Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Louisville

Incredibly grateful to have had GST here in Louisville for the past two weeks. The training was outstanding, the people were amazing, and the impact of what was shared and learned will benefit officers and communities for generations to come.

A huge thank you to my bros Chuck Maiorana, Bernardo Figueiredo, and Will Stites for stepping up as my assistants. Your preparation, knowledge, experience, and input helped take this course to another level. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew by my side.

Proud of what we accomplished together. This is more than training—it’s about giving officers the skills, confidence, and mindset to protect themselves, protect others, and make it home safely. That’s the mission. 👊🥋👮🏻

There’s not a better way to get your weekend started than Saturday morning Jiu-Jitsu!

🥋 Gi Choke SEMINAR 🥋
🗓️ Wednesday, August 26th, 2026
⏰ 6:00pm - 8:00pm
📍 Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Louisville
3600 Chamberlain Lane, #136

💲 $75
***Wear a Gi***

✨Open to Teens and Adults
All Skill Levels

This seminar is a great opportunity to train, learn new techniques, and connect with others in our Jiu-Jitsu community.

📧 Register - [email protected]

Today marks an incredible milestone—10 years of our Women Empowered® program here in Louisville!

Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of watching this program change lives by giving women practical self-defense skills, greater confidence, and the mindset to recognize, avoid, and overcome danger. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to share these life-changing techniques and strategies with our Louisville community.

One of the highest honors for a Women Empowered® instructor is earning Instructor Bars on their Pink Belt. This recognition is awarded after personally guiding 10 students to develop the reflexes and proficiency required to earn their own Pink Belt.

Today, we are incredibly proud to present this honor to Heidi Elston (Heidi Nelson Elston)!

Heidi consistently goes above and beyond for every student she teaches. She doesn’t just help women earn a Pink Belt—she helps them discover genuine confidence and authentic empowerment that extends far beyond the mats.

Congratulations, Heidi! Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and the countless lives you’ve impacted. We can’t wait to see how many more women you’ll inspire in the years to come.

💗 Here’s to the next 10 years of empowering women in Louisville!

GracieUniversity WomenSupportingWomen

Being part of this team is an absolute honor. But having the privilege of teaching and empowering other women alongside my wife, Leeann Manganello, is more than a blessing—it’s an absolute dream.
I’m incredibly grateful to share the mats, the mission, and this journey with her. ❤️🥋 Leeann Manganello

I’d like to introduce our newest Certified Instructor, Mel McCarty! Melissa Schroeder McCarty She is already a certified Women Empowered instructor, but just got her certification last week to teach Gracie Combatives and Gracie Bullyproof!

Congratulations, Natalie on earning your Pink Belt! 🩷

Women Empowered Instructor Certification
July 2026
Congratulations to our newest Women Empowered Instructor, Bridget Rapson! 🩷

Big things happening! The movie never ends… SafeWrap for life! SafeWrap® System renergracie Ryron Gracie Bernardo Figueiredo