Welcome to 808 Jiu-Jitsu
Aloha and Welcome to 808 Jiu-Jitsu!
808 Jiu-Jitsu is the first Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in the state of Hawaii. Located on the beautiful island of Maui, we teach the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On the west side in Lahaina, we are conveniently located just above the Lahaina Gateway across the Honoapiilani Highway from the Lahaina Cannery Mall. We're a quick right and a quick left past the Wiki Wash.
808 Jiu-Jitsu is owned and operated by second degree black belt Christian Kennedy-Grandi. Christian was personally trained by Carlson Gracie of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Brazil.
Jiu-JItsu classes are available for men, women, and children. Our Training Schedule has more information.
Jiu-jitsu Students Excel at Major Competition
BY WALTER CHIHARA
LAHAINA — In a relatively short span of time, the Carlson Gracie 808 Jiu-Jitsu club headed up by Christian Grandi has made a remarkable impact in several important ways.
808 Jiu-Jitsu is closing in on two years here on the West Side, and six months ago opened up their state-of-the-art facility at the Emerald Plaza industrial complex.
Since then, Grandi Sensei reported, the club register has grown to upwards of 40 practitioners of the Gracie system of jiu-jitsu in the Lahaina program.
On Oct. 18, Grandi took four of his students — Russell Kapahulehua, Kainoa Kaohelaulii, Michael Bates and Colton Florian — to Honolulu to compete in the 2009 NAGA (North American Grappling Association) Hawaii Grappling Championship at Pearl City High School.
Featuring 300 divisions, the contest is noted as the world’s largest grappling tournament circuit.
The small Lahaina contingent achieved stunning results, coming home as the top Maui entry in the competition.
Grandi’s four students won six first place samurai swords, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
The bouts were divided into “gi” (the traditional martial arts uniform)/rank, and “no gi,” by age, and by weight.
Kaohelaulii won a bronze medal in the 159-pound division, Kapahulehua captured two titles at 225, Bates won two events and placed second in another, and Florian — in celebrating his 16th birthday — took home two first place samurai swords and a silver medal.
“I am so proud of our students,” beamed Grandi last week at the club training facility.
“This was a very successful tournament, and it had a nice environment for all of the competitors — and the stands were full. These students from here did very well, and I am very happy about the way our school is working to bring back the integrity of what we do to be a good example for young people. No drink, no smoke, no drugs — just hard work and respect.”
Indeed, young Florian is a prime example of 808 Jiu-Jitsu’s positive influence. A troubled young teenager six months ago, he has immersed himself into the Gracie system taught by Grandi, and the results have spawned a new life for him.
He has dedicated himself to training and has also become a mentor to the younger students in Grandi’s charge.
According to Colton’s mom, George Florian, the influence and discipline of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has turned the teenager’s life around.
“Christian’s influence on Colton has been amazing,” she said. “The training has brought a whole new life for him and become something he could strive for. It has been a positive pathway for my son, and we thank the Good Lord for this.”
Call 298-8265 for more information on 808 Jiu-Jitsu.
Reprinted with permission from Lahaina News.
About Christian Kennedy-Grandi
"To have a black belt under Carlson Gracie, Sr. in Maui is a big thing.
Carlson Gracie is one of the biggest names in Jiu-Jitsu, his schools are some of the most traditional Jiu-Jitsu and MMA schools in the world."
This is a great opportunity for the people of Maui to train with the best and to learn from a 2nd degree black belt who trained with Carlson Gracie, Sr. himself.
Christian Grandi began his life of martial arts when he was a young man of 7. His first discipline was judo which led him to Jiu-Jitsu when he was 14.
Christian Grandi trained under Carlson Gracie Sr. for 14 years and after Carlson Gracie Sr. passed away, in 2006, began training with with Carlson Gracie Jr.
Mr. Grandi has been a dedicated student of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Schools for his entire adult life.
There are several training disciplines offered at the Christian Grandi, Carlson Gracie Academy here on Maui including traditional Jiu-Jitsu and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).
Mr. Grandi offers training for beginners, self-defense, and competition level students.
Mr. Grandi's students call him master, but he prefers to consider himself a student. Even with nearly 2 decades of experience under his black belt, Mr. Grandi still believes there is so much to learn - not just about Jiu-Jitsu, but about life.
The Carslon Gracie team has trained many champions directly under Carlson Gracie Sr. and indirectly under Carlson Gracie's students. Many of the best MMA fighters are athletes who have been trained by direct students of Carlson Gracie Sr.
Mr Grandi has trained with many well-known athletes under the Carlson Gracie team including:
Vitor Belfort
Wallid Ismail
Murilo Bustamante
Rodrigo Minotauro Nogureira
