If you have never purchased a BJJ instructional online it can be hard to determine whether or not they are worth your time or money. After all, some of these BJJ instructionals cost hundreds of dollars. That’s equal to the cost of a few months of training at some academies. Of course, some instructionals are not in the hundreds but can still be kinda expensive for most people. So are BJJ instructionals worth it? Or are they simply a waste of time and money?
As long as you choose the right BJJ instructional then they are certainly worth it. Of course, I would not buy BJJ instructionals over spending the money learning at a real BJJ academy. That said, I think BJJ instructionals are worth the money and can help you advance at a much faster pace than going to class alone. Just make sure you purchase an instructional that fits your skill level and is taught by a great teacher.
Of course, not all instructions are of the same quality. I am not saying that you will be satisfied with every BJJ instructional out there. However, if you choose the right courses they can certainly help you get an edge over your competition. Or perhaps help you to advance belt levels at a much faster pace than only going to classes.
Why Some BJJ Instructionals Are Worth Your Time And Money?
There are a ton of reasons someone might want to consider investing in a BJJ instructional. This is true whether you are a new white belt or a black belt who has been practicing for many years. The biggest differences are going to be on which courses you are going to be investing in.
For a white belt, instructionals can help you to understand the basics of BJJ at a much faster pace. Sure you probably have a professor that does a great job at teaching, however, they are only going to have so much time to focus on each student. When you are new to BJJ the basic concepts can be a lot to handle at first.
Often times you might not want to keep asking questions in class simply because you don’t want to be the one holding up the class. That said, the majority of what you are going to learn in your BJJ journey is going to be by going to class and drilling your techniques.
That said, when you have an instructional designed to teach you the basics of BJJ then you can really take your time with each lesson without being worried about slowing down the class. Heck, you can watch one step of the video over and over as many times as you need to.
The downside to the instructionals is that you can’t stop the video and ask the instructor a question. That said, it does allow us to get amazing instruction from some of the best BJJ instructors and players in the world. This is something that many of today’s Black Belts did not have the luxury of when they were first getting started.
Thanks to instructionals and the internet there hasn’t been an easier time to learn BJJ from the greatest minds on the planet. Back in the day, you might have had to move across the country or across the ocean to learn BJJ from the best in the world.
Are BJJ Instructionals Worth It For Advanced Belts?
No matter what your skill levels are BJJ instructionals can still help your game out tremendously. BJJ is constantly evolving and BJJ instructionals are one the best ways to stay up to date with what is going on in the world of BJJ.
There is always something new to learn no matter how long you have been training. Maybe you don’t need to purchase the fundamentals courses but perhaps it’s time for you to finally catch up on your leg lock game.
Staying up to date with BJJ instructionals can also be a great way for many instructors to stay up to date. At the end of the day, there is always something new to learn and there is probably some area that you a likely weak in. Choosing the right instructionals can certainly help the advanced belts just like they can help the white belt.
Why Do BJJ Instructionals Cost So Much Money?
Probably the biggest thing holding you back from purchasing a BJJ instructional is the cost. Many of the programs are hundreds of dollars so I completely understand. That said, these courses are taught by the best instructors on the planet.
These guys are very busy either teaching at their world-famous academy or practicing to become the next world champion. So naturally, their time is pretty precious to them. Though instructionals might seem pricey they are actually created so that people that don’t have as much money can still learn from them.
If you were to get a private lesson from one of these instructors it would cost you a whole lot more money just to get one hour of their time. So by creating an instructional they are able to reach a larger audience with the limited time they have.
Of course, I was not born yesterday and of course, I understand that simply paying to go to class is pushing it on what many people are able to afford. So I am not telling you to sell your dog to buy a BJJ instructional on guard passing.
But if you are serious about BJJ and can skip a few nights out on the town per month then you could probably save up enough money to invest in a course that can truly help your game.
How To Avoid Wasting Your Time and Money On BJJ Instructionals
The best way to avoid wasting your time and money on BJJ instructionals is to first set your priorities straight. How much money are you willing to spend each month or each year on jiu-jitsu education. If you only have enough money to go to class then going to class should be your number one priority.
Outside of BJJ classes, there are a few ways in which you could invest your money to help you advance in BJJ at a faster pace. The two big ones in my opinion would be private lessons and BJJ instructionals.
Both are excellent ways to learn at a faster pace. Though I personally think that private lessons will help you even more than instructionals, I also would say that they are going to cost you more money. Most private lessons are $100 plus per hour of training. That could equate to well over $400 per month if you wanted to do a weekly session.
With that said, BJJ instructionals are probably the cheaper route to take. The best way to make sure you get the most out of your money is by choosing the right instructionals and with the right instructor. If you do this then BJJ instructionals are worth the time and money.
Instructionals are also great at helping you save time as well. Perhaps due to your work schedule, you can only make it to class a few times per week. Though investing in a course won’t completely make up for time out of class it can certainly help.
Choosing The Right Instructionals For You
The best way to make sure a BJJ instructional is going to be worth it for you is by choosing the right course. If you are new to BJJ then you do not want to be wasting your money on anything that is outside of the fundamentals.
On the other hand, if you are more advanced then you might want to purchase a course that helps you to move to the next level or work on a more specific skill. Perhaps you go to an academy that does not teach leg locks. If so, then you might need to rely on outside information to learn these skills.
Or perhaps your academy does not focus on takedowns as much as you would like. In this case, you might consider a BJJ instructional that focuses on takedowns like the Buchecha Take Down System. The point is that if you do not have a specific skill you want to get better at then purchasing a random BJJ instructional might fall short of your expectations.
When learning a specific skill you also want to make sure you pick the right instructor. As we all know there are some BJJ players and instructors that are specifically known as specialists in a certain area of grappling. So choose an instructor that is well known for the skill you want to master.
You will also find that you learn better from certain teaches than others. So choose a course with an instructor that is well known for the skill you want to learn as well as one that you enjoy learning from. It can take some time to see who you relate with but there are some things you can do to better your chances.
Most BJJ instructionals have a free preview or lesson that you can watch before buying the course. Many of them will also have some free videos online that you can find. If you like their free information then you will probably enjoy their courses as well.
To help you avoid wasting your money are BJJ instructional I have created a BJJ Instructional Guide to help you choose the right course for you!
Best BJJ Instructionals For Beginners
If you are a white belt in BJJ then choose an instructional that focuses on the basics. There are a few instructionals that I personally believe are the best to get started with as a BJJ white belt. These are The Foundations Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu By Bernardo Faria and Roy Dean’s Blue Belt Requirements.
The Foundations Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu By Bernardo Faria
Foundations Of Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu is my favorite instructional if you want one course that covers a ton of techniques that you need to master as a white belt and blue belt. Bernardo goes over many techniques in this course with each technique lesson lasting a few minutes or so. I like to think of this as an encyclopedia of techniques that you need to learn to master the basics.
The best part is that it is all covered in on instructional that you can look back to throughout your whole BJJ journey. If you can only invest in one course this is the one I would choose as a white belt or beginner. Read my full review here!
#2 Roy Dean’s Blue Belt Requirements 2.0
For many people, this is their go-to instructional for the basics of BJJ. Roy Dean is great at breaking complicated details in a way that a white belt can understand. He dives into this program with some of the most basic concepts you need to understand. He goes as far as starting this program with learning Ukemi. Which is basically learning how to roll and fall properly.
He also goes over basic takedowns, sweeps, submissions, escapes, and many other foundational techniques of BJJ. It is certainly a program that is worth giving a shot, especially if you are more of a beginner in BJJ.
Check Out The Current Price For Roy Dean’s Blue Belt Requirments 2.0 Here!
BJJ Instructionals Are Worth The Money If You Choose Wisely
Perhaps you looking into buying a course to learn a specific skill. If so then there are a few teachers that I think are probably going to be best for teaching certain skills over others.
BJJ instructionals might not feel like they are worth the money if you do not choose the right course for you.
In my opinion, BJJ instructionals are worth it as long as you purchase the right course for what you are trying to master. For more on this check out my BJJ instructional guide here!