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Even before walking through the door for your first day, you first have to decide on a gym that seems right for you. In this blog, we’ll walk through some of the things you should consider when deciding on a new Muay Thai gym, but it really can be applied to any type of martial arts.

If training martial arts is something that you hope to start doing, going to the gym is the best way to start. This is true of jiu-jitsu, boxing, or Muay Thai. It may even be true of any type of workout, from weight training to yoga.

If training martial arts is something that you hope to start doing, going to the gym is the best way to start. This is true of jiu-jitsu, boxing, or Muay Thai. It may even be true of any type of workout, from weight training to yoga.

Getting to the level of black belt is no easy task. Even in the best-case scenario, it takes between one and two years to advance from one belt to the next, and those who reach the level of black belt typically have dedicated close to a decade to their jiu-jitsu training. 

Learning a martial art takes time. While it may be easy to learn a single move or a few techniques to defend yourself in the event of an altercation, developing a systematic knowledge of self-defense and really learning the mechanics and dynamics of a fight is a lifelong process. However, how quickly you become good is not solely a function of how much time you can devote to training. It’s also about learning how to train efficiently and effectively.

Which martial art best prepares you for a street fight? It’s a question that comes up in any discussion about martial arts and it’s been debated endlessly for hundreds of years. No surprise, it was brought up on Lex Fridman’s podcast during an interview with John Danaher, who is often considered to be one of the best coaches in jiu-jitsu and MMA fighting.

Cleanliness is vital when you practice martial arts. True, sweating is part of the equation whenever you have a tough workout, and very few people walk off the mat smelling like a rose. However, you should still try to take preventative measures to keep you and your gear fresh. 

Like any martial art, Muay Thai will teach you how to defend yourself. Unlike jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai focuses on striking rather than ground fighting, which makes it an excellent complement to someone who is training jiu-jitsu but wants to be a more well-rounded fighter.

There are numerous reasons why someone may decide to take a martial arts class, but the most common one is that a person wants to learn how to defend themselves should they get into an altercation with another person. Jiu-jitsu classes will teach you how to do this. 

Verbal bullying is the most common type of bullying. As many as 77% of students may experience verbal bullying, which may come in the form of taunting, teasing, or spreading rumors.

A lot of readers may be familiar with Ryan Hall. Known within the world of mixed martial arts and jiu-jitsu as the “The Wizard” because of his submission skills, Ryan is also well respected because of his intelligence, his humility, and how quickly he rose to the elite level. In only three years, Ryan went from being a white belt to a serious contender in some of the world’s biggest jiu-jitsu tournaments.

Even during your first jiu-jitsu class, you will hear about the importance of “jiu-jitsu fundamentals” frequently. 

Getting to the level of expert in anything requires years of practice and discipline. It is true for anyone who wants to obtain a black belt in jiu-jitsu or become a virtuoso musician. Part of the reason why it takes so long is because learning these skills requires multiple types of knowledge to establish expertise.

At its core, jiu-jitsu is based on two overarching principles: survival and efficiency. Both of these principles inform the strategies and moves of jiu-jitsu, but it should be remembered that efficiency is secondary to survival. Efficiency is the best means of survival, but it can be sacrificed in cases where an explosive movement will bring an end to the fight and ensure survival. 

The start of your jiu-jitsu journey is electric. Every time you come to class you will feel as though you’ve learned something brand new. After every session, you will feel more confident and more capable of defending yourself. If you are taking classes to also get back into shape, you will feel yourself getting leaner and stronger. You will recognize that you have more endurance. The rapid rate of change is intoxicating.