Royce Gracie Academy of Palmyra, MO

“My son and I have started Royce Gracie Academy of Missouri a month ago and what a month it has been! My son who is diagnosed ADHD has come leaps and bounds since starting. I was on the verge of starting medication for him but the instructor, Mark, has helped my son build his confidence, is refocusing his attention and so much more. His sleep has improved so much that his attitude has improved leading to a turn around at school. He is loving his classes and building friendships along the way. I started the women’s self defense classes and LOVE them! The ladies have a safe and healthy environment to learn self defense and get in shape! I, only having one hand, have regained my self esteem and confidence to defend myself if the moment arises. Mark has gone above and beyond to help find ways for me to execute the moves safely and correctly, so if you have any doubts about your abilities, DONT! Getting through the door is the hardest part (and it took me a year to do so but trust me once you do it will be worth it!”

“Our kiddo has been attending and participating classes for a month now! His emotional regulation and concentration have done a complete flip. He is more thoughtful of his reaction to situations at home and at school. Mark and the rest of the instructors have been amazing with him, along with the other kiddos! This class not only teaches self defense, it teaches kids the importance of respect, emotional regulation, concentration, taking care yourself along with those around you. I could go on and on about how wonderful this has been for our son and our family. Even as a parent, I take SOMETHING away each class. Mark and the other instructors make new kids feel comfortable from the start. He holds the kids to a high standard along with having an understanding that they are still learning. He definitely wants the best for them and for them to succeed in class and outside of class. I recommend this class for any kiddo, even adults! If you are a 1 child household, this class is super beneficial for them! If you are skeptical about getting your kid/kids started or involved, I would just do it! It is life changing! We look forward to continuing to grow with the academy! Thank you for being so welcoming to us!”

“These classes are great! Mark is very patient with the kids, especially our little guy who can be a handful. Watching our son develop confidence and coordination through these classes has been wonderful. It also gives us peace of mind to know that if he ever needs to defend himself he'll know how to do it safely.”

“Royce Gracie Academy of Missouri welcomed my son and immediately began working with him to help build his confidence in learning new skills. Mark works with each student to ensure they are executing skills correctly and so that they know why they are learning these skills. I appreciate that my son is not only learning self defense, but is also learning to be a humble, caring, and self-controlled young man. I highly recommend this program!”

“Not only is the technical lineage so incredible--from UFC Champion Royce Gracie himself--the teaching methodology from the Helio Gracie side of the family takes learning Jiu Jitsu to an entirely new level! One hundred percent recommend!”