One of the recent trends I’ve noticed is a lot more BJJ students bouncing around from gym to gym.
Back in the day, most people stuck with the first team they joined. That was partly because there were fewer gyms to choose from, and the culture in BJJ was more like a tight-knit community—almost like a tribe. But these days, it seems like people switch gyms every 6 to 12 months, and that’s becoming more common.
Now, don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with switching gyms if there’s a good reason. Maybe your first gym is a disaster with a coach who isn’t legit—someone who’s always late or showing up drunk. Or maybe your gym closes down, and you have no choice but to find a new place.
There are plenty of valid reasons to change gyms.
But what I’ve noticed more and more is that a lot of people aren’t switching gyms for those kinds of reasons.
Instead, they’re doing it because of what’s blowing up on social media.
They train at one gym for a year or so, then see another gym getting a ton of likes on Instagram and decide to jump over there. A year later, when the hype fades, they’re already looking for the next trendy gym to check out.
This behavior is driven by FOMO (fear of missing out) more than anything. Instead of focusing on improving their skills, they’re more concerned with being part of whatever is hot right now. It’s all about the buzz, not the actual progress.
As a coach who’s been in BJJ for over 25 years, I get it—sometimes you need a change, or maybe you want to try something new. But from what I’ve seen, constantly switching gyms isn’t usually the best way to get better.
To really succeed in BJJ, you need a coach who’s willing to invest time in you and help you improve. And that’s hard to do if the coach doesn’t think you’re sticking around long enough to make real progress. It’s tough to build a strong relationship with a coach if you’re jumping around every year, and without that trust and consistency, it’s hard to get the results you’re after.
So, if hopping from gym to gym and chasing the latest social media trend is your thing, that’s cool. But if your goal is to actually get better at BJJ, you’re better off finding a gym where you can settle in, build relationships, and work closely with a coach who’s invested in your development.
BJJ Training Melbourne
