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In the world of sports, there are always unspoken codes of conduct that govern how athletes interact with both coaches and other athletes. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is no exception to this; as martial arts practitioners train and spar with each other, they are often following a set of unspoken guidelines that help keep the sport safe, fair, and fun. For beginners, learning these unspoken rules can set you up for success and distinguish you as a respectful and respectable martial artist. This article will divide the unspoken rules of BJJ into two main categories: the Dos and the Don’ts. The Dos 1. Show Respect to Your Training Partners and Instructors In all manners of life, showing respect to your peers and superiors is vital; this is an unspoken rule of BJJ, as well. Whether you’re a beginner with a white BJJ belt or an experienced black belt looking to help others learn the sport, it is important to always show respect to everyone that you train with. It is not only a sign of good sportsmanship, but it is also a way to create a positive training environment for everyone involved. When you show respect to your training partners and instructors, they will be more likely to do the same for you, and the overall training experience will be more enjoyable for everyone. 2. Maintain Good Hygiene One unspoken rule of BJJ that is often overlooked is maintaining good hygiene. This means showering before class, wearing a clean gi, and keeping your fingernails and toenails trimmed so as not to accidentally injure your training partners during sparring. Make sure to regularly wash your gi and other training equipment. If you wear gear that smells poorly, it can be unappealing to your classmates and may even cause them to avoid training with you altogether. 3. Stay Home When You’re Sick If you are feeling unwell or you are coming down with an illness, make sure to stay home from class. Not only will you likely get others sick if you attend class, but you also risk worsening your own condition by pushing yourself too hard. When you’re sick, it’s important to take some time off to allow your body the rest and recuperation that it needs. It's true that, once you start, it is hard to stay away from BJJ; however, training while sick is looked down upon because of the risks it poses to the rest of the class. It is important to be considerate of others and not put them at risk by coming to class sick. 4. Work on Your Technique, Not Just Your Strength It is important to focus on improving your technique, not just increasing your strength. In many cases, being stronger than your opponent will not help you win a match if you’re not able to properly execute BJJ techniques. Developing a good form with each move and working hard to master the basic principles of BJJ can make a monumental difference in your skill level. If you do this, you will be much more likely to succeed on the mat, regardless of your opponent’s size or strength. 5. Be a Good Example for Lower Belts If you're an upper belt in jiu-jitsu, it's your responsibility to set a good example for the lower BJJ belts. Sometimes, people get so wrapped up in their own training and progress that they forget there are others watching them. Your actions have an impact on the people around you, so make sure that you are always behaving in a way that reflects positively on the jiu-jitsu community as a whole. We can't always control how others act, but we can control our own behavior; if you're an upper belt, take the time to consider your actions and make sure that you're setting a good example for those who look up to you. The Don’ts 6. Do Not Brag BJJ is a sport and art that focuses on humility and respect, so it's important to keep your ego in check when you're training. Bragging about your accomplishments or comparing yourself to others can not only hurt your training partners' feelings, but it may also lead to unspoken tension or animosity in the dojo. If you land a great submission or sweep during sparring, simply acknowledge it and move on. There's no need to boast or make a big deal out of it. Besides, demonstrating humility and letting your actions speak for themselves reflects better on your character. 7. Do Not Assume You Are Entitled to a Promotion You should not expect to be promoted simply because you have been training for a certain amount of time or because you have won a few tournaments. Promotions are earned through hard work, dedication, and respect both on and off the mats, not by meeting a certain amount of hours. Never compare yourself to other people in your academy or in other academies. Everyone has their own path and journey in jiu-jitsu; some people may progress through BJJ belts faster than others, but that doesn’t mean that they are better than those who move slower. Trust the coaches in your academy to make decisions in the best interests of their students. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge, so you should always listen to and respect their recommendations. 8. Do Not Practice Something Your Instructor Is Not Teaching While we all want to improve our skills and techniques, it’s important to remember that the best way to do this is by practicing the techniques that your instructor is teaching. Building a solid foundation in these techniques will allow you to easily learn new techniques in the future. If you are having difficulty learning a certain technique, then ask your instructor for help. They are there to guide and support you in your jiu-jitsu journey, so don’t be afraid to seek advice from them. Doing something that is not part of the class curriculum can be disruptive to both you and the other students in the class. It’s important to be respectful of everyone’s time and focus on learning the techniques that are being taught. 9. Do Not Walk on the Mats With Your Shoes On When you are training or competing in jiu-jitsu, one unspoken rule to follow is to never walk on the mats with your shoes on. Doing so can cause damage to the mats and can even lead to injury if there are any rocks or other debris stuck in the treads of your shoes. Always make sure that you take your shoes off before stepping onto the mats. 10. Do Not Celebrate Tapping Someone Out When you submit an opponent in jiu-jitsu, avoid celebrating or gloating. While there's nothing wrong with being proud of your achievements and feeling confident in your abilities, remember that this is a sport where respect for your opponents should always come first. Even if you feel like showing off, try to remain humble and be respectful of the fact that your opponent has tapped out. Final Thoughts These are just a few unspoken rules that you should be aware of as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. While some of these may seem like common sense, it's always good to refresh your memory on etiquette and make sure that you're being respectful of the space you occupy in the dojo and the people that you share it with. Whether you are just getting started in Brazilian jiu-jitsu or you have been practicing for years, make sure to keep these unspoken rules in mind. At its core, jiu-jitsu is a sport that requires discipline and respect. Jiu-jitsu is a lifelong journey; by following these guidelines, you can make sure that your training is enjoyable for you and your fellow practitioners.

Since the inception of jiu-jitsu, it has experienced several modifications and birthed new versions. In recent times, a hybrid version of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been gaining popularity. This version, called Combat Jiu Jitsu (CJJ), uses mixed rules from jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA). CCJ has all it takes to take the world of combat sports by storm. CCJ is gaining popularity but some people still wonder what it's all about. In this post, we’ll give you an overview of Combat Jiu-Jitsu, including its history, rules, and everything you need to know. Read on to learn more about this innovative Jiu-Jitsu competition style and why it is making waves. The Basics of Combat Jiu Jitsu Combat Jiu-Jitsu is a modification of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that allows open palm strikes in its rules. CJJ still uses core jiu-jitsu techniques but the inclusion of palm strikes makes it more realistic. The hybrid of mixed martial arts with jiu-jitsu to form CJJ is the brainwork of Eddie Bravo. As you may well know, core BJJ techniques involve ground fighting until one fighter gains dominance over the other. It is a combat sport and martial art that uses submission holds, such as chokeholds and joint locks to force the opponent into submission. All of these techniques are still present in CJJ. A Brief History of Combat Jiu Jitsu Combat Jiu-Jitsu is the brainchild of Eddie Bravo, who also founded the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. Eddie Bravo developed CJJ because he felt BJJ had too many unrealistic moves and stall tactics. In his opinion, BJJ was no longer a true martial art that promoted self-defense. As such, he developed CJJ as a more applicable and realistic version of jiu-jitsu for self-defense. Eddie Bravo retained ground fighting in CJJ but he introduced open palm strikes. He believes that open palm strikes are part of real-life combat. Hence, introducing them to Jiu-Jitsu will make it more authentic.  Eddie did a test run of his new version at a jiu-jitsu competition in 2017. There were four competitors in the tournament which took place at Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) 11. The competitors were Nick Honstein, Sheridan Moran, JM Holland, and Chad George. The matches were very exciting, with both the competitors and the audience having a great time. Competitors exchanged strikes and made submission attempts as the crowd cheered them on. What Are Combat Jiu Jitsu Rules? The rules guiding CJJ competitions are not as complex as those of regular BJJ. For starters, CJJ does not use the point system. The only way to win a CJJ match is by submission or technical knockouts from an open-hand strike. EBI overtime rules can also be used as a winning method. CJJ rules allow all sub moves but the matches are single rounds that last only ten minutes. If the round ends without any submissions or technical knockouts (TKOs), the match will continue into an overtime round. Participants are allowed to do stand-up grappling for just one minute. After one minute, the referee will ask them to get down and flip the coin. The winner of the coin flip will then choose whether they will start with a butterfly guard on top or the bottom with double under hooks.  Palm slaps and strikes are only allowed if the opponent is on the floor. Competitors cannot exchange strikes or slaps while standing. What's more, you cannot give fist punches in a CJJ competition whether your opponent is on the floor or standing. Purgatory Position in CJJ Rules The purgatory position in CJJ is when your opponent is already on the floor while you’re standing but you’re not engaging. You cannot remain in this position for more than 30 seconds in the entire match. Any extra time in the purgatory position beyond that will add to the overtime round. This rule on purgatory position encourages participants to be active throughout the game rather than stall. The timer for the purgatory rule stops as soon as the competitor above touches the ground with their knee in an attempt to engage. Purgatory time does not count if the standing opponent is entangled with the one on the floor. But, if they completely disengage and stall for more than ten seconds, the referee will start the purgatory position timer. Overtime Rules for Combat Jiu Jitsu If there is no winner after the 10-minute round of the CJJ match, overtime rules will apply, beginning with a coin flip. Whoever wins the flip will choose whether to attack from the back from the amber or spiderweb position. The opponents will alternate turns to start in their chosen position. If one fighter submits while his opponent escapes, the opponent wins the match. But, if both fighters escape, another overtime round will start. There can, however, be only three overtime rounds. After three overtime rounds without a submission, whoever has the fastest cumulative escape time becomes the winner. Rules for Striking in Combat Jiu Jitsu You cannot give standing strikes, slaps, or kicks in CJJ. Otherwise, the sport will become too much like MMA. The rules of CJJ only permit open hand slaps or strikes when one or both competitors are on the floor. The fighter on the ground does not commit a foul if they swing strikes or up kicks on their opponent. However, punches, elbows, and knees are fouls in the game. What's more, the rules emphasize using slaps to open up guards and prevent stalling. Overall, the rulesets of CJJ are quite exciting. They discourage stalling strategies and help to drive action. That was exactly what Eddie Bravo hoped to achieve with his modifications. Key Differences Between Traditional BJJ and Combat JJ The main difference between BJJ and CJJ is the inclusion of on-ground up kicks and open palm strikes in CJJ. The submission rules in CJJ are also quite similar to those of no-gi competitions. Moreover, you can win in traditional BJJ by either submission or scoring points. CJJ, on the other hand, does not use the point system. BJJ is now more of a slow-paced sports-like fight while CJJ is action-oriented and simulates real fight scenarios. BJJ is better for practical skills, while CJJ is better for defense skills. CJJ is closer to street fights because it allows slaps and up-kicks. Traditionally, people see BJJ as a gentle art. Practitioners may get injured during the game, just like all contact sports, but the injuries are often not so serious. CJJ, on the other hand, can put practitioners at risk of facial bruising, perforated eardrums, and other serious injuries.  CJJ is growing in popularity by the day but it is still not as popular as BJJ. As such, you may have difficulty finding CJJ training classes near you. As of now, most CJJ training classes are operated by traditional BJJ gyms that also offer gi and no-gi training. CJJ classes in such places may only be open to trusted gym members. Many instructors feel that newbies should first focus on the basics of jiu-jitsu through gi and no-gi BJJ before mixing those skills with up-kicks and jarring slaps. These instructors understand that BJJ helps people perfect the basic Jiu-Jitsu techniques, while combat Jiu-Jitsu prepares you for real combat scenarios. CJJ is more useful for street or bar fights than BJJ. But then, BJJ is more fun, relaxing, and therapeutic. Both techniques, however, teach valuable fighting skills and offer great learning experiences.

Whether you're a jiu jitsu enthusiast or just enjoy martial arts movies, there's no doubt that you'll love these five films. These movies, which feature incredible athletes and intense action sequences, are sure to get your heart racing. So, without further ado, here are the five best jiu jitsu movies of all time. Rent on Amazon 1. Warrior If you're a fan of jiu jitsu, then you know that there are few things more exhilarating than watching two master practitioners go at it. So, if you're trying to find the best jiu jitsu movies, you need to check out Warrior. Released in 2011, Warrior tells the story of Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy), a former marine who returns home to Pennsylvania. There, he reconnects with his estranged alcoholic father and trains under him. The film culminates in a massive international tournament where Tommy must face off against some of the best fighters in the world. Warrior is a must-see for any martial arts fan with its brutal action scenes and turbulent emotions. It's available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, VUDU, Vudu Movie & TV Store, and Redbox. These days, it's hard to find a movie that can genuinely excite martial arts fans, but Warrior does just that, and then some. With its intense action sequences and thrilling storyline, Warrior will leave you breathless. So, if you're looking for an adrenaline rush, be sure to check it out. Many experts consider Warrior to be the best jiu jitsu movie of all time. So, if you're looking for action-drama at its finest, you know what to watch. 2. Red Belt Red Belt is often considered one of the best jiu jitsu movies of all time. It came out in 2008 and was directed by David Mamet and starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Joe Mantegna, Randy Couture, David Paymer, Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro, Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna, Emily Mortimer, and Rebecca Pidgeon. Red Belt is the story of Mike Terry (Ejiofor), a jiu jitsu instructor who lives by a strict code of honor. When a member of his dojo is killed, Terry finds himself in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy. With the help of some new allies, Terry must fight to clear his name and protect those he loves. This inspirational movie will teach you the importance of never giving up and living not just by the words but by the actions that they inspire. You might even relate to some of Mike's struggles in the movie. Jiu Jitsu fans will enjoy this movie as it is based around the martial art. The fighting scenes are realistic and well-choreographed. Red Belt is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and iTunes. If you're looking for a movie that will teach you about the martial arts world, Red Belt is perfect for you. With its great cast and interesting storyline, Red Belt is one of the must-watch jiu jitsu movies. 3. Tokyo Zombie Tokyo Zombie is a great jiu jitsu movie. It was released in 2005 and directed by Sakichi Sato. The film stars Erika Okuda, Show Aikawa, and Tadanobu Asano. Tokyo Zombie is about two jiu jitsu fans who are forced to use their skills to survive a zombie outbreak in Tokyo. The plot of the story follows Fujio and Mitsuo, two slackers who work full-time in a fire extinguisher factory. The two spend their lunch breaks training to become jiu jitsu champions. Things take a turn for the worst when an army of the undead emerges from a waste dump and begins attacking the living. To survive, they have to use their limited jujitsu skills to either help or depart from Tokyo. The film was shot on a limited budget and featured a cast of unknown actors. However, the movie has gained a cult following in the years since its release. Tokyo Zombie is an outrageous and off-the-wall comedy that is sure to entertain any fans of the genre. With its mix of over-the-top violence and humor, Tokyo Zombie is a must-watch for any fan of b-movies or jiu jitsu movies. Tokyo Zombie is available to watch on IMDb, Vudu, DVD, Netflix, and other streaming services. If you're looking for a hilarious and action-packed jiu jitsu movie, then you need to check out Tokyo Zombie. 4. The Art of Self Defense The Art of Self Defense is a jiu jitsu movie that is considered one of the best of all time. It was released in 2019 and directed by Riley Stearns. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, and Topher Grace. These actors all give great performances in the movie. The movie is about a man who joins a jiu jitsu school after he is attacked on the street. The man, named Casey, is injured in the attack and has trouble defending himself. He joins the jiu jitsu school in order to learn how to defend himself and to become more confident. The movie follows Casey as he learns jiu jitsu and as he becomes more confident in himself. It was the start of a journey that would change his life. The Art of Self Defense is a well-done movie with great acting by all of the cast members. The story is interesting and well-executed, and the action sequences are top-notch. It is a unique and thought-provoking movie that will leave you thinking about it long after you've watched it. With its great cast and interesting story, The Art of Self Defense is a must-watch for any fans of jiu jitsu or independent films. You can watch it on Netflix, Youtube, and other streaming services. Try it out and see for yourself. 5. John Wick The John Wick movies are very popular and very well-known. Originally released in 2014, the first (and subsequent) movie(s) stars Keanu Reeves and tells the story of a man searching for the men that robbed his home, stole his car, and murdered his puppy. It was named one of the best action films of the year. While the plot isn’t specifically focused on jiu jitsu, it features plenty of action and fight sequences involving BJJ moves that are sure to be appreciated by fellow martial arts enthusiasts. You might even learn a thing or two yourself! The movie can be watched on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play Movies, STARZ, and Netflix (in certain countries). It features on quite a few “best jiu jitsu movies of all time” lists and it’s no wonder why! Conclusion Jiu jitsu movies are always a lot of fun to watch. They showcase the intense and exciting sport in an entertaining way that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The five best jiu jitsu movies we discussed here have something for everyone, so don't hesitate! What are your favorite jiu jitsu movies? Let us know in the comments below.

Whenever students get into the rhythm of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, life is perfect. Submissions come with regularity. Energy levels are as high as the mood in the academy. As well, students reach a degree of technical proficiency unfathomable when they first donned their gis. This is the honeymoon stage of being a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student. Past this honeymoon phase, everything either deteriorates or goes stale. Submissions fail. Going to practice is a chore, and tying a belt takes a few seconds longer than usual. This is not uncommon in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, it’s a ubiquitous phenomenon across many athletic endeavors. Referred to as burnout, it discourages many students of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, making other sports or laziness seem more appealing and productive. Luckily, there are ways around this. First, it’s important to know when burnout is taking place. Let’s kick off the discussion with a discussion of burnout and fatigue! It’s Not Laziness: The Signs of Burnout Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is like training in other sports in the sense that training involves exposure to stress. Stress — whether mental or physical — isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, strength and conditioning research has shown time and time again that there’s a healthy dose of it. It’s the job of every coach to dose training correctly to elicit the right physical response. Stress and recovery bring about the desired responses to training — whether it’s lifting a heavier weight or being automatic with the triangle. Unfortunately, there comes a point where stress builds, but the capacity to recover doesn’t follow. This is when burnout and fatigue occur. When too much training takes place at the expense of recovery, injuries and de-motivation follow shortly — the opposite of why anyone enters the academy. What does burnout look like in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Here are the tell-tale signs to look out for: Decreased Motivation to Train De-motivation isn’t uncommon. In fact, it’s normal to a point. However, when the lack of motivation to train persists for more than a couple of weeks, it might be time for a break. Often, a lack of motivation is the body’s way of saying that even the nervous system is fatigued. A fatigued nervous system is not something to scoff at. It can lead to a laundry list of negative adaptations like hormonal imbalances and reduced muscle activation. A General Feeling of Exhaustion Along with a lack of desire to train is a general feeling of just being run to the ground. Granted, trainees experience exhaustion in different ways. The most common complaints include muscle soreness that lasts for a week, an inability to focus, and poor sleep. Decreased Performance on the Mats A lack of motivation followed by training fatigue is sure to translate to a poor mat game. Whenever students experience prolonged muscle soreness, they execute moves poorly. Worse yet, an inability to focus inhibits learning in the academy, adding to the list of sloppy moves on the Tatami. Injuries Galore Injuries occur as a result of overuse. When students train in the absence of adequate recovery, inflammation accumulates in the muscles and joints. After continued usage past the point of inflammation, it’ll only be a matter of time before something snaps — and it doesn’t need to be from a submission. 5 Ways To Choke Out Burnout As soon as the signs of burnout appear, manage training fatigue using these five actionable steps: 1. Get More Sleep Sadly, many trainees don’t get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. It’s no surprise that many of them start complaining of burnout or fatigue after the fourth week of Jiu-Jitsu training. For both elite-level and beginner practitioners of the sport, sleep needs to be part of an overall recovery strategy. In fact, it needs to be the cornerstone of one. Sleep is when the muscles recover and rebuild after a long day of work, school, and mat work. More importantly, it’s a time for the nervous system to recharge and reset for another day of work. 2. Dial-in Nutrition This isn’t just important in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s vital to every sport. Nutrition is another pillar of any recovery strategy. Without it, trainees would accumulate training fatigue faster. Optimizing food intake means different things for different people. For athletes, a good rule of thumb is to consume a diet of whole foods like on the Helio Gracie diet. It’s also a good idea to keep alcohol to a minimum, and the same goes for simple refined sugars. When it comes to protein, trainees shouldn’t get too hung up on supplementation. After all, it’s all about fueling for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training and competition — not winning the Olympia. Contrary to popular belief, fats need to be in your training diet. Of course, these need to come from clean sources like egg yolks, nuts, and avocados. Fats are the building blocks of hormones and are necessary as a secondary energy source. All in all, by eating foods that don’t come from a packet, the chances of burnout drop dramatically. 3. Rest Days — Take Them Many beginner and intermediate trainees fall under the spell of training day-in and day-out. Indeed, this is possible — whether it’s healthy and sustainable is a different story. Fatigue isn’t something that occurs after training. It’s accumulative. It builds over weeks and months, piling continuously with hours of drilling and rolling. To maximize recovery, resting a day or two is a must. Rest isn’t for the weak. Trying to do without it can and will make anyone weak. 4. Listen to Your Body The body is an intuitive piece of machinery. It abounds with feedback mechanisms, sending tangible (yet often ignored) signals of when to push and when to back off. Trainees need to be in tune with their bodies, paying attention to every change no matter how subtle. Every change in the resting heart rate to the sensation of thirst is a sign that it’s time to put down the gi and take a breather. 5. Make the Hard Work Fun With Variety In reality, training fatigue isn’t always a physical thing. For some, it’s all mental — and that’s okay! For this group, training stress isn’t the problem — monotony is. Solving this problem is easy. All trainees need to do is add some variety to the hard work they put in. Students of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can introduce training variety in many ways. Some visit other academies for a change of scenery and training partners. Others master different submissions. Whatever form novelty takes in training, it’s sure to provide that much-needed dopamine hit to a trainee. The variety reinvigorates training and expands the student’s horizons, also mitigating the effects of burnout. Bonus Tip: Leave, But Only for a While! It’s as the saying goes: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” It’s a hard pill to swallow for some students, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is like all things beloved — it’s worth taking time off from it temporarily. By being away from the academy and the mats, students can rest, recover, and miss Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After a short sabbatical from the academy, trainees will have recovered, chomping at the bit to roll on the mats once again. Try a free week with us at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu! Train. Recover. Improve. Olympic weightlifters at the highest level mentioned the secret to peak performance. According to them: “Be impatient with recovery and patient with progress.” This is also true in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training is cyclical, ebbing and flowing between stress, recovery, and adaptation. Improvement takes place only after full recovery from the stress of training. Without recovery, fatigue builds, and the athlete burns out.  Are you into evidence-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training that invigorates more than annihilates? Try a free week with us at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu!

Many pursue BJJ as a way to become fitter, happier, and healthier. Indeed, improved fitness and mental health are among the many benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Nevertheless, there are still some people who are unsure when it comes to taking the first few steps (or rolls) on the Tatami. For these individuals, one question emerges: “How much does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu near me cost?” "How much does Jiu Jitsu cost?" is a valid question to ask. It’s one that our team at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu is more than eager to answer. Read on to learn more about the costs of training and tuition. Also, read on to learn about other costs one needs to prepare for when training for the long haul. Classes ($140 to $200 Depending on the Type of Class and Contract) Right off the bat, your first expense will be for class fees or tuition. Across BJJ schools, the tuition fees will differ. The type of class can account for the wide variation in fees even within the same school. For example, at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu, we offer more than general BJJ classes. We also offer classes in Judo, wrestling, and self-defense. Here are the fees for our different Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class offerings: BJJ Self-defense Foundations Class ($200 Monthly for Six Months) For the self-defense classes, the fee is $200. It’s a six-month recurrent monthly membership plan tailored specifically for students with an interest in learning BJJ for self-defense. The self-defense class is in a small group format. In other words, there are limited slots for the self-defense classes. The small group format is conducive to maximum learning and supervision. Hence, for $200, our self-defense course is a steal. One-year Contract BJJ Classes ($140/ $160 Monthly for 12 Months) There are two payment plans available for students who wish to learn BJJ. The first one is the 12-month plan that costs $140 monthly. Under this plan, the student will be able to attend two classes every week. We’ve also got unlimited recurrent one-year plans for youth learners. The unlimited 12-month plan costs $160. As the name of the plan implies, students can show up to class and even for open mat as often as they please.  Six-month Contract BJJ Classes ($160/ $180 Monthly for Half a Year) For students who are hesitant about committing for a year, there are also six-month plans available. Students who intend on attending classes twice a week can take advantage of the first plan which costs $160. Of course, there’s also an unlimited six-month plan that costs $180 monthly. Under this plan, students can attend classes to their heart’s content every week. This also includes open mat.  Monthly Contracts ($180/ $200 for the Month) There are shorter-term plans available as well. In a month, $180 can get students two classes each week for thirty days. This amounts to eight classes for a whole month. On the other hand, for students who can only commit to a month but want to attend more classes, there’s the $200 one-month contract.  BJJ Gi ($69 to $150 Depending on the Brand) Unlike most sports, BJJ is a sport where footwear doesn’t matter. In fact, students and practitioners are barefoot all the time — unless they’d like to wear wrestling shoes. At times, academies rent out apparel. When we talk about rental apparel, we’re referring to one thing — the gi. These are a godsend for those who are new to the sport but haven’t purchased a gi. Gi rental fees vary from one academy to another. Some rental fees (like ours) are pretty affordable. For the most part, the rentals can add up over the long term. For this reason, we advise investing in a quality gi. We call them investments because they do hold up for a long time. For students coming from Judo, there’s no immediate need to buy a gi tailored specifically for BJJ. However for those who are looking for quality gis, our gi review might help. Other BJJ Apparel (Anywhere from $90 to $120) Not every class requires students to wear a gi. No-gi classes allow more leeway as regards clothing options. For a no-gi class, a t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts or pocketless board shorts may suffice. However, it’s always a good idea to buy BJJ apparel like rash guards, shorts, and even compression leggings.  Clothing oneself from head to toe for the mats can cost anywhere from $80 to $170. The total cost can depend on what is lacking in an individual’s gear, as well as the brand. For example, if a person were to purchase a pair of Hexagon BJJ Shorts from Hayabusa and the Fusion Rashguard from the same company, the total cost can be about $109. By comparison, purchasing a rashguard from Raven and shorts by Fuji can cost less at roughly $91. As with a gi, BJJ apparel is durable enough to last a long time. Any student should be able to get at least a year’s worth of mat work in these articles of clothing. Mouthguard ($8 to $20) BJJ can get intense. While nobody throws punches or kicks, mouth injuries do occur. Hence, while not a necessity, a good mouthguard is always a great investment for one’s health and longevity on the mats. The market abounds with BJJ mouthguards. Luckily, anyone can get a mouthguard for about $8. There are other BJJ mouthguards designed by reputable companies like Shock Doctor and SafeJawz. Of course, these can cost almost $20 — still cheaper than a dental appointment, in our opinion. Wrestling Headgear ($38 to $60) Anyone who has trained BJJ or wrestled for a long time will complain of one inevitability — cauliflower ears. While cauliflower ears can be a badge of honor earned from time on the mats and competing, it isn’t something everyone wants. To prevent the formation of cauliflower ears, one piece of equipment can help — wrestling headgear. Headgear can be a pretty expensive piece of equipment. Some models of wrestling headgear cost about $38, like this one from Adidas. On the higher end are models from companies like Cliff Keen that cost $61.   Try Out BJJ for a Whole Week — Free and Priceless! Whatever the costs of BJJ, one thing is certain — they will be worth it. Besides reaping the benefits of this beautiful sport, students can broaden their social circles and take steps towards being better and fitter athletes and individuals. If you’re curious about BJJ, you don’t need to bring out your wallet or checkbook just yet. Try a week on us and see how BJJ can be an investment you make on yourself.