Lakewood Jiu jitsu Academy
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Self-Defense | Lakewood, CO
LAKEWOOD JIU JITSU (BJJ)
INSTRUCTOR JIM MEDLEY
Professor Jim Medley has been teaching jiu jitsu and police restarint techniques for over 30 years. He has studied Japanese jūjitsu since the 1980s, and for the past 15 years he has studied Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He is a Gracie jiu jitsu black belt and certified instructor under Gracie University.
Medley demonstrating traditional jujitsu in college
Medley earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Justice & Public Safety at Auburn University, graduating magna cum laude. He graduated valedictorian from his police academy class and worked as a police patrol officer for over 10 years. While working in law enforcement, Medley instructed police officers in control and restraint techniques and handcuffing. He was certified as a defensive tactics instructor in the PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) System and certified as a police self-defensive tactics instructor by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Medley teaching a college law enforcement class
Jim earned a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Training and Development and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. He taught as a Professor of Criminal Justice for seven years, teaching college courses in Criminal Law, Criminology, and Use of Force to students studying to be police officers. Medley also has experience teaching in a university based police academy program.
Professor Medley began studying Kinesiology at the University of Texas graduate school. Kinesiology is the scientific study of human body movement. Medley completed 36 graduate hours of masters study in: Tactical Fitness, Body Mechanics, Muscle Physiology, Sport Psychology, Nutrition, and more. This coursework helped put science behind much of what Medley already knew through the practice of jūjutsu.
Yuki Nakai, Tokyo, Japan
Jim Medley has had the honor to travel to Japan on two different occasions. He has trained jiu jitsu in Tokyo in private lessons with Master Yuki Nakai. Jim holds a 4th degree black belt (yodan) in Japanese jūjutsu under the United States Judo Association Jujitsu Division.
In 2009 Medley began studying Gracie/ Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) to broaden his self-defense skills. He quickly learned to appreciate the strategic advantages of using the ground as an ally in defeating larger, stronger opponents. During these last 15 years of BJJ study, he has had the privilege of training under a number of world famous instructors, including: Ricardo De La Riva, Royce Gracie, and Ryron and Rener Gracie.
2014 Ryron and Rener Gracie
In 2014 Jim Medley first trained with Grandmaster Hélio Gracie's grandsons, Ryron and Rener Gracie. He then began training under the Gracie Academy jiu jitsu curriculum. This program was rebranded Gracie University in 2017, and is the only structured jiu jitsu curriculum of its kind in the world.
2021 Royce Gracie
While training in the Gracie University program, Medley was also training in Brazilian BJJ under Royce Gracie (Hélio Gracie's youngest son). Royce teaches a Gracie BJJ jiu jitsu self-defense system very similar to the system taught at Gracie University. Both systems are closely based on the techniques taught by Hélio Gracie as depicted in his famous textbook for self-defense.
2023 Rener and Ryron Gracie
Professor Medley earned his black belt in Gracie jiu jitsu from Gracie University. He continues to learn how to apply jiu jitsu principles into his life in areas beyond fighting and self defense. He is also learning more about how to teach self-defense to groups with unique needs - women, teens, police officers, and older adults.
In addition to formal martial arts credentials, Jim Medley is also a life-time certified Self Defense Instructor by the American Sports & Fitness Association (ASFA).
Expert in Self-Defense/
Use of Force Law
Jim Medley holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Houston Law School. He has been an attorney for over 25 years and is licensed to practice law in Colorado and in Texas. Professor Medley has focused his practice on criminal law and has represented many clients in use of force situations. He has carefully researched legal aspects of self defense and case law applicable to self defense and police restraint techniques for many years.
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As one's knowledge of and the ability to inflict injuries on others grows, so does the moral and legal responsibility to use those skills only when non-violent alternatives have been exhausted. Professor Medley teaches the legal limitations on use of force, as well as helping students navigate the ethical considerations of deciding when and to what degree force should be applied in a confrontation. This is one reason jiu jitsu is the most appropriate martial art for self-defense, as BJJ offers a continuum of options of how to control aggression at the choice of the Brazilian BJJ Lakewood student.
