They go together.

If you're getting serious about Jiu Jitsu, the best way to expand your perspective is a trip to the sport's birthplace of origin: Brazil.

And, it will blow your mind 💚.

Brazilians are friendly by nature. But when met with a traveller that knows even a little Portuguese, they'll treat you like familia.

Despite this fact, few tourists bother to learn. Everyone relies on Google translate or the bad Spanish they learned in highschool. [ *A surprising number of people think the official language here is Spanish 😵. ]

It's worth the effort to learn as much Portuguese as possible before landing. [ Vale a pena. ]

It's seen as a sign of respect and you will instantly be welcomed into the Brazilian community. With even some basic Portuguese speaking skills you will be treated very differently than the usual tourista. Nothing like this had ever happened to me on several previous trips there.

But I'll never forget how I was received In Rio de Janeiro! I was there to check out the BJJ scene. But the moment I tried out my very rough speaking skills, I was treated differently. I got escorted around to several of the local Jiu Jitsu academies, and even was invited into a training session with Gi (*kimono!) loaned to me. And just like that, I was on the tatame in the center of it all. It felt great.

You will be welcomed as a V.I.P., and make new and unexpected friendships just by making an effort to learn some of their language. English is not spoken much in Brazil.

Within 18 months I was back for several more adventures there until eventually reloating my life in Rio - a "test drive" that's lasted 12 yeears and counting.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in_Brazil left it's mark on me. So much so that we scripted several stories to include scenes from the matt. I've had great fun integrating BJJ and other very-Brazilian pastimes into our online course. The entire course is story-based because just as you're finding out with Jiu-Jitsu, the fastest way to mastering a skill is by acting it out.

The best way to learn Portuguese is with Stories.

Q: What's so special about a story?

A: Everything.

In the scene pictured above it appears that someone might be in a situation. Is she mad at him? Even the two women at the side look agitated. What's up with the man in white shorts? Those are impressive calf tattoos! Are the musicians updating their playlist to better fit the situation?

We are all hardwired to find stories more memorable than just plain facts. Just hearing one being told and our brains light up. Suddenly, we’re processing emotions and images, trying to make sense of it all. We’re learning!

Hearing language in-context super-charges your learning. Areas in your brain come together and literally light up!.

A decent story with powerful moving images and dialog automatically creates context and meaning. The experience is far clearer and more memorable than any flashcard routine or podcast. One or two good presentations of a word in-context is all it takes to become fixed in the mind. Forever.

The best way to learn Portuguese is with stories. Stories of real life. Real life is always contextual.

What about immersion? Isn't that the best approach? Well, sim & não. If you have the time to learn slowly, and in Brazil... maybe. Most people that have actually moved to Brazil report great difficulties in learning the language surrounded by natives speaking at a normal (i.e. fast) pace with plenty of expressions & slang.

It's a different approach. And it works. There is no better gauge of our success than what our students say about it (below). In the 10+ years we've been doing this only a handful have requested a refund.

Lessons looks like this:

What is the best way to learn Portuguese?

Six big ideas:

We’ve built our language learning program around six ideas. Anyone willing to commit to our system will acheive fluency in the language. It can take as little as 6 months, as long as 3 years.

It's like Netflix, but all the shows have the same sub-plot: to learn Portuguese. Don't confuse us with other language programs that use publicly available TV & film offering a quick-rewind feature os you can click on the subtitles get the word translations.

Sure, it's fun to watch the Matrix Reloaded, but it's not the best use of your time to learn phrases like "the Oracle must be consulted..."

When you study language in a programatic way, aquisition happens quickly because the grammar and vocab build upon each other, GRADUALLY.

The best way to learn a language is by watching characters talk and act out their lives. Just like real life. That's the core of our program. You'll hear real people speaking, learn how to answer questions, and pick up on new words organically as you follow along. The stories in our movie-like series always present Brazilian Portuguese in it's most-used form, helping you engage with the language as a native does, not how a textbook thinks you should.

Fluency comes through learning and using language in the right context. Our entire library of lessons are all part of long, connected stories. There are main characters, dramas, action, and emotions. As you relate to these stories, your language learning will be anchored in the real world and the context of how Brazilians actually talk. 

Most learners hit a wall when it comes time to hold a real conversation. We're so worried about how we sound that it can lead to a sort of paralysis. The best solution is repetition. If you have someone that will listen to you practice "I will see you later" over and over while giving you feedback - ótimo! Our program gives you a safe space to practice and find your voice. We use Google's AI system, and it is truly amazing. And, she speaks Portuguese!

Skip the boring grammar lessons. We will show you the finer points of Portuguese grammar through short, clear animated illustrations. It's called kinetic typography, and it's a purely visual approach to teaching grammar.

Fluency is a prized goal. Everyone wants a faster, easier way to get there. And as you know, it's not hard to Google a language course that will promise you fluency in a matter of weeks - or, days! This is of course, nonsense. But, shortcuts and tricks do exist! At every step along the way, we'll show you the tried and true hacks - the ones that will actually streamline the process of learning new grammar and vocabulary. We use everything from talk-show style breakdowns to shorthand formulas for constructing phrases. The goal is to get you to fluency in as little time possible. And, enjoy the journey too.

We put a lot of work into making quizzes that are useful and not at all boring. We quiz you on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Voice recognition technology is now so good that most of the quizzes will let you speak your answer. This is a huge advantage! You're getting pronunciation practice at the same time you're doing a quiz. We'll use the results to help you discover what to spend your time on. No grades, no shame - just learning.

And hey! You can skip them too. They're not required to move advance.

We do all six.

That's why we are the best way to learn Portuguese.

If you can dedicate 10 minutes a day, you can learn Portuguese. You can become fluent!

With our course you’ll learn how to start thinking in Portuguese. You won’t just be memorizing random words and grammar rules. You'll have a new library of vivid scenes stored in your mind that you can quickly call upon during a conversation.

Learn Brazilian Portuguese with a Comprehensive Online Course

Learning a language should be fun, natural, and easy. Let’s show you what you can experience as you learn Portuguese the best way! [Example video]

Ready to try a lesson?

Here’s how you can begin learning Brazilian Portuguese:

Subscribe to our monthly package for $21/month. This will give you access to everything - all of our series of stories. You can easily find the level that fits your learning style, and the story that suits your mood.

If you’re more advanced or want to buy the entire course for a much greater value, then check out our Once you're ready to commit, you can easily switch to a longer-term, less-expensive plan.