Private Lessons VS Group Classes in BJJ (Which is Better for Skill Growth?)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ม.ค. 2022
- Are private lessons or group classes better for BJJ training? This is the basic question I'll chat with you about in today's video.
The question comes from Marc who asked me if I was faced with a scenario where I could only choose 1, either group classes or only private lessons, which one would I choose.
And in the video, I'll explain my choice and what I think of group classes vs private lessons in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Thanks for watching.
-Chewy
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For me privates really helped me get a base understanding. Now I'm happy with group classes. Some of us are slow learners and need a bit more attention at the start
Exactly and a group at first is just distracting.
Nice! One on one time with my coach definitely helps, since I have a learning disability
I do privates all the time. They are so beneficial to me. The little details you get you normally don’t get
I think that doing both would have a lot more benefits, not only in BJJ, but in general. Sparring with the same person, if the person is really much better than you, can give you increasing levels of challenges, however, sparring with people from all skills levels also is a great benefit because you may sometimes be the teacher and really learn more how to see all openings, rather than the ones that your private instructors may or may not show.
Lol. I appreciate the name of your channel man.
@@EndrChe Thanks :) One day I will start making videos too :)
Even more importantly, you will get used to people with different styles and approaches.
The level of skill of your opponent is not the only thing to be mindful of.
@@shredgod6394 Definitely, there is much more that can be added, I am sure :)
During COVID lockdowns, my gym was closed for months, but I was able to do private lessons. The coach recommended that I have a buddy do the lessons with me. For me during that time, it was pretty great. I could learn new techniques and fine-tune existing ones, then roll live. Still not an adequate replacement for multiple rolling partners since you only progress in rolling with one partner/style, but I feel my skills in certain areas progressed significantly. I'd recommend a buddy to anyone who's thinking about doing more private lessons.
Group all the way, but I like doing private classes followed immediately by group classes. Tomorrow, for instance, I’m going in for the private from 9am-10, then 10-11ish is the group. I like that I can try to apply what was taught in the private class right away. 👍🏾
10 month white belt.
As a relatively new student of jiujitsu I love your content. Just feels that you’re so in touch with the newbies and you really appreciate that struggle. Thank you for the content
I was told way back when that there's benefit to doing both.
Group classes are where you develop 90% of your skillset. While private lessons are more important for "fine-tuning" your skills.
In other words - group classes are "learning how to use a knife," while private lessons is to techniques to "sharpen the knife".
Not to mention the cost side of things too! :)
Private students should progress faster than group class students if taught correctly.
I agree with you saying that private lessons have their place. I'd go one further and say they are probably not going to be worth the time/money investment until closer to the end of blue and the following belts. When you start to develop a game and run into problems or notice holes in your game. As a white/ early blue your still learning so much that your better off just showing up to as many group classes as you can. Just my thoughts.
I use them to get ready for competitions as a white belt for the last 4 years lol I did 6 months when I first started got to 4 stripe white belt. Then decided I hated the gi and only did NoGi grappling for 3 years. I did also do a bunch of mma and kickboxing. My grappling was starting to suck so I signed up for competition then did 3 classes a week, 1 open mat weekly and 2 privates a week getting ready for comp.
Now my striking is falling behind lol
@@shawnmartin1306 ya that's another good use. Much easier when you have a specific goal in mind....training in other areas probably helps get more out of it as well vs someone who's only tried BJJ for a short time and nothing else.
Private lessons should accelerate you faster than group class students. Private lessons mean your instructor doesn't need to dumb things down as if it's your first time.
When I was a white belt, private lessons helped me click on some things. When the instructor taught us in a group class on the rolling back take, I had trouble doing it and was struggling mightily on it. When I did a private with him, we were doing something else but somehow it led to him showing me the rolling back take. I was finally able to consistently do it because the instructor was giving me more attention and broke things down so it made doing the move much easier.
If you come to the scene as an athlete and are strong and fit with a limited window to train privates are good! Just make sure you hit at least one open mat per week to get experience rolling with as many people as possible. If you only do privates it will take forever to build your game.
Chewy! Love your videos. 1 week into bjj! You’ve inspired me!
3 months for me hope you keep it up!
@@DouglasCarter69 you too! OSS
@@DouglasCarter69 Congrats to you both. Remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. :-)
Great video Chewy . I love the value of the private lessons. They do have their place. For myself I feel like they are so beneficial. I can get a private lesson in, take the knowledge and everything I learned to heart, start fixing the details on a technique, rep the technique with my training buddy , and then when I get back on the mats in a group setting try to find it in a roll . If I’m able to find it in a roll great 😊! If not just keep working on it ? Private lessons also allow myself to ask questions and isolate and work on some details I may be missing .
I've been considering getting private lessons (in addition to group classes) just because 1 I can afford and 2 it allows me to choose the time and day of the week that works with my busy agenda of 9-5 work and dad of a 11 months old baby.
yea i agree, remember he like older guys my guess was training was just for fun, vs a 18 kid that goes all out.
I have been training for four years and have never taken a private lesson. I took my son a couple of times but he wanted to work on something very specific that he was having problems with in competition. I am kind of a frugal individual so I would find it hard to justify spending the extra money on top of group classes unless there were some serious unrealized benefits.
You are wise.
I do 4 group classes and 1 private lesson a week. The group classes is where i learn the bulk of my jiujitsu and the privates are more like a tailored suit of techniques that are just for my game.
Wow, another bang on answer. The Tony example is absolutely the best way to do privates.
I think both is definitely the answer. Thats what I have done for the past 4 years and it has helped me massively
Defenitly group class. Depending on your goals. But my experience is that rolling with different people teaches you the most. Everybody just rolls a little different. But all jiu jitsu classes ar great😀.
And you make friends which can help you stay with it
Defeanatley
I went to some group classes to start and learned some basics but for the most part I was guessing on how not to get submitted and decided to try some private lessons to understand the basics deeply. Those lessons motivated me greatly cause now I understand lot more and can have a better experience in group classes
Chewy Excellent advise, I have just started Jiu Jit su and I am kind of loss at the time of rolling, basically because I have nothing of experience . thankfully the people that I train understand my level and teach me .
Absolutely, I recently asked my instructor the very same question. He said the same thing you did. Chewy you the man homie! What a great psychological perspective as well. This video nailed it!
I have never done a private lesson but have been used as a training dummy for a few.
My preference is group classes because of the multiple training partners. I think various body types and styles help me figure out where my weaknesses are quicker.
Hey, Chewey! Haven’t tuned in in a while. Like what you’ve done with the place production-wise. I definitely agree. When you roll in group settings you have the experience of dealing with a multitude of styles, body sizes and weights that will leave you overwhelmed if you’re just doing private. Likely the same difference you see when you only do group classes and face guys who you know compete. When I would face guys in class who competed it was noticeable. Like a domesticated animal facing a wild beast, it wasn’t even close lol!
Welcome back.
I’ve done a mix of both, in fact I’ve used the privates to address anything that the professor has noticed I’m particularly weak at during the previous fortnights rolling. Helps no end!
glad to see froggy fresh is doing okay
Group every time no doubt. But occasional private lessons are useful too for sharpening your techniques. You hit the nail right on the head Chewy.
100 agree Chewy! I’d go one step further and say my private lessons as a white belt were not nearly as beneficial compared to lessons as a blue belt. I recommend to any white belt to save the money and go to an extra class over a lesson
I absolutely love regular classes, and finally at one stripe blue took a private to see if my professor could impart some knowledge that could help me develop a starting system/game... I got details on positions, setup, finishing that allowed me a simple(ish) game from closed to a bow and arrow... It was invaluable in understanding chaining techniques in a way that left my partner very little space... I think that when you're technical enough to have many options, but unsure how to combine these, a private lesson is really an opportunity to grow massively. Regular classes supplemented with private lessons when ready to "level up" is viable.
I have been following your Channel and wasn’t subscribed, now I am.
My experience: I started at 39 years old, I mostly do privates (2 hours/week BJJ) and 3 hours/week MMA.
Sometimes I go to group class, Not so often.
In prívate lessons I can fine tune the technique, I also have probably less risk of injuries the down side of the prívate lesson is not been able to develop flow (is hard to roll only with a high level teacher).
But perhaps for me is the only way to train because I have a really complicated work schedule.
You’re right: there’s a place for both of them.
You need fine details and you need rolling partners of all levels.
Saludos 🖖🏾
I did predominantly (80% or so of the total time) privates until I was a 2 stripes blue belt.
Now it is about 50:50.
I normally go to my coach for help when I have specific problems after rolling with other training partners, or to validate some moves.
So private lessons helped a lot IMHO.
How long did it take for you to get a blue belt with private lessons?
@@arhamhussain9737 I did 200 hours of private plus 50 hours of group class, and got my blue belt in 16 months.
Great vids I like how u care about fan questions I’ve got one can you tell us how to improve on breathing under pressure eg when someone’s hand or arm is covering ur mouth
Just frame and consciously breathe
I think you are spot on.
I think I’m 100% with you on the group classes vs private
I do classes of course but started some privates with my coach and it’s really helped me find flaws and things I struggle with. But you can’t neglect classes
Really interesting - besides a short stint of a few months in the 90’s, I really started training consistently about 5 1/2 years ago and did only privates for 10 months, then joined the group class, and then added in privates from time to time. I guess it worked well for me - I got my blue belt in just over a year and have been a blue ever since - getting ready for the next level, but been out for surgery & feeling it…
If I had to choose only one, it would be open mat. I get free lessons from the purple belts there, when they give me step by step instructions on how to get out of whatever they put me in that week. I got my first private lesson from my coach as part of a fundraiser to get one of our athletes to ADCC Trials. Being one-on-one really helped, because I'm neurodivergent. We were able to work with my individual strengths and weaknesses more than would be realistic in a group class. Since I compete, it's worth getting the individual instruction.
I do group classes 4-5 times a week but I pay for a private once a month. We use the private similar to as described in the video, problem solving but also working on honing skills that appeal to me or I just need more reps on. Then I spend the month trying to implement what we covered in my private.
I started bringing another student several months back as my Uke and I think it made the privates even better because my coach can coach without needing to be my training partner too plus my Uke is learning and is good about keeping me honest during the month
Alway good content.
If you have to do one only then yeah group class. It’s invaluable to roll with different people with different styles regularly. If you can do a private or two on top of group classes as required, great. Groups should be the foundation though.
I like group classes and getting to train with people who have different styles, strengths, weaknesses, body types, etc.
I’ve yet to have private lessons, but have worked in smaller group settings (2-3 of us with the sensei) and feel like those have helped with fine tuning and learning to counter the Jiu Jitsu of that/those opponent(s)
If I get videos of my matches at tournaments, I like to follow up with a private to review what I did right/wrong. Helps me SO much!
There was a time when I was (am) that middle aged guy, and it was a choice between privates or no training (I have kids, and my partner works long hours). If I could have waived a magic wand, I'd have gone for group classes though.
That said, private lessons offer different opportunities and I tried to make the most of them. Particularly being able to troubleshoot and ask more questions about adapting techniques to my body type.
Private lessons are one of the things that kept me in the game and for that I am grateful for the chance to have them.
Coach noticed that I always asked for a private at the same time on a Wednesday so he started a lunchtime class. It's pretty popular now, and the chance to go to it was the best thing he could have given me.
I'm still pretty new, only been doing BJJ around 6 months, and have only had the group class experience. I hope to do some private lessons in the future, but I really need to know more about what to ask. I feel like I can't ask the right questions right now because it's all basics that I need.
While not the subject of this video, I'd love to know your thoughts on open mats. My gym does these once a week, and it's typically a small group but I feel like I learn so much more in open mats because almost everyone is better than me and is willing to help. So many of the blue/purple belts are able to help me with basics there that I make an effort to get there whenever I can. Just food for thought for others. Thanks Chewy!
I'll take private 1 on 1 with different masters over noise and egos of group class. Helps me Retain my zen. Only group classes I ever went to regularly was sparring, or if I was teaching or assisting. Otherwise private only in my teachers home, or online over Skype when I have to distance learning
Privates really help me strengthen my game. I don't pick up techniques as quickly as most guys in my class so having time to drill and an expert to tell me exactly what I'm doing wrong is immensely valuable. But I would never know if the techniques work without group class. If only one, Group but luckily you don't have to choose 1. For white belts though alot of times 1 on 1s with brown or new black belts are just as effective as training with a 3rd or 4th degree master.
I been back n forth , private or group ya gave perfect answer also answered a question I would've asked , I decided group , BUT due to a life of violence I have TBI & all the nerves in my brain have been damaged - one my drs recently told me" there's nothing more we can do - ok now THAT hurt.
At my academy we have a yearly cycle, going through each position. we'll stay in mount for 2 months, then side mount, guard, etc, you get the point. If I want to work on leglocks, and I don't want to wait until the end of the year, I do it through private lessons. I'll buy a stack, like pay for 10 lessons up front, then use them up in 2 months. Private lessons with a coach is the a good way to supplement group classes, because the coach doesn't have time answer every single question in group class.
My experience I do both . I train 3-5 days a week ,also privates 2x a week . People that I train with and myself have seen a huge growth in my technical side of the game . Huge benefits.
As a white belt, now blue we just so happen to have a brown belt in the gym that wants to drill outside of class everyday for hours. He doesn't ask for anything, but I'll give him something. I've gotten way better alot faster. I also do classes. He just wants to get better too. I learn the basics and how to use them and higher level technique. Then practice them in live after class.
Our coaches don't get a wage, so I've taken privates in large part to give them some money.
I quit BJJ in 2003 not too long after I got my blue belt. I quit because of a bad shoulder injury from a spastic new student. I decided to let him take my back so I rolled on my left side and indicated go to my back. Well he took it as I’m going swan dive on this guy. He was about 40 lbs heavier. He separated my shoulder and it was a problem for about 12 years. Now I started back in BJJ about 3 months before my 40th birthday. I decided to start private lessons no gi with a (2) striped brown belt. I did this because I wanted to really make sure I would not get re-injured and also did not like the roughness of the no gi guys in the class that was just before my lesson. I was strongly encouraged, after about 8 months to jump in a class, I reluctantly did. First roll a (4) striped white belt cranked the ever loving crap out of my neck with a nasty 10 finger guillotine. This was exactly why I did not want to do the class. A few chiropractic visits and some more privates, I came to the conclusion I really need to do the group classes. It’s been about 1 year strictly in the group classes and I am better than I have ever been. So my point is they each serve a purpose.. I am really pursuing my purple belt, but I think I have at least 2 more years as a blue.
I've never understood private lessons. I get the reason for them and the sometimes special circumstances; but shouldn't you get taught During your classes? Great Vid, love this channel and all its content. I'm always inspired every video I see!
I am lucky enough to train at a new gym. We have a core group of us that are there everyday. We almost always get one on one with the coaches. I love where I train and who I train with
I started getting a lot more subs after a few private lessons. I agree group over private if it's one or the other. But both is 👍
A mixture of both is good. The added benefit of group class is you will make a lot of friends. This makes the whole team better.
I go allong with the group classes all day. Just having to spar with diferent weights and skills is key
As one of those middle aged practitioners who didn’t have a grappling background outside of Judo, I have found that an occasional private lesson helps. Sometimes I just need to drill a specific technique or two over and over. I spend a lot of time getting smashed by kids half my age (those of you between 20-30) in group class, so drilling become more important the older I get.
So f*cking true. I would always recommend to people who asked, that group classes were so much better for their BJJ advancement.
Makes sense that group classes are better as you say in learning to deal with people at different levels and body types.
I’m not gonna lie chewy my last 3 competitions I’ve been running only on privates and very few group classes … maybe 4-5 total group classes in the last 3-4 months - white belt here
Both are good.
a mix of both is ideal. get a month or 3 in doing groups and supplement it with privates eventually.
Agree, although i've only done jui jitsu for 7 months cant see how a private lesson would benefit me as I learn enough in group classes at this point. I train everyday a mix of drill, sparring, and open mat classes. For me muscle memory seems important and with as many people as possible
All has their place. In my experience since in the BJJ a lot of practioners liken themselves to modern day samurai. I liken my bjj skills to a blade. Group is where you hammer the blade and private is where you sharpen it. For me I would have a notebook go into my gym bag and write down what I was having issues with and get a private lesson on occasion. Early on I had a private lesson on punishing others bad habits because I would notice newer guys spazing out and it was a source of pride for them as Im 6'3 270 and I wanted to use my jujitsu instead of my weight. It literally forced the newer belts to stop flinging poo but those that kept fling poo I had a game plan. So for me I already knew my sticking points and what I wanted to address so the coach knew what I wanted out of the session.
If you get a chance to go meet your favorite Worlds/ADCC/UFC top winning person, a private with them is totally worth it. The experience alone no one can ever take that from you and your showing them that you support them by paying for a private lesson helps them out too.
3-4 private lessons per week and they have been more beneficial for me than anything else. Example: I can spend 30 minutes working on a technique, 10 minutes on theory, and 2 ten minute rolls where I put what I've learned into practice. Sometimes it's only rolls, sometimes it's only technique and theory.... it's all knowledge and learning instead of having blocks of 3 minute practice what I just demonstrated that is done in traditional group class settings, followed by a couple of 3-5 minute rolls.
Is it better to do private lessons from someone who's a similar size and has similar body type with you or does that not matter? My thinking is that since we have similar attributes, I can emulate their game plan and techniques
Im in Colombia where privates are cheap, im doing 4 private lessons a week, plus 2-3 classes.
I started privates just to learn the fundamentals, escapes and passes. I find them especially useful in Jujitsu as opposed to Boxing or wrestling
I do both. Private and group.
Having done both I think you're correct unless the private student comes to open mat twice a week they will be up a creek when they go to tournament
Private lessons were the norm when Rorion moved to the US. Even back in Brazil most students were taught privately and then sparring was done as a group.
I did 7 years of Kung Fu and changed to Krav Maga (no BJJ at all but maybe it is the same here). The private lessons in Kung Fu were very expensive so I only did it before belt tests. In my new school it is rather cheap especially because you can split the prize if you come with one or two friends. I get privates regulary AND do group because I have a base in martial arts and nobody have to show me how to make a fist so in the privates the coach is able to fix special things and in the group I can repeat and see a lot of diffrent types of people doing things diffrently and that involves things like size, age, man/woman, weight, e.g.
Chewie, I've been following you for years and I've just realised I wasn't subscribed 😱
You're subscribed now right?
Damn right I am 👊😂 and bell on!
Generally, group classes. You see so many different things when you are going against different people, with different levels of experiences and different skill levels.
I think if you have a very specific thing that you are looking to work on, then one on one instruction can be great, like Chewie points out. You don't know what you don't know, though, and group classes can show you some things you don't know.
I know parents that put their kids in a private twice a month just to sharpen up a few areas before comps. Kids train 3 days a week. Def notice it come time for comps and just rolling in general.
I've been to classes 5x pw for 4 months, rolling vs a guy who's only done 1-1s but for a year and strong af. he gassed QUICK and I got the RNC. Got gave me a couple licks and eye pokes for my trouble too, we're going again today after my private 😬
However you do it, it's better than not doing it. Props to all that train. - That said, I agree with Chewy. Group classes make you tough and help you meet more challenges.
Teachers can make a difference as well as how people learn.
I remember being the only one to show up for an afternoon class. Think to myself this is gonna be great a private class. Coach decided we were just going to do a straight grapple all class. 20 minutes later im exhausted. Take a 10 minute break and go for another 10 minutes. Can barely move at this point so class is now over. Fun day, but didn't feel like i learned anything from it.
My experience with private lessons is that you need to bring a partner and you need to take notes. If it's literally just you and the person, it's lowkey stupid because they can't give you the details needed while they're being used for reps.
Privates are best with three people plus the coach (in my opinion) but yeah just you and coach really is too tough
I was a ghost white belt. On again... Off again... Most of the guys I started with are now brown or black belts by now... And I'm still on my third stripe white.
I started getting privates in order to get back into the groove of things and approach the game in a new way.
I was always very guardy because I hated knee wrestling , so now I am coming back in as a top player.
I also tend to learn better when I'm able to ask questions that I am admittedly scared to ask because it could come off poorly.
"Why can't you just do this?" "Why do we do it this way?"
Could seem like I'm doubting the art, but I just process it all better if I actually understand what it is we are preventing them from doing, what the issues with some of the "white belt" defences might be etc.
Fella also gives me workout/ stretching tips bc I am quite flexible in some ways and really not at all flexible in others.
It's not something I will probably keep up at the intensity I've been doing lately the whole time, but I think i'll always want to touch base at least once a month just to get specific answers to things as you're saying.
I am so proud of you because pulling guard is gay
@@Freko2011 well, it's better than knee wrestling in the gym.
If we have 5 mins to roll with each person I would rather pull guard or bottom side control than knee wrestle for 2 mins... And pulling bottom side control just gives off a cocky vibe.
So if someone clearly wants to work from the top at the outset, I'll happily buttscoot
@@sandsand5483 i get you bro, i hate knee wrestling too waste of time. I always standup on my feet, and the other guy always puls guard (maybee because i am judo blackbelt? Haha)
Agreed, privates should basically be like a tutoring session outside of class.
Man…. My first 10 out of 14 months was all private lessons. Once per week, every week. I thought everything was going well until it came time to prep for my test…. We brought in a new partner and the difference in body type and style completely broke my training for the first couple sessions.
Then I started having different partners for the next 4 months.
Once I got beyond the first test, I went from 45 min / week to 7.5-10 hrs per week in group classes. Now, I continue with group clases and have cut privates to twice / month. It seems like a nice balance
I was lucky, the instructors at my first gym just offered them for free, like an hour before class, mostly cause most of the blackbelts were teaching just for fun, and loved doing it.
Hey Chewie,
While on the topic: would you introduce a private client to class and potentially lose income?
Im a boxing coach myself and i struggle with this.
If i introduce them to the group often the private client thinks they awesome.
( even if i warned them its not the same)
While at the same time i want them to become better and box diffent people.
It sometimes destroys their confidence and they quit all together.
Would love to know your toughts on this.
Good question. I have lost several long term privates for reasons that could be useful to hear about. I'll share them in a video coming up soon.
@@Chewjitsu Thanks i'm looking foward to it!
In my opinion private lessons bridge the gap between the lessons lost in large group classes. It group lessons have their place but the private lessons enable specific work in technique refinement.
I run a TMA dojo and wanted to learn BJJ to add to my skills. Privates are the only option for me. And I learn way more this way. I have no interest in competing or dealing with shenanigans.
Which is more profitable as a instructor? That's what I was trying to find but can't find anywhere
The problem with only doing private lessons is that you get to specialized with your technique.
I used to play chess in school, there was a small group of us that used to play. When you played against the same stronger over and over again you start to better but you also to play in a way specifically to counter their style. As a result when you play someone else the same strength but with a different style you don't do as well as you'd expect.
It's probably the same thing, every body is different so when you learn a technique and practice it on multiple people from the start you get a better at applying the technique on various individuals.
I don’t have the time, but so many ppl do privates on top of regular classes
I have never done a private yet… idk if I’d need to unless I’m training for a adcc or some comp with good exposure. If the investment would pay off with more specific coaching during group classes. Toss the instructor $50 to yell out coaching at me for the entire class, each class, even though it’s group
Group classes, with private to fine tune as you stated
They both have their place, but if you could only do one or the other, i would do groups so i can practice against all body types
How about both?
What if you're a guy that goes privates, and you plan for self fitness. Would it work then? (Like a theoretical dude that's drilling like crazy and goes to Privates. Would that plug up the mentioned holes?)
I feel like group classes are the way for consistent growth and versatility, but private lessons are excellent if you want to learn one specific thing or specialty
If you can go to the class where not many people go. A smaller class where you get the benefits of both.
I train in Hollywood and there are celebrity students that train only private classes and they’ve never rolled with anyone other than the instructor. It’s very lucrative for the gym but not good for the trainee.
Join the tribe.
Depends if you want technique go private class , if u want sparring rounds/ rolls go group class .
Big group classes can be a mess….too many people, instructor can’t give individual attention, mat space very limited etc. I think need some individual or smaller group classes are best.
Where can I get a chew Jitsu sticker
I do 4 hours of private lessons a week. I do class with a 2 hour private and class that evening. Private lessons are awesome when you have a plan on what to train, worthless when you do 100 techniques none of which you retain afterwards. Doing class first I pay attention in rolls places I might need work on. Having an incredible coach (Paulo Santana) makes all the difference, there’s knowing techniques and then there’s knowing every detail of a technique and how to articulate what each grip and limb does to make the technique work. Rolling with a variety of training partners can’t be substituted though.