Picking a Jiu-Jitsu Gym: The Ultimate Guide
Regardless of if you are just starting out your journey or whether you have been at it a few years, there might not be anything more important than picking a Jiu-Jitsu gym. The coaches and people who you train with will have different preferences and pace. The styles of Jiu-Jitsu are different. And the way classes are managed can vary tremendously.
Not only that, but the other gym offerings may be of interest to you as well. Do you want to be able to shower there? What class times will you be able to make? With so many different variables, it’s incredibly important to find one that is right for you.
Before we delve into the list, you have to ask yourself personally what you are looking for. Are you looking to compete and win championships? Are you looking to get in a good workout? Or perhaps you want to supplement your Jiu-Jitsu with other activities? Maybe you have no idea and are just trying it out?
Regardless of which of the above fits your current status, this article should answer all situations above and more.
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You Are Just Starting Out and Don’t Know What to Look For
So, you’ve either started your Jiu-Jitsu journey or are considering it. It can be tough. You are going to a new place with new people to try a new discipline. There’s a lot to consider when picking a Jiu-Jitsu gym and that search has led you here.
Well, fear not faithful reader, you have come to the right place! There are a tremendous amount of options and there are some important points that you should be aware of when getting started.
The first few considerations you should have are as follows.
Pricing
This may be a big deal for you, or maybe it isn’t. Regardless, it’s important to call out as the range can vary tremendously. I’ve personally seen as low as $75 per month, up to $250 per month, and have heard of others that are even more than that.
Pricing typically comes from the popularity of the gym, it’s instructor(s), and the overall gym offerings. If you find one you like but it is out of your price range, there are a couple ways to save a few bucks.
- Sign a longer contract – Most gyms will have this option. Typically they ask for 6 months to 2 years rather than monthly, and you can pay monthly or pay in a lump sum. By doing this, you can get your rate sometimes drastically reduced.
- Find a “new” gym – Gyms that are just starting out are hungry to get new people in and will typically have some great starting deals. In my area of DFW, there is a new gym opening up around me seemingly every month, and all of them have great “Opening Pricing”.
- Negotiate – I don’t like this one as much personally, but it is an option. Gyms are interested in getting people in and they would much rather sign you up for a slightly reduced rate than lose you altogether. If the pricing is just too high for you for one reason or another, see what they can do to help you out. A lot of the time, they will try to work with you to get you started!
If pricing is of no concern, then read on!
Class Times
Almost every gym will have their class times posted on their website and most have the same general slots of time. It’s important to understand your work, family, or other obligations and know what times you will and won’t be able to make.
Typically all gyms have early morning and evening classes. Some will have lunch time options as well. Morning classes will run between a 5am-8am start, afternoons between 10-2pm, and evening adult classes will usually start between 6-8pm.
While those don’t sound like huge ranges, they can make a big difference. If you have young kids, later classes might be for you. If you have a firm starting work time, then 6am may work while 7am won’t. And if you want to get the most out of your membership, knowing all of the potential options will serve you well.
Convenience of Location
I would highly recommend starting your search this way. Go to your favorite Map app and search Jiu-Jitsu for gyms that are closest to your home and work location. There is no substitute for convenience and a gym 5 minutes vs 25 minutes away may be the difference between you making classes and not.
Because my first gym was only 8 minutes away, it allowed me to make it to all kinds of classes that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. So when picking a Jiu-Jitsu gym, consider this carefully.
If you are reading this and deciding if you want to sign up your child(ren) up for Jiu-Jitsu, check out my other post addressing exactly that.
Now that we’ve covered how to decide if you don’t know what you are looking for, let’s address another situation.
You Want to Compete… and Win
Most gyms that I have found encourage (but don’t pressure) you to compete. It’s good for their gym if they have competition winning students and it is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
The issue here though isn’t just about being able to compete. The bigger consideration is how to actually win competitions. And if that’s the goal you have in mind, then you will need to seek out a few particular things.
- A Coach and Team Who is “Decorated” – Everyone knows the saying “iron sharpens iron”, and it absolutely holds true for this. The more high level teammates and coaches you have, the more you will learn in your day-to-day training. So if you have a number of champions across all belts and sizes, you will be exposed to a lot more that will help you in your quest for Gold.
- A Coach and Team That You “Click” With – This doesn’t mean that you have to like them necessarily. It does however mean that you have to be able to learn effectively from them. You will find and gravitate towards people whose coaching and training style suits you best. And it’s worth knowing that all coaches have their own “flavor” they add. So as you start your trial, make sure you find a coach and team who feel right for you.
- Find Competition Classes – If you look up class times and there are “competition” classes, then that means you are competing with like-minded people who want to keep a certain pace that will differ from your normal classes. That pace is very important as the way you practice and drill techniques are vastly different in a tournament than they are in a standard class. These kinds of classes will help you find people who want a similar outcome to you and will help drive you forward.
You Want a Balance of Exercise and Enjoyment
Most people who start out on their Jiu-Jitsu journey are looking for this. You want to get a workout and learn a new skill without killing yourself and needing to jump into an ice bath after every session. You want some camaraderie among your teammates. And you most certainly want to enjoy yourself.
I can personally say that the people I’ve met in Jiu-Jitsu are some of the more welcoming and friendly people that I’ve ever met, and I’m confident that you will find the same. Ultimately though, there is only one surefire way that you accomplish this balance.
You have to go and try out the gyms for yourself.
I can guide you and give you thoughts around this point, but the only person who is going to figure this out is you. And the best way to make sure this happens is by trying as many viable gyms as you can.
When I made a switch in the gym I attend, I went to 3 other gyms and tested out classes at each and every one of them before making a decision. It allowed me to meet the coaches and people. It allowed me to see the facilities and other benefits. And it gave me a good idea of what the style and feel of classes would be.
The best news about this is that most gyms offer a free “trial period”. They allow you to test some classes and do exactly what I did, all without having to spend a dollar.
Let’s say you do want a balance, but aren’t sure if you want to be focused on jiu-jitsu 100% of the time. If that is the case, then read on to what’s next!
You Want Options
It’s very possible that when you sign up, you aren’t just looking for Jiu-Jitsu. Perhaps you (like me), likes to try out new things and see what is most interesting at that time.
If that is the case, then I have good news! Most gyms will have more to offer than just the Jiu-Jitsu classes.
Below are some of the most common other offerings!
Boxing/Muay Thai/Kickboxing/MMA
I have seen one of these offerings at every gym I have personally looked into. It typically allows for a bit of a balance as Jiu-Jitsu is a grounded, non striking sport and all of these others are focused around stand-up striking.
If you’re not looking to get punched or kicked, have no fear. The classes will typically state very clearly if they will be “sparring” or not. Worst case, you can just opt out of it. You won’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
The only thing you will typically want to bring for any of these is your own gloves.
For the sake of clarification, a high level explanation of each are included below.
Judo
You won’t find Judo around as often as the ones above, but it is a fun practice and is focused around throws, trips, and balance. It can also supplement your Jiu-Jitsu practice nicely as Judo can be used in it almost fully.
If you want to dive into Judo vs Jiu-Jitsu further, check out my other article!
Wrestling
Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu are both grappling sports. Outside of that similarity, they are different enough that wrestling will be a somewhat common class option. There are a few reasons for this.
The first is that that every move used in wrestling can be used in Jiu-Jitsu. The second is that wrestlers can be incredibly difficult for true jiu-jitsu practitioners to deal with. The pace, control, and style that wrestling can bring to ones jiu-jitsu game is significant. And because of that, wrestling will certainly be a class option at some gyms.
Side note: If the gym you are joining is focused more on no-Gi rather than Gi Jiu-Jitsu, it’s more likely that wrestling will be an additional class offering.
Yoga
Again, not one you will see at every gym, but is definitely a nice add. Stretching and flexibility are incredibly useful in Jiu-Jitsu and flexibility is a statistically significant way to prevent injury in your practice! So do your due diligence to find Yoga as a class if it’s something that interests you.
Weight Lifting Area
A lot of gyms will have some weights, but the amount of machines and extras will vary greatly. If you think you will find yourself using a weight room, be sure to ask and check out the weight room your gym has.
24/7 Access
Depending on how tight-knit your gym is, this can be an available option to you. And being able to access a gym of your own can be a massive benefit depending on your schedule and preferences. This kind of access is typically held for coaches, but some gyms will offer full access to the gym at any time. It can also be an added benefit if you assist in coaching, cleaning, or otherwise.
This is not something that every gym offers, but it’s a huge perk when they do.
Conclusion
There you have it. Some of the best initial guidance I can give for anyone who is looking to get into or make a switch to a Jiu-Jitsu gym. If there’s anything I missed, feel free to let me know in the comment form below!
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