Established in 1997 by Dee Smith, Absolute Jiu Jitsu was the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in Northeast Tennessee.  Dee Smith, a brown belt under Marc Laimon, trained in Los Angeles under the Gracies, then in Atlanta under Romero "Jacare´" Cavalcanti, and then, when he started the school in Bristol, under Haroldo "Cabelinho" Bunn who had made a number of extended trips from Brazil.  Since those beginnings, Absolute Jiu Jitsu has had frequent seminars with a number of world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners, grapplers, boxing/muay thai practitioners, and wrestlers such as Eddie Bravo, Michael Jenn, Marc Laimon, Kenny Florian, Andrew Smith, Marcos and David Avellan, Master Tong Trithara, Duke Rufus, Rodney “Chico” King, and Andre Brener to name just some.

Over the years, Absolute Jiu Jitsu has transitioned from primarily gi to no gi, has added wrestling to the curriculum, and over the last couple of years been working diligently on the stand up game, bringing numerous world class standout instructors to our school as we have developed a very successful MMA program. 

Needless to say, Absolute Jiu Jitsu is eclectic in technique and approach but also coherent and well-organized under Dee with a program of instruction individually tailored to students who vary markedly in age and walks of life as well as goals in undertaking martial arts training.  At our school, if you want to train hard for MMA or grappling competition, this is the place in this area to do it; if you just want to learn and “roll” with friends or just get in shape, that is fine too.  The atmosphere of the school is friendly and respectful; we take good care of each other in our training.  No one is pushed to compete at the school or outside.