Updated
Your first few Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes can leave you with plenty of questions. Which details should you remember? What should you work on next? How do you know whether you are improving?
You do not need a complicated training plan. These five BJJ beginner tips give you something practical to try during your first month, whether you are starting in Singapore or returning after a break.
If you have not attended a class yet, start with our guide to what to expect in your first BJJ class. It covers clothing, class structure and common first-time questions.
1. Give each drill one clear focus
After a demonstration, it is easy to remember the final movement and forget how the coach got there. Before starting, check the position you and your partner should be in and what the drill is trying to achieve.
Choose one detail from the demonstration to pay attention to during your repetitions. That might be the starting grip or the order of two movements. Follow the whole instruction, but use that detail as a reminder when you lose your place.
Try this next class: Before your first repetition, tell your partner what you think the starting position is. If you disagree, ask the coach to check.
2. Ask about the moment you got stuck
“I cannot do this technique” is an understandable reaction, but it gives your coach little information. A specific question makes it easier to identify what needs attention.
For example: “I can get to this position, but I lose my balance when I move my hand. What should I check?” Show the point where things stop making sense rather than trying to describe the entire sequence from memory.
Try this next class: Bring the coach one question about the movement you are practising. After the explanation, repeat it back in your own words to check your understanding.
3. Agree on the purpose of partner practice
Repeating a movement and practising against resistance are different tasks. Follow the coach’s instructions for the exercise rather than guessing how difficult you should make it for each other.
If you or your partner is unsure, pause and ask. Clear communication makes it easier to practise the intended lesson. If the pace feels too high, say so; you can stop and get help. Always respect a tap immediately.
Try this next class: Before a new exercise, check whose turn it is and what each person is meant to do. A quick conversation can prevent several confused repetitions.
4. Put your next class in the diary
A training routine needs to fit around the rest of your week. Think about the journey to the academy, work or family commitments, and enough time to arrive without rushing.
Choose a class you can realistically attend, then prepare your bag beforehand. If you miss a session, choose your next manageable date rather than trying to squeeze several extra classes into an already busy week. Discuss a suitable training pace with your coach.
Try this week: Check the current East Coast and Katong timetable or Novena timetable and choose your next session.
5. Keep a two-minute note after class
Give yourself a small record to return to before your next session. A note on your phone or a few lines in a notebook is enough:
- What did we practise?
- Which detail helped me understand it?
- What would I like to ask next time?
Use your own words. The aim is to make the lesson easier to recall, not to produce a perfect technical explanation. At the end of the month, look back for questions you can now answer or instructions that have become more familiar.
Try this after class: Write down one useful detail before you head home. Read it again before your next session.
Choose one habit for your next class
You do not need to apply all five tips at once. Pick the one that would make your next session clearer: a focused drill, a specific question, a conversation with your partner, a diary entry or a short note afterwards.
If you are still choosing where to begin, explore adult BJJ at The Gentle Art Academy and the trial options at our East Coast (Katong) and Novena academies.
