Since 2015, we have been providing quality Jiu Jitsu instruction to the public and also helping martial arts schools to improve their management systems and business development success.

Our Mission

Provide the best possible support online to Jiu Jitsu students, instructors, and school owners looking to better themselves, their community, and the world they live in.

What We've Achieved

the university

The purpose of the Level Up University Online is to provide quality online content to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students, instructors, and martial arts school owners, looking to improve their knowledge and skills within their respective Jiu Jitsu interests and goals. The Level Up University space is designed to house all of the important concepts, tools, advice, and paths leading towards excellence in many of the most important areas of Jiu Jitsu study. There is an extensive resource library for parents of children training in Jiu Jitsu, beginner adults Jiu Jitsu students, intermediate level Jiu Jitsu enthusiasts, advanced students, Jiu Jitsu competitors, and more. There is even an extensive Women's Self Defense course section dedicated exclusively towards women.

kids & teens

If you are a parent of a child looking to progress through the ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense, Level Up University Online provides an excellent way for your child to discover a fast track towards progress. Follow the belt system or browse the extensive library for exercises, drills, techniques, life skills, and more for your child and family.
 

Beginner students

If you are a beginner student you will find excellent technical videos and documents to help you through your first few years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu study. Our Beginner's Blueprint provides a path to successfully getting through the early stages of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu including the white belt stripe rank requirements and a step by step how to explanation on each phase of the belt. Once you arrive at blue belt you'll be ready for the advanced section which will take you further into your Jiu Jitsu journey.
 

Advanced students

This is a section featuring advanced concepts and techniques geared towards practitioners wanting to take their game to the next level. In this section you will find library material on various standing and ground techniques with an emphasis on higher level understanding and progress.

Competitor's corner

If you are an avid competitor you will find many of the most cutting edge techniques and positions from some of our international competitors and up and coming Brazilian competitive stars from the various tournament circuits around the world. Our "Competitor's Corner" will help you with those sticky points including meal planning, nutrition, drills, sports psychology, and more. We also house hundreds of videos with technical advice from Jiu Jitsu champions on positions that really work during competitions to get the win.

Professor's points

In the Professor's Points section you will find details from top black belts from around the world. These details and insights will help you bring your technique and knowledge to the next level quickly and with ease. Fast forward to years in the future where you would have discovered these secrets but without going through the agony of discovery on your own. Flip through the videos with ease and watch your Jiu Jitsu prowess grow.

LEVEL UP INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT

Our mission is to instill passion and caring in others through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and martial arts teaching. Through this we have set up various projects around the world starting with Guatemala and Brazil where we help to hire professional Jiu Jitsu instructors who teach underprivileged children confidence, discipline and self defense skills under the Level Up system and philosophy. This can be seen through our core statement of purpose;

“Through great teaching, and great service, we can see great change in the world.”

Currently we have eight Level Up affiliate academies in Sao Paulo, and Brasilia, Brazil and two affiliate projects in Guatemala and the international Level Up family is growing every day.

LEVEL UP NONPROFIT WORK

Level up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu International has been spreading it's non for profit mission throughout the world by establishing sister schools in impoverished communities and through sponsorship of under priveledged children training at our headquarters in West Los Angeles. Level Up also supports the work of the International Jiu Jitsu Education Fund (IJEF) and other organizations such as PATH (People Assisting The Homeless), and the Youth Justice Coalition L.A., in order to promote better communities and to give back to children and families in need.

Some of our current sister schools around the world include, Level Up Guatemala City, Level Up Xela Quetzaltenango, Level Up Sao Paulo Brazil, Level Up Mairinque Brazil, and Level Up Aluminio Brazil. The children training at these schools train for free and are sponsored by the support of both Level Up Social Outreach Program. The children currently training in Guatemala and Brazil live in very difficult situations and have very little activities available outside of their Jiu Jitsu training. Through the effort of the Level Up Social Outreach Program, and other organizations such as the International Jiu Jitsu Education Fund and other corporate and private sponsors, the children their are provided with a full time professional Jiu Jitsu coach, Jiu Jitsu uniforms, mats and even facility to train in.

PROFESSOR ERIK KLINGER

Professor Erik Klinger, founder of Level Up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Worldwide, began his martial arts training over 40 years ago. His first experience with martial arts was at a young age in a community center in Northern California where his interest soon grew into an obsession.

Since then Professor Erik has had an extensive Martial Arts experience traveling literally around the world training, teaching and competing. g gaining black belts in five different disciplines including a third degree black belt and Professor teaching certificate in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master Joe Moreira (8th degree coral belt) and Grandmaster Francisco Mansor (9th degree red belt).

early teaching experience

After reaching the age of 16 , Erik became a professional Karate teacher in Palo Alto, California teaching  the children of Professors on Stanford University campus. This was Professor Erik’s first experience as a professional martial arts teacher. Earning wages and doing what he now found to be his passion; martial arts and teaching. Later at age 18 he moved to Chico, California where he ran a successful martial arts school, teaching Karate under his master to kids and adults and competing and training around the world. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Asian Studies form Chico State, University Professor Erik fulfilled his childhood dream by moving to Okinawa, Japan.

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Erik stayed in Okinawa for three years teaching, training, and competing in the Amateur Pancrase mixed martial arts circuit. He also helped to re-introduce traditional Karate to the Junior High School P.E. system in Okinawa. The introduction was a huge success and to this day due to the efforts of several teachers including Professor Erik Klinger, Physical Education in Okinawa Junior High Schools now includes the traditional art of Karate. Erik was now on a mission to spread system-style martial arts teaching around the world.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

While in Japan, Erik was training at a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym with professional and amateur fighters from the Japanese Panacrase organization. Being amazed with the efficiency of ground fighting techniques, he decided to dedicate himself to the study of Submission Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts. He enjoyed the training so much he began to fight in the different levels of the Pancrase MMA amateur circuit. While training grew his enthusiasm for MMA so much he started a Mixed Martial Arts club for the Junior High School students in the village he had originally taught Karate in.  After 3 years of teaching, training and fighting in Japan, Erik moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil to continue his Martial Arts training by studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU

After moving to Brazil, Erik started training with the Ryan Gracie Team, under top heavyweight world champion, Fabio Leopoldo where after years of training, he became the first American Black Belt under the champ. After teaching, training and competing in Brazil, Erik moved back to California where he is originally from and helped to grow four successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools in Ventura County. During this time he became a co-owner and manager of the original academy he used to train at under the Ryan Gracie Team in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He would fly back to give instructor courses, staff training courses, and management courses to help build the student body and success of the school. He eventually helped build the school within eighteen months, from 80 students to over 250 students through implementation of systems and strategies developed. At one point of co-owning the five schools(four in California and one in Brazil) the active student count was over 1000 students.

LEVEL UP TODAY

Today, Professor Erik Klinger runs five thriving Level Up Jiu Jitsu schools in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas with hundreds of students in a little over four years and Level Up affiliates in several countries around the world. He is also the president and founder of the International Jiu Jitsu Education Fund www.i-jef.org , which helps children around the world in underprivileged communities, to train in the gentle art at absolutely no cost and provides uniforms and support for their coaches and scho. Professor Erik is also a private business coach to many world renowned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school owners and world champions as well as new martial arts school owners looking to improve or understand the business more thoroughly.