5 Key Things To Look For in a Beginners BJJ Class

3.Small Student to Coach Ratio: For beginners, a smaller student to coach size is ideal since it will give you the opportunity to get more attention and feedback from a coach. In large BJJ academies, the class size for a regular class can reach up to 40 to 50 students per class. It is hard to get very much individual attention from a coach in that situation. Even the beginners classes at larger academies can have up to 20 newcomers in the class. While some students don’t mind the larger class sizes, some novices would prefer a smaller group of 6 to 10 students where the instructor can devote more time to each student during class to answer questions and help with technique during drilling.

4.Safety: Having a safe training environment and culture is key for students. It is important for an academy to have mats built for grappling and take downs rather than random puzzle or gym mats. From an instructional side, the coaches should emphasize safety in rolling and teach safety techniques such as how to break fall and the danger of posting the arms when falling. Additionally, the coaches should be very mindful of dangerous positions during rolling and all training sessions should be supervised by coaches.

5.Cleanliness: Training on sanitized and disinfected mats can’t be overlooked. Does the school clean its mats multiple times a day? Is there a film of dust and hair over the mats? Is there a funky, unfresh smell or feel to the academy? Are the students wearing clean and fresh gis, or is there a pungent smell to their uniforms? If the academy isn’t clean, then cross it off your list. There is a risk of contracting ringworm, staph, and other infections from rolling around on mats. You can greatly reduce this risk by training on clean mats, showering immediately after training and washing your equipment right after class. Schools should do their part by not cutting corners on the personal hygiene of its students and cleaning their mats.

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