Jiujitsu Movement Research Club explores the use of Brazilian Jiujitsu beyond the adversarial framing of combat. We're a small group, co-organized and led by Rodrigo Tello, who meet up in Brooklyn NYC to do movement based games.
Jiujitsu — Brazilian Jiujitsu is a martial art and that maximizes timing, and leverage to control and submit the oponent. Jiujitsu Movement Research Club's goal is to explore movement and the human body within this framework. We use exercises, games, and traditional BJJ techniques, to a certain extent, to work towards these goals.
Jiujitsu Movement Research Club is not a gym, nor a traditional martial arts academy: It's closer to a study-group or a jam band. We are all students, we cooperate to learn, instead of compete, and it is 100% free.
Jiujitsu Movement Research Club welcomes people of any age, gender, ethnic background, nationality, athletic abbilities, expertise levels. Dancers, musicians, performance artists are welcome. We are explicitly anti-racist. LGBT+ members are welcome. Underrepresented communities are welcome.
Donations are welcome (money is useful, sure) but even more so, help and time dedicated are appreciated. Help cleaning after a session, organize and coordinate, invite other people. We're a community.
We gather irregularly (i.e. we have no schedule, we text each other to find a time), at a DUMBO space, in Brooklyn, NY. Our sessions are a minimum of 3 people, and will probably never be more than 6 or 7. We don't have beginners nor advanced curriculum, but rather, combine exercises, games, and techniques to suit the people in the room.
If you are interested in attending a session, send an email introducing yourself (name, some background, interest, or anything you want us to know) to: jiujitsu@rodrigotello.me
We aspire to be a fully-trauma-informed space. If there's something you want us to know, we're happy to talk. We are always open to suggestions, reading material, courses to take, philosophies to study, and ways to improve.
Rodrigo Tello is a lifetime martial arts practitioner, but not a black-belt in any art. He has experience in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Hapkido, Boxing, Kickboxing, but he's an expert at none. He's currently (2025) a purple belt, one stripe, under Josh Skyer (black belt under Gene Dunn and Brian Glick).