Here is a compilation of our most frequently asked BJJ FAQ. The following BJJ FAQ should be helpful when deciding if our gym is a good fit for you.
1. What is the best Martial Art to train for self defense?
Short answer: It’s complicated.
As far as BJJ FAQ go this is the ultimate question. If I’m being completely honest – tactical training, shooting practice, knife training, marathon running and MMA are the ultimate forms of self defense. But you’re probably wondering about hand to hand combat and in that case I would say that MMA is the best option for someone who can dedicate about 20-40 hrs a week on their training. If you don’t have the time to master BJJ, Boxing, Wrestling and Muay Thai all at once I would say that BJJ is the ultimate form of self defense for a smaller person to fend off a larger person. This does come with a caveat – If you never train BJJ with the consideration of someone trying to strike at you then your BJJ will probably fall apart the moment you get hit. For that you must find a school and instructor willing to cover these subjects and you personally have to work on yourself to become a well rounded martial artist.
2. Is BJJ safe?
Short answer: Yes.
Jiu-Jitsu can be a very safe martial art as long as you’re in an environment that prioritizes safety. All catastrophic injuries can be avoided if you are being taught well. And brain damage is virtually nonexistent unlike boxing and kickboxing/muay thai. That being said – will you never get hurt by doing Jiu-Jitsu? Absolutely not – if you’re in a good school you will experience first hand that BJJ is very much a full contact and combat sport apart from being a martial art. You will suffer bruises, soreness and aching on your journey to proficiency. We aren’t punching the air over here!
3. Should I wait til I’m in better shape to try Jiu-Jitsu?
Short Answer: No.
BJJ FAQ: Deciding to lose weight and be in great shape before trying Jiu-Jitsu or martial arts is like saying your kid needs to get smarter before going to preschool. Jiu-Jitsu alone can be a great catalyst for your weight loss journey and a good Jiu-Jitsu coach will encourage and support you on your weight loss goals. Now there are limits to this- if you can’t get off the couch without industrial help maybe work on that first. Beyond that – maybe you heard that Jiu-Jitsu is exhausting and requires ‘another level of cardio’. The truth about cardio in Jiu-Jitsu is that it doesn’t matter unless you know Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve coached students that had no athletic background to be able to handle and gas out endurance athletes trying Jiu-Jitsu for the first time. Relaxation and understanding when and where to breathe matter a lot more to the casual Jiu-Jitsu athlete than improving your cardio. Obviously if you’re in a competitive Jiu-Jitsu environment; strength, speed and endurance start to play a major factor in your success beyond technical improvements.
4. As a beginner how often do I need to train for maximum benefits?
Short answer: 2-3 times a week.
BJJ FAQ: Consistency is key for learning a new skill so whether you do 1 or 3 days a week just make sure you are consistent with it. Think of Jiu-Jitsu like learning a new language. How fast will you be fluent in Mandarin by studying once every other week and never immersing yourself in Chinese culture? Probably never. Will your mandarin be better than someone who’s never studied or ever had to use it? Yes. Think of Jiu-Jitsu like a kinetic language. Do as much as your body can handle to reach proficiency. You start by learning the alphabet(movements & positions), then you start putting together sentences(drilling sequences that lead to positions and submissions), rebuttals and answers(learning how to defend, escape and counter) and finally immersing yourself in the culture(sparring/rolling/playing technical games). And do it as much as you possibly can.
5. Is it too late for me to start/Am I too old?
Short answer: No!
As a coach I pride myself in turning people into believers- not only in Jiu-Jitsu but in themselves! It’s never too late to start. I’ve personally coached people in their mid 50’s into their blue belt and I’ve seen folks start at 60 and 70 years old!
6. What equipment do I need?
Short answer: Water Bottle, Shorts and Shirt.
All you need for your first class is a water bottle, shorts ideally with a drawstring and no pockets(although any athletic shorts can work) and a t-shirt you don’t mind getting sweaty or stretched(a dry fit athletic shirt or spandex works best). When you decide to go all in we will tell you all the stuff you might want and need as well as give you some suggestions for where to get them!
7. How do I know what school to choose?
This can be a daunting task! Here in Austin there are a plethora of options!
Some have gone as far as calling Austin the new Mecca of Jiu-Jitsu!
First consideration for newcomers is distance.
Starting Jiu-Jitsu can be an anxiety riddled experience and your brain might just start giving you every excuse for why today is not the day to go. Having a place to go with a minimal commute helps.
Second thing to consider are your goals, values and personality.
Are you a young, hungry and competitive person with grappling experience? Check out the competitive gyms in town.(B-Team is my suggestion. In fact that’s where I train). Are you really into conspiracy theories and non conformity? Check out 10th Planet. Do you like structure, uniformity and traditionalism? Check out any gym with Gracie in the name. Do you want to learn from questionable sources? Check out any other random gym that has been here before 2020. Do you want a personalized experience to learn a solid mix of modern Jiu-Jitsu and traditional Jiu-Jitsu with unmatched care for your growth? That’s Austin Jiu-Jitsu Collective. I’m mostly joking and generalizing but I do suggest finding a place that speaks to you and you jive well with. There are red flags to look for but that’s for a blog post or what a consultation can offer.
8. What is the difference between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 10th Planet and Jiu-Jitsu?
* Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is simply a trademark.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the reason I was first attracted to Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie v’s claim to fame is UFC 1. GJJ should teach you how to deal with strikes from a defensive perspective. While Rener Gracie might try to convince you that this is the only valid source of Jiu-Jitsu and more specifically the only valid form of Jiu-Jitsu for self defense and MMA this is far from the truth – there are plenty of schools without the Gracie name teaching solid MMA and Self Defense Jiu-Jitsu. There are also plenty of schools with Gracie in their name who teach very sport specific Jiu-Jitsu. I love and respect Gracie Jiu-Jitsu for what it stands for however it is no longer 1995.
* Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a broader term for what the Gracies and Company transformed Classical Judo into and later spread to the United States and beyond. BJJ engulfs GJJ and Sportive Jiu-Jitsu.
* 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is the brainchild of Eddie Bravo his idea was to “make BJJ great for MMA again” however I don’t know of a UFC champion who throws up the 10.
They focus on No Gi Jiu-Jitsu and they have created some innovative techniques. 10p often gets some flack for “trying to leave BJJ behind” and letting go of traditions. Some have gone as far as to say that 10p is not Jiu-Jitsu “they teach techniques that do not work for everyone! Jiu-Jitsu should work for everyone!”. I appreciate their commitment to No Gi and openness to new techniques. 10p Austin is not to be slept on.
* Jiu-Jitsu alone is technically the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu however the word has now been adopted by BJJ, GJJ, 10p and all of us practicing Modern Jiu-Jitsu alike.
Traditional Jiu-Jitsu(sometimes spelled JuJutsu) is what the Samurai practiced as a method of defeating an armed or armored opponent when you’ve been unarmed or only have a very short weapon using throws, pins, chokes and joint locks. Unless you are literally a samurai I don’t suggest looking for a traditional Jiu-Jitsu school. Actually if you are literally a samurai maybe start your own school because I have my doubts about anyone here in the US that is preserving the art properly.
9. How long will it take to get my black belt?
This is a question that I suggest you don’t consider until you’ve received your blue belt.
In fact thinking about belts at all can sour your experience all together if you are not careful. The average person takes 10 years to earn a black belt in BJJ. If the question is: How long until I feel proficient enough to defend myself in a self defense situation? For the most part that is what the blue belt represents in Jiu-Jitsu – this takes the average person who trains consistently 1.5 years.
10. Gi or No Gi?
Both Gi and No Gi offer great training.
BJJ FAQ: I believe that for your average practitioner learning both is important. In my professional opinion No Gi is the most important form of Jiu-Jitsu and the Gi can teach you how to use foreign objects(peoples clothes) to help you in self defense scenarios. Personally I don’t believe in completely ignoring one or the other but No Gi is more practical and the Gi is excellent supplemental training.