RSA Policy on Wrestling & BJJ Commitment

Dear RSA Families and Prospective Students,

At the Ronn Shiraki Academy (RSA), we have proudly trained hundreds of students over the years—each one contributing to our rich history as a premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dojo. As we continue to invest deeply in our students’ growth and development, we want to clearly communicate an important update to our training policy regarding participation in high school wrestling.

Creating Lifelong Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners

While we greatly respect the sport of wrestling and the discipline it demands, it is important to understand that wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are fundamentally different martial arts. Wrestling emphasizes control and pinning without the use of the guard—a core position in BJJ. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, on the other hand, is a comprehensive, submission-based art that emphasizes control, leverage, and technique both on top and from the bottom.

We’ve consistently observed that students who split their time—particularly those who take 4–6 months off each year to wrestle—often return to Jiu-Jitsu behind their peers. Despite their athleticism and grappling experience, they tend to lack key Jiu-Jitsu concepts that require years of focused, uninterrupted practice.

RSA’s Unique Commitment to Our Students

What makes RSA special is the unmatched level of commitment and extra training time we offer our students. Our coaching staff—including Ronn Shiraki personally—invests many additional hours each week outside of scheduled classes to mentor, guide, and elevate each student’s game. We don’t just offer classes—we offer a pathway to mastery, with personalized attention that is rare in any martial arts school.

This level of investment requires students and families who share our focus and values.

Our Policy Moving Forward

RSA students must commit exclusively to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Participation in seasonal high school wrestling or any conflicting grappling sport during the school year is not compatible with our program.

If you are already part of RSA and are considering high school wrestling, we respectfully ask that you make a decision about which path you wish to pursue. Similarly, if you are exploring schools and are looking for a program that allows for dual participation, we recommend seeking another academy that better aligns with that model.

We take great pride in building high-level Jiu-Jitsu practitioners—students who will not only succeed in sport but thrive in self-defense and lifelong practice. Our program is designed for those who are ready to commit fully and benefit from the elite-level instruction we provide.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

With respect,
Ronn Shiraki & the RSA Team