Are you on the fence about joining a BJJ gym because the courses are taught by a blue belt? Or, as a blue belt, are you considering teaching or founding your own gym?
Then keep reading to find out whether or not a blue belt holds the required skills to be a successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor.
Can A BJJ Blue Belt Teach?
Jiu-Jitsu may be taught by a BJJ blue belt, especially for beginner and children’s classes, however, this is not the ideal situation.
Numerous blue belts have only been training for a few years and lack the required skills and knowledge to instruct. In general, a coach with a black belt will be more effective.
Lack of knowledge and experience is the major issue with a blue belt coaching BJJ. In some gyms, blue belts are awarded after one year of training, however, the majority of students acquire their belts in two years.
This is a rather short period of time, which is why blue belts are regarded to be lower intermediate-level practitioners.
Although blue belts have a basic grasp of the concepts and principles of BJJ, they have much more to learn about the discipline.
There are several stances and submissions unfamiliar to blue belts. Blue belts also regularly make serious mistakes, and it is not uncommon for them to struggle with basic techniques on occasion.
This lack of knowledge and inability to perform some techniques successfully leaves blue belts in an uncomfortable position to train students. After all, would you be interested in learning a skill from a teacher who started just two years before you? Probably not.
However, while a brand-new blue belt is typically unsuited to coach BJJ, certain blue belts with substantial experience are more than prepared to do so.
There are blue belts who have trained for at least five years, especially athletes who began training when they were young. These blue belts are exceedingly qualified to coach advanced Jiu-Jitsu students.
Blue belts are often the most qualified to conduct beginner and children’s lessons. As blue belts possess strong foundations and have acquired them more recently than senior teachers, they are capable of serving as very effective instructors.
Blue belts are more than capable of instructing beginners on the basics, such as the hip escape, forward roll, close guard, and fundamental submissions.
Am I Authorized As A Blue Belt To Operate A BJJ Gym?
It can be difficult for a blue belt to create a BJJ school, but you should do so if there is little competition in the area, you are confident you can attract enough students, and you possess the essential teaching abilities.
When considering managing a gym as a blue belt, competition is the most crucial factor. If there are several black belt run BJJ schools in your area, your prospects of success as a blue belt run school are low.
After all, why would a new student choose your club over a well-established, high-level gym that has efficiently trained athletes for years?
If there is heavy competition in your location and you are determined to open a school, you must devise a plan to set yourself apart from your competitors.
This might be a membership discount, the creation of a unique culture, or the supply of services not given by other gyms, such as diet and strength conditioning plans, free yoga sessions, etc.
The second essential factor is demand. Will you, as a blue belt, be able to get enough students willing to train at your gym based on your location?
You must establish the minimum number of students necessary to break even and reach your desired profit aim. You should proceed if you are confident in your ability to recruit and retain students despite your lack of BJJ knowledge.
Should I Train In A BJJ Gym With A Blue Belt Instructor?
If the blue belt instructor has at least four years of BJJ experience, teaching expertise, and you appreciate the ambiance of the gym, you can practice there if you want to.
However, due to the instructor’s significant expertise, it is generally better to learn in a local gym with a black belt instructor.
Do not lose faith if you discover a BJJ school led by a BJJ blue belt when searching for a school. Ask the coach how long the athletes have been training and enquire about their competitive performance.
If they have four or more years of experience, you should be able to learn the basics from them. If they have outstanding competition achievements, such as competing at the Blue Belt World Championships, they will be able to teach you more than simply the basics.
Additionally, you should enquire about their skill growth. Many blue belt teachers frequently welcome black and brown belts to their school and club. Also, they will travel to other facilities for top training.
If your blue belt teacher hardly trains with higher belts, this is a red flag and you should consider joining a different club.
Price and location are other factors that must be taken into account. If you are on a limited budget and the blue belt-operated BJJ school is much cheaper than the black belt-operated school, you should practice at an inexpensive gym.
There is no reason to put yourself under a financial constraint to train at an elite Jiu-Jitsu academy.
The likelihood of going to a fitness center increases with proximity. There is no point in joining a school that is far away, even if they are excellent teachers as the chances of routinely attending the gym are low.
If another blue belt operated BJJ facility is easily accessible, you should choose it over a black belt run club with a significant commute.
Summary
It is amazing for a blue belt to maintain a financially successful BJJ gym. However, you must also examine the quality of the service you deliver. You must decide if you possess the essential skills to properly instruct Jiu-Jitsu.
You are accountable for maintaining the martial art’s integrity via proper instruction of new students. If you lack the essential skills and knowledge to educate, you should hire an accomplished Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to teach the classes.
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