Our academy
About us
We are the official Carlson Gracie academy in Affoltern am Albis — a dojo where technique, respect and an honest training culture come first.
Real BJJ with a traceable lineage
Carlson Gracie was one of the most influential teachers in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His team shaped the sport for decades and still stands for a pressure-based, practical style of jiu-jitsu.
The Carlson Gracie team in Switzerland is led by Felipe Thiago. He promoted both of our coaches, and he comes to Affoltern once or twice a year to teach seminars.
As part of the Carlson Gracie Federation we belong to more than 130 academies worldwide. For you that means a consistent curriculum, internationally recognised belt ranks and a lineage that can be traced without gaps. A blue belt earned here is a blue belt anywhere in the world.
The Carlson Gracie team is regularly among the top 10 worldwide in the official IBJJF ranking. That competitive culture feeds into how we train — without you ever having to compete yourself.
Our lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Gutenberg Melo → Felipe Pereira da Silva → René Prince.
What we stand for
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Technique over strength
We teach jiu-jitsu so that it still works when the person opposite you is bigger and stronger. That is the whole point of the art.
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Safety comes first
Controlled sparring, clear rules, clean mats. If you are injured you do not train — and nobody has to justify taking a break.
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Everyone starts somewhere
There is no entrance test and no expectation that you arrive fit. The first step is simply showing up.
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Community, not competition
Advanced students help beginners because it makes for better training partners. That is not a rule, it is just how it works here.
Our coaching team
Experienced, certified black belts who get on the mat with you and correct you in person.
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René Prince
Owner & head coach
Black belt, 1st degree · promoted 2021 under Felipe Thiago
More than 30 years in martial arts and combat sports, boxing among them, stand behind the way René coaches. He teaches mainly the adult classes.
He started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012, as one of Felipe Thiago’s first students in Switzerland. A decade of unbroken training later, he received his black belt in 2021.
On top of that comes international competition experience with several gold medals along the way, from open tournaments to the IBJJF European and World Masters. He still steps onto the mat himself, in the black belt masters division.
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Eliezer “Ezinho” de Assis
Coach
Black belt · promoted 2025 under Felipe Thiago
Ezinho has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 11 years. In 2025 Felipe Thiago promoted him to black belt.
He has been coaching with us since 2024, mainly the kids classes but also the adult ones. He is in his element with the kids: patient, clear in his instructions, and the group goes along with him without his ever raising his voice.
Come and meet us
The best way to judge a dojo is to take a class in it. The first one is free.