7 Must-Know Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals for Teachers

For teaching your students, it is vital to be well aware of the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu. Being familiar with the basics of the sport and teaching or training methodologies always helps you in conveying your knowledge in the right way. For jiu-jitsu trainers and teachers, here are 7 of the fundamentals of the training course of action. Learning these fundamentals will help you to be a better teacher and get better results.

A trainer must be able to develop the motivation ability so he/she can urge them to make their dreams come true in jiu-jitsu. According to Coral Belt Carlos Gracie Jr., being a teacher, you must be able to identify the passion of your students so that you’re able to motivate them for the achievement they’re longing for. Every student has different objectives and goals for learning BJJ. If you are able to find those objectives, half of your job is done as now you know the jiu-jitsu tools to use to help them meet their goals.

Red belt Rickson Gracie also uses this trick with his students to retain their interest in the sport. He says that he identifies the interests and passions of my students and considers it a key point in the training of any athlete. The motivation for students also depends on the bonding and rapport between the teacher and learner. So, being a teacher, you should be able to develop positive relationships with your students. Something as simple as having individual conversations can help you identify their passions and motivate them to achieve their goals in the BJJ.

Along with the ability to motivate students, self-motivation is also a key aspect that you should not be ignoring. The hunger for learning and adopting new techniques is what we can describe as self-motivation in BJJ teaching. A Jiu-Jitsu trainer must be able to make an intimate investigation to find the path for themselves to accomplish a happier, fuller, and vigorous life. In this regard, you can ask yourself “do I really want to spend my life teaching Jiu-Jitsu”? If the answer is yes, you can be a successful teacher in BJJ with the fullest conviction. Personal satisfaction is of great importance for a teacher to produce more talented students and for professional gratification. So, be adaptable and try to maintain your own motivation to teach your students with more conviction and resilience.

A BJJ teacher is not only required to teach techniques but they are also required to make important and immediate decisions. The more organized and self-determined you are, the better you will be at making decisions.

Ze Beleza who is one of the founding members of The Gracie-Barra academy has made a list of things that an organized teacher must coordinate at the school. Being a teacher, you should be attending team meetings, complying with class schedules and curriculum, coming at least 30 minutes before the start of the class, dressing appropriately, maintaining student records, and following conduct regulations along with asking students to follow them strictly.

A competent jiu-jitsu teacher always has the capability of making decisions with confidence, personality, and firmness. In such scenarios, a pro tip that you can follow is writing down everything in schedule, so that you are aware of each and every event that is going to happen in the dojo throughout the year. This will help you take immediate and confident decisions.

Self-defense is not an aspect that you can ignore at any level when it comes to teaching jiu-jitsu. Being a BJJ trainer, you must be including it in your class programs. According to BJJ training specialists like Ze Beleza, self-defense always helps an instructor in teaching new students who do not have enough fighting practice. Self-defense includes takedowns, submissions, and conditioning of students’ bodies to bring a specific level of fight balance. Gaining that balance helps students in practicing jiu-jitsu. In other words, you should be able to make your students get out of any kind of situations they might face. You have to work through their shyness and help them develop confidence in themselves and their ability. This is what professionals call veneration of the essence of the art to the next generations in the sport.

Transmission of knowledge is also one of the fundamental skills that a Jiu-Jitsu teacher should have. It is a known fact that a good executor might not be a great transmitter. Here you need strong communication skills along with an in-depth knowledge of the art of the BJJ. In other words, you are required to transmit your experience of the sport in clear, understandable and comprehensible ways.

You should not just be creative in teaching but should also be able to persuade students as well as their parents. For example, if the father of an 8-year-old boy is uncertain about enrolling him in your jiu-jitsu institute, you should be able to persuade them of their child’s safety and of their development as an athlete in your class.

This also boils down to ensuring the safety of your students and making boundaries, limitations, restrictions and responsibilities known to each and every individual. If a person is facing an issue in the dojo, they should be able to talk to you about it. Given the authority that comes with being a BJJ instructor, you need to make sure that your students don’t face situations like continued harassment, invasion of personal space, intimidation or bullying in the dojo, etc.

Another thing that also makes a jiu-jitsu teacher perfect is the capability of working in a team environment. You must be able to collaborate with your other team members. It is essential for strategizing classes, techniques, skill development, and a lot of other decision-making aspects. In this regard, respecting the authority of others is also an important thing that being a jiu-jitsu teacher you should have to work on in order to ensure your students work as a team. This teamwork and cooperation should not be limited to just the students, you should also be developing ties with them to create a productive and friendly environment in your classes.

A teacher’s acts have a huge impact on learners. A teacher should be an example/model to follow for their students. Every small thing related to the teacher has a point for the observer. Things like the teacher's posture, attitude, state and cleanliness of Gi and other related equipment are always evaluated even outside the class. So, try to be an example for others with the right actions and body language. Since students idealize and try to imitate their teachers, the best way to teach good habits to your students is by teaching them with your actions.

Understanding and developing these skills can help you be a great teacher in jiu-jitsu. From being able to motivate students to setting yourself as an example for them, each of these fundamental concepts will work to make you an exceptional instructor in the sport who can transmit and pass on their knowledge for others’ benefit.

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