#1 Academy to become a pro bjj competitor

[jiujitsubjj]

I have a blue belt under Rickson Gracie black belt, Shane Rice. I want to dedicate my life to becoming a pro BJJ competitor, and as much as I love it here, I feel like there are better academies for my chosen endeavor. My question is this, choosing out of every single academy in the world, which would be the best choice? Clearly I can't go and visit each academy in the world and make my choice based on that. I would love to know your opinions. A few academies I have in mind are Marcelo Garcia's in NYC, Atos in San Diego, AOJ (Mendes Brothers), GB Northridge, GB HQ in Irvine, Checkmat HQ, GFT HQ . etc. Any ideas would be great! Thanks

 

[nefti]

mendes bros came up under Ramon Lemos, a relative unknown. The Miyaos and Leandro Lo came up under Cicero Costha, another relative unknown professor.

 

[Uchi Mata]

I have a blue belt under Rickson Gracie black belt, Shane Rice. I want to dedicate my life to becoming a pro BJJ competitor, and as much as I love it here, I feel like there are better academies for my chosen endeavor. My question is this, choosing out of every single academy in the world, which would be the best choice? Clearly I can't go and visit each academy in the world and make my choice based on that. I would love to know your opinions. A few academies I have in mind are Marcelo Garcia's in NYC, Atos in San Diego, AOJ (Mendes Brothers), GB Northridge, GB HQ in Irvine, Checkmat HQ, GFT HQ . etc. Any ideas would be great! Thanks

Why, exactly, do you want to dedicate your life to something that pays nothing and offers no real job opportunities? I would strongly consider doing something that has better prospects and just organizing your life to do a ton of BJJ on the side. Have you ever trained like a pro for even a month, as in 2x a day 6x a week plus conditioning on the side (not to mention teaching kids and privates to try and scrape by and make ends meet while living in a tiny apartment in the ghetto you share with three other would be pros)? Not to mention you're a blue belt which means you've probably done this for what, a year or two? The honeymoon's not even over yet. Unless you're a poor kid from the favelas or your family is so rich that you can just do whatever the hell you want BJJ doesn't make a lot of sense as a career. Plus, even what little rewards there are are pretty much contingent on winning a world title which very few do. It would just be sad if you woke up and realized that you were 30 and all you had was really good BJJ, no way to start or support a family or prospects for any career other than teaching at a gym.

All that said, if I was young and wanted to be a pro I'd probably save as much money as I could and then move to Sao Paulo and train at Cicero Costa's. Brazil is much cheaper and your money will go further, and that gym is solely dedicated to competition and you can literally train as much as you can physically handle. If I was staying in the US I'd go to Atos HQ and train with Galvao, since you would also have an in with the Mendes bros. That's a very strong team with almost all their talent concentrated in a relatively small area in SoCal. Of course, it will cost a lot more to live and train there. It's not like you're going to get to do all this for free.

Again, this is a terrible idea that has very little hope of creating a good life for you, but whatever. If you're young enough you could always do it for a few years and when you get tired of being beat up and poor you can still go to school or learn a trade. And if you don't get tired of it, well, I guess it was the right choice at least in terms of enjoying life. Though I'd probably at least go to community college on the side for business so that if you do start a school you at least have some idea how to market and run it (which school owners spend far more time on than teaching for the most part).

 

[Jotunblod]

Why, exactly, do you want to dedicate your life to something that pays nothing and offers no real job opportunities? I would strongly consider doing something that has better prospects and just organizing your life to do a ton of BJJ on the side. Have you ever trained like a pro for even a month, as in 2x a day 6x a week plus conditioning on the side (not to mention teaching kids and privates to try and scrape by and make ends meet while living in a tiny apartment in the ghetto you share with three other would be pros)? Not to mention you're a blue belt which means you've probably done this for what, a year or two? The honeymoon's not even over yet. Unless you're a poor kid from the favelas or your family is so rich that you can just do whatever the hell you want BJJ doesn't make a lot of sense as a career. Plus, even what little rewards there are are pretty much contingent on winning a world title which very few do. It would just be sad if you woke up and realized that you were 30 and all you had was really good BJJ, no way to start or support a family or prospects for any career other than teaching at a gym.

All that said, if I was young and wanted to be a pro I'd probably save as much money as I could and then move to Sao Paulo and train at Cicero Costa's. Brazil is much cheaper and your money will go further, and that gym is solely dedicated to competition and you can literally train as much as you can physically handle. If I was staying in the US I'd go to Atos HQ and train with Galvao, since you would also have an in with the Mendes bros. That's a very strong team with almost all their talent concentrated in a relatively small area in SoCal. Of course, it will cost a lot more to live and train there. It's not like you're going to get to do all this for free.

Again, this is a terrible idea that has very little hope of creating a good life for you, but whatever. If you're young enough you could always do it for a few years and when you get tired of being beat up and poor you can still go to school or learn a trade. And if you don't get tired of it, well, I guess it was the right choice at least in terms of enjoying life. Though I'd probably at least go to community college on the side for business so that if you do start a school you at least have some idea how to market and run it (which school owners spend far more time on than teaching for the most part).

what? you think this gi is a costume? its a way of life

 

[Calibur]

Uchi Mata is CLEARLY a "glass half full" kind of guy.

 

[shunyata]

I'm pretty sure there aren't enough BJJ tournaments with cash prizes (and I don't mean for the champion but literally getting paid per match as a proffessional would) to make above minimum wage as a "pro" competitor.


You either have to have a trust fund to support yourself, in which case rock on and spend your money as you please, or you need to run a school or sell merchandise (DVDs for example) in order to generate income to finance your competitions and training while putting a roof above your head and food in your belly.

Outside of metamoris which does not occur frequently enough to be viable as an income stream I'm really at a loss for brainstorming any pro BJJ competition of any kind unless you count pro mma.


I would strongly concur with Uchi Mata's statement. If your goal is to be a proffesional gym owner with a good high level amateur competition record, that's great. But be realistic. There is no such thing as professional BJJ competition outside of metamoris. And relying on metamoris to pay your bills would leave you starving.

 

[jiujitsubjj]

I think some of you missed the point. I'm not asking for opinions on how to live my life, I'm asking for opinions on the top competition school in the world.

 

[LPJ]

A part of youth should be spent chasing stupid dreams. First, it helps you appreciate what comes after the dreams collapse. Second, there's a chance the dreams may actually come true.

Regarding the best place to train- I haven't been in this game too long, but it's become readily apparent success is determined within, not by the name on the door of the gym.

 

[jiujitsubjj]

A part of youth should be spent chasing stupid dreams. First, it helps you appreciate what comes after the dreams collapse. Second, there's a chance the dreams may actually come true.

Regarding the best place to train- I haven't been in this game too long, but it's become readily apparent success is determined within, not by the name on the door of the gym.

Agreed, but the gym you train at can greatly effect your chances of reaching success. That's my opinion.

 

[LPJ]

Agreed, but the gym you train at can greatly effect your chances of reaching success. That's my opinion.

If this were true, there should be a single school that produces a shit-ton of champions. If not, then it's safe to assume there are other factors at play, most likely related to individual characteristics (athleticism, work ethic, learning capacity, etc.)

 

[jiujitsubjj]

If this were true, there should be a single school that produces a shit-ton of champions. If not, then it's safe to assume there are other factors at play, most likely related to individual characteristics (athleticism, work ethic, learning capacity, etc.)

There are schools that produce a shit-ton of champions. Atos for example. And as I said before, I do agree with you, there are many factors at play. A top school will greatly contribute though.

 

[Limatime]

just curious, how old are you, & have you competed a lot already?

 

[JustTheTip]

Why, exactly, do you want to dedicate your life to something that pays nothing and offers no real job opportunities? I would strongly consider doing something that has better prospects and just organizing your life to do a ton of BJJ on the side. Have you ever trained like a pro for even a month, as in 2x a day 6x a week plus conditioning on the side (not to mention teaching kids and privates to try and scrape by and make ends meet while living in a tiny apartment in the ghetto you share with three other would be pros)? Not to mention you're a blue belt which means you've probably done this for what, a year or two? The honeymoon's not even over yet. Unless you're a poor kid from the favelas or your family is so rich that you can just do whatever the hell you want BJJ doesn't make a lot of sense as a career. Plus, even what little rewards there are are pretty much contingent on winning a world title which very few do. It would just be sad if you woke up and realized that you were 30 and all you had was really good BJJ, no way to start or support a family or prospects for any career other than teaching at a gym.

All that said, if I was young and wanted to be a pro I'd probably save as much money as I could and then move to Sao Paulo and train at Cicero Costa's. Brazil is much cheaper and your money will go further, and that gym is solely dedicated to competition and you can literally train as much as you can physically handle. If I was staying in the US I'd go to Atos HQ and train with Galvao, since you would also have an in with the Mendes bros. That's a very strong team with almost all their talent concentrated in a relatively small area in SoCal. Of course, it will cost a lot more to live and train there. It's not like you're going to get to do all this for free.

Again, this is a terrible idea that has very little hope of creating a good life for you, but whatever. If you're young enough you could always do it for a few years and when you get tired of being beat up and poor you can still go to school or learn a trade. And if you don't get tired of it, well, I guess it was the right choice at least in terms of enjoying life. Though I'd probably at least go to community college on the side for business so that if you do start a school you at least have some idea how to market and run it (which school owners spend far more time on than teaching for the most part).

Best advice on here honestly. I've seen how a few top BJJ guys live.Not a lavish lifestyle by any means...
That said, if I had money and wanted to dedicate my life to BJJ, i'd go with Marcelo Garcia. His students are getting good at unbelievable rates,they belong to the largest affiliate program (Alliance) and he has a timeless big name to get a BB under. People will remember Marcelo Garcia forever. Other schools might have amazing competition results,but from new Affiliate programs,and their name isn't timeless. A huge part of opening your own school is marketing and a huge part of marketing is who the instructor got their BB under.

 

[Toothless King]

Atos, San Diego
AOJ, Orange County
Gracie Barra HQ, Orange County
Lovato, OKC
Renzo, NYC
Marcelo Garcia, NYC
Alliance HQ, Atlanta


There is nothing wrong with academies in the east coast, but I'd pick academy in Southern California for the simple fact that there are more tournaments out here than anywhere else.

 

[jiujitsubjj]

just curious, how old are you, & have you competed a lot already?

19 and yes.

 

[jiujitsubjj]

Best advice on here honestly. I've seen how a few top BJJ guys live.Not a lavish lifestyle by any means...
That said, if I had money and wanted to dedicate my life to BJJ, i'd go with Marcelo Garcia. His students are getting good at unbelievable rates,they belong to the largest affiliate program (Alliance) and he has a timeless big name to get a BB under. People will remember Marcelo Garcia forever. Other schools might have amazing competition results,but from new Affiliate programs,and their name isn't timeless. A huge part of opening your own school is marketing and a huge part of marketing is who the instructor got their BB under.

Thanks

 

[jiujitsubjj]

Atos, San Diego
AOJ, Orange County
Gracie Barra

Thanks, and which GB?

 

[Toothless King]

If this were true, there should be a single school that produces a shit-ton of champions. If not, then it's safe to assume there are other factors at play, most likely related to individual characteristics (athleticism, work ethic, learning capacity, etc.)

Famous gyms with talented instructors and students will push & motivated you to train harder. Success breeds success, talent breeds talent, loser breeds loser.

I'm not saying everyone who trains at a famous BJJ gym will automatically becomes a world champ, but your jiujitsu will definitely gets better if you train at a well known gym.

 

[Toothless King]

Thanks, and which GB?

Gracie Barra America HQ in Irvine, Southern California. It's a huge gym with plenty of blackbelts and talented lower belts for you to train with

 

[HungryHippo]

I think some of you missed the point. I'm not asking for opinions on how to live my life, I'm asking for opinions on the top competition school in the world.

Well I think the term "Pro" jiu-jitsu fighter is an interesting term because you're likely not going to make money in training full-time for a while.

Thanks, and which GB?

He probably means Romulo Barral's school. I mean if you were to pursue to become a champion, I'd recommend Marcelo Garcia's academy or southern california. (I recommend SoCal because the Worlds/Pans are there and it will be easier to travel.) It also really depends on the game you're going to want to play and the school that you choose to attend will really help you develop that game.

That being said, SoCal and NYC are the two most expensive cities, so I'd make sure to keep that in mind.