The True Cost of BJJ Classes | Are they worth it?


martial art

Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may get expensive quickly. As a result, many will be unwilling to pay as much for BJJ classes. Thus, you have two options: practice at home with essential equipment or pay for the classes. So how much do BJJ classes really cost?

On average, BJJ classes cost $130 every month. However, the price ranges from $40-$300 a month, depending on the number of classes you want to attend. The price is higher than the average if you want access to an unlimited number of weekly BJJ classes. But, if you buy a weekly class, the price decreases.

As you can see, the price is rather high for monthly payments. However, the value you’ll get from each class is worth the money. In addition, numerous studies have shown that training consistently in BJJ improves mental and physical health, hence improving confidence, self-esteem, endurance, and others.

Because of that, the value you’ll get from BJJ classes- is up there. Nonetheless, you may still be unwilling to pay $130 monthly. Thus, considering alternatives, such as training at home with an online course or free training, may solve your problem. In fact, you can progress faster than you may think with the essential gear.

This article will demonstrate the actual cost of BJJ classes. Moreover, I’ll suggest some alternatives that’ll be suitable for those unwilling to pay such high prices every month. The following section will discuss the actual cost per month of Jiu-Jitsu training.

Before jumping in, I wrote a complete guide to training martial arts at home. If you’re interested in doing so, I encourage you to read it, as it’s one of my most researched topics.

How much is a month of Jiu-Jitsu?

Usually, you pay monthly for Jiu-Jitsu classes. As a result, some people may feel as if it’s a financial burden to do so. As such, they won’t learn this fantastic martial art and miss on so many beneficial results. Can you imagine improving your mental health without thinking about it?

On average, per month- Jiu-Jitsu classes cost $130. However, this number ranges depending on the Jiu-Jitsu school you attend. For instance, while some schools charge $50 for unlimited classes, others may charge $300 for monthly unlimited classes.

By this range, you can decide whether you want to spend as much to learn a martial art. I myself had experienced that learning a martial art has drastically improved my well-being. I participated in 3-martial arts in my life, and I’ve experienced the same benefits with each one. As a result, I know it works.

Here’s a study you should read. I’ll quote the exciting part- however, I encourage you to follow the link to read it in its entirety.

A study of active-duty service members who participated in a 5 month BJJ program found that the participants had “meaningful improvements in their PTSD symptoms” as well as improvements to depression and anxiety. Another study explored levels of aggression in BJJ athletes.

Source

Although a month of Jiu-Jitsu classes is somewhat expensive, I encourage you to invest that number in yourself. Later in this article, we’ll discuss the possibility of training at home and paying less. However, classes will always be superior to training at home because instruction is involved in the first option. Thus you’ll have an outsider correcting every mistake so you won’t form bad habits.

How many times a week should I train BJJ?

Training in any sport will require you to optimize your routine. As such, your schedule should include enough sessions that you’ll progress and not as much that you’ll overtrain. If there’s a single mistake you must avoid- it’s overtraining. The symptoms from such a state can cause permanent damage. So, how many times per week should you do BJJ?

Training up to 3-times a week in BJJ on non-consecutive days- will both ensure progression and the avoidance of overtraining. A single weekly training session is sufficient to experience progression and benefits in the long term. But, training more than 3-times a week may cause a state of overtraining.

black belt
Image by Mihai Paraschiv from Pixabay

Eventually, the more you train per week, the more you have to pay. Now, if you train more than 3-times a week, you may cause overtraining. So, you’ll be paying for future injuries.

I’m no professional on the symptoms of overtraining. Regardless, I know how to avoid it, as I’ve experienced such a state numerous times in my adult life. So let’s examine the symptoms you may experience if you cause your body to overtrain.

Lifestyle-related signs of overtraining

Source
  • Prolonged general fatigue.
  • Increase in tension, depression, anger, or confusion.
  • Inability to relax.
  • Poor-quality sleep.
  • Lack of energy, decreased motivation, moodiness.
  • Not feeling joy from things that were once enjoyable.

As you can see, the symptoms you’ll feel by training more than 3-times a week on consecutive days are incredibly harmful. In fact, experiencing a single of them can drastically decrease your well-being. Thus imagine what it feels like to have them all.

How much does BJJ cost for weekly classes?

Usually, you don’t pay per week but per month. Nonetheless, some BJJ schools provide different offerings for a different number of weekly classes. So if, for example, you were to want a single weekly class, you would pay less than an unlimited number.

On average, you can expect to pay $80 per month for a single weekly BJJ class. But again, the number may range depending on the school you attend. For example, for a single weekly class, some schools charge $40 and others $180. Again, however, you can expect the $80 mark.

Eventually, you can expect to progress and hone your skills in the long term by attending single weekly classes. Therefore, when discussing the topic of martial arts, I would like you to think from the perspective of the long-term.

Thus it’ll be best if you won’t care about the immediate benefits you’ll gain. Instead, think of the long-term benefits and results you can have by sticking with your current routine for months and even years.

How much does BJJ cost in different states?

As I previously mentioned, different schools in different locations will charge distinguished prices. As a result, while one state may charge $150 monthly, another can charge $200 as their price mark. So, let’s examine whether there’s a difference between the prices in different states for unlimited BJJ classes.

StatePrice (Monthly + Unlimited Access)
Boston$160
California$204
Texas$150
Florida$200
Washington$189
Arizona$150
Ohio$140
Colorado$150
Different states and their price range for BJJ classes

As you can see, there’s a wide gap in the prices of unlimited BJJ classes throughout the country. I do have an explanation to offer you. The gap isn’t because the locations are different. Instead, different schools will inevitably charge distinguished prices. Therefore, while one offers a fee of $140, the other charges $204.

The main takeaway is not for you to move to Ohio to attend BJJ classes. Instead, research your local area for qualified and solid BJJ schools. As a result, you can compare prices and see for yourself which one you should attend.

How much does BJJ cost in different countries?

Previously, I listed a table of different states and their average BJJ prices. But, you may not be from the US- so this won’t be as relevant to you. On the other hand, if you’re from a different country, you may benefit from reading this section.

Next, I’ll list a table that compares the average monthly price for unlimited BJJ classes in different countries. Remember, although it’s unlimited, it’ll be best if you keep your maximum classes per week to 3-times. Hence you’ll avoid overtraining.

CountryPrice (Monthly + Unlimited Access)
US$167
UK£100
Thailand3500THB
India6500RS
Canada114CAD
China1200RMB
PhilippinesP1950
Sweden1000SEK
Netherlands68EUR
France$120
BJJ prices in different countries

The prices in different countries have relatively wide gaps because the costs in each country are different. Additionally, the location itself influences the price and forces it to increase/decrease.

Eventually, you shouldn’t move to a different country because the BJJ prices are lower. Instead, if you’re traveling, this can be a great resource if you want to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu there.

Essential BJJ equipment you should buy

Buying high-quality equipment will boost your progression rate since you’ll become capable of training at home and training more. As a result, you’ll learn and practice the grappling techniques you learned- more often and with greater intensity.

This section will discuss the 4-most essential equipment you should buy to boost your progression. Moreover, I wrote an article on tips to progress faster through BJJ belts. I encourage you to read it as you read this section.

Gi

Sanabul is one of the leading martial arts equipment companies. They’re shining in my reviews since their product lines- are incredible and high-quality. As a result, trusting them with your money- is wise.

A Gi is a suit you see in all martial arts videos. It’s unique and high-quality since it’s everything you need from your training clothes; thus durable, breathable, and it’s made from high-quality materials. As a result, buying a Gi will boost your progression rate, as you’ll be more comfortable and learn more.

Mouthguard

SAFEJAWZ Mouthguard

SAFEJAWZ Mouthguard

SAFEJAWZ is a leading company in the mouth-protection realm. If a company that didn’t specialize in that area were to offer me a mouthguard, I would hesitate before buying it, as protecting your mouth area should be a top priority.

Thus it’ll be best if you buy a mouthguard from a company that knows their stuff. Hence SAFEJAWZ is a suitable company to trust with your money.

This mouthguard is fantastic because it provides two main aspects that are most important in a mouthguard; comfort and protection. Therefore, I encourage you to buy it, as protecting your teeth and mouth area should be a top priority.

Mat

ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Mat

ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Mat

Having a high-quality mat will ensure you have an area to train in. Our minds form habits. Now, if you’re not training in a martial arts gym, you may find it difficult to begin doing BJJ in your house. As a result, buying a mat will ensure your mind reserves an exclusive place for BJJ training.

As a result, it’ll be easier to start your training routine. Hence staying consistent becomes effortless, and you’ll boost your progression by plenty.

Grappling Dummy

I wrote an article about the best grappling dummies for martial arts. If you’re interested in buying one, I won’t hesitate to follow the link if I were you. Next, I’ll include one of the products I listed in said article.

Aoneky 6ft Leather Unfilled Grappling Dummy

Aoneky 6ft Leather Unfilled Grappling Dummy
CharacteristicThe grappling dummy
Size72 inches
Weight80lbs
Cost per inch (Price/Size)1.667$
The cost per inch for every grappling dummy (Value)

I’m a big fan of grappling dummies because you can buy them once and use them until it becomes unusable. On the other hand, you’d have to pay monthly to attend Jiu-Jitsu or MMA classes. As a result, some may be unwilling to afford such an expense for a lengthier period. That’s when such equipment becomes effective.

This grappling dummy is durable and reliable. Its size is 6ft and weighs 2.3kg (unfilled). Such a size is solid because of its height and weight. It’ll resemble real-life situations as you’ll get used to the weight. On the other hand, some grappling dummies are smaller than that and therefore not as realistic.

Training BJJ at home

For some, investing monthly payments in martial arts or BJJ isn’t something they’re willing to do. Well, that doesn’t mean that you should give up the idea of learning to fight appropriately. Thus let’s discuss a primary alternative- you may find suitable.

Training BJJ at home is a fantastic alternative for those unwilling to invest monthly payments in BJJ classes. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. The advantage of qualified instructors teaching you is that they can correct your mistakes and thus avoid bad habits.

Nonetheless, you can still learn at home if you decide to do that. First, however, you’ll need to buy the essential gear, which I’ve listed in the previous sections. You can pass on the mouthguard and the Gi if you’d like. However, I do recommend buying the Gi, as it’s a fantastic piece of equipment.

Regardless, it’ll be best if you order a mat and a grappling dummy, as they’re most critical for ensuring you progress at home. Moreover, you’ll need to start learning from watching.

Now, you have three courses of action you can take- which I’ll mention and leave the decision up to you.

  • Follow a YouTube channel
  • Buy an online course
  • Train with friends

Honestly, the option I recommend most is to buy an online course, which is a one-time payment. First, you’ll slowly start to understand the basics of BJJ. Then, you can continue with your journey by finding partners to train with.

Should I train BJJ at home?

Eventually, you can either train BJJ in a qualified school or at home. If you ask me, these two have a clear winner. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend the worse option, as it’ll be highly challenging to progress that way. However, it’s possible.

Training BJJ in a qualified school is better than training at home because you’ll have one-on-one instruction. As a result, you’ll learn the basics and techniques faster than if you were to train alone. Additionally, the instructors can fix your mistakes, which prevents the formation of bad habits.

Nonetheless, if you’re unwilling to invest such sums of monthly payments, that’s totally valid. In fact, learning BJJ at home- is definitely possible. Yet, I recommend attending a martial arts school instead of doing so. However, it’s possible, and people have done it before.

Final words

Training BJJ is a fantastic choice, as you’ll learn to fight appropriately. Additionally, you’ll gain countless mental and physical benefits, such as increased confidence and self-esteem. Thus the value you’ll get is incredible.

However, some people may be unwilling to spend an average of $150 on monthly BJJ classes. If you’re one of them, consider training at home and buying some home equipment, such as a grappling dummy and a mat.

I encourage you to attend martial arts classes up to 3-times a week, as you’ll avoid overtraining. Moreover, if you train less than once a week, you may not notice any progression in the long term, which should be your goal. Thus, I recommend practicing BJJ 1-3 times a week and staying consistent with it.

Levi

I've served in the military as a special forces operator for 4-years. In that period, I've trained in many martial arts, including karate, MMA, BJJ, boxing, and even Krav Maga. I want to share my passion with you, so here it is!

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