Are you unsure about training in regular BJJ classes? Or looking for some extra individualized instruction to speed up your technical progression? Then private BJJ classes could be your answer. It is time to explore how much you can expect to pay for 1V1 BJJ lessons.
How Much Are Private BJJ Classes?
Private BJJ classes range in price from $50 to $500 an hour. The average price for a private lesson from a BJJ black belt will be between $80 to $120 an hour. Blue and purple belts will charge in the $40 to $80 range while world famous black belts will charge between $200 to $500.
The cost of a BJJ private lesson depends heavily on the reputation and skill level of your coach.
If your coach is a world class black belt then you can expect to pay at least $200 an hour for a private class. While an average black belt will charge between $80 to $120 an hour. Black belts have spent thousands of hours on the mat and likely coached hundreds of students. You are paying for that experience and in-depth knowledge.
Many world class famous black belts get so many requests for private lessons that they increase their coaching rate so high to prevent them being constantly booked out. High level black belts are often busy with their own training that they don’t want to be constantly teaching private lessons.
Marcelo Garcia arguably the best Jiu Jitsu competitor of all time was being overwhelmed with private lesson requests that he kept increasing his prices. He found that the price bump didn’t slow down the eager students, so he eventually stopped teaching privates completely.
Usually the best valued private lessons are those from high level but unknown purple belts. These BJJ practitioners will be able to elevate your game often just as much as some world class black belts, especially if you are a white or blue belt but will charge a fraction of the price. You can get private lessons from purple belts for between $50 to $80 an hour.
If you are a white belt on a budget then find a good deal by hiring a blue belt for private instruction. Some blue belts will only charge $30 but most will charge around $40 to $60 an hour. If you are thinking of booking a private class with a blue belt make sure they are experienced (at least 3 years of training) and ideally have a strong competition record.
Your location influences the cost of your private BJJ class.
If you are from a small town where the cost of living is low and the average salary is modest then you can expect to pay much less for BJJ instruction than if you are from Los Angeles or New York.
You could find great instruction from a purple belt in a small town for $30 an hour. This same purple belt would be charging at least $50 an hour if not more if they lived in a big city.
The price of private BJJ lessons is heavily correlated to the cost of living in your town. If you are looking for a great deal you could consider driving out of your city and seeing what some local small town BJJ athletes are charging, you should be able to get a much better price.
Why Are BJJ Private Lessons So Expensive?
BJJ is a popular sport and there is a high demand for private lessons. As there is a limited supply of high level coaches BJJ lessons are expensive. Many BJJ coaches are full time professionals and rely on lessons to earn a living and therefore charge as much as possible.
BJJ has exploded in popularity in recent years. There are thousands of obsessed BJJ practitioners who are looking to improve and reach their full potential. In their quest for progression many seek out private lessons.
However, as there are limited amounts of black belts, the result is that demand is high while supply is limited. This leads to BJJ private lessons being expensive.
Another big contributing factor is that many BJJ black belts are full time professionals. They derive the majority of their income from teaching BJJ. That leads them to charging as much as the market demand will support, which is currently very high.
You also have to look at the demographics of who is training BJJ. BJJ is largely a middle to upper middle class sport. The average BJJ practitioner is typically in their 30s and a professional.
You often run into lawyers, programmers, engineers, accountants and successful business owners on the BJJ mats. This demographic has substantial amounts of disposable income that keeps demand for BJJ privates strong even if the price is high.
BJJ private lessons will only decrease in price if we see a huge increase in the amount of high level BJJ instructors or we see a major decline in students seeking private classes.
How To Find Cheap BJJ Private Lessons?
You can reduce the price of BJJ private lessons by buying in bulk, if you buy 5 or 10 lessons you can often get a discount. Take the private class with a training partner, this will slash the price in half. You can book lessons with unknown high level purple belts who won’t charge as much as black belts.
The best way to score cheap BJJ lessons is to become friends with high level BJJ athletes. They will then offer to teach you for free or for a nominal amount.
Your next best bet is to work out a long term deal with your BJJ coach. For example if you commit to one private lesson a month for a year then usually your coach will give you a big discount.
Another option is to look for a young high level BJJ athlete who needs some money and hasn’t hit the spotlight. You can often take great BJJ private classes with blue and purple belt competitors and pay 50% less or more than what you would pay for a lesson with a top black belt.
A popular method BJJ practitioners use to reduce the cost of private lessons is to bring a training partner along. Technically this is now a group lesson but if you and your training partner agree to focus on the same techniques you can get lots of private instruction for half the price of a typical private class.
Who Charges The Most For Private BJJ Lessons?
Gordon Ryan and John Danaher both charge between $300 to $500 an hour for private lessons. Both Ryan and Danaher have developed a worldwide reputation for innovative BJJ technique and the demand for their knowledge is high enough to support the high price.
Conclusion
BJJ private lessons are not cheap. On average you can expect to pay between $80 to $120 an hour for a private class with a black belt. You can expect to pay a little less if you book a lesson with a lower belt ($40 to $80 an hour).
BJJ lessons are expensive because the sport has a high number of dedicated practitioners who regularly take private lessons while there is a limited number of high level coaches. BJJ is largely a middle class sport and many practitioners have enough disposable income to afford private classes.
If you are on a budget you should look to schedule a lesson with an up and coming purple belt, buy your lessons in bulk to get a discount or bring a training partner along and split the costs.
