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Terms and Conditions

 

Effective Date: November 29, 2025

Welcome to ShawnWilliams.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”), operated by Shawn Williams, a 5th-degree black belt under Renzo Gracie and a renowned expert in Jiu Jitsu, grappling, and MMA. This website serves as your source for learning Jiu Jitsu online or in person, offering services such as the Online Academy, Coaching Institute, seminars, camps, in-person training at Renzo Gracie Nashville, newsletters, video content, and coaching for instructors, academy owners, beginners, black belts, enthusiasts, and everyone in between. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website (https://shawnwilliams.com), services, content, webforms, email/SMS communications, and any related features (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing or using our Services, submitting a webform, subscribing to newsletters, enrolling in programs, or participating in coaching/seminars, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any additional guidelines or rules referenced herein. If you do not agree, please discontinue use. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time, with changes effective upon posting on the site. Your continued use after updates constitutes acceptance.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to conflict of law principles. We are based in Nashville, Tennessee, and any disputes will be resolved in the courts of Davidson County, Tennessee.

1. User Eligibility and Accounts

  • Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use our Services, enroll in programs, or participate in coaching/seminars. By using the site, you represent that you meet this requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. Minors under 18 must have parental/guardian consent and supervision.
  • Account Creation: Certain Services, such as the Online Academy or Coaching Institute, may require creating an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information (e.g., name, email, experience level like white belt or black belt) and to update it as needed. You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and all activities under your account.
  • Account Security: Immediately notify us of any unauthorized access. We are not liable for losses from compromised accounts, but you may be held responsible for any resulting damages to us or others.
  • Termination: We may suspend or terminate your account or access at any time for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, intellectual property infringement, or other reasons, without prior notice or liability.
 

2. Services and Participation

  • Description of Services: We provide educational and coaching resources, including the Online Academy for game-changing concepts and techniques; the Coaching Institute for instructors, coaches, and academy owners (including a BETA program with lesson plans); seminars and camps worldwide; in-person training at Renzo Gracie Nashville; video content (e.g., Jiu Jitsu tutorials); newsletters with tips, specials, and updates; and personalized coaching for accelerating growth in Jiu Jitsu, regardless of experience level.
  • Enrollment and Participation: By enrolling in programs like the Online Academy or Coaching Institute, or requesting seminars via webforms, you agree to any associated fees, schedules, and rules. Services are subject to availability and may be modified or discontinued without notice.
  • Payments: For paid Services (e.g., seminar fees or academy subscriptions), we use secure third-party processors. You authorize charges to your payment method and are responsible for all fees, taxes, and costs. Refunds are at our discretion, typically not offered for digital content or completed sessions unless specified.
  • Cancellations and Changes: We may cancel or reschedule Services due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., injuries or events). You may cancel enrollments per any specific program rules, but fees may be non-refundable.
  • Physical Activities Disclaimer: Participation in Jiu Jitsu training, seminars, or camps involves physical risks (e.g., injuries). You assume all risks and represent that you are in suitable health. Consult a physician before participating.
 

3. Intellectual Property

  • Ownership: All content on our site, including video tutorials, lesson plans, teaching methods, techniques, systems, details, graphics, logos, testimonials (e.g., from Georges St-Pierre, Renzo Gracie, or Matt Serra), and other materials, is owned by us or our licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. This includes proprietary Jiu Jitsu coaching approaches developed from over 27 years of experience.
  • Limited License: We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Services for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works, publicly display, or commercially exploit any content without our written permission.
  • User Content: If you submit content (e.g., testimonials, feedback, or seminar requests), you grant us a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, modify, and distribute it for promotional or educational purposes. You represent that your content does not infringe third-party rights.
  • DMCA Policy: We respect intellectual property. If you believe content infringes your copyright, provide a notice compliant with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to our designated agent. We may remove infringing material and terminate repeat offenders.
  • Enforcement: Unauthorized use, such as sharing video content or lesson plans, may result in legal action, including claims for damages. We actively monitor for IP violations to protect our expertise in teaching, coaching, and instructor development.
 

4. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

  • Use Services for illegal, harmful, or unauthorized purposes.
  • Interfere with site functionality (e.g., hacking, introducing viruses, or excessive automated requests).
  • Post or submit defamatory, obscene, threatening, or infringing content.
  • Engage in spam, unsolicited marketing, or data scraping.
  • Impersonate others, provide false information, or harass participants.
  • Record, share, or distribute seminar/camp content without permission.
  • Violate confidentiality in coaching sessions (e.g., sharing proprietary techniques).

We may monitor interactions and take action against violations, including banning users.

5. Marketing Communications

We may send newsletters, SMS updates, or emails about new releases, specials, seminars, camps, or tips. You can opt out by clicking “unsubscribe” in emails, replying “STOP” to SMS, or contacting us. This does not affect essential communications (e.g., enrollment confirmations or Coaching Institute updates).

6. Warranties and Disclaimers

  • Service Warranties: We strive to provide high-quality, effective Jiu Jitsu education based on proven methods, but results vary by individual effort, experience (e.g., from white belt to black belt), and application. No guarantees of skill improvement or outcomes.
  • Disclaimers: Services are provided “as is” without warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. We do not warrant error-free content, uninterrupted access, or virus-free materials. Testimonials reflect individual experiences and are not guarantees.
  • Third-Party Links: Links to external sites (e.g., Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Renzo Gracie Nashville) are for convenience; we are not responsible for their content or practices.
 

7. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of Services, even if advised of the possibility. This includes damages from physical injuries during training, data loss, or business interruptions. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the specific Service or $100, whichever is greater. Some jurisdictions limit such exclusions, so they may not apply.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold us harmless from any claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising from your violation of these Terms, misuse of Services, infringement of intellectual property, or participation in physical activities.

9. Dispute Resolution

  • Informal Resolution: Attempt to resolve disputes by contacting us first.
  • Arbitration: Any unresolved disputes shall be settled through binding arbitration in Nashville, TN, under the American Arbitration Association rules. You waive class action rights.
  • Exceptions: Intellectual property disputes or small claims may be litigated in court.
  • Governing Law: Tennessee law applies, with venue in Davidson County.
 

10. Force Majeure

We are not liable for failures due to events beyond our control, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or technical failures.

11. Miscellaneous

  • Severability: Invalid provisions do not affect the rest.
  • No Waiver: Delaying enforcement does not waive rights.
  • Assignment: We may assign these Terms; you may not without consent.
  • Entire Agreement: These Terms form the complete agreement, superseding prior communications.
 

12. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Shawn Williams

Nashville, TN

Email: support@shawnwilliams.com