Alan BakerBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Two Pathways. Choose Where You Begin.
Study traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or begin with Living Mechanics. Either pathway welcomes you from the beginning and offers a foundation for continued development.
Pathway 01 · Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
A traditional art.
A lifetime of study.
Begin Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Alan Baker through an approach deeply influenced by Master Pedro Sauer.
The more commonly studied pathway
Precision, patience and a strong foundation.
Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the more commonly studied of the two pathways offered here. Students develop their understanding of positions, escapes, control, transitions and submissions through the careful study of fundamentals.
Master Pedro Sauer’s influence is central to this approach. Leverage, timing and precise mechanics help students understand how a technique works, rather than depending only on strength or athleticism.
You can start here with no previous experience. The study begins with fundamentals and continues into increasingly detailed technical understanding, partner practice and the refinement that comes with time on the mat.
Gi and no gi training
Alan grew up training in the gi and has also trained in Combat Submission Wrestling with Coach Erik Paulson since 1995. He teaches both gi and no gi formats, drawing on his experience in each training environment.
The traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pathway remains rooted in his study with Master Pedro Sauer. His submission wrestling background adds another depth of experience to his work without the gi.
A clear path through the ranks
Students can pursue belt advancement under Alan Baker through the Pedro Sauer Association. Alan is a 4th Degree Black Belt under Master Pedro Sauer, with a direct teaching connection to the lineage shown below.
Rank progression provides direction for continued study, practice and development.
Build your combination of study
Regular classes, private lessons, seminars and online courses can be combined to support your training. Discuss your experience, location and goals with Jennifer to explore the right arrangement.
Online study supports continued review between opportunities to practice and receive personal instruction.
Your starting point
Choose the pathway that fits your goals.
Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Living Mechanics are distinct pathways. You can begin either one without studying the other first. Both offer a foundation for continued development.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu heritage
Instructor
Lineage
A teaching tradition carried forward through generations.
Alan Baker is a 4th Degree Black Belt under Master Pedro Sauer. His traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaching is deeply influenced by that continuing relationship.
This lineage traces that Gracie Jiu Jitsu connection, from its Japanese roots to Alan’s continuing work as a practitioner and teacher.
Explore the Pedro Sauer Association lineageThe Japanese foundation
Mitsuyo Maeda
Maeda’s instruction of Carlos Gracie helped establish the foundation from which the Gracie family developed its Jiu Jitsu.
The Gracie family tradition
Carlos & Helio Gracie
Central figures in the development of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, with a teaching legacy carried forward by the next generation.
The next generation
Rickson Gracie
A son and student of Helio Gracie, and the instructor under whom Pedro Sauer earned his black belt.
Alan Baker’s teacher
Master Pedro Sauer
8th Degree Coral Belt
Founder of the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association and Alan Baker’s Gracie Jiu Jitsu instructor.
Your instructor
Alan Baker
4th Degree Black Belt
Under Master Pedro Sauer. Teaching traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with belt advancement through the Pedro Sauer Association.
Living Mechanics.
A Different Starting Point.
A distinct Jiu Jitsu pathway you can study from the beginning, with no requirement to train in traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu first.
Fundamentals organized around a broader purpose.
Alan’s work in protection, law enforcement and professional training environments led him to examine what happens when grappling must account for more than the exchange on the mat.
Living Mechanics organizes the fundamentals with observation, striking, weapons, surfaces and changing conditions in view. Students study how body organization and positional habits can preserve useful options as the problem changes.
Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu remains a complete pathway with its own technical depth and self defense study. Living Mechanics is a different choice of training emphasis, rather than a required next level after traditional study.
Mechanics With Purpose
Study structure, leverage, alignment and pressure as connected skills. The focus is understanding how the body works, not simply collecting more techniques.
Observation And Environment
Develop habits that keep awareness connected to movement. Space, surfaces, additional people and the possibility of impact influence how a position is evaluated.
Options Beyond Grappling
Build fundamentals that can support control, movement, escape and further combative study. Specialized integrations are developed through appropriate instruction as the student progresses.
Build Skill Through Practice.
Students learn to organize the body, manage pressure and connect positions through partner practice. Mechanics become useful through movement, observation and the changing problems presented by another person.
Begin With Jiu Jitsu.
Study posture, frames, leverage, movement, escapes, control and positional understanding. Practice connects the technical material with the mechanics and thinking behind it.
You do not have to train with weapons to study Living Mechanics. Students can continue developing within its Jiu Jitsu curriculum, refining their structure and movement as their experience grows.
Add Depth As You Progress.
For students whose goals call for it, the foundation can support further study of tactical grappling, weapon awareness, retention, striking and environmental decision making.
These are training emphases within Living Mechanics. They do not create a requirement to complete the traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pathway first. The starting point is the Living Mechanics foundation itself.
The progression is deliberate: establish useful mechanics, connect movement and position, then develop the additional layers appropriate to your goals.
Four Pillars.
One Connected Education.
Each stage of Living Mechanics develops technical knowledge, body mechanics, movement and understanding together.
Mechanics
Study skeletal alignment, leverage, pressure, frames, breathing and body organization. Learn why a position works and how to interact with pressure without relying only on strength.
Mechanical study develops progressively alongside the technical curriculum, giving each stage a more detailed understanding of structure and movement.
Curriculum
Follow a ranked progression through positions, escapes, controls, transitions and submissions. Each skill has a place in the larger educational path.
The curriculum gives students a technical map while the other pillars help them understand, connect and apply what they are learning.
Flow Drills
Develop timing, transitions and connected movement through structured practice. Drills grow in complexity as the student becomes more capable.
The purpose is to develop continuity between skills, so positions and techniques become part of a responsive practice rather than isolated actions.
Philosophy
Understand the purpose of each stage, the decisions it requires and the thinking that supports useful practice.
Rank specific study connects mindset, strategy, self defense perspective and personal development with the physical work on the mat.
Learn The System.
Develop As A Teacher.
A separate instructor development opportunity for practitioners and academy owners who want to study and teach Living Mechanics with structure and support.
Understand, Practice And Communicate.
The instructor program develops understanding of the system’s mechanics, curriculum, drills and philosophy, alongside the ability to communicate them clearly to students.
It connects continued personal practice with teaching development and a network of people studying the same material. You do not have to pursue instructor development to begin learning Living Mechanics as a student.
Explore Instructor Program Details
Online Academy And Written Curriculum
Instructor access includes instructional videos, written lessons, concept breakdowns, curriculum guidance and support materials for continued study and teaching preparation.
Forum, Guidance And Instructor Network
The private instructor environment provides a place to ask questions, exchange ideas and continue developing your understanding with other practitioners. Teaching implementation helps instructors present the material while preserving the system’s mechanics and purpose.
Two Major Annual Training Opportunities
The program includes the Living Mechanics Conference and Living Mechanics Training Camp. These events provide opportunities to refine the material directly and train with the instructor network.
Contact Jennifer to discuss entering the program, current arrangements and the next steps for your academy or training group.
Find Your Path. Begin Your Study.
Contact Jennifer Wood to discuss traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Living Mechanics or instructor training. Share your goals and experience so she can help you explore the appropriate next steps.
Jennifer Wood Handles The Initial Process
Jennifer can help you explore classes, private lessons, seminars and online study, or answer questions about the Living Mechanics Instructor Training Program.
Whether you are beginning your study, continuing your training or exploring instructor development, let Jennifer know which pathway interests you.
Jennifer is the Operations Director, responsible for overall operations, scheduling, and booking.
Help Jennifer Understand What You Are Looking For
In your message, include your name, location, training experience and preferred pathway. Let Jennifer know whether you are interested in classes, private lessons, seminars, online study or instructor development.
