How Often Should I Train Jiu Jitsu?

The age-old question: “How Often Should I Train Jiu Jitsu?” This can only really be answered once you ask yourself equally important questions along the way. You will find the answer to be very simple after asking yourself what your goals are and how much time you can commit to the sport.

Goals

The first thing you need to ask yourself is what are your goals? Are you just wanting to try this out for a year? Do you want to reach the highest belt rank? Maybe you want to be the next Gordon Ryan? Who knows, whatever your goal is with the sport it is important to iron that one out first. 

Once you have ironed out what you are looking to get out of jiu-jitsu it is time to evaluate how much time you can dedicate to achieving said goal.

Time Commitment

The second question you want to ask yourself here is how much time you have on your hands to be able to dedicate to the sport. Jiu-jitsu very quickly becomes a lifestyle choice for people that decide to train and with that it slowly morphs into a lifelong pursuit to reach a black belt. It is important to look at what you are currently balancing and ask yourself if you could at least get 3 – 4 days of 1-hour workouts in, otherwise, we don’t think it is worth it.

People who only come in once a month or are very sparring are simply wasting their time and money. We get it, life happens, but it is important to understand what you are signing up for. The road to getting your black belt is a long one. Every instructor has a different philosophy on how they will promote their students but the two things that always underline a promotion are time training and dedication to the craft.

How Often I You Train Jiu-Jitsu?

Answering this question comes down to answering the previous ones in this article. If you have narrowed down what you are looking to get out of the sport both individually and in a competitive sense then the answer should be pretty clear.

Competitors

If you are a competitor you should be at least training 3 – 4 times a week. This will not be getting you to high levels though. The best in the world usually train jiu-jitsu 2 times a day normally 5 – 6 days a week. This amount of training will get you exponentially better but also calls for an extreme level of time commitment that not all people have.

Hobbyist 

If you are older, do not have the time to commit to 2x per day, or do not have the desire to get the ultra high level you are considered more of a hobbyist. Most people who train in jiu-jitsu will fall under this category. If you are a hobbyist and looking to stay in excellent shape you should be at your jiu-jitsu gym getting some time in at least 3 – 4 times per day, especially if you are eventually wanting to get your black belt. If you go at this pace your blackbelt is in reach within the next 5 – 8 years.

Once you have ironed out your goals and ability to commit you will then find the answer to how often you should be training jiu-jitsu. Now, if you concluded that you want to compete at a high level just training technique is not going to be enough. You will need to balance a healthy mix of strength training into your routine as well as have a structured nutritional guide that you follow!

Happy Rolling!