Prof. Ben Hall has been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Windsor, Melbourne since 2002, under a lineage that traces directly to the family that built BJJ.
Ben was awarded both his brown and black belts personally by Carlson Gracie Sr. and Carlson Gracie Jr., placing the Melbourne academy in a small handful of schools worldwide with that direct connection to the Gracie family.
His competitive record spans state, national, and international podiums, including campaigns at the IBJJF Mundial Championships in Brazil. Off the mats, Ben holds dual diplomas in Sports Coaching and Sports Development, pairing the technical knowledge of BJJ with formal coaching qualifications.
21 of his students have earned their black belt at this academy.
Carlson Gracie Sr. redefined Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His son Carlson Jr. continued the legacy and awarded Prof. Ben Hall his black belt.
What you'll train at our Windsor academy isn't a watered-down franchise version. It's the same unbroken lineage, the same uncompromising standard, adapted for modern life on the mats in Melbourne.
Carlson Gracie Sr., the firstborn son of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie, was a prodigy. He competed in his first martial arts match at the age of five and went on to win the first official Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Rio: the Campeonato Carioca de Jiu-Jitsu.
He refined his game challenging anyone who'd step up on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. In 1955, at just 23, he avenged his uncle Helio Gracie's loss and became a national hero. His own academy, founded soon after, became the most influential training ground in BJJ history, turning out generation after generation of champions in Jiu-Jitsu and the early days of MMA.
His style, the warrior style, was different. Where the rest of BJJ was defensive and patient, Carlson Sr. taught relentless offence. Physical pressure. Forward movement. The pursuit of the finish.
Carlson Gracie Jr. took over and expanded the academy's reach. Under his stewardship, the Carlson Gracie Team became the home of innovation, producing champions across BJJ, MMA, and UFC. He also began to award black belts under his father's lineage to a small group of trusted instructors, Prof. Ben Hall among them.
BJJ has exploded globally over the last two decades, and many academies now bear the "Gracie" name. Ours is the only school in Australia with a direct, unbroken Carlson Gracie lineage. What you'll train here isn't a watered-down franchise version. It's the same warrior style, the same uncompromising standard, adapted for modern life on the mats in Windsor.
9 Duke Street, Windsor. Established 2002. Walk in and you'll find sprung mats, a properly ventilated training space, separate men's and women's changing rooms, and a community that's trained together for over twenty years.
Ben owns and runs the academy himself. The person teaching your class is the person accountable for the standard of every belt awarded here.
Come try a free class and see what we mean. Or read more about our programs.
Your first class is free. We'll lend you a Gi. You bring yourself.