Is the Academy Beginner Friendly?
Starting Jiu Jitsu can be intimidating, so the right academy should make beginners feel comfortable and supported. Look for a gym that has a clear beginner program and takes the time to teach techniques step by step rather than throwing you into a large class and expecting you to keep up.
The warmup matters too. It should prepare your body for training and help prevent injuries, not simply wear you out. You should also be able to ask questions and get help from the instructor.
I would look at how much rolling and the type of rolling in the beginner class. Some academies don’t allow beginners to train for a specific length of time. Some allow you to train full rounds from the first day. We think the middle ground of positional training in the beginner classes gives you the benefits of trying the move with resistance against experienced partners will keep you safe while not exposing you to full rounds before you are ready.Â
At Jubera Jiu Jitsu, we believe beginners need more than one introduction lesson. That is why we add extra private lesson opportunities for beginners included in the tuition.Â
I also think having a solid group of female training there is a good sign that an academy is beginner friendly because if the academy is too rough on females they probably won’t take care of beginners very well either. At Jubera Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu we have a strong female group that includes 6 active black belts.
Who are the Instructors?
The instructors you learn from matter. Look at their competition experience, how long they have been teaching, and whether they still actively train and learn themselves. You want instructors who have real experience on the mats and know how to pass that knowledge on to their students. Some academies may have a big name instructor that you don’t see or interact with and it is more of an association than their academy. I teach beginner classes multiple times a week. Then who are the other classes taught by, is it a blue belt who has been only teaching a few years or a black belt with a decade of experience?
At Jubera Jiu Jitsu, I have won world titles and also coach world champions around the world. These athletes have plenty of choices when it comes to who they trust to corner them and run their training camps. That experience comes directly back to our students every day on the mats.
What is the First BJJ Class Like?
When you arrive, you can take some time to stretch, listen to music, and get comfortable while a private lesson or kids class is finishing up. There is no need to rush onto the mats feeling like you have to know what you are doing.
Class starts with a five to six minute warmup. Everyone has their own space, and exercises can be modified if needed. A lot of academies use running, line drills, and other traditional warmups. We have found that a short, focused warmup is a better fit for Jiu Jitsu and is much more comfortable for beginners.
Next comes technique. Rather than showing a long list of moves or spending most of class talking, we focus on a few techniques from our curriculum. The instructors walk the entire class through each movement step by step. Everyone faces the same direction, making it easy to follow along, look around when needed, and get help from an instructor.
After technique comes positional training. You will work with a partner, practice the position, and then switch partners. Beginners can participate at their own comfort level and can always choose to sit out if they are not ready to train that day.
We also keep the end of class simple. You will get the important information you need without a long, drawn out speech. We would rather spend that time helping you learn Jiu Jitsu.
Are there classes for Kids and Adults?
Having both kids and adult programs creates a different kind of atmosphere. It gives families the chance to train at the same academy and even take up Jiu Jitsu together. My own children train here too, so creating a welcoming family environment is important to me.
Some academies are heavily focused on either kids or adults, and that can change the feel of the gym. We try to find the sweet spot in the middle. Kids get a great place to learn and grow, while adults can train seriously and continue developing their Jiu Jitsu. For families, it means you can make Jiu Jitsu something you do together.
What is the training culture like?
We want our training culture to support beginners while still developing people who can train hard. You do not want a room where everyone is nice but nobody knows how to train, and you also do not want a room full of tough people who are constantly injured and rough with new students.
For us, the focus is on the process, not just the outcome. We try to redefine what winning means. For a beginner, winning might mean showing up, learning a new technique, staying calm in a difficult position, or making a small improvement from the week before.
If your goal is simply to create the toughest white belts possible, you can have them do endless hard rounds with each other and let the toughest people rise to the top. That is not what we are trying to build. We want nice people who learn how to train hard, take care of their training partners, and eventually become very tough Jiu Jitsu players.
Honestly, I am most proud when I take someone who may not be the most athletic or naturally talented person in the room and help them become a dangerous upper belt. That is much more rewarding to me than taking an already athletic white belt and simply making them tougher.
How important are competition results?
Competition results matter, but they are not everything. A very competition focused academy can be great for serious competitors, but in my experience, that environment can sometimes be tough for beginners. On the other hand, if nobody competes, upper belts may not get many challenging rounds.
I think we have found a good balance. We have people who compete at a high level, but they are only part of the academy. That gives everyone access to interesting rounds, high level technique, and training partners who know how to push the pace without making the gym intimidating for beginners.
Coaching some of the best Jiu Jitsu athletes in the world also keeps me on the cutting edge of technique. I get to see what is working at the highest levels of the sport and bring that knowledge back to our academy, without needing to build the entire gym around elite athletes.
The result is an academy where competitors can train seriously, while beginners, hobbyists, parents, and older students can also feel comfortable learning Jiu Jitsu and getting better.
What should you look for in cleanliness and safety?
Clean mats and good safety practices should be a basic part of any Jiu Jitsu academy. Ask how often the mats are cleaned, whether there is a regular cleaning crew, and whether the academy has clear guidelines about which techniques and takedowns are appropriate for training.
A lot of this comes down to culture. We want safety to come from the top and be reinforced by the experienced people on the mats. Having black belts training regularly helps set the standard and gives newer students good examples to follow.
Students should also feel comfortable sitting out when they need to or speaking up if a training partner is going too hard. If someone is rolling too aggressively with another student, I am not afraid to step in and have a conversation with them. Training hard is part of Jiu Jitsu, but taking care of your training partners is part of it too.
A warmup should prepare you for Jiu Jitsu, not simply make you tired. Traditional warmups can involve running, line drills, and lots of bodyweight exercises, but harder does not always mean better.
We focus on a short, five to six minute warmup that gets your body ready to train without wasting energy you could use learning and training. You can also modify exercises when needed. The goal is to help you move better, feel prepared, and stay healthy enough to keep training consistently.
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How close is the academy to where you live or work?
For most people, a 15 to 20 minute drive is probably a good distance for an academy. Jiu Jitsu works best when you can train consistently, and a long commute can make that harder.
I may be a little biased on this one. I used to drive 35 miles each way, five days a week, to train with my instructors in Michigan, and 50 miles each way on Saturdays. We still have students who make a similar commitment to train with me.
For the average student, though, I think finding a great academy within 15 to 20 minutes is ideal. I live about four miles from Jubera Jiu Jitsu in Westminster, and my kids go to school in Arvada, so the academy is also conveniently located for our family.
Why Choose Jubera BJJ in Broomfield, CO
I started Jubera Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to provide the kind of training environment I would want for myself, my family, and anyone serious about learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have spent decades training, competing, and coaching at the highest levels of the sport, including winning two world titles and becoming Xande Ribeiro’s first black belt. I’ve also had the opportunity to coach and prepare world champions and elite athletes for competitions at the highest levels, including ADCC and UFC BJJ events.
But you don’t have to be a world-class competitor to benefit from high-level instruction. In fact, most of our students are here simply because they want to learn BJJ, get in better shape, build confidence, or become part of a great community.
I also believe a good academy should be genuinely beginner-friendly. When you come to Jubera BJJ, we break techniques down step by step and give you the opportunity to learn without feeling like you’re expected to already know what you’re doing. We have enough experienced students in our classes that beginners aren’t simply thrown together with other beginners, giving new students experienced training partners who can help them learn and improve.
For kids, I want the same thing: a safe, positive environment where they can learn Jiu-Jitsu, develop confidence and discipline, and have fun while doing it. I built the program I want my kids developing in.
If you’re looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Broomfield, Westminster, or the surrounding area, I’d encourage you to come see the academy for yourself. Meet our instructors, watch a class, and see what makes Jubera BJJ different.Â
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