense once it's actually taught, not left as the part everyone skips.
The same efficiency principle BJJ already trusts on the ground - applied standing, before the throw ever starts.
What To Expect
What A Class Actually Looks Like
No surprises on day one. Every Judo for Jiu-Jitsu session follows the same real structure.
01
Grip Fighting
The standing exchange starts here - controlling grips before a throw ever happens is most of the actual skill.
02
Throws
Core throws and sacrifice throws taught step by step, the way Judo actually teaches them - not a BJJ-style improvised version.
03
Groundwork Transition
Takedown-to-pass work - landing a throw is only half the skill, finishing in a dominant position is the other half.
Coaches & Schedule
Who's Teaching, When
Jay Gerbino
Multiple sessions per week - see the full schedule for exact days and times.
Tuesday
See every class, every day. Judo for Jiu-Jitsu is part of the full weekly schedule.
Two blue belts square up standing and both drop straight to the knees. Judo is what fixes that gap.
— VIA Jiu Jitsu Academy
Who It's For
Real Talk, No Gatekeeping
- All levels welcome.
- No grappling experience required.
- Led by Jay Gerbino.
Common Questions About Judo for Jiu-Jitsu
- Is Judo actually useful for BJJ takedowns specifically?
Yes - directly, one of the more uncontroversial answers in grappling. Judo is built almost entirely around standing grips, off-balancing, and throws, exactly the part of the game most BJJ practitioners never develop.
Why the gap exists and how Judo closes it- Is it worth starting Judo as an adult beginner?
It's not too late, and it's not unusual - plenty of adults start with zero grappling background. What to actually expect is a real learning curve on grips and falling safely before throws start clicking, not an insurmountable one.
What to actually expect- What's the actual difference between Judo, BJJ, and Wrestling?
They get mixed up constantly, but the distinction is clear: Judo centers on throws from standing position, BJJ on ground control and submissions, Wrestling on takedowns and top-position control without submissions. Each fills a different real gap.
A clear, direct answer- How long does a Judo black belt actually take?
On average, 8 to 10 years of consistent training - noticeably longer than BJJ's roughly 2.3 years to blue belt. That's not a sign Judo is slower or less efficient, it reflects how much a black belt is meant to represent in this specific art.
A real, honest timeline, and why that's the point
Ready to Feel the Difference?
Come try a real Judo for Jiu-Jitsu class at VIA - no experience required, every belt welcome.