CrossFit Journal Article Reprint.

First Published in CrossFit Journal Issue 67 - March 2008

Getting Started in
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Becca Borawski

a panel of successful jiu-jitsu players to find out their

take on how to start, survive, and succeed at Brazilian
jiu-jitsu. This first article in the series focuses on how to
choose a school and instructor.

My panel of experts
• Jimmy Tang has been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu,
both with and without the traditional gi, for six and
a half years. A frequent tournament competitor,
Jimmy earned his brown belt from Jean Jacques
Machado in 2006.
• Kenny Florian is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter,
Ultimate Fighter contestant, and top contender in
the 155-pound weight division in the UFC. He has
been training Brazilian jiu-jitsu for approximately
eleven years and earned his black belt, in five and a
half years, from Roberta Maia of Gracie Barra.
• Valerie Worthington has been training for nine years.
She earned her purple belt from Carlson Gracie
and Carlson Gracie, Jr. Currently she trains under
Johnny Ramirez and John Ouano at New Breed
Academy (and she CrossFits at Petranek Fitness/
CrossFit Los Angeles). In 2007 Valerie won the
Valerie Worthington (left) at the World Team Trials, July 2007. gold in her weight division at the World Grappling
Games in Antalya, Turkey.
One of the most frequent topics of conversation I seem
• Tait Fletcher trains MMA with Greg Jackson in
to engage in with fellow CrossFitters is about getting
New Mexico and is a veteran of the Ultimate
started in Brazilian jiujitsu. People want to know what
Fighter television show. He has been training for
to expect, how to prepare, how to combine it with
approximately eight years, earning his brown belt
their strength and conditioning training, and how to get
from Eddie Bravo.
better. To help answer these questions, I interviewed

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Getting Started in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued...)
How to choose a school competition experience, and 3) a real understanding
of how to teach BJJ. “If you can’t find someone who
A lot of different factors go into choosing a school to
has it all,” she says, “consider which elements are most
begin your training. It is a good idea to visit multiple
important to you. If you are a rank beginner, it might
schools before committing to one. Think about the
be better to find someone who is considered a good
atmosphere, the experience of the instructor, and the
teacher, even if his competition record is limited or he
composition of the student body. Do not underestimate
is only a purple or brown belt. If you are a higher rank
the importance of the attitude and energy. Says Valerie,
and want to improve your own competition record,
“If there are multiple schools in your area, absolutely try
consider going with someone whose teaching skills are
as many on for size as you can. If you end up becoming
not necessarily noteworthy but who has a reputation
remotely serious about BJJ, you will be spending a lot of
for preparing students well for competition.”
time at the academy you choose, so you want to make
sure it is a place that inspires and energizes you.” The
head of the school sets the tone for the school, and it is
important that the attitude and atmosphere are one you
are comfortable with. “Instructors usually draw people
similar to themselves,” says Tait. “If the instructor is
level headed and friendly most of the students will
follow suit.”
It may even take multiple visits to a school to ascertain
the true feel of the place. If the school is amenable, take
advantage of that opportunity. What you observe in
one visit “may not represent the school or instruction
completely,” states Tait. “Ask questions of yourself
like ‘How helpful are the students?’ ‘Does the named
instructor really teach the classes?’ and go back a few
times to verify whatever your conclusions are.”
One of the first things people look at when choosing a Jimmy Tang goes for a takedown at the American National
school is the head instructor. A common misconception Championships in September 2007.
is that an instructor must
have been a successful
competitor in order to
be a good teacher. Says
Jimmy, “It’s nice to say
your instructor is a World
Champion, but it’s better
to say your instructor has
made world champions.”
Kenny Florian agrees, “Not
every great teacher was a
BJJ world champion.”
Valerie breaks it down
even further, noting three
elements you should look
for in an instructor: 1) a
high belt rank that can be
traced back to a Gracie
or Machado, 2) ample Jimmy Tang at the No-Gi Mundials, December 2007.

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Getting Started in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued...)
Related to this is how the classes incorporate sparring.
If competition is an important aspect of Brazilian jiu- Factors to consider in
jitsu for you, then you should also make sure there is choosing a jiu-jitsu school
a sparring emphasis at the schools you are researching.
Says Jimmy, “Some schools give more sparring time than
others. If you think you like to spar more then just going • Atmosphere
over techniques, some schools may be more geared for • Teaching experience of the instructor
you then others.”
• Belt rank of the instructor
Another factor to consider is the other students • Competition experience of the instructor
with whom you will be training and sparring. A broad
spectrum of belt ranks is the preferable atmosphere. • Range of belt ranks within the student body
“You need the whole spectrum to help improve quickly,” • Broad spectrum of weight classes within the
says Jimmy. “People who aren’t as skilled as you allow student body
you to work on new things. People close to or equal to
• Focused or not focused on competition
your skills let you go all out. People who are significantly
more skilled then you force you to learn how to stay • Focused specifically on BJJ or with a broader
calm and practice defense.” Adds Valerie, “Training with range
upper belts can help you improve your game faster than
training with white belts because the upper belts can
give you constructive feedback the way the instructor women as it is with men, having female teammates
would.” to train with can be a valuable asset. Jimmy explains,
Because Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a match between two “Smaller people and female students help larger men
individuals and is broken down by weight class in practice self control and finesse. You don’t need to out
competition, it is important to consider not only the power a smaller or female opponent.”
experience level of the students but also the physical Being a woman training Brazilian jiu-jitsu comes with its
make-up of the population. “My personal belief,” says own set of challenges. Says Tait, “There will be guys in
Valerie, “is that I can learn something from rolling with class that will take you under their wing, and some will
anyone, regardless of rank or size. If I’m rolling with fear you and consequently be rough with you in an effort
someone smaller or less experienced, I can work on to not get dominated by a woman. You will also know,
attacks or defenses I’m trying to work into my game. If after a few times of training with everyone, who you
I’m rolling with someone bigger or more experienced, want to train with and who you don’t. Your instructor
I may not have a choice about what I’m working must be helpful with navigating these waters.” Valerie
on!” However, size differences among students, and also encourages people to talk with their instructor
instructors, can be both an asset and a potential about the expectations at the academy. Some men may
problem. As Jimmy explains, “Some instructors teach prefer not to roll with women at all, while others may
a lot of guard because they are small. If you’re a large be very helpful. It is important early on to establish
person you might want to take that into consideration. communication and understanding with your teacher to
The instructor might not be able to really give you insight help create a safe and productive training environment.
on being a big person trying to play the top game.” On
the other hand, the struggle of being a smaller person in One thing about martial arts schools some people balk
a sea of large teammates can be stressful, but possibly at is the requirement to sign a contract and commit to
stimulating. Says Tait, “In my experience, smaller people being a member for a period of time. In regards to this,
who are tenacious get better quicker. They must. The Kenny asks, “Do you want to learn a little or a lot? You
pressure of fighting against bigger, stronger opponents should expect to dedicate yourself for at least a year
gives a quick learning curve.” Ultimately, like belt rank, to two years before you give up on it. Mastery takes a
the best teammate situation would include a wide range lifetime.” Valerie concurs, “BJJ turns out to be a long-
of body sizes. term commitment. Most people who train regularly are
serious about it and are in it for the long haul. We’re
Similarly, while Brazilian jiu-jitsu is not as popular with

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Getting Started in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued...)
talking many, many years. So don’t be surprised if a go to an MMA school. You want to learn to grapple? Go
school requires you to sign a year-long contract.” Many to a BJJ school.”
schools offer shorter trial memberships for newer
In the end, your choice of a school will be dependent
students and longer contracts with price breaks for
on how you personally prioritize all these factors.
students who know they are set on mastering the art.
Ultimately, however, the most important part of all is
Says Valerie, “If you can sign up for a month to try it out
that you have a good feeling about the school and that
and then make a longer-term decision after that, that
it is a positive place for you to train and learn. Try out
would give you some time to figure out whether BJJ is
different schools and see which one resonates with
really for you.”
you. “Don’t underestimate the ‘feel’ of the place,” says
Many people shopping for BJJ schools are not really Valerie. “If there is something about the environment
after just jiu-jitsu training. With the popularity of that makes you uncomfortable, listen to it, even if you
MMA fighting exploding in recent years, there will be can’t explain it. This doesn’t mean that there is anything
schools out there specializing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrong with the academy, just that it may not be the
others offering striking, wrestling, and grappling all right place for you.”
under one roof. As an experienced MMA fighter, Tait
offers this advice: “People need to start in one place.
Learning three disciplines at once will be frustrating
and counterproductive. To start in a grappling class and
focus mainly on that is key to success and longevity.”
Jimmy concurs, “I think MMA schools help you become
good at the three ranges, but you will never master
anything. I like MMA, but I love BJJ. Find out what you
want to do. If you want to do MMA, then by all means,

Becca Borawski teaches and trains at Petranek

Fitness/CrossFit Los Angeles in Santa Monica. She
has a master’s degree in film from the University
of Southern California and a background in
martial arts training. She has blended these skills
together to produce DVDs and build websites
for professional fighters. Her main job is as the
music editor on the TV show Scrubs and she
currently trains jiu-jitsu under Eddie Bravo at
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Hollywood.

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