Our Connection

Head Instructor Clay Pratka started his training with Joe Soliz who was primarily teaching JKD at that time but had begun to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well Clay had quite a bit of exposure to the techniques, concepts, and rolling of BJJ through the 10+ Years he trained extensively under Joe Soliz. Through Chance Clay late meet Rorion Gracie who Invited him to come to the first ever Graice Combatives Instructor Certification Course. This was the streamlined course the Gracie Family created to teach Jiu-Jitsu to the Army Rangers. Clay spent over 100 hours training at the Greacie Academy Headquarters with Rorion Gracie, Ryron Gracie, and Rener Gracie. He recieved his GJJ Blue Belt, was certified as an Instructor of the Gracie Combatives Course and opended one of the first 8 schools in the world to be rocognized by the Gracie Academy Headquarters as a Certified Training Center. Clay continued to work with both Rener and Ryron Gracie, traveling to the Headquarters as well as hosting and assisting with semianrs in Texas including the UFC EXPO. Clay later shut down his certified training center as his travel shedule became more hecic. Clay then found his way back to his original Instructor Professor Joe Soliz who was now a Black Belt In BJJ. Clay resumed training with Joe and currently holds a BJJ Purple Belt under his Linage. Clay's JKD Instructor Sifu Singh is also a skilled grappler who holds a BJJ Brown Belt. Sifu Singh is responsible for giving Clay the majority of his mat time and helping to refine his skills. Clay feels he has absorbed many different concepts from each of the different people he has trained with and remains greatful to them all.