How to Choose a BJJ School: What to Check, What to Avoid
Picking a Jiu-Jitsu school by price or distance is understandable, and it is how many people end up in the wrong room. Here is what I would check, and what would make me walk out.
Watch a class first
Ask to watch a class before you join, or take a trial class. In ten minutes you will learn more than a website can tell you. Look at how the coach handles the newest person in the room, and how the advanced students treat them.
What to look for
- A coach who pays attention. Do they explain clearly, correct people individually and adjust for beginners?
- A structure. A good school has a curriculum, or at least a logic: techniques build on each other and you can tell where the class is going.
- A culture of tapping early. People should tap when they are caught, and partners should let go. If injuries are treated as a badge, leave.
- A class size you can learn in. You need space and a coach who can see you.
- Clean mats and a clean facility. Skin infections are real, and cleanliness says something about the culture.
- Clear terms. Prices, contracts, notice periods and any grading fees should be written down and simple.
Red flags
- Ego-driven sparring, where the point seems to be beating the newcomer.
- Pressure to compete, or to sign a long contract on day one.
- Belt promotions that nobody can explain.
- A coach who is rarely on the mat or who ignores beginners.
- Hygiene problems, or rules that nobody follows.
Trust your read of the room
The practical points matter, but so does the feeling. If you feel respected and a little challenged, that is a good sign. If you feel watched or sized up, notice that.
In Berlin
I run BJJ DOJO Berlin, so I am biased. My advice is the same either way: visit, take a trial class, compare it with another school, and choose the one where you will want to come back on a bad day.