Nova Geração Davis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

In August of 2022, I left the following review of Nova Geracao Davis: I was interested in BJJ for my children and I emailed Michael at Nova Geracao to inquire. He replied within a few minutes and offered me and my kids the opportunity to come observe a class. Not only did he spend significant time educating us but he invited the kids to participate and was most welcoming. He was also great with the other kids in the class. You could tell they loved him. So long as the kids are on board, this is for sure our new BJJ gym. Can't wait to start! Here in February of 2025, I am still training ... and so are my 3 kids. Professor Michael Quigley and Nova Geracao Davis are my family now. We're at the gym almost every day. Its such a fun, positive, and challenging environment, and I've learned that jiu jitsu has been and will continue to be an awesome, life-long hobby. To push things further, we're now training Muay Thai in the Striking Class twice per week in addition to regular BJJ classes. Come get on the mats with me!

As a brazilian jiu jitsu white belt who started training at a gym in Florida, moving back home to Davis and joining Nova Geracao (NG), was honestly mind-blowing. At my previous gym, techniques were taught more like a cookie-cutter system where you would learn step by step for one exact situation that doesn't really work in the real world but Professor Michael completely changed how I understand jiu jitsu. Instead of memorizing isolated bjj moves, Michael teaches concepts and explains how a submission or transition can exist across all positions and brazilian jiu jitsu guards, whether you’re in top pressure, open guard, or closed brazilian jiu jitsu guard. A great example where Michael teaches this, is when he breaks down why basic techniques, like the brazilian jiu jitsu arm bar work using real physics, philosophy, and body science...yes, including the exact scientific names of muscles and bones (get ready to learn and remember the names too) which makes everything click at a deeper level. Sometimes it feels like you are drinking out of a fire hose but trust me, having a wealth of information like that will help advance your bjj way quicker. While this approach could feel more intense for whitebelts, it’s exactly what separates simply knowing the levels of brazilian jiu jitsu to truly understanding the art as you progress in your bjj career. Even early on, this mindset has already transformed how I roll and think during live training. Whether your goal is to eventually earn your bjj black belt, join the best martial art for self defense (imo), or get in better shape, NG Davis offers an advanced foundation that will fast-track your growth and set you apart from other jiu jitsu players.

Great place to train. I have only been to the AM classes. I'm a brown belt who has trained at several academies due to traveling for work. Pros: -Good variety of training partners. AM classes have a couple white belts, couple blue belts, couple purple belts and a couple brown belts. There are a couple of us big guys too, which is nice -Good training atmosphere, no hot heads -AM classes every day of the week -Clean mats -Michael (main instructor) and Gigi are great. Both are very technical and give hands-on instruction. I've been really impressed with the attention to the basics. The instruction is what sold me on staying at NG. Cons: -I don't think there is a shower. Not a problem for most of us that live close by, but might be difficult for someone from out of town who wants to train before work (AM class) -I wish I could get NG patches for my old gis instead of getting new gis I was really apprehensive about leaving my old team but have really been welcomed at NG. I tried a couple of the nearby academies and don't have anything bad to say. I would recommend NG to a newcomer or an upper belt looking for a variety of training partners.

In the time that I've spent at Nova Geracao, I can confidently say that the quality of teaching at this academy is one-of-a-kind amongst other schools/gyms that I've practiced at. The environment that Michael provides for his students is incredibly open for beginners, but also vastly more detail-oriented than most for those looking to hone their jiu jitsu game. I would highly recommend Nova Geracao for any level of practitioner that's looking for high-quality jiu jitsu training in the Davis area.

NG and Michael Quigley teach very fundamentally sound Jiu Jitsu. This is demonstrated in the ability of his students, the blue belts and especially the upper belts have a solid foundation and precise technique garnered from the attention to detail that is given in training. Furthermore, Michael himself is a seasoned competitor who still competes at a high level and comes from an esteemed lineage of BJJ. Personally, training here has definitely improved my BJJ and I look forward to continuing this growth.