Starting your journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can feel intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! With the right gym, you can quickly get into a regular training flow and start learning as much as you can about BJJ. This Combat Athlete Gear blog post covers what BJJ is, its benefits, and how to find the right BJJ gym for you and your needs. Knowing how to choose a BJJ gym will help you begin your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey on the right foot.
We’ll start with the history of Brazilian Jitsu then make our way to gym criteria. Understanding the roots of BJJ will help you have a better understanding the culture and ideology of the art.
What is the history of BJJ?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s roots go as far back as the 1900s in Brazil. Its elements of taking a fight to the ground, pins, and submissions are found in older combat arts like judo and Japanese jujutsu. Kodokan judo made its way to Brazil thanks Mitsuyo Maeda who initially took Carlos Gracie under his tutelage. This led to other Gracie family members including Helio learning different throws, takedowns, escapes, and submissions. These significantly effective skillsets are the foundation for what we know as BJJ today.
In 1993, BJJ began to grow in popularity on a global scale thanks to UFC 1 where Royce Gracie won the entire tournament via submission. See below for footage of Royce Gracie vs. Gerard Gordeau. Royce’s success led to more interest in BJJ due to its obvious effectiveness in the octagon.
Famous BJJ fighters in the UFC
Many BJJ fighters have found success in the UFC. Here’s a quick list of notable MMA competitors with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as their base skill:
- Demian Maia
- Mackenzie Dern
- Nate Diaz
- Charles Oliveira
- Amanda Nunes
- Brian Ortega
Each fighter on this list has had success on the biggest stages of BJJ and also MMA. Have you heard of any of these fighters before? Let us know in the comments below!
What are the health benefits of BJJ?
There are multiple health benefits to learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. While it is primarily a self-defense skillset, becoming a BJJ practitioner enables you to be a healthier individual. Check out this list of several ways you can physically improve thanks to BJJ:
- Stronger bones, muscles, and ligaments
- Better cardio
- More flexibility
- Less stressed
- Improved coordination
Now that you have a better idea of what BJJ can do for you, let’s dive into how to choose the right BJJ gym for you.
How to find the right BJJ gym for you
Selecting the best BJJ gym for you comes down to several factors such as location and the focus of the gym. Here’s a list that gives you criteria to consider when you want to know how to find the right BJJ gym for you:
- Location: You have to know how far you’re willing to drive. Depending on where you live, the nearest BJJ gym to you could be 5 minutes or more than 45 minutes away. We recommend using Google Maps to do a quick search of BJJ gyms in the area.
- Schedule: Do some research to figure out if the gym you’re interested in has a class schedule that works with your schedule. You will also need to factor in drive time to the gym from wherever you’ll be coming from.
- Price: It’s not uncommon for BJJ gym pricing to range anywhere from $100/month to $200/month. Some BJJ gyms will also have punch passes so you can pay for classes upfront and use them whenever you’re able to train. Factor in what BJJ will you cost you each month with your overall monthly budget. This will tell you if you need to cut back spending in other areas of your life to make training a reality.
- Experience level of the coach/professor: Pay attention to the rank and overall experience level of the person teaching classes. Teachers vary in levels of experience. One gym down the road from you might have an instructor who is a young purple belt with IBJJF medals under his/her belt. Another gym 20 minutes away may have a 3rd-degree blackbelt leading each class. Do some research to figure out who you’re interested in learning from.
- Teaching/Coaching style: How an instructor teaches/coaches really matters. Some classes are very traditional with one person leading everything from warmups to the instructional/drilling portion of class. These traditional-style gyms also have a structure to their curriculum. Other gyms may have classes that are less formal with no clear curriculum. Gyms with less structure tend to have teachers who ask, “So what do you guys want to learn today?”.
- Teammates: Look around the mat and see who is training. Do you only have fit adults in their early 20s? Are your classes most composed of men or do you have a wide range of body types? Does the gym you want to train at have several active competitors? Understanding the demographics of the gym will help you know if it’s the right gym for you.
- Gym focus: Another factor that will affect the gym you choose is the focus of the gym. Some gyms spend most of their time drilling self-defense techniques. Other gyms may only prioritize BJJ competition techniques and strategies. Knowing which gym is right for you comes down to knowing what your goals are with BJJ.
Try out some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes
Now that you’ve made a list of different BJJ schools in your area, it’s time to do some trial classes. Some gyms may allow you to test out one free class. Other gyms will give you a week of free classes. We highly recommend you take up these gyms on their offer before signing up. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for gym culture and other factors that will help you make an informed decision.
Take some insights from Jocko Willink!
It’s ok if you’d rather listen to insights from someone else on how to choose the right BJJ gym for you. Here’s a podcast bit from Jocko Willink on how to choose a good Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school for you:
Go train!
Now that you have clear criteria, find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym and start training! Use the insights you’ve just gained to begin reaping the benefits of BJJ.