How Expensive is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? A Comprehensive Breakdown of Costs

 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is not only a mentally and physically rewarding sport; it's also a lifestyle for many. However, as with many hobbies and sports, BJJ comes with its set of costs that can vary based on location, commitment level, and personal preferences. Here, we'll delve into the expenses involved in practising BJJ, especially focusing on the UK.

1. Gym Membership:

The cost of a gym membership varies dramatically depending on your location. In the UK:

• London: Living in the capital is already a pricey affair, and this extends to BJJ gym memberships too. In London, expect to pay anywhere from £100 to £250 per month.

• Outside of London: Step outside of the bustling streets of London, and the price tag drops somewhat. Gym memberships outside London start at around £70 and can go up based on the gym's reputation, instructors, and facilities.

2. Gear and Equipment:

• Gi: A traditional BJJ uniform is essential for practitioners. The cost varies based on brand and quality, but expect to pay between £50 to £200 or more.

• Belt: A symbol of your rank and progression. Depending on the quality, belts range from £10 to £50.

• Rash Guards & Shorts: Especially for no-gi training, rash guards and shorts are essential. Prices vary, but decent ones start at around £25 and go upwards.

• Tape: Essential for fingers and toes, especially if they are prone to injuries. A roll of tape is relatively inexpensive, but the cumulative cost can add up over time.

• Wear and Tear: Over time, the gear can wear out and require replacement, so always budget for eventual replacements.

3. Medical Expenses:

BJJ is a contact sport, and while it's safer than many others, injuries are inevitable.

• Minor Injuries: Things like sprains, strains, or minor fractures might require medical attention, physical therapy, or medication.

• Major Injuries: Severe injuries might necessitate surgeries which can be costly, especially if not covered by insurance.

4. Competition Fees & Associated Costs:

Competing is an integral part of the BJJ journey for many, but it's not a cheap endeavor.

• Entry Fees: Organizations like IBJJF are known for hosting renowned tournaments. A two-day IBJJF competition, for instance, can set you back by around 200 euros, and that's without any potential cash prizes for winning.

• Travel: Depending on the location of the competition, there might be flight and transportation costs.

• Accommodation: Hotels or other forms of accommodation can further increase the competition costs, especially for international or multi-day events.

5. Miscellaneous Expenses:

• Seminars: Many practitioners attend seminars hosted by BJJ experts. These seminars can range from £50 to over £200.

• Training Camps: For those looking to immerse themselves, training camps can be a great experience but come with a price tag.

• Instructional DVDs & Online Subscriptions: To supplement training, many invest in online courses or DVDs from BJJ experts.

In conclusion, the cost of BJJ can range based on numerous factors. It's a fulfilling and life-changing sport for many, but it's essential to be aware of the financial commitment involved. As with any investment, it's all about the returns, and for many, the benefits of BJJ far outweigh the costs.

How Much Do Private Lessons Cost?

There cost of private lessons varies a lot but I think on average its about as follows:

1. Purple belts - $30 per hour or 20-30 UK pounds

2. Brown belts - $45-50 per hour or around 40 UK pounds

3. Black belts - $60-100 per hour and 60 UK pounds +

Prices will vary depending on your location and currency but I think these are kind of average. Some black belts may charge at the higher end if they are located in a country/city where there is no BJJ and they are the only game in town.

There are also big names, like world class competitors that have won the worlds etc. They could charge $100-$400 but I think it depends on a lot of factors including their desire to teach you, your level of training, whether you train regularly, like once or twice a week regular privates or one-off.

Very often the factor that will also influence the price is whether the training takes place at the instructors gym or another location where he has to travel and potentially pay rent. The distance travelled therefore and his relationship with the place you train could be a factor.

At white belt level I would recommend to take privates from a purple or brown. You just dont need at this stage a black belt and especially competitor level because your focus should be on the fundamentals and defending positions and submissions. Once you have reached a good level, it is worth investing a little more to learn from the best.

If you are a spider guard fan and have the opportunity to train with the best, the best way would be to train at an academy and take private lessons with a black belt that does spider guard in competitions.
If you love leg locks then go to New York and train with the Danaher squad, take privates with those guys and you will definitely improve.

I generally think that cross training wise, prices for Judo and Wrestling could be a little cheaper

The one to one attention is valuable but it is also good to get out of your comfort zone and take some lessons from a guy who is not from your academy and who you dont train with regularly. This will develop your experience and expand your knowledge of BJJ. If you have trained for a long time at your school and you want to take privates from your academy instructor, this may be useful but it is worth taking into account that he is likely very much into the same techniques that you have been doing over the last few years. 

BJJ Expensive In Russia?

Yes Guys, just another post about BJJ in Russia. This time, about prices.

Of course the BJJ as a sport is not really a commercial activity and you want the teachers to also make a living, teach privates, teach ordinary classes. Moscow is an expensive city if you want to hang out, go to nice restaurants and live nice.

Unfortunately in my view since BJJ is not yet mainstream and due to the lack of good quality and experienced teachers, the guys that do know their staff, they try to make money any way they can.

There are probably 3-4 good quality instructors in Moscow that can teach BJJ, I mean brown belt - black belt level and I think its a shame that some of them rather teach privates than give mass classes at a reasonable price.

I just think if you are paying 100 Euros per month for regular class, that should be enough. Of course if there was a gym in the city center, with good teaching, great facilties, what have you thats one thing. But when they charge you $30+ for one group class when the gym is located in the middle of nowhere, Christ, I dont care. Ridiculous. No wonder no one goes there.

The best guys out there, who want to teach and develop the sport really need to teach the masses and not just guys that can afford private lessons.

The BJJ student is the client. He has the right to choose whether to go to one school or another. If the price is high, the quality of facilities and instruction should be comparable.

Why do BJJ Schools dont post the price on the website?

Why do BJJ Teachers dont treat their students as clients and treat them in this way?

Why do BJJ Teachers feel some times that they are doing their students a favor by showing up to train them?

Why do sometimes schools feel no obligation to tell their students what is happening to the academy, why it is moving to another location and changing the schedule?

Why do they increase the price even though the quality of the service/product sometimes gets worse?

Some of the questions, I am sure many of us have others