Top Rated Local® is pleased to announce that Gracie Barra Alabama is a 2019 award winner for martial arts in Alabama!
If you’re interested in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, there’s no better martial arts school to turn to in Pelham than Gracie Barra Alabama.
Gracie Barra Alabama has received more than 100 reviews on three verified sites with an average rating of 5.00 stars, earning them an incredible Rating Score™ of 96.00 and a 2019 Top Rated Local award for ranking among the top 10 martial arts schools in all of Alabama!
Here’s just one of their many five-star reviews:
“I can’t begin to say enough good things about this school! I was visiting from out of town and drove an hour and a half to come check out this school. My first impression was that the school was immaculate and well taken care of. The mats were clean; it was spacious; the bathrooms and changing rooms were clean, and the instruction, like all the instruction I’ve received at any Gracie Barra school, was phenomenal. The black belt [who was] teaching took time out to roll with me…and to ensure I had a proper grasp of all the movements we were doing! This is an amazing place, and the only problem that I have with it is that I live so far away from it! If you live near this school and haven’t checked it out, you are doing yourself a disservice!” – Nathaniel M.
Not Your Average Martial Arts School
We took a few minutes to talk with Kaliffa Oliveira, owner and main instructor at Gracie Barra Alabama, to learn a little more about the business and how they managed to build such an impressive online reputation.
The first thing we wanted to know was what sets Gracie Barra Alabama apart from the many other martial arts schools in Alabama. Here’s what Kaliffa had to say:
“We don’t have a team; I consider my students as family members. We become very close friends. We compete together; we hang out on the weekends. Most importantly, I lead by example. I compete, and I try to be honest.”
We also asked Kaliffa what their mission is at Gracie Barra Alabama and how they work to make the world a better place. Here’s his response:
“Our mission is to change your life. I think we are the best because of how many people’s lives we’ve changed. At the end of the day, my main goal is to be a better person tomorrow than I am today. Jiu-Jitsu not only helps me on the mat; it helps me in my everyday life. That’s what I preach every day. And, my wife and kids train here, so they never let me lie about that.”
Kaliffa added:
“Jiu-Jitsu is like having car insurance. You need to have it. Hopefully, you never need it.”
Building Success Through Fairness and Honesty
When asked what their secret is to such a strong online reputation at Gracie Barra Alabama, Kaliffa had this to share:
“I try my best to please everybody, to treat people fair and to be honest with everybody. I don’t hide anything. I don’t do crazy contracts. If they like it, good. If they don’t, here’s the money back. I try to stay away from politics, too. I don’t mind if my students try other gyms. I tell them that if the instructors doesn’t practice with their students, there’s something wrong with the instructor…If we’re not inspiring anybody in our lives, we’re doing something wrong.”
Outside of building a powerful online reputation, Gracie Barra Alabama has grown through word of mouth, by working with a company called CyberMark and through social media — they had 52 students sign up the first day through social media!
There are many business owners out there looking to grow their business and build their online reputation. Here’s Kaliffa’s expert advice for those business owners:
“Be honest. Be respectful. Be very open-minded. I learn from my students and clients every day.”
Congratulations to the team at Gracie Barra Alabama for being a 2019 Top Rated Local award winner, and thank you so much, Kaliffa, for taking the time to speak with us!
If you’re interested in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we highly recommend taking a class at Gracie Barra Alabama. Visit their website today.
