About

Mile High Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Our School

Mile High Gracie is a homegrown business, not part of a chain that is focused on the bottom-line. We are a community and family-oriented academy that is centered around the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and providing the best training experiences and environments for our students.

We have been operating in Denver, Colorado for over 20 years, since the year 2000.

Our Lakewood, CO location provides some of the best Jiu-Jitsu and grappling training around the Colorado Front-range. It is in close proximity to several neighborhoods and cities such as, Denver, Wheat Ridge, Englewood, Arvada, Lakewood, Littleton, Westminster, Green Mountain, Broomfield, Golden and Evergreen.

Our Owners

Morgan Patnode trained at Mile High Gracie around 2001, just after it opened. He took over the academy circa 2007 when the original founder & instructor departed to start another gym out of state. Morgan ran the school and continued training to eventually earn his black belt from renown BJJ and MMA coach, John Crouch, who is a black belt under Royce Gracie.

Matt Altschul started his training in CO alongside Morgan and several other instructors, then moved to CA and trained at the Gracie Academy headquarters in Torrance, CA, earning his blackbelt under Rorion Gracie. He returned to CO in 2018 and became part of Mile High Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He leads and participates in several classes sharing his wide range of knowledge and skills obtained from the academy.

Our Art

We train in authentic Brazilian Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defensive art for everyone, not just for MMA fighters.

  • Our art revolves around decades of developed and evolved techniques around grappling (chokes, joint locks, submissions, and take-downs), self-defense and other aspects of martial arts.
  • Jiu-Jitsu requires little effort in its purest form when your technique is refined.
  • In addition to self-defense, it is excellent for physical strength, flexibility, cardio, mental health, discipline, confidence, and overall general health. More about the art of Jiu-Jitsu
  • The art of Jiu-Jitsu originated with deep roots in Japenese history before it was introduced to the Gracie family. More history of Jiu-Jitsu

Learn more about the Art of Jiu-Jitsu

Our Training

We focus on the core principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu which help build a solid foundation of fundamentals that can easily evolve and adapt to traditional or modern styles, disciplines & techniques.

  • Principles & Fundamentals
  • Modification & Adaptation
  • Strategy & Mechanics
  • Self-defense & Sport techniques
  • Stand-up & takedowns
  • Positional control & advancement
  • Controlled grappling/wrestling (submissions, joint locks, chokes, etc.)
  • Defensive (counters) & offensive (attacks) techniques
  • All belt levels train together
  • Live training exercises (Rolling/Sparring)
    • “Live training” allows you to “test your skills” in a controlled sparring session with another opponent.
    • It can be low impact while allowing you to use all of your skills and potential
    • It allows you to learn quickly what is working and what may need improvement

Note: We do cover striking aspects of fighting (punches, elbows, knees & kicks) and provide defensive techniques around striking, but during rolling, we do not throw strikes unless it is a special training exercise with advanced level students and instructors. View Class Details

Our Attitude

If you’re new to the art, there is nothing to be intimidated of at Mile High Gracie. Jiu-Jitsu is an art that allows anybody to be able to participate and be successful at.

  • Nobody at Mile High Gracie has attitude or ego and it is NOT tolerated.
  • We believe in hard work, good health, safety, helping others, respect, discipline, dedicated learning, passionate instruction, honesty, and humbleness.
  • Everyone is welcome!

Our Facility

Our space is our home & sanctuary, we are very proud to have this beautiful facility to practice and teach our art.

Here is a glimpse inside our facility:

gym interior 3/4 view northwest cornergym interior north view
gym interior from the east entrance looking west to the rear wall gym interior south wall with banana bags hanging for striking practice

Facility Features

  • Large mat space
  • High Quality 2″ Fuji mats
  • Wall mats
  • High ceilings
  • Changing room
  • Large restroom
  • Shower (BYOTowell)
  • Personal storage area
  • 2 x large banana bags
  • Large digital fight clock
  • Reception & observation area
  • Free parking lot
  • First-aid kits and materials
  • Bluetooth speaker system
  • Optimized ventilation & commercial fan
  • Dimmable Lighting

“Everyone should be able to practice Jiu-Jitsu in a professional, fun and relaxed family-friendly environment.”

morgan_patnode_2015

Morgan Patnode
Co-Owner & Head Instructor

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What our students are saying

Joining this school has been one of the best experiences.

Joining this school has been one of the best experiences. I have learned so much about this sport and my self. I know how to push my mind and body to learn more. Each class I feel encouraged to learn more and keep coming back. I have so much more self confidence. The workout are fantastic.
Jiu jitsu school
5
2017-12-23T08:37:37-07:00
Joining this school has been one of the best experiences. I have learned so much about this sport and my self.
5
1
Jiu jitsu school

Best place in Colorado to go for BJJ

Best place in Colorado to go for BJJ. Teaching gi and non gi classes, you get a feel for self defense as well as an overall knowledge of the best jiujitsu. Extremely happy here.
Jiu jitsu school
5
2016-12-18T08:29:22-07:00
Best place in Colorado to go for BJJ. Teaching gi and non gi classes, you get a feel for self defense as well as an overall knowledge of the best jiujitsu. Extremely happy here.
5
1
Jiu jitsu school

I’ll never train anywhere else in Denver

Great instructors and balance of belt levels. Definetly the best rates in town as well as a lot of good energy and character. I'll never train anywhere else in Denver.
Mile High Gracie Jiu Jitsu
5
2016-12-18T08:36:12-07:00
Great instructors and balance of belt levels. Definetly the best rates in town as well as a lot of good energy and character. I'll never train anywhere else in Denver.
1
Mile High Gracie Jiu Jitsu

So happy I found this place

Great people, great instructors, great price, great place all round. So happy I found this place. So laid back and relaxed. Amazing!
Jiu jitsu school
5
2016-12-18T08:38:29-07:00
Great people, great instructors, great price, great place all round. So happy I found this place. So laid back and relaxed. Amazing!
5
1
Jiu jitsu school

The best instructors in town

The best instructors in town hands down!
Mile High Gracie Jiu Jitsu
5
2016-12-18T08:48:29-07:00
The best instructors in town hands down!
1
Mile High Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Really enjoy the great vibe and the support from everyone!

A really great, small and well attended studio. Really enjoy the great vibe and the support from everyone and the teachers in getting better. Os!
Jiu jitsu school
5
2017-04-01T08:48:04-06:00
A really great, small and well attended studio. Really enjoy the great vibe and the support from everyone and the teachers in getting better. Os!
5
1
Jiu jitsu school

No reason you shouldn’t start right away!

Stopped by today, great atmosphere. Welcoming students and instructors. Some great skills here. Affordable pricing, no reason you shouldn't start right away!
Jiu jitsu school
5
2017-04-01T08:50:17-06:00
Stopped by today, great atmosphere. Welcoming students and instructors. Some great skills here. Affordable pricing, no reason you shouldn't start right away!
5
1
Jiu jitsu school