5 Ways to help make your BJJ School better as a student.

Being the owner of a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Mixed Martial Arts school I constantly have students or friends offer to help me in any way possible. My typical answer is something like thanks I really appreciate that, but don't really have any calls to action I can offer them. In actuality there are many things you can do if you want to help your gym become a better place. Since you ask! Here you go!!!

1. Refer a Friend! Organic growth is the best way to add students. There are a lot of people that want to try something new and can greatly benefit by adding a Martial Art or some self-dense skills to their lives but may feel nervous to take that leap. A little encouragement can go long way. If every student brought in one person, the school would literally double in size over night.

2. Click Like and Share! Most businesses these days count on social media to help get the word out. Google, Instagram, Facebook, tiktok, etc all have one thing in common. They are bandwagon friends. What I mean by that is they are constantly looking for the next best thing. They look for what's trending and they jump aboard. A quick way to get more views is to give some yourself. It is like putting gasoline on a fire. By clicking like, leaving a comment, and sharing a story, you are telling those algorithms this is a good story that people want to see. That's how you get them to boost your posts. Keep in mind most business posts have a purpose and with a quick click of the mouse or swipe of the finger you can really help your school get their messaging out to the world.

3. Be Cool to New Students! When a new person comes to the school don't use it as your chance to break-in the fresh meat. Make sure you are giving a warm welcome and make that person want to come back. It is intimidating walking in a room full of people in pajamas choking each other out and hyper-extending their elbows. Make sure people see this is a sport about helping people learn a martial art and not about egos or machismo.

4. Know Your Audience! One of the easiest ways to be a good training partner is to understand the person you are partnering with. People join MMA and BJJ for all difference reasons. Some people were High School athletes and are looking for a way to stay competitive. Some people are just looking to meet new people and maybe make friend. Others may have suffered from trauma and need to rebuild something that was taken from them, and the classes are therapeutic. The reason they are there might not be obvious at first, but assuming they are there to fight to the death most likely would be inaccurate. There should be some sort of feeling-out process when partnering with someone for the first time. Pick up on their non-verbal cues. Also don't be afraid to speak up. Body language isn't always easy to read and not everyone is good at picking it up. If you are partnered up with someone that is going a little too hard or doing something that is making you uncomfortable, don't just remain silent and get upset. There is nothing wrong with asking your partner to slow down or go a little lighter. In most cases people are not maliciously trying to be overly aggressive, they might just be there for a different reason that you and aren't aware you are not having fun.

5. Be Clean! Yourself, your clothing, and your surroundings. No one wants to be friends with the stinky kid. Make sure you take a shower after and before every single class. Skin to skin contact is how many viruses and bacteria are spread. Add in the fact that you are in a moist and hot environment. It is a perfect recipe to spread rashes and sometimes viruses that have no cures. If you don't have time to wash your gi or other clothing, then you need to stay home. Also bring home your stuff! There is an on-going joke between gym owners about the amount of water bottles and sweat soaked shirts left in the gym. After class check your surroundings and make sure you are not the one that is leaving your trash behind. There is nothing grosser than cleaning the mats at the end of the night and having to pick up someone disgusting workout clothes.

Your call to action is simple! This week try to bring in a friend. if your school makes a post remember to click like, share, and write a quick comment. If someone new comes in, make them feel welcome. Make sure your training partners are enjoying their rolls with you. Last but not least, come in clean and pick up after yourself. These are simple things you can do to help the school grow and to be a better place.