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What I Would Look For In A Gym
If you have never trained Jiu-Jitsu, you will unfortunately look for a gym based on location and price. You won’t know enough to decide if the price is worth it or even if the distance is worth it.
In some cases, it might actually make more sense to travel an extra five to ten minutes or pay a little more for a better experience and environment.
As someone who’s been in the sport and culture, these are the things that I tell friends to look for if they are thinking for a gym for the first time.
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Pay Attention To The Vibe
Trust your gut, even if you’re new to Jiu-Jitsu. The same feelings that you would rely on at a bar, a traditional gym, or even the work place apply here. Ask yourself, how does the gym make you feel. Were they attentive when you contacted them? Did they greet you warmly when you walked through the door for the first time.
How does the energy of the room feel?
The vibe check is going to be different for everyone. Someone might like a more intense environment while someone else wants it to feel more casual. No matter how popular a gym looks when you walk in, the fit has to feel right for you as the customer and potential student.
Pay Attention To the Following:
What does the vibe feel like?
Is it structured or a mess?
Are people helping each other?
Does it feel cliquish?
The Instructor’s Energy
I’ve been in rooms where students pucker at the sight of their instructor. It’s the weirdest thing to see, adults getting tense being around someone they pay to train from.
My favorite instructors all had an easy going personality. Warm and inviting, with the ability to make others feel at ease.
The way an instructor speaks to the most inexperienced students is a massive tell for me on if I want to learn from them or not.
Does It Feel..
Like the students are happy to see the instructor?
Like the room gets tense when they are around?
He or she is patient with their students?
Things to ask..
How does the gym approach beginners?
Do you allow for cross training?
How are promotions handled?
How do you handle students who cross boundaries?
Structure and Safety
Some gyms will have rules of some kind posted somewhere. Occasionally in the locker room and sometimes in the matted or waiting area. They’ll have explicit rules like no slamming or not jumping guard of any kind, along with a few others.
As a potential client, they should notify you of all rules; no shoes on the mats or no bare feet in the locker rooms and bathrooms.
Not all gyms do this but when a gym gives you a handout or electronic copy of the gym’s etiquette, rules, and standards, it puts me at ease. One step further, I love hearing when an instructor verbalizes it as a reminder during class.
If the technique we’re drilling can lead to serious injury, I appreciate it when the instructor warns students about watching their weight and necessary controls. It reinforces the seriousness of what we do and the responsibility that we all have while training.
I personally remind students before sparring, “Please be careful, watch yourselves, we don’t want any injuries.” When I see a group that’s getting close to the edge or when two groups are starting to converge into the same area, I’ll often say, “Please watch the edge of the mat” or “Please watch your spacing.”
Again, it’s my responsibility to remind everyone of how important it is to keep safety in mind at all times.
Ask about..
How and how often are the mats cleaned?
What’s the protocols when a student is injured?
Culture And Identity
Every gym has an identity. Some cater heavier to professional grapplers, others are almost strictly for the hobbyist. It’s important to identity what they serves best and what you’re looking for.
With that said, that might even change over time. The best gyms have the ability to provide for both in some way.
The gym that I train out of for example is more of a working person’s gym. Adults who have full time jobs and family, but love the sport and want to get some hard training in.
Things to ask..
What’s gym known for?
What’s the average age for adults in this gym?
Diversity of Culture
Anytime I visit a gym I look at two major things. How clean and looked after the gym is and the people there.
I want to see a collection of different types of students. I want to be able to see women on the mats, and students of varying ages. As someone who’s almost forty-five, I want to see a good number of older grapplers.
If someone is in their twenties and looking to be a major competitor, they might want to see a younger and hungrier demographic, which is completely fine.
Final Thoughts
We all have different interests and goals for Jiu-Jitsu. Go into each gym that you’re going to do a trial at with eyes wide open. Ask all the questions that you can come up with, both of the instructors and the students. Take your time and visit as many places as you can.
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Thank you for reading.
David Figueroa-Martinez
Founder, DFM Coaching
Coach | Writer | Grappler
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Choke Point Chronicles is where strategy meets storytelling. Each post explores the tactics, psychology, and culture of Jiu-Jitsu, written for students and coaches who want to train with intention and think deeper about the art.
DFM Coaching is dedicated to helping you overcome mental hurdles and achieve your full potential in BJJ. Whether through in-person instruction, seminars, private lessons, remote coaching, or video analysis, I provide personalized support tailored to your needs. Keep pushing forward, and let’s grow together!