Jiu Jitsu is Boring

I have never personally felt that Jiu Jitsu was boring. Frustrating, difficult, and confusing at times but never boring. However, there are students out there that lose interest because they find the art doesn't capture their attention like it once did. 

I would posit that the reason for this boredom is because the student is having trouble seeing the forest from the trees. They can't see the end game (not that there really is an END but you know what I mean). They show up to class day after day and can't understand why they are doing arm bars, upas and shrimping drills for the 100th time (just wait until you do them 10 000 times). 

 "Oh, arm bar drill. Great."

We live in a time where instant gratification is the norm and the stamina for sticking to something past 6 months to a year is unfathomable to many. 

"What do you mean I can't get my black belt in 2 years?"

Boredom in Jiu Jitsu is based on the following factors:

The student hasn't set realistic goals for the long term

When you start Jiu Jitsu, you need to ask yourself "why am I taking it?"  Is it for exercise, self defense, competition, confidence building?  After that is done, you need to re-evaluate and possibly add new goals along the way. Belts in Jiu Jitsu an one way to motivate. They don't define the person wearing it and we all know that the same belt color,worn by two different people, may have drastically different skill sets between them. My point: If you don't have goals, boredom will set in quickly.

Make a plan. Have goals. Stick to them.

The student doesn't do live and active training 

 If your practice doesn't including resistance training (grappling or randori for stand up), all you are is a robot showing up to class. Practicing moves without applying them against someone who is trying to stop you is what makes Jiu Jitsu such a powerhouse of a martial art-real life application. So many martial arts are full of promises that the move(s), kata, or forms a student is learning will work in real life. But the instructor tells the student can't actually do them on a training partner because they'd 'maim' them.

Nothing makes you re-evaluate your art when you get the shit kicked out of you because you've never really practiced live training. So many martial artist are content of pulling the wool over their eyes either because they believe in the bullshit or they don't realize it is bullshit.

Their ego isn't able to accept that there will be a lot of tapping

Boredom sets in when some people lose. They fool themselves into thinking its boredom but really its their fragile ego unable to accept that there will be a lot of tapping in jiu jitsu. There will be many days where the student will not be able to do ANYTHING. They will literally feel like they are drowning on the mat.

You'll tap 10 000 times on your way to black belt-get used to it.





The TEACHER is boring 

 It isn't all the students fault that they get bored-the teacher also has a role in this. If a teacher doesn't change up the classes and inspire students, the students will quit. The instructor needs to have a solid foundation but also willing to learn new things to keep classes interesting. A teacher must inspire the students. They must push the students and make sure everyone breaks a sweat. The teacher can't drone on and on (you know, the one's that love to hear the sound of their voices) and not let students practice moves. The teacher must interact and MUST ROLL with everyone. 

The instructor can't be unapproachable and closed minded. You can be a black belt in Jiu Jitsu but an utterly shitty teacher because you haven't sharpened your teaching skill set. Teaching includes the ability to read a room, listen to students, push them when needed, and actually learn teaching skills to help keep the team together. 

A teacher must invest in themselves and strive to give the best classes EVERY class. Inspiration is infectious.

Jiu Jitsu is wonderfully dynamic, thought provoking, challenging, and rewarding. You'll have some bad days but your ability to stick through them will define you later. You'll never learn everything in the art (so there is no complaining you'll run out of things to do).

Boredom in Jiu Jitsu is something that is often not spoken of but its just a symptom of other factors. Identify those and go kick ass.

It's worth it. 

 

Black belt Roy Dean

No, You don't need to know every move in Jiu Jitsu

Its 2017 and with the click of a mouse, you can access You Tube and have millions of Jiu Jitsu videos at your finger tips. All you need to do is  enter your question in the search bar and you'll get a solution. Simple Right? Maybe not-in fact, maybe its information overload.

Every year I see new moves coming from Jiu Jitsu. Or I see old moves making a resurgence and taking our community by storm. People frantically want to learn counters to these moves as soon as they go viral and everyone is talking about them on facebook or reddit.

"You see that move so-and-so did? It was sick. Gotta learn how to defend against that now!"

Well, here is a thought-instead of learning every move out there, how about getting comfortable in your game and the basics. If you are an older guy like me, your passion for learning hasn't stopped but you realize that there is a finite amount of time available to learn 'everything'. So, we focus on developing a game-our game.

Let me explain: Let's say you are a basic guard player and passer. Let's say your x guard game is poor or doesn't exist. You never had the opportunity to learn it or it didn't fit your style for some reason. You are battling against an opponent that knows the x guard and he has you in it. Time slows down and look down to see your legs entangled by his and your sleeve and ankle grabbed.

A quick index through YOUR knowledge base reveals you don't know any specific escapes from this position. What you do know is the concept of base, movement and and leverage. These are the fundamentals in Jiu Jitsu that all must master. You can feel and see that your opponent is trying to upset your balance and kinetically you can feel the legs extending and your base being compromised. You aren't even sure what the follow up will be if you are swept but you know, like chess, a counter move must be devised. You actually can defend well if you know how the body works.

At higher levels its about the CONCEPTS of Jiu Jitsu and not the MOVES in Jiu Jitsu that are important.

When I find myself in a position or submission  that I am either 1)uncomfortable with or 2) unfamiliar with, I always work my way back to position that I do know. Do I have to know all the escapes from x guard for example? No. While it is advantageous to have a solution for every move in Jiu Jitsu, the reality is, you simply will not. That is why you eventually make your way back to a position you do know and then move forward from there.

It doesn't mean that you can't learn a counter to the x guard. It just means that you WILL get caught in something you've never seen before. You can't panic by thinking "I have no answer to this." Your mindset must be "how do I get to a position I do know and impose my game on my opponent?"

Our greatest teacher is when we lose-lose by getting swept or being submitted in practice or competition. We can add counters after we've been exposed to things but we aren't doomed to lose every time we do. Sun Tzu in the art of war states that you must make your enemy fight on your terms-not theirs. So, if you find yourself in deep waters, move back to the shallow end where you are comfortable and then swim out in your own lane.

Do we need Takedowns and Throws in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Brazilain Jiu Jitsu’s relationship with takedowns and throws has changed over the last 50 years. Let me first say that I am an advocate for learning takedowns and throws in Jiu Jitsu but there are is a scenario which makes them a moot point and useless in my opinion.

Let me first tackle why takedowns and throws are important:

1)   Self Defense-universally we can agree that the majority of physical confrontation starts from a standing position. As such, learning to control, throw and avoid being taken down is super important for your self defense tool box. Takedowns and throws utilize both gravity and the hard ground as a weapon. This can render your opponent stunned, unconscious, or suffering from injuries that may stop the fight then and there. There are of course self defense situations where throwing is a moot point-this would    be situations where the fight has started from a downed position or perhaps being   attacked whist seated. But at any case, learning how send someone crashing to the ground MUST be learned by Jiu Jitsu practitioners.

 

2)   Point Oriented Tournaments-if you are fighting in a tournament that gives points for the takedown or throw, you have to learn this skill set. It not only gives you points but will hopefully land you in the top and dominate position to continue the fight. Many a matches are won a throw alone so, again, knowledge of the intricacies of this form is essential. 

3)   Understanding movement on the vertical plane- Takedowns and throws give you a more intimate knowledge of how to move on your feet. In also always you to understand what the Japanese call Kazushi, or balance point, in both you and your opponent. This helps you not get caught ‘flat footed’ and how to move around when being attacked (or attacking).

Now one thing about takedowns and throws, especially against a resisting opponent who knows how to counter is that it can be tremendously tiring.  I’ve seen many a grappling matches remain standing for minutes at a time only to go to the ground when one of the practitioners gasses out and simply gets caught because of the this exhaustion.

Which brings me to the area where the takedown and throw isn’t important in Jiu Jitsu.

The Submission Only Tournament

If you fighting in a Jiu Jitsu competition where it is submission only, that means there are no points for takedowns or any other ‘position’ for that matter. As such, you will see many modern day athletes simply drop to the groud, butt scoot, invert, or open guard their opponent. They forgo the stand up battle because it serves no advantage to them. These athletes are more than comfortable starting on the mat or even in what we would call traditionally inferior positions because they are used to it. They may be very good at sweeps and reversals from this position and get dominate position even though they start ‘down’ or under their opponent.

Many modern matches such as EBI will showcase these grappler that immediately go to ground and get busy because they don’t wish to spend time fighting for a position standing that they think they can get while grounded. They also want to conserve their energy for the fight on the ground rather than standing up for it.

Granted, there are the rare standing submissions that you will see in Submission only competitions that warrants being upright. These may include a jumping guillotine, flying arm bar or triangle or diving leg lock. I’d venture to say that while these are amazing, the percentage of hitting them on an equally trained opponent is very low. Therefore, using the ground as a leverage tool is usually the choice for these grapplers.

Agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear it.

Keep on rolling.

The Jiu Jitsu Story Arc: A Black Belt's Perspective.

In a really 'good' TV series, there is an over arching theme commonly referred to as a 'story arc'. This  theme pervades the entire series regardless of individual stories and adventures that happen during its run on TV. As fate would have it, anything we put time and effort into has a 'stroy arc'.

What's Your story Arc?

You won't know it when you start. You may have a plan or a vision about your journey but your story arc is comprised of numerous  adventures that form an overall feeling in what you do. The arc is only revealed at the 'end' of the journey or each season. And REALLY good and complex stories may have numerous arcs attached to them.

White Belt Arc: Series 1-2

 In the beginning seasons of your adventure, you are introduced to the characters and their reason for being "here". The questions answered in these first couple years are: Who are you? What is your non-jiu jitsu background? Why did you start? What motivates you to train? Who is your instructor and school?

The episodes, while seemingly basic to a more experience audience, are extremely important and formative in your development. You encounter adversaries such as ego, fatigue, disappointment and frustration. You are also introduced to allies like family, leverage, wonderment, joy and confidence. By the end of this stage, the arc is shown how you've grown and stuck it out under extremely difficult circumstances. As you close in on blue belt and you've lost 40% of the people who started with you.

But, you made it and should be proud.
Arc: Against All Odds

Blue Belt Arc: Series 3-4

 If someone were to tune in to your show, they'd know the name of the main characters by now and get an understanding on how they work and interact with one another. At this stage, we see the development of heroes and villains. A few years into your adventure, we start to get a back story on what you do and what you are made of. There are a LOT of characters that die in this series as they are written off for various reasons. In fact, of the people that made it to this stage, only 30 % will survive to see Series 5 and beyond.

Because of other commitments, characters will quit or amicably fade away. Some will realize that the journey is really, really long and can't justify putting the time into it to see it to its completion. Some will become villains and betray their schools or make life decisions that will have them cast out.  The drama in this stage is weekly and always adding to sense of foreboding in the arc.

While there are wondrous and great adventures that happen- its this series that really forges a group together and shows YOU what you are made off.

Arc: Endurance against the Outside (inside) Enemy

Purple Belt Arc: Series 5-7
 This is where we see our favorite characters really move forward in their development. They are respected by the other characters and even the "NPC" (non player characters) in the show. They have shown grit and tenacity to get where they are. Their game is their own and their guidance is sought out by those junior to them.  They end up having numerous mini adventures outside the main arc which further adds to their development.

As a purple belt, you have gotten over the toughest stages so to speak and you know this is a marathon not a sprint. You buckle down and just keep showing up. As a purple belt, you are probably at your most tricky, using the latest and greatest weapons at your disposal. You are a sponge willing to soak up knowledge and learn quickly and are hard to kill off.

This series delves into the character of the purple belt and viewer really gets to see what makes them tick. Its a wonderful series and stage in the journey. Rarely, there will be a 2 part episode where a purple belt loses their way and the effects are felt among all the characters. Each character deals with it differently. The viewer relies on the main characters to keep everything grounded.

Arc: Intellectual, emotional and technical development

Brown Belt Arc: Series 8-10
If you've stuck with the series this long then you know what is involved in the journey. You've seen the best and worst in people. You know the inside jokes and the characters personalities. You've survived pretty much everything from injury to relationship problems to betrayal. But the one thing that won't change is your determination to succeed at the series goal-make it to black belt.

The enemies along the way are more sophisticated and manipulative at this stage. Old foes rear their heads and long dead problems come back to haunt you. Also, guest stars and old allies come to your aide. You may lose one major character in this series but its overall development is strong.

Arc: Advancement, sophistication and old foes and friends.

Black Belt Arc: Series 10+

You are 10+ years into your favorite show. The characters are close friends and steadfast. You look back at all the previous years and understand a greater importance. Loyalty and friendships forged are the real rewards here. You see a simplicity about Jiu Jitsu that wasn't there before. You are an old cowboy, space captain or king/queen that uses wisdom and patience along with cunning and guile to beat whatever comes your way.

The final episodes lead to promotion and and new positions. Some characters go off to start their own series and the rest, like the crew of the Star Trek Enterprise, ride off into the galaxy and continue what they have always done. Movies will be made of them and we gladly sit down and enjoy watching them again, realizing you've missed them, like a warm familiar blanket.

Over-All Arc:
The best way to be okay with the world is be okay with yourself. 
Be there for others. 
Be an example. 
BE YOU.

The Jiu Jitsu Inner Circle

Your Jiu Jitsu Peer Group: The Inner Circle

For the past 30 years, I’ve been involved in this martial arts thing. And for the last 13 years, I’ve been teaching and running my own martial arts academy. It has been a rewarding and eye opening experience, giving me insight into human behavior, business strategies, and emotional and intellectual endeavors of people. One such insight I’ve seen is what I call the “inner circle” phenomenon.

As both an instructor and student of jiu jitsu, I’ve observed and also been apart of an inner circle. I don’t mean to say that an inner circle is an elitist  group but rather, a by-product of what happens when you start training in the art.

We can all remember the first time we stepped on the mats. We recall flailing about, using strength and speed as our only weapons. We remember our heart racing and wondering how that guy/gal tapped us out 10 times in 2 minutes. We hated the feeling of ‘drowning on land’ but for some reason, we kept coming back to class.

We looked around the room and saw the magically beings called “blue belts” that could destroy us without so much as breaking a sweat. Then we looked beyond them, far into the deep waters, and saw purple and brown belts, swimming gracefully yet dangerously, like sharks. Then, further still, we looked at the lone apex predator, the black belt(s), who seemed mythical in their ability to do jiu jitsu.

It was frankly mind blowing. It was daunting. But it was enough to keep you intrigued. So you stuck with it.

In order to keep your sanity and keep you safe, you gathered around other white belts, much like schools of fish do in the ocean, in order to stay alive. As time went on, you noticed more and more of your fellow white belts disappearing. They would simply quit but metaphorically, they were eaten by the countless dangers that abound in the great big sea.

Then, months down the road, you looked around and noticed only a handful of white belts left. These white belts became a family within a family. Sure you heard the higher belts talk about their time as a white belt and that they knew what you were going through but it seemed almost unbelievable when they spoke of it.

No one knows what I am going through –you thought to yourself -except my buddies on the mat (white belts). If we stick together, maybe we can survive this jiu jitsu thing long enough to become a blue belt?!

With that, I’ve seen several friendship bonds form within schools, much like grad glasses in high school or university. The common factor is that these white belts started at the same time so they shared similar experiences.  They could recall “that crazy purple belt who always was at class”. They remembered that giant bald  dude who had that grey gi. They remember that girl with the tattoos who triangled everyone. These common experiences forged mat friendships and made the white belts relate to one another.

These same white belts also grappled the most with one another. They had their own hierarchy within a hierarchy in the school. They’d team up to do private lessons together. They’d compete together at competitions. They’d hang out after class. This built bonds.

I have had 15 cycles of blue belts over the last 13 years at my school. Each group (generation 1, 2,3 through 15 etc…) seemed to forge their own friendships. As those blue belts turned into purple belts, those friendships continued. I have also seen a huge attrition rate between blue and purple belt so those who stuck it out became even tighter.

It is now common to attend weddings, baby showers or just hang out with our trusted jiu jitsu friends. You see, Jiu Jitsu is tough no matter how you cut it. It takes a special kind of person to do it. Or maybe the art makes you special and you stick it out.

One of the by products of Jiu Jitsu knowing how to fight. One of the fundamentals is knowing how to LIVE!

Now, that’s not to say white, blue, purple, brown or black belts can’t/don’t hang out or form bonds. They certainly do. What I am saying is that you never forget your buddy that started at the same time as you. And by the time you reach black belt, the person who sat to your left and to your right, wont be there. You are the 1% and those who are there with you when you reach black belt, will be brethren who know exactly ‘where you grew up.”

If you are a higher belt and you catch yourself telling a story to a white belt that starts like this “I remember when” or “ back in my day”-know that TODAY will be their “I remember when days”.

We all have different experiences that shape our style. Just cherish the bonds you make with those people who started with you and see who crosses the black belt "finish line".

Take care of one another.

Goal Smashing: How Jiu Jitsu Teachers Can Help Students

 As a Jiu Jitsu coach (teacher) and owner of my own academy (school), one of my primary roles is to facilitate and help "goal smashing". Goal Smashing is the process of helping a student meet and then smash a desired outcome. We all have goals but they tend to be as different as the people who set them. As coaches, we are presented with dozens, if not hundreds, of goals by these same people. Some have one goal while others may have a dozen. As such, I need to categorize and file these away.

When I teach, or more specifically deal one on one in class with students, I identify what the current goal is of the student. It may be technique based. It may be health benefits. Weight Loss. Strength gain. Self Defense. Personal betterment. Professional aspirations. The list is vast.

I've learned a lot as a coach and understand that the white belts goals and the brown belt's goals are equally important. Tyically, the newer belts require more time honing those than those of the advanced belts. However, the complexity of some of the goals of the advanced belts may require more sophisticated solutions.

What are some of the current goals of my students? Let me share so you get an idea of what the dynamic is like on the mat for the 'coach'. Its more than just showing up and 'showing a move.' There is a ton of things going on in the background which no one really thinks about.

-How do I get better or work around my injury?
-How do I practice enough to get ready for my belt test?
-I am moving and I am sad leaving my gym family. How do I restart in my new city?
-I need to refine my striking for my jiu jitsu. I need more tools for self defense.
-I want to win competitions and build a resume of success to eventually open up my own academy.
-How to I stay competitive with the younger killers in the gym. Its different being over 40.
-I get anxiety when I roll because everyone comes after me because I am (stronger, better, faster) than the average student. I just want to learn and not have death matches.
-I tap all the time.I don't want to tap all the time.
-How do I become a better teacher?

Then there are goals which some students don't realize they need to tackle and that is where the coach also comes in to help. These include:

-I only go to grappling sessions and avoid technique class.
-I only go to technique class and avoid grappling class.
-I need sensitivity training and must learn to roll light.
-I need to learn when to turn it up and gain aggression when needed.
-I avoid rolling with certain people. I am selective all the time.
-I need to slow down and realize that Rome wasn't built in a day. My goals will come but I can't rush them.
-My GF/BF/Wife/Husband/Partner doesn't understand why I need Jiu Jitsu. How can I let them know.
-I have a ton of excuses why I don't show up to class but seldom tackle the real reason.


Jiu Jitsu is hard. There are so many factors. So many layers to it. When I grapple, I am facing my opponent, myself, the days events, my fatigue, my hunger, my injuries, my mental game. There is so much going on that will effect how we do in any given class. As  teachers we actually sacrifice our own training in order to help our student base. I have zero regret for doing it. I love seeing them succeed. THAT is my payoff.

I'll never be a world class competitor. At 43, and starting later in my journey, that's just they way things are. It isn't important to me. What I want is my students to smash their goals and know that I am here to help them in any way I can to make that happen.

Goals are important. Without them, you float aimlessly in the universal ocean. By your own power, you can steer your own ship....and its nice to have people to help guide along the way. I know I have had those people.

Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it has left you.

How to Use Your Student Base to Grow Your BJJ School

A common topic of conversation among martial art owners around the world is: What is the best way to market my school and get new students? Before I delve into it, I should make a disclaimer: Every city will have different market conditions and challenges. Not everything posted here will blanket all schools. Secondly, this is specifically geared to BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU schools because they seem to offer challenges that other martial arts schools do not (more on this later).

After a dozen years in the trenches teaching and owning my own academy (and having asked owners, read material and attended seminars on marketing), here are some tid bits that I hope will help you prosper in this  very tough business.

Fact: 75% of martial art schools fail within the first 5 years

The first and most important point to make is this: Without students, there is no school. I know this seems like a no brainer statement but it's something that the STUDENTS must also realize. Students at your school, at least the majority, have no idea how difficult owning a BJJ school is. They don't realize the overhead (cost) of running the academy and keeping the doors open. Most think that its an amazing art and the teacher get's to "roll all the time." What an awesome job to just do jiu jitsu huh?

They don't realize that more time is spent on marketing, paper work, paying bills, managing students, paper work, repairing the studio, paying bills, paper work, training...did I mention bills and paper work?

I believe that the student base of a schools has an obligation to help keep the doors open. On a very basic level, its members are a type of  "clan". The only way your students are going to do this is if they: 
-love jiu jitsu
-are loyal
-understand that real world considerations (cost/rent) effect training.
-understand that if there are no new students, the doors close and they will loose their training environment.

There are of course many different ways to market your school but I have noticed that in BJJ schools, word of mouth is the most important.

Your Students and Word of Mouth

There is an interesting thing that happens with word of mouth in BJJ and there is typically a short window of opportunity to capitalize on it. When a NEW student starts at your school, they will be nervous . It takes a lot to walk through those doors for the first time. After a few weeks, they will realize how awesome jiu jitsu is and will want to share their new found hobby with everyone they know. There is a window of about 6 months to a year which you need to really push incentives to get them to bring in new friends. Because after this, there is a change.

What's the change? 

They figure out that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is VOODOO, the most awesome thing ever and they don't want to share it with the rest of the world. They want to hoard it, keep it to themselves. They realize the power it has and the no nonsense approach it brings to martial arts. Its a weird selfish thing really and you can't blame them. This usually goes on for a few years in blue belt (typically, there are always exceptions).

Then, by the time they get out of the selfish stage of "THIS IS MINE", they realize they want to go back to promoting it. However, by this stage, they have asked and told all their friends about this "Jiu Jitsu thing". They've exhausted their circle of influence and everyone who knows them is sick of hearing about "Jiu Jitsu". While these high blues and purples are the best ones to talk about BJJ, not many are willing to listen. 

At Brown Belt, the student is into the self discovery stage and are simply on a path to explore BJJ and its levels. By Black Belt, you'll speak to everyone again and ask facebook groups "how do I get students in my school? What's the best way?" It's a strange little cycle that I've seen over and over again.

So, when is the best time for students to help spread the word?

The first year of Jiu Jitsu TYPICALLY. There are, of course, super star students that always promote, but this is the exception to the rule (and this is why you must work at changing the mindset in you school to everyone).

There are ways to offer incentives to these people. There are no trade secrets in the martial art business. It comes down to hard work and understanding of your MARKET. If one of your students brings in a friend and their friend signs up for a year, give that promoting student a free month of training (it's already off set by the new student). If they bring in 6 students who sign up, give them a year free training. This type of marketing works well on a select group-those naturally good at SALES. They may tell their friends or co workers that Jiu Jitsu is amazing self defense, a great work out, a way to compete...whatever it is, they know how to sell it to their circle and they should be rewarded for it.

This doesn't work for everyone because some people have small friend or work circles. They may be shy. They may have no interest in sharing. You have to accept this but your job as an instructor is to INSPIRE your students. 

You must realize that everyone trains for different reasons. If you always push competition/sport training, you will ostracize those who want self defense training or just casual training (or a social aspect). Same goes if you are just "street self defense"-you close the door on those who want to compete. There are obviously cross overs and some like doing it for many reasons but don't limit your market potential as being known as "one type of school." Sure you may EXCEL in one area, but don't slam the door on the others.

Reasons for training:
-confidence building
-competition or sport fulfillment 
-self defense
-social interaction
-martial art interest
-hybrid reasons or others not listed above

The Challenges of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The mat doesn't lie. This is a common phrase that you will hear BJJ practitioners use. It means that there is no bullshitting when the rubber hits the road. Your skill set in BJJ is related to how well you do in actual sparing (otherwise known as grappling, rolling, fighting) on the mat in class. BJJ doesn't have long katas. There are no breaking of boards. It doesn't need flexibility, strength or size to work (but these will help of course). It's through sweat and thousands of repetitions  that makes it work. It's being tested by an opponent who won't just roll over or throw themselves "because it looks good and that's what you are supposed to do". 

When you grapple (wrestle for lack of a better term) with your fellow students in BJJ, you are trying to submit one another. This means you can go 100% without turning into a punch drunk dummy. BJJ acid tests everything. If it doesn't work against a resisting opponent, it's thrown out-period. 80% of martial arts today don't do that and still work on outdated training methodologies. There are of course other arts that share BJJ training ideas like judo, catch, sambo, some styles of JJJ, MMA (there are others but I'll leave it at this group for my purposes).

You may have people walk through your door looking to break boards or learn the death touch. You need to respectfully educate this new person with knowing what Jiu Jitsu is and how it differs from other arts. You need to set up a safe and good first experience on the mat. I HIGHLY suggest teaming up a new student with a good blue belt for their first class. They will be partners and the new student will be taken care of during class. DON'T match up two newbies together unless you want to blind leading the blind or injuries to happen. The new student MUST feel comfortable.

You need to realize that BJJ is uncomfortable for MOST people because it is a grappling art that has no qualms about breaking personal space. That is why karate and TKD schools do so well with most people. The non space invading, striking distance approach appeals to most people. They only know what they have seen on movies. When they see a board break, they equate that to fighting skill in the real word. But, when they get held, wrestled, and smothered in real life, they realize how horrible it is. When a grappler gets a hold of you, its like drowning on dry land.

Therefore, it takes time to get people used to this. The funny thing is, kids do really well with grappling because they have a natural propensity to wrestle.

How Long to Get a Black Belt??!!?

BJJ takes a long time to master. This is why so many quit. When most arts are giving black belts after 3 years, in BJJ, you are still a blue belt with an average of 7 more years to go until you become a black belt. 10 years doing an art where you get smashed, humbled, and rolled up takes it's toll on people. But the PAY OFF is that you gain real confidence, learn an amazing life style, meet wonderful people and understand why it is important to take time.

How the Owner can spread the Word

I've talked about the responsibility of the student in help promoting the school but the owner needs to to do his/her part. Depending on where you are in your martial art ownership journey (first year or 10th?), you may want to expand your circle to you local community college or university. This is a captive audience. Most colleges and universities have sport and rec programs. And most have martial art ones. I would strongly suggest checking out your local scene and contact the people in charge of these programs and get on board. Typically, these programs work on a semester basis and the classes taught there are once a week (12 weeks). 

University BJJ classes are a great intro. You may teach them or have one of your senior students do it. The university will pay the instructor but you need to get a minimum amount of students first. The school will post a description on their website and in their rec book about it but you will need to print up posters and plaster them around campus. You'll also need  to attend the frosh week (or whatever it is called in your city) and set up a booth with JIU JITSU stuff so you can be visible for campus students.

University programs will on average pull 20-30 % to you main school (because you've wowed them with the wonders of BJJ.) That a pretty good return rate. And you'll get about a 30-40 % return for the next semester, IF YOU TEACH right (that's a whole different article). Keep you classes at the university simple and do basics. Invite them to your home academy on week so they can meet the rest of the student base. Be friendly and approachable. Ditch the stoic martial artist/ fighter attitude (if you have it). Cater the the AVERAGE person and make them bad ass!

I hope this helped a bit. Its a huge topic which I will re visit again I am sure.

Roll on!

-AK

Check out these awesome resources for Jiu Jitsu:

Jiu Jitsu Global Federation
Keith Owen BJJ Moves or Blog
White Belt BJJ
BJJ Videos Online