So you’ve heard about Brazilian Jiu jitsu, you’ve seen clips on instagram, heard about it’s benefits on a podcast, and maybe you watch the UFC and you’ve seen the glory of Jiu Jitsu live in all it’s glory. You’ve finally sold yourself on trying out Jiu Jitsu for yourself, but now you need to find somewhere to train! Luckily for you, there are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms all over the world now, even in smaller towns and some regional areas. As Melbourne locals, we’ll focus on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Melbourne and how an aspiring trainee can figure out how to find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Melbourne that’s right for them.
Since humans love lists, here’s ours on the best ways to find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gym in Melbourne:
1.Find a BJJ gym in Melbourne that’s close to you!
This might sound obvious, but in order to train Jiu Jitsu regularly, you’re going to want a realistic commute to get there. If you do a google search of gyms in your area, such as “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gyms in Melbourne” or “BJJ gyms in Collingwood” for example, take a look at all of the options and how long it will take you to get there. Perhaps you find one near home, or perhaps near work or somewhere you commute to regularly anyway. Once you start training BJJ in Melbourne, you’re likely going to want to go more often than anticipated! Reducing commute time will make it easier for you to commit to regular training and progress in your Jiu Jitsu.
2.Compare Melbourne Jiu Jitsu gym schedules
Your perfect Brazilian Jiu jitsu gym doesn’t need to have a million classes, they just need to have ones that work for you. Most people enjoy evening classes because they can generally go afterwork and other daily commitments, and commute time later in the evening is often less so they don’t have to sit in traffic on the way home. Whatever your needs are, check that they work with the BJJ gym you like so you can commit to getting to regular classes each week.
3.Check out google reviews of Melbourne Jiu Jitsu Gyms near you
Of course there can be some funny business with reviews on the internet, but Google reviews are hard to remove so they will definitely give you some idea of what to expect at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA gyms in Melbourne. A gym that has good reviews is a good sign as it means they’ve provided a good enough experience for enough people to be willing to take a moment to share with the public what they’ve enjoyed. When you’re doing your google search of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms near you in Melbourne, read through the reviews of each one. There were always be the odd grump on any list of reviews, but you should generally be able to work out if people feel the gym is a positive place with quality instruction and good vibes.
4.Chat to the staff about the culture and community of their BJJ gym
Don’t be afraid to get in touch with the gym before heading in for your first class. A good BJJ gym in Melbourne will be happy to chat to newcomers about what to expect before they come in. You can ask them about the culture at the gym, how welcoming it is for total BJJ beginners, what their gym policies are, how they ensure training partners look after each other etc. A BJJ gym in Melbourne that really cares about their members will be more than happy to have a chat with you and share about their gym and answer any questions you have. You can also ask them about your future goals if you plan to compete or if you just want to train for fun as a hobby, and they can let you know the type of training they do and the opportunities you can access with their BJJ program.
5. Check out their social media
While Social Media has it’s downfalls, it can be a great way for you to check out a BJJ gym in Melbourne before you actually go there in person. You can usually see photos to get a feel for class sizes, the facilities, and the overall culture and vibe of the academy. It’s usually more casual and more personal than a website, so it’s a great tool to use as part of your preliminary research to see if you can imagine yourself as part of this Jiu Jitsu gym in Melbourne.
6. Do a Trial Class
This is a given when considering any Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Melbourne. Most gyms will offer trial classes for a small fee so you can get in there in person to see how you like it. Pick a time that you’d realistically see yourself doing your BJJ training and go give it a shot! You can get a feel for how they treat beginners, how the members treat each other, and you’ll also get a sense of the community vibe. It’s also a great opportunity to check out the facilities, the cleanliness and hygiene of the gym, and how easy it is for you to get there. If people are welcoming and the instructor is engaged with the class and people are working hard but looking after each other, it might just be a great fit for you to start your BJJ training in Melbourne.
Hopefully these tips have taken some of the mystery out of searching for the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym that’s right for you!