Is Jiu-Jitsu Worth the Cost?

Joining a jiu-jitsu gym can become a significant investment, which is why many prospective practitioners have a difficult time understanding whether jiu-jitsu is worth the cost for them.

Generally, jiu-jitsu gyms will charge a monthly fee. That fee can vary drastically but will typically be $100 or more. Knowing if that fee is fair depends on the overall quality of the gym. As such, you need to know how to evaluate a jiu-jitsu gym before you can know if the value it offers matches the price it asks.  

The following article is meant to give you a better understanding of jiu-jitsu gym membership costs. We'll also spend some time giving you some insights that will help you know if those costs are worth it.

How Much Does It Cost to Join a Jiu-Jitsu Gym?

As we mentioned in the introduction, most jiu-jitsu gym memberships will cost at least 100 dollars. It is rare to find a monthly figure lower than that when searching for a new gym. Likewise, some gyms may charge significantly more. At times, a monthly membership can cost several hundred dollars.

Typically, these monthly fees give you the freedom to attend any class you like. However, that is not the case for all gyms, as some may permit you to attend a set number of classes per week or month based on the fee you pay.

Additionally, some gyms deviate from the standard monthly fee that is popular in most places. These gyms may offer specific membership packages or promotional offerings.

All these price estimates are nothing more than an indication of what you can expect to pay for a jiu-jitsu gym membership. The only way to know the precise amount a gym in your area may charge is to speak with the gym owner or those who currently attend the gym.

How to Decide if a Jiu-Jitsu Gym is Right for You

It's fair to say that gym membership costs can fluctuate greatly in the jiu-jitsu community. Since these prices can change based on numerous factors that are out of your control, the wiser approach is to understand how to evaluate a jiu-jitsu gym's quality before you commit to a membership.

As is true for any significant purchase you make in your life, you need to know how to measure the value of what you are purchasing against the price you'll need to pay to get it. We've identified five key factors that will help you decide if a jiu-jitsu gym is worth the cost and if it is the right pick for you.

Instruction Quality

Arguably, the most important element of a jiu-jitsu gym is its instruction quality. After all, without a knowledgeable instructor, it's incredibly difficult to make progress in jiu-jitsu or any other martial art. The problem is that every gym owner will claim that their gym has a well-qualified instructor that is equally or more capable than any other in the area. Obviously, this cannot always be the case.

Often, instructors may point to one of several traits or experiences that prove their instruction quality. Their proof may include an impressive lineage, extensive competition experience, or simply many years of training and teaching jiu-jitsu. However, none of these seemingly admirable achievements guarantees that an instructor will be well-equipped to teach you well.

Don't assume that an instructor is of high quality based on what they or their friends may boast. Instead, you should evaluate instructors by their teaching style. It's often smart to try a class before you buy to get a better feel for what a gym and its instructors have to offer. While there are few substitutes for pure experience, teaching ability is most important.  

If you feel that an instructor has an effective teaching style and one that can work well for you personally, then they may be the right instructor for you. If a gym lacks such instruction, don't expect to make efficient progress on your jiu-jitsu journey.

Training Partners and Community

Next to the instructor, the other members that attend a jiu-jitsu gym will have the most influence over how much you enjoy training there. Ideally, you'll want to find a gym that is already full of positive training partners that are ready to exchange ideas with you and help you improve your skills in a collaborative and supportive way.

It's also important to consider the overall community and atmosphere that a gym and its member create. You'll want to find a gym with a welcoming environment that makes you look forward to attending class. While community building does not have a direct translation to your technical improvement, it can motivate you to get better and develop beneficial relationships with your training partners.

Class Schedule

If you find a gym with a fantastic instructor and group of current members, you're on your way to settling on your next great training location. Now, it's time to consider some more logistical aspects of deciding if a gym is right for you.

At this point, you should begin to study the gym's training schedule and see how well it fits with your current life and responsibilities. Even if a gym has great instructors and training partners, it will not benefit you if there are no or few classes that fit with your schedule.

If you want to improve quickly, you'll want to establish a regular training schedule in which you train multiple times per week. Make sure that the gym you're evaluating can provide training times that you can regularly attend to ensure you get the most out of your membership fee.

Gym Location

Location is critical when selecting a new jiu-jitsu gym to join. Make sure that the gyms you consider are within a reasonable distance from where you live and work. Otherwise, you may find a surprising lack of motivation to attend class if it involves traveling a significant distance.

For some, there may be just one gym in your area. If that is the case, then location is not something that you have much control over. But if there are multiple gyms nearby, the proximity of those gyms should play a role in which one you choose.

Personal Training Goals

The last factor you should consider when deciding if a gym is worth the cost is whether that gym aligns with your personal training goals. As you explore the jiu-jitsu community, you'll find that some gyms have different main focuses than others.

While some gyms focus on competition training, others may promote self-defense practice. Other gyms also may have a strong preference for gi or no-gi training. What's most important here is picking a gym that offers what you are looking for. If it doesn't, there's a strong chance it won't be worth your money.

Conclusion

There are a lot of factors to consider when joining a new jiu-jitsu gym, and the cost is chief among them. We hope that this article gives you a better idea of what you can expect to pay when joining a gym and whether the cost of jiu-jitsu is worth it for you.