We know some parents aren’t familiar with the difference between Karate and other martial arts, but knowing the difference can be a HUGE impact on your child’s development, and feeling like you’re getting your money’s worth for months of training. Let me explain:

Karate Madison WI Class Fees & Upgrades Can Leave You Feeling Ripped Off

Karate is BIG BUSINESS and one of the most popular martial arts taught in the US.  The core membership itself can cost you anywhere between $125-$200/mo in the Madison WI Area… and that would be fine for a lot of people, but there are loads of unadvertised costs that go into a Karate membership! Here are just a few common costs:

• Buy Uniforms for Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced classes. – While the basic white uniform may (not always) come free on sign-up, consider every time your child upgrades to an intermediate or advanced program, they will often be REQUIRED to purchase a different color uniform. These can cost between $30-$100 each time!
• Weapons (swords, kama, bo staff, nunchaku, sai, etc) can cost $50-150 a piece – Just look at these prices from a this world supplier!
• Program Upgrades – a common revenue stream for Karate Dojos, if your child wants to advance, you must pay extra for the “Black Belt Club” 3-year program! Just pay the higher rate (often $175-$250/mo), buy the fancy uniform, and your child is GUARANTEED a black belt in 3 years!
• Belt Testing Fees – at most Kids Karate Madison WI Dojos, belt testing costs money. For lower belts, testing fees can be $35-$65 per test. At the black belt level and beyond, testing fees can cost $100-$450!
• Tournament Fees – your child may or may not want to compete in Karate. If you choose to, be prepared to pay up to $85 per entry fee.
• Sparring Equipment – if your Madison Karate Dojo offers full contact sparring, be prepare to purchase things like gloves, headgear, boots, chestguards, shin & forearm guards, mouthguards, athletic cups, etc. All of these can cost from $20 to $100 per item!

Unlike Karate Classes, most BJJ Schools do not require much in terms of equipment – usually just a uniforms and compression shirts. Many schools like ours have no testing fees, belt fees, program upgrade fees, or weapons.

Kids Karate Gives Kids a False Sense of Security

Everybody knows that most real fights end up on the ground and stay there. Unfortunately, most Karate schools teach absolutely NOTHING on the topic! School fights with slams like this are ALL over the internet – (be advised, some viewers may find this video disturbing):

Kids Karate Madison WI Classes will make your child feel special for breaking a thin wooden board. They’ll get a big high five from the Sensei and get a big smile on their face. But lets not confuse that false sense of confidence with real skills. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, however, does exactly that – it focuses on ground grappling/wrestling and teaches kids EXACTLY what to do when the fight goes to the ground. After a few months, your child will have REAL confidence knowing they can handle those kinds of scenarios without even thinking about it.

Karate Doesn’t Teach Kids Reality Based Self Defense

In general, kids don’t want to fight. But if it comes down to it, will they remember their Karate training? Could they make it work on someone who is throwing haymakers at them?  Karate is a japanese martial art that teaches both kicks and punches. But the only true way to ensure these techniques actually work is by having your kids train with RESISTANCE. Unfortunately, and again, most Karate schools don’t do this. In Kids Karate classes in Madison, your child will work with targets, cooperative drilling partners, and perform beautifully choreographed kick and punch sequences in front of an audience of friendly coaches and parents. But this won’t prepare them for a flurry of angry body weight and hands being thrown at them.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is used in professional fighting (MMA, UFC), and it works on the streets. In our jiu jitsu classes, your child will learn age-appropriate techniques to control a bully on the feet and on the ground. The best part is they will be training with resistance every day, and will learn to apply all of the techniques under pressure.

Your Child Doesn’t Want to use Karate on Another Child, and could Get In Trouble if He/She Does!

Generally, most well-adjusted kids don’t want to “strike” another child – even if they know how to fight! We see lots of videos like this one with kids being pushed around and even if they have done martial arts, they are reluctant to use it:

On top of this, most Karate schools in Madison, WI are going to teach your child NEVER to use the techniques unless you’re in a “self defense” situation, whatever that means. How is your child to reconcile defending themselves and not getting suspended / going to the principal’s office? What would you do in their place?

Fortunately, our classes have the answer to this where Karate does not. Using wrestling/grappling techniques, your child can take a bully to the ground, pin them and wait for help to arrive. If the bully is especially violent, your child can continue to control them further using painful holds on the ground without ever need to throw a strike. Your kid is happy because they never have to hit someone. You’re happy because your child will stand up for him/herself and do so in a way that won’t likely get in trouble.

Karate Can Be Unsafe for Your Child’s Developing Brain

If your child advances in Karate, they may be asked to begin sparring or competing in Sport Karate. Even with protective gear and “light contact” rules, your child will begin to sustain kicks and punches to the head (both of which score points and are 100% legal according to North American Sports Karate Association Rules). As a child who competed in Taekwondo for many years, I can tell you there is no such thing as a “light contact” head kick, ok?

Ask yourself if you want your child to begin accumulating a long series of “light contact” strikes to the head over the course of years. If they do it, what will be the long term impact on their still developing brain? Is it worth the risk?

Again, we don’t have this problem in our school. Our kids spar daily with full resistance, but there we don’t teach kids to punch or kick each other in the head. It’s all grappling. And it’s all practical, safe, and fun :).

Ask These Questions Before Signing Up Your Child for Karate in Madison WI

There are lots of martial arts to chose from, and for the most part, Kids Karate, Taekwondo, and Jiu Jitsu memberships cost around the same in the Madison, WI area. However, they are NOT the same in a lot of other areas. Before signing up for karate lessons, ask the owner:

• What kind of fees do you charge for Kids Karate program upgrades, renewals, black belt club, weapons, sparring equipment, belt tests can I expect in the future?
• How long does it take to get a Karate black belt and what does it mean to be a child black belt?
• What do you advise kids to do if they get into a self defense situation at school?
• Specifically how do children develop discipline and focus in your program?
• Do I pay for the program monthly or up front?

All this knowledge and training will enable you to take on any opponent, no matter the size or strength. But the road to this knowledge is not a piece of cake. It demands your physical and mental fitness. As a result, students of BJJ end up having a much-improved physical fitness, problem-solving technique, and knowledge of the human body and mind.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has gained a lot of popularity, and many people, including celebrities, are learning this art of fighting. Here are five celebrities we bet you didn’t know practice the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu..

Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin also known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” was a student of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for years. Now you understand why he was so good in capturing and controlling crocs 🙂 He has used his BJJ skills in many life and death encounters. Steve Irwin learned the art of BJJ from MMA star Dan Higgins and famous MMA coach Greg Jackson. Just before his tragic incident with the stingray, he earned a blue belt and trained hard for three years to get it. All his life Steve grappled with the massive strengths of some of the biggest crocodiles inthe world. So, it is no surprise that he was a person with some extraordinary dedication. Had he survived the stingray’s attack on Sept 4th, 2006, he might have been a black belt today.

Chuck Noris

Action star Chuck Norris has been training in BJJ off and on for almost thirty years. He earned his black belt many years ago, but he did not stop and continued practicing. In fact, he recently earned his third degree in 2012. All this started when he was on holidays in Rio de Janerio and learning about different martial arts. He was looking for the best martial arts trainers, and one name kept on coming uup—Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Finally, Chuck tracked down the Gracie Academy and asked if he could train with them. Being a black belt in judo Chuck Norris thought to give it a shot and sparred with Rickson and Helio Gracie. He was very confident about his skills and was hoping to put up a great fight, but admitted he was choked out effortlessly. Since that day, he was hooked and continued training with Rorion Gracie, then the Machado brothers in Los Angeles, CA.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato, the famous singer who has topped the charts with her amazing music, is also making her name in the sport of BJJ. She has been known to follow UFC events for quite some time now and have made it to a couple of live events as well. Which shows that her love for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is something she has been carrying for a long time. She has spoken about BJJ has helped her get back in shape and keep her sane with the pressures of everyday stardom. The 27 years old singer earned her blue belt back in 2017, and aims at continuing to advance in the art.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves has been on an adventurous ride since the end of his Bill and Ted’s days. During the past four decades, Keanu has been a part of many action-packed movies, including the iconic The Matrix Trilogy. But the actor’s fame resurged to new heights with the release of John Wick. The film is full of great choreographed fights, and stunt scenes and Keanu Reeves have been in the best shape of his life. The secret behind this is the fact that he has been working with the Machado brothers, which is why you can witness many intense fight scenes that are inspired by BJJ in the John Wick movies. The 55-year-old actor has previously learned several martial arts styles including Kung Fu, Judo, Sambo and Sword fighting.

Guy Ritchie 

The director of famous movies like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Sherlock Holmes movies, Guy Ritchie is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The famous director has trained in Renzo Gracie’s BJJ gym in New York. Do you remember the scene from the movie Sherlock Holmes, where Robert Jr takes part in a bare-knuckle boxing match? The martial art used in that film is known as Neo Bartitsu and said to be hugely inspired by BJJ. This shows Ritchie’s interest in this sport. He remained a brown belt for about seven years till 2015 when he earned his black belt. It has been widely rumored that during filming, Ritchie set up a mats for himself and his film crew, so that they could get some practice rounds (rolls) in before the shooting film.

“Physical activity is a fundamental building block for psychological and physical well-being throughout a lifespan.”

But, it’s not always clear for parents which physical activity their child should participate in.

Of course, children may naturally show some interest in a physical activity, however, some children never get the opportunity to learn about different sports or activities.

That’s why it’s important for parents to encourage their children to participate and try different sports and activities. One physical activity all children should be exposed to and allowed to experience is martial arts training.

But, not just any martial arts training. Children need to be encouraged to try the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The discipline of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu empowers children to accomplish their goals. It develops a child’s mental and physical capabilities while teaching them to control their aggression.

In this post, I’m going to share with you the 5 most important benefits for children training BJJ.

Let’s get started.

Benefit #1. Self-Defense

School bullying is more common than you think—1 out of every 5 kids report bullying in the course of the school year according to the CDC statistics.

And since most fights end up on the ground, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides the most practical self defense for both children and adults. The ability to defend yourself doesn’t mean you’re actively looking for fights. In fact, jiu jitsu is one of the few martial arts that doesn’t teach kids to kick and punch each other.

So, how do you ensure your child is safe? Teach them to handle themselves EARLY on.

Most martial arts schools accept kids as early as 5 or 6 years old. We take kids 6 and up at Journey BJJ Academy.

It’s not the athletic tough kids who know how to defend themselves. No, the bullies go after small awkward children who fail to show self-confidence. They go after the vulnerable ones.

As a self-defense system, Helio Gracie designed Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the small and weak individuals to defend against bigger opponents. For children, it’s the best best way to go.

Benefit #2. Self-Confidence

A child who knows self-defense is a child who’s walking around with a certain level of self-confidence. Unlike many karate and taekwondo students, this child who knows how to move on the ground, and knows his/her strength relative to others. They have a real advantage.

Martial arts kids also know how to be successful.

In order to succeed, you must learn to fail. There is no other truer statement. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches children how to learn from failure in order to succeed..

Children training BJJ will learn from their failures over and over. They will learn how to process failure, learn the takeaways, and then learn how to succeed from those failures.

The process of learning from constant failure builds a child’s self-confidence as they begin achieving more and more of their goals. Their self-confidence is boosted as they persist through constant failure to find success.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches children that anything can be achieved through hard work and persistence. Learning these skills will develop a child’s overall self-confidence.

Benefit #3. Physical Activity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.5% or 13.7 million children in the United States are considered obese. The CDC writes,

“Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health.”

There’s no better way to overcome child obesity than with physical activity.

Children training BJJ get a great workout that’s both functional and fun. From the warm up to rolling on the mats, children will burn off excess energy and calories.

Also, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches children the discipline needed for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As they learn more about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, children will want stay healthy so they can perform better on the mats.

Benefit #4. Social Skills

At a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym, children will learn critical social skills. Classes provide children an opportunity to meet new friends and strengthen relationships.

In most cases, children work in pairs as they learn new moves and practice drills. They learn to help each other. The learn to trust each other. But, most importantly, they learn to respect each other.

Shy kids stop being so shy and become confident. Spastic kids become more controlled, disciplined. The skills children learn from training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides them with the building blocks for growing into socially competent adults.

Benefit #5. Individual Responsibility

Individual responsibility is perhaps the most important benefit of training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches children that hard work and persistence matters far more than physical ability. And, as a result, children learn how their actions produce certain outcomes. They become responsible for the results of their training.

When a child loses in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match, they learn to take responsibility for the result. They can’t blame teammates or coaches, they can only reflect on the actions that gave them the result.

A child who learns to take individual responsibility for their results will become a responsible adult.

Conclusion

So, there you have the five benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for children.

These benefits provide children with the fundamentals to live a happy and healthy life.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get your child involved today.

The short answer: NO!

Kinda straight forward, isn’t it?

But, it’s true.

That’s why, in this post, I’m going to share with you my BJJ journey and why you don’t need to worry about getting into shape before beginning.

Let’s jump in.

A Personal Journey

When I began my BJJ journey in January of 2019, I weighed over 300 pounds. I had bad inflammation in my joints, and I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to catch my breath.

I hated going to a regular gym to walk on a treadmill or lift weights. Notice, I said walk on a treadmill instead of run. The thought of running at my size made me cringe with additional joint pain.

I’ve alway found working out painfully boring.

Nevertheless, I would watch mixed-martial arts fighting on television and think about how amazing it would be to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But, like most people, I never thought I could do something so physically demanding unless I got into better shape first.

Eventually, after reading on the internet about how jiu jitsu is a great workout, I decided to at least give it a try.

So, I signed up for a three class trial.

Here are the lessons I quickly learned.

Lesson #1. Don’t Quit

When I stepped on the mat for my very first class, I was insecure about my weight and lack of athletic ability. Most of the guys appeared to be in much better shape, or at least they didn’t appear overweight.

When we started warmups with a light jog around the mats, the guys lapped me several times. When they began two-line drills with front rolls, I remained lost and confused.

I couldn’t breath, or so I kept telling myself.

I wanted to quit.

And then, the coach approached me. I thought he was going to berate me for my lack of conditioning. I thought he would look down on me because of my overweight, out of shape condition.

Instead, he encouraged me.

He told me to relax, breath, and complete the drills at a comfortable pace for me. He encouraged me to keep moving, to keep trying.

You see, my coach taught me a valuable lesson that day.

Keep going, don’t quit, and you’ll be in the best shape of your life. He promised me and I believed him.

After the first class, I didn’t really believe my body could hold up. In an hour class, I didn’t think I could do the warmup, the drilling, and the 3 rounds of 5 minute sparring sessions.

But, I kept going and I didn’t quit.

I discovered the warmups getting easier, the drilling getting more fun, and my sparring time increasing.

Now, I complete the hour long class without worrying about whether I can make it through the whole class. Your body adjusts to the rigorous workout of BJJ. You’ll find yourself getting into shape with relative ease as you put in more class time.

No matter how hard you find the first few classes. No matter how out of shape you feel.

Just remember, don’t quit.

Lesson #2. Even Wrestlers Suck Wind

Here’s what surprised me the most when I began Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Amateur wrestlers struggled with their conditioning just like I struggled. Don’t get me wrong, they could run the mats and complete the drills without needing to stop to catch their breath.

But, wrestlers often gassed out when they sparred.

Here’s why it surprised me so much.

Wrestlers are conditioned for the rigors of pushing and pulling. They are used to the pressure of another person lying on top of them. They are conditioned for quick, explosive movements. And finally, they understand the grind.

So, how’s it possible for wrestlers to struggle with their conditioning in jiu jitsu?

It’s because jiu jitsu techniques prevent wrestlers from being able to use their power, quickness, explosion, and raw strength.

When a wrestler is in an uncomfortable position and they don’t know a BJJ technique for escaping, they usually revert to their wrestling training. Most wrestlers use strength and explosion to get out, but BJJ uses leverage and positioning to counteract the wrestlers explosive power.

That’s why, a one hundred and thirty pound female with no wrestling experience can choke out a two hundred pound male wrestler. I’ve seen it happen.

Often, Brazilian jiu jitsu frustrates a wrestler. As a result, the wrestler expends a large amount of energy for little gain, tiring them out. Wrestlers are usually just as out of shape as most non-wrestlers during a BJJ sparring session.

So, when people tell you to get into shape before beginning BJJ, remind them, even wrestlers suck wind when they’re sparring.

Lesson #3. Principles Save You

Because of my size, the instructors often paired me up with one of the blue belts. When I first started, I could barely make it through half a five minute round with the blue belt.

Not because he submitted me (which he often did and still does), but because I couldn’t catch my breath.

The amount of pressure he applied when we rolled made it nearly impossible for me to breath. I’d take small sips of breath whenever he adjusted position, but no matter what I did couldn’t create enough space to breath.

Until I learned how to create space using BJJ principles. Using frames, leverage, and positioning to create space allowed me to reduce some of the pressure and catch my breath.

Now, I’m able to complete a five minute round with the blue belt and go into the next round ready to roll.

Don’t get me wrong, the blue belt still submits me, but at least I’m not tapping because I can’t breath.

Alway remember, you can be the best athlete, the best marathon runner or sprinter, but in the end, it’ll be BJJ principles that’ll save you.

Conclusion

Don’t waste time or money on a regular gym membership thinking you need to get into shape before beginning BJJ.

All the time you waste in a regular gym, running on a treadmill or lifting weights is time you could spend on the mats.

Don’t listen to the naysayers. Don’t listen to the people (including yourself) trying to hold you back by telling you to “get into shape” before beginning BJJ.

Here’s the truth. You’re not going to get into BJJ shape until you start doing BJJ.

It’s that simple.

So, if you’re ready to get into the best shape of your life, start your BJJ journey today.

“Which is better for self-defense, Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?”

The answer: it depends—and here’s why:

Self-defense is a deeply personal journey. The style of self-defense that’s right for you may not be right for someone else.

Some men aren’t humble enough to get choked out by a 120 pound woman. Likewise, some people don’t want to spend their Friday night getting kicked or punched, and then leave the gym bruised or worse.

That’s why, in this post, you’re going to learn about Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And by the end, you’ll be ready to choose the self-defense system that’s right for you.

So, let’s get started!

Krav Maga

Originally designed as a military self-defense and fighting system for the Israel Defense Forces, Krav Maga is a combination of techniques from Boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and Aikido.

Krav Maga focuses on practical techniques designed for quickly incapacitating an attacker. The principles behind Krav Maga are simple and straight forward:

• Quickly neutralize a threat.
• Keep it simple using strikes, holds, and blocks.
• Defend an attack while simultaneously counterattacking.
• Continuous motion or “explosion of violence” in an attempt to overwhelm an attacker with aggressive and offensive movements.
• Use weapons of opportunity, including keys, pens, belts, and chairs.
• Focus on vulnerable soft tissue by attacking the eyes, groin, or throat.

Krav Maga covers many of the self-defense problems you may face in the real world. Your attacker may come at you with a weapon or unarmed. Either way, Krav Maga teaches you some good techniques for dealing with these types of scenarios.

Here’s a short video on what Krav Maga looks like during a real life scenarios:

As you saw from the video, Krav Maga requires speed, aggression, and explosiveness for performing many of the techniques.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In the years following the rise of mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) evolved into a a fundamental skillset of professinal fighters. Many people insist BJJ is a sport and not suitable for self-defense.

This is simply not true.

According to Moshe Kaitz, the head instructor for Gracie Humaita Israel, Helio Gracie designed the fundamental techniques…

“…to help you survive real fight situations, standing up and on the ground. In more simple words, they don’t know Helio Gracie self defense program which is the real BJJ that was exposed to the world!” You can read more from Moshe Kaitz here.

BJJ self-defense principles include:

• Get to the clinch and avoid taking damage from strikes, especially against bigger opponents.
• When possible, take the fight to the ground and move into a dominant top position.
• Get free of your attacker’s dangerous legs and move to an initial controlling position
• Increase your control and striking potential by transitioning to more dominant positions.
• Strike or use submissions once you’re in a maximum controlling position
• When your attacker is on top of you, use reversals or specialized bottom submissions.

Like Krav Maga, you may use the self-defense techniques of BJJ to defend against weapons.

Here’s a short video on using BJJ for self-defense:

Finally, BJJ doesn’t require aggression or explosiveness to perform most of the techniques. Instead, BJJ uses positioning and leverage, allowing for even the smallest individual to control a bigger and stronger person.

Krav Maga vs. BJJ

So, now that you know more about Krav Maga and BJJ, you’re ready to choose one discipline and get started, right?

Well, not so fast.

Remember, you want to choose the one that’s best for you.

So, let’s take a look at some of the key differences.

Consider Your Personality

That’s right, your personality plays an important role in deciding on whether to train Krav Maga or BJJ.

A major difference between Krav Maga and BJJ is the level of aggression required to subdue an attacker.

Certain people lack the aggression to perform certain Krav Maga techniques. That’s because, some people can’t see themselves gouging out another person’s eye or using a pen to stab someone in the throat.

Also, most ordinary people don’t possess the confident aggression needed for certain Krav Maga techniques. Sure, your level of confidence could grow as you improve with Krav Maga.

But, what happens when you face a bigger, stronger and more aggressive attacker. This could prove to a major problem for someone trained in Krav Maga.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, on the other hand, focuses more on thoughtful technique to subdue an attacker. Always protecting yourself and working towards a dominant position.

Aggression in BJJ tends to harm you more than help you. In BJJ, you’ll maximize your efficiency while expending the least amount of energy when you control your aggression.

So, when deciding on Krav Maga or BJJ, think about how well your personality fits with the principles for each martial art.

Consider Your Body

Now, consider your body and how you’re going to use it in a self-defense situation.

The techniques of Krav Maga are built on a foundation of speed, agility, and explosiveness. The reliance on speed and explosiveness eliminates most ordinary people from performing many of the Krav Maga techniques.

And of course, you can get into better shape, improve your speed, and build more explosive strength. But, what happens when you come up against someone who’s already bigger, faster, and stronger than you.

Uh-oh!

That’s right, you’re probably going to end up getting hurt.

Now, consider how your body is used in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. If your opponent is bigger and stronger than you, you’ll use leverage in a more efficient manner to control them. If your attacker is faster and more explosive than you, you’ll use positioning and the clinch to control them.

So, think about how you’re going to use your body when you consider training either Krav Maga or BJJ.

Consider Your Training

Finally, consider what you’re going to be training before you make your decision on Krav Maga or BJJ.

Krav Maga is continuing to move further and further away from the original Krav Maga developed for the Israel Defense Force. With the growth of BJJ as a sport, Krav Maga grew in reputation as the ultimate self-defense system.

Because of the name’s popularity, a lot of gyms claim they offer Krav Maga training. What they’re really offering is a variation of Krav Maga, BJJ, MMA, and whatever else the instructors include in the training.

Most BJJ schools, however, offer either Gracie self-defense or combative self-defense programs. These programs provide training in BJJ fundamentals for self-defense, instead of training in sport BJJ.

Finally, practicing certain Krav Maga techniques means you’re practicing on a certain level of theory. When sparring, it’s impossible for you to strike a weak point on your training partner’s body at full speed without harming them.

If you’re attacked, your Krav Maga training may fail you because hitting a weak point during a demonstration is one thing, but hitting a weak point for real, when you’re being attacked, is quite another.

For BJJ, it’s different.

During a sparring session, you’re able to train full speed with full resistance. That’s because, you or your partner can tap at anytime, signaling a stoppage in the fight.

So, before choosing Krav Maga or BJJ, consider the type of training that’s best for you.

Stop Analyzing & Just Get Started

And so, the debate on Krav Maga vs. BJJ continues on as supporters claim superiority for one martial art over the other.

The problem with the debate is simple. It doesn’t really matter.

What does matter is your ability to protect yourself or a loved one. That’s all that really matters, right?

So, here’s what I recommend for your self-defense training.

Begin your training with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Once you’ve reached a high level of confidence in your training, supplement it with Krav Maga.

Besides, I’d rather have too much self-defense training than not enough.

If you’re ready to get started with Brazilian jiu jitsu, read this post on How to Choose the Best Jiu Jitsu School in Your Area.

But, you’re not sure where to begin.

You ask friends if they know a place to train. But they look at you, confused, and ask, “What’s jiu jitsu?”

You signed up for a free trial at the school down the street, but that turned out to be a waste of time. Small mat space, dirty facility, instructor didn’t seem to care about the students.

Choosing a jiu jitsu school can be a long term investment in yourself – a MAJOR purchase when you consider the membership costs. You wouldn’t buy a home without checking out all the homes for sale in your area, right?

So, why settle on a second rate jiu jitsu school.

In this post, we’ll go beyond any cookie-cutter advice by sharing with you a proven process for choosing the best jiu jitsu school in your area.

Let’s jump in.

Step #1. Make a List of Jiu Jitsu Schools

Let’s get started with a Google search for jiu jitsu schools in your area.

Type the keywords “jiu jitsu schools near me” or “jiu jitsu gyms near me” into Google’s search bar.

Hopefully, the results returned more than one or two schools. If not, consider extending your search area.

At this point you’re probably itching to take a look at each school’s website, but before you do, let’s make sure you know the different types of schools offering jiu jitsu training.

You’re going to find either mixed martial arts or traditional jiu jitsu schools.

Here’s a quick breakdown for each school.

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) schools offer training in a number of different disciplines, including Muay Thai kickboxing, karate, traditional boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Because of the number of different disciplines offered at a MMA school, you may end up paying more for a membership.

Also, you’ll probably train MMA style no-gi exclusively, which differs from traditional jiu jitsu in many ways. For more on traditional jiu jitsu vs MMA style no-gi, you should read this post.

If your goal is to compete in MMA, add these types of schools to your list. No sense in paying multiple membership fees when you can get all the training you need from one school.

Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

As more people begin to realize the value of Brazilian jiu jitsu, traditional jiu jitsu schools are growing in popularity.

At a traditional jiu jitsu school, you’ll be able to take adult jiu jitsu classes, no-gi jiu jitsu classes, and combatives self-defense classes. Being able to take all three classes gives you a greater chance at becoming a better grappler and jiu jitsu practitioner.

Also, you’re not paying additional fees for disciplines like Muay Thai kickboxing when you only want to learn BJJ.

Now that you know the difference between the two types of schools offering jiu jitsu training, you should rank the schools in your area.

If you’re mostly interested in training MMA, list these schools first. You can do the same if you’re mostly interested in learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Step #2. Learn About Each Jiu jitsu School

You should now have a list of schools you’re ready to learn more about.

Depending on how long your list is, you’ll probably want to eliminate some of the schools. If the list is big enough, eliminate the schools where the drive time is greater than 20-30 minutes.

Next, let’s look at the school’s class schedule and the head instructor’s bio to see if you can cross anymore schools off the list.

Class Schedule

Start with getting a copy of each school’s class schedule. This’ll be the quickest way to eliminate schools from your list.

There’s no reason to waste time researching a school if you can’t commit to attending at least two classes per week. The school’s class schedule must work with your life schedule. Otherwise, you’re not only wasting your time, but you’re wasting the time of the school’s instructors.

If the school doesn’t have the availability you need, cross it off your list.

Head Instructor’s Bio

Why does the bio of the head instructor matter?

Because, you’re placing your fitness and learning goals in the hands of the instructors. You need to be confident in your head instructor’s guidance, and you must fully trust them with your safety.

Although, you’ll never fully be confident in the head instructor until you meet them and observe them in class, you should feel comfortable about their knowledge and experience prior to meeting with them.

So, how do you determine the knowledge and experience of a head instructor without meeting them?

In their bio, you should find the instructor’s belt rank and lineage.

The head instructor of a BJJ school should be a brown or a black belt. While belt rank doesn’t show the instructor’s ability to teach, it does indicate a certain level of knowledge and experience.

If listed, find out who presented the head instructor with their black belt. Lineage is like looking at a family tree. It gives legitimacy to a black belt.

In Brazilian jiu jitsu, most black belts can be traced back to a Gracie family member. This doesn’t mean a Gracie directly presented the instructor with a black belt, but it’s definitely a bonus knowing your instructor is connected directly back to the pioneers of the art.

Finally, watch out for marketing gimmicks. Some schools are affiliated with famous BJJ world-champions . Schools will eagerly advertise these veteran athletes as their “Head Instructors” even though they don’t teach at the school more than a few times per year. It helps to confirm with the staff which instructor is truly there teaching most classes.

Step #3. Maximize Each Trial Period

Most jiu jitsu or MMA schools offer either a free trial or a discounted trial period, which allows you to attend anywhere from one to five classes before signing up for a membership.

So, take some time right now and schedule a trial period for each school on your list.

If you’re in the Madison area, you can sign up for a trial period at Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy here: https://journeybjjacademy.com/bjj-madison

During the trial period, you need to keep track of some observations that’ll increase your chances of choosing the best jiu jitsu school.

Observation #1. First Impressions / Cleanliness

First impressions can tell you a lot about a martial arts school. Did they greet you, expecting you on the day of your first visit… or were they confused to see you? This foreshadows how organized the school is and how much they care about their students.

Was the mat space clean? How about the rest of the gym? Bathrooms? Infections can spread easily in a dirty training environment. Many schools advertise safety as their #1 priority, but is what you see really true to their promise?

Observation #2. White Belt Treatment & Culture

Unless you’re a blue belt or higher, there’s a good chance you’re going to be overwhelmed during your first trial class.

So, observe the other white belts in class and watch how the instructors interact with them.

Start with the warm up drills. Do the other white belts in class seem confident in the drills? Or, do the white belts look at each other confused?

Next, observe how the instructors engage with the white belts. Are the instructors taking the time to explain details to the white belts? Or, are the instructors hanging around with the upper belts and ignoring the beginners?

Observation #3. Class Structure

A one hour jiu jitsu class is divided into three sections. During the first section of class, students complete the warm up drills. In the second section of class, the instructor teaches technique and the students drill. Finally, the last section of class is reserved for sparring.

A well balanced jiu jitsu class should be structured with 10 minutes of warm up drills, 30-35 minutes of teaching and drilling, and 15-20 minutes of sparring.

The time spent on each section of class shows how much the school emphasizes learning. If you find yourself sparring for 40 minutes, the school’s not focused on teaching technique.

Observation #4. School’s Focus

A jiu jitsu school’s culture determines if you’re going to fit in with the students and instructors.

Some schools are competition oriented while others focus more on self defense and the art of jiu jitsu.

If your goal is to compete in jiu jitsu, speak with the head instructor about the school’s overall performance during the last tournament. Also, talk to students in your class and ask them about the level of competition at the school.

However, if you’re not a highly competitive person or you have no desire to compete in jiu jitsu, then you may not fit in at a competition oriented school. You may find the instructor more focused on teaching how to score points or win advantages than on how to survive.

After observing the white belts, the class structure, and the school’s focus, you’re now ready to choose the best jiu jitsu school for your journey.

Your Home Away From Home

Perhaps it’s a bit of a cliché.

But a jiu jitsu school will become your home away from home.

The people you roll with become like a second family. (And yeah, some of them you’ll want to choke out!)

You’re going to spend countless hours training, learning, and competing.

You’re going to sweat and bleed.

But most of all, you’re going to discover the greatest journey of your life.

A jiu jitsu school can also turn out to be a money pit. Your membership fees get paid, but your game never improves. You’re going to class, but you’re leaving confused. You’re wanting to learn, but you’re dreading class.

It’s time to stop the wasted effort.

It’s time to choose your dream home.

In this FREE, exciting class, your child will learn:

• Self-Defense: The ability to respond appropriately to the everyday encounters kids have in school.
• Self-Confidence: Your child will feel prepared for any challenges life throws at them
• Focus: The ability to block out distractions. Keeping our eyes on the person talking to us
• Self-Discipline: Doing what we know we are supposed to do without being told.
• Courtesy and Respect: Treating others the way we want to be treated.
• Perseverance: Never giving up when things get tough.
• Goal Setting: Working very hard every day to achieve something we want.
• Exercise: Get your child away from the screens and exercise!

Here are just some of the benefits to expect from a quality martial arts program:

• INCREASED ATTENTION SPAN AND FOCUS
Children will begin by keeping their eyes focus on the eyes of people speaking to them. They will begin paying more attention to their teachers and for longer periods of time, therefore hearing and learning more. Focus is like a muscle, the more you use it, the better and stronger it gets. With martial arts training at Journey Academy, we train children’s muscles and mind.

• CONFIDENCE 
A confident child is a happy child. They no longer live in anxiety or fear. Confidence is the first step to get a child to succeed in all areas of life. Once confidence is developed, the instructors at our studio can now begin getting a child to perform at a level that was once un-thought of for them.

• SELF DISCIPLINE
Getting a child to do what they are told can be challenging enough, and our program will develop respectful disciplined kids, but more important is getting a child to do what they are not told. Develop self-discipline is children where they have the knowledge to know what they should do, and they do it! This trait will be invaluable as they grow into successful teens and adults.

• INCREASED FITNESS AND WEIGHT LOSS
Strength, Conditioning, Flexibility and Weight Loss are all benefits that parents can expect to receive with martial arts training at Journey Academy. Every muscle group is strengthened and defined with the exercises, movements, technique, and training drills that are incorporated into our curriculum. A child’s endurance and stamina will peak as we increase their cardiovascular conditioning. All these physical benefits for their body will be felt in their daily life and activities, increasing their energy and confidence.

As you can see Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy is fully devoted to helping our community’s children learn the importance of self-defense and self-improvement.

We just happen to use martial arts as a vehicle to teach these attributes that all of us parents want for our kids.

So join us for this 100% free event of fun that you and your children are sure to enjoy. Get your tickets now:

https://free-kids-self-defense-workshop.eventbrite.com

In this FREE, exciting class, your child will learn:

• Self-Defense: The ability to respond appropriately to the everyday encounters kids have in school.
• Self-Confidence: Your child will feel prepared for any challenges life throws at them
• Focus: The ability to block out distractions. Keeping our eyes on the person talking to us
• Self-Discipline: Doing what we know we are supposed to do without being told.
• Courtesy and Respect: Treating others the way we want to be treated.
• Perseverance: Never giving up when things get tough.
• Goal Setting: Working very hard every day to achieve something we want.
• Exercise: Get your child away from the screens and exercise!

Here are just some of the benefits to expect from a quality martial arts program:

• INCREASED ATTENTION SPAN AND FOCUS
Children will begin by keeping their eyes focus on the eyes of people speaking to them. They will begin paying more attention to their teachers and for longer periods of time, therefore hearing and learning more. Focus is like a muscle, the more you use it, the better and stronger it gets. With martial arts training at Journey Academy, we train children’s muscles and mind.

• CONFIDENCE 
A confident child is a happy child. They no longer live in anxiety or fear. Confidence is the first step to get a child to succeed in all areas of life. Once confidence is developed, the instructors at our studio can now begin getting a child to perform at a level that was once un-thought of for them.

• SELF DISCIPLINE
Getting a child to do what they are told can be challenging enough, and our program will develop respectful disciplined kids, but more important is getting a child to do what they are not told. Develop self-discipline is children where they have the knowledge to know what they should do, and they do it! This trait will be invaluable as they grow into successful teens and adults.

• INCREASED FITNESS AND WEIGHT LOSS
Strength, Conditioning, Flexibility and Weight Loss are all benefits that parents can expect to receive with martial arts training at Journey Academy. Every muscle group is strengthened and defined with the exercises, movements, technique, and training drills that are incorporated into our curriculum. A child’s endurance and stamina will peak as we increase their cardiovascular conditioning. All these physical benefits for their body will be felt in their daily life and activities, increasing their energy and confidence.

As you can see Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy is fully devoted to helping our community’s children learn the importance of self-defense and self-improvement.

We just happen to use martial arts as a vehicle to teach these attributes that all of us parents want for our kids.

So join us for this 100% free event of fun that you and your children are sure to enjoy.

5th Degree & 6th Degree BJJ Black Belts Cristiano Ribeiro and Luis Neto! Tickets are already on sale here: https://bjj-seminar-wristlocks.eventbrite.com

The REAL Smash Brothers from Manaus, Brazil?

Between the two of them, Cristiano and Luis have multiple brazilian national and world titles, and have fought (and beaten) some of the top names in the jiu jitsu world. Both are long-time direct students under Royler Gracie and practically celebrity athletes in their home city of Manaus, Brazil (population 1.79 million).

Here are just a few achievements.

• 1997­ World Jiu-Jitsu Championship ­ Purple Belt Division Adult Light Weight, Gold Medal.
• 1998­ World Jiu-Jitsu Championship ­ Brown Belt Division Adult Light Weight, Silver Medal.
• 1999­ World Jiu-Jitsu Championship ­ Brown Belt Division Adult Light Weight, Silver Medal.
• 2003­ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu National Championship ­ Black Belt Division Adult Middle Weight, Gold Medal.
• 2004­ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu National Championship ­ Black Belt Division Adult Middle Weight, Gold Medal.
• 2010­ Amazon Open ­No-Gi Championship, Heavy Weight Adult And Open Weight Class, Gold Medals
• 2012­ Brazilian National Open Class ­ Master Black Belt Division Adult Absolute Class, Gold Medal
• 2012­ Brazilian Nation Open Class ­ Master Black Belt Division Heavy Weight Class, Bronze Medal

For the first time, Luis Neto is flying the the US to visit his brother and join forces for this amazing seminar on high percentage wristlocks!

What will I learn?

• The basic blueprint needed to submit an opponent with a wrist lock and the most common mistakes made by beginners.
• 1-2 powerful wrist crushing attacks from all the major positions in jiu jitsu: side control, mount, back control, and more!
• Game-changing details of the wristlock that will make most of your attacks 30+% more effective
• Flowing from one wristlock attach to another, always sensing new opportunities.
• High efficiency attacks that are low risk and don’t leave you gassed in competition

Do I need a uniform?

You’ll need a gi. If you don’t have one, we sell them at Journey BJJ – just let us know in advance and we’ll have one ready!

What if I’m from another school or I’m not a Journey BJJ Member?

All schools ar welcome! We are limiting the seats for this 3-hour semianr to 30 tickets, so be sure to register quickly as we will sell out.

What if I have little-no grappling experience?

All experience levels are welcome! If your’e a beginner you will get the very best foundation for attacking this powerful submission with little to no risk and no bad habits!

How long is the seminar?

In this 3-hour seminar, Professors Cristiano and Luis will teach details and techniques that work against world-class black belts. After the seminar, the professora will hang out and roll with participants as time allows.

Ok, how much does it cost?

You’re days away (maybe hours) from learning revolutionary techniques these world champions. Though Professors Luis and Cristiano has charged upwards $100 per person for his seminars in Brazil, Journey BJJ has made the decision to open up our sale at….

only $75 per ticket if you buy online! $90 at the door.

Once we’re out of tickets at these prices, we’re out!.

Journey hasn’t done anything like this seminar yet, and we’d like to keep doing seminars like this in the future. But that depends on you, and whether or not we can fill the room with BJJ fanatics like you willing to invest in high-level Jiu Jitsu training.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your spot today before we run out: https://bjj-seminar-wristlocks.eventbrite.com

3th Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & 4th Degree Judo Black Belt Andre Oliveira! Tickets are already on sale here: https://bjjworkshop-high-percentage-takedowns.eventbrite.com

Who is Andre Oliveira?

Beginning his training in 1980, Prof. Andre holds 169 judo competition titles over the last 39 years! He competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , GA and in the Judo Worlds in Paris!

Andre is our own head instructor’s Cristiano Ribeiro’s Judo coach! If you’ve ever seen coach Cristiano’s standup game or watched his competition matches, you’ve seen his amazing throws. Andre Oliveira taught him everthing he knows!

What will I learn?

• How to easily outgrip even the most aggressive opponents off the start
• Combination setups that will make higher belts ask you what you just did
• Game-changing details of the fundamentals that will fix those takedowns that never seem to work in competition
• Sweeps that set up strong side control and attacking positions with no chance of reguarding
• High efficiency attacks that are low risk and don’t leave you gassed in competition

Do I need a uniform?

You’ll need a gi. If you don’t have one, we sell them at Journey BJJ – just let us know in advance and we’ll have one ready!

What if I’m from another school or I’m not a Journey BJJ Member?

All schools ar welcome! We are limiting the seats for this 2-hour workshop to 30 tickets, so be sure to register quickly as we will sell out.

What if I have little-no grappling experience?

All experience levels are welcome! If your’e a beginner you will get the very best foundation for dominating the stand up game with zero bad habits!

How long is the seminar?

In this 2-hour seminar, Prof. Oliveira will teach details and techniques that work against world-class black belts. After the seminar, the professor will hang out and roll with participants as time allows.

Ok, how much does it cost?

You’re days away (maybe hours) from learning revolutionary techniques from an olympic competitor and national  champion. Though Professor Oliveira has charged upwards $80 per person for his seminars in Brazil, Journey BJJ has made the decision to open up our sale at….

only $45 per ticket if you buy online! $55 at the door.

Once we’re out of tickets at these prices, we’re out!

Journey hasn’t done anything like this seminar yet, and we’d like to keep doing seminars like this in the future. But that depends on you, and whether or not we can fill the room with BJJ fanatics like you willing to invest in high-level Jiu Jitsu training.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your spot today before we run out: https://bjjworkshop-high-percentage-takedowns.eventbrite.com

See you there!