How To Start A Bjj Gym (Not That Hard)

Im making this video series on owning and operating jiu-jitsu academies for all the people who love jiujitsu and are looking for a vehicle to orient their lifestyle and income around it. Jiu-jitsu gyms are great businesses with high returns and low start-up costs, so they make great starter-projects for entrepreneurs who love jiu-jitsu. This content is free but I do have a partner program for people who would like to model my systems and business strategies. IF you are a gym owner who is looking to scale their member numbers or an aspiring gym owner looking to make his mark in the world, we will work with you to make sure you have the best chances of success. I want jiu-jitsu to thrive and have as many people exposed to it as possible which means we need more gyms! At the end of the day its US the gym owners who grow jiu-jitsu and awareness. We are the tip of the spear so I want to arm any able bodied men and women to challenge themselves and make great money while training with your buddies. You can contact us through the form on legionajj.com/

[@fritzdagger]

Im making this video series on owning and operating jiu-jitsu academies for all the people who love jiujitsu and are looking for a vehicle to orient their lifestyle and income around it. Jiu-jitsu gyms are great businesses with high returns and low start-up costs, so they make great starter-projects for entrepreneurs who love jiu-jitsu. This content is free but I do have a partner program for people who would like to model my systems and business strategies. IF you are a gym owner who is looking to scale their member numbers or an aspiring gym owner looking to make his mark in the world, we will work with you to make sure you have the best chances of success. I want jiu-jitsu to thrive and have as many people exposed to it as possible which means we need more gyms! At the end of the day its US the gym owners who grow jiu-jitsu and awareness. We are the tip of the spear so I want to arm any able bodied men and women to challenge themselves and make great money while training with your buddies. You can contact us through the form on legionajj.com/

[@PaMuShin]

Do you no think that you would make yourself a name first. Like competing in the "Ultimate Self Defense Championship" from the Martial Arts Journey Channel. There is partaking a jiu jitsu guy you can see in the link below the video "Martial Arts Experts Go All Out in Intense 20-Second Fights". You think this will boost his chance of having a school?

[@downes21490]

Did we ever get a follow up for an ebook on this info?

[@TheJKDGuy]

As a School Owner for over 20 years this information is GOLD ❤️👍

[@JordanHix]

Excellent, Keenan! Can't wait to see more about the business side of BJJ.

[@BungHoleStuffer]

It’s so awesome that so many people want to start opening their own academy. Jiu jitsu is just gonna keep growing 🙏

[@gensunasumus101]

Yes! Trying to figure out the logistics of having a job while opening the academy.

[@FatherSonFitness-ig1rh]

I want to pull my retirement to open a small academy. Nervous. Fear. Of the unknown all in one. Still looking for information and know how. 🙏🏼

[@gensunasumus101]

@Father Son Fitness2019 look for certifications such as the one by the Gracie University that are essentially turn-key and will teach you how to teach and administrate on the next level.

[@BrokenFistX]

Sound advice regarding the S-corp. Great way to organize as a small business owner and avoid getting beaten over the head with SE taxes.

[@OfficialJackChristensen]

S-Corp is a tax election OF AN LLC. great video man but I would refrain from making comments on corporate structure unless you can do so properly. An s-corp is still an LLC. However unless you are making at least 500k/year it’s better to not elect an S-Corp. remember as an S-Corp you HAVE TO give yourself a REASONABLE wage. For a jiu jitsu gym owner around 80k/year. So if you are only making a little more then that a year an S-Corp will actually hurt you.

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

Awesome video, bro. Cheers for the help.

[@MBsr5]

Having a black or brown belt from a reputable professor is a good start. Not hating but too many whack head instructors out there now with shady lineage. You’re teaching at the end of the day

[@stephaniegougenheim2486]

Lineage is a double edge sword. If you do well in comps all the way up to black belt, then lineage shouldn't matter. Otherwise, you're getting bottlenecked by only being promoted from someone connected to a Gracie. The more I dig into competing for IBJJF or World League, the more I realise there's a restrictive top down control over promotion for students to compete at the next rung. Gyms are sandbagging the hell out of their students. If the instructor is a black belt who has proven themselves in major comps throughout the years, then they possess the qualities to teach. "Lineage" schools also cost an outrageous amount, and to attend them for a decade or two could mean spending over $20,000 - $40,000 in gym costs and comp fees. Lineage is more of a scam in some ways, IMO.

[@manmademonsterbjj]

Very true. Some guys are great competitors but horrible with teaching and being a reg people person. I've seen mediocre competitors that have great people skills and their teaching is great. That more important than just having surface level "knowing" plus a program for each level of student or students.

[@elperronimo]

This is good business advice in general

[@Slamminbassplayer]

What are the top problems you’ve seen with gyms in the startup years that are unique to BJJ/MA gyms? Osss.

[@JTH43]

I started a gym a year ago and by far the biggest problem for us has been generating leads. It's a constant battle to bring in new people in at a faster rate than they leave and keep the lights on. Sometimes people lose commitment, move away, get injured and freeze their account etc... So you are always looking to bring in new people. Teaching fundamentals becomes most of what you do because most people are relatively new and don't make it that far. It's a hard job and isn't exactly what I envisioned when I started but it is rewarding seeing people get better and start finding success on the mat. Just my 2 cents.

[@inyourfacegaming7221]

Our advanced class has become a fundamentals class bc of this . We went from 6 students to 42 and I’m glad for the growth but man is it crowded now .

[@edmondlau511]

@@JTH43is your school doing better? Been a year since your comment. Hope you are doing well.

[@JTH43]

@@edmondlau511 Thanks man. Unfortunately we had to close our doors. It was breaking even but that’s about it. On to the next chapter

[@edmondlau511]

@@JTH43 Sorry to hear that. I hope your financial loss was minimal. If you could, would you do it again?

[@badxradxandy]

I went from a LLC to s Corp. LLC was easier, lower upfront costs but became a problem when I started making "real" money. S Corp where you are your own employee seems to be the way to go. Talk to an accountant.

[@IHateScottSoMuch]

First thing you do, even before start training is blast a cycle or three.

[@Jusgoaway]

And a SWOT

[@azdogs]

When is the guide book coming out ?

[@peppertime1]

thanks!!! do you have any precision on affiliation , just to be legetimate? obviously a first stripe white belt cant teach etc... if you can eleborate this part of your topic it'll make an excellent adding to the topic!! oss n respect!!

[@tededo]

White belt, rip your gi for a while and teach nogi grappling the first few years. I know one instructor (white belt Gracie combatives) whose grappling skill is that of a purple belt I kidd you not, and he began his group with only nogi pre-pandemic. He is legitimate with his lineage from a black belt in another school.

[@shakimmccollum2764]

Where did you get your shirt from?

[@ziaaziz]

What is a realistic start up cost (to convert an empty space into a jitsu gym) excluding lease of commercial space ?

[@sliderx1897]

Depends on location. Everywhere can have a different cost

[@tagg1080]

How much spillover do you think your process has to other martial arts, judo, boxing, etc... ?

[@sirpibble]

I'll just say that unlike jiujitsu, boxing and judo are basically free in most places so I've seen the trouble people have running programs with boutique prices

[@user-rc8br5sw6j]

@@sirpibble They tend to be passion projects with people doing other jobs so that they can teach tma to kids who are exhausting. (a grateful parent)

[@ChrisTankCrasher]

In your opinion, what is the lowest belt you could be to start your own small class / gym?

[@FH-pn1tm]

I have heard people saying it´s purple belt, at least to teach beginner classes.

[@tededo]

I've known a white belt (Gracie combatives), who began his group before the pandemic, now still runs with a good amount of students. The guy has purple belt skill set level I swear, but we live in a heavy rural area where bjj black belt instructors hate to come visit often...So the guy has a nogi grappling without belting system.@@FH-pn1tm

[@deejin25]

There are people who are so charismatic, and so good at breaking any topic down to teach, who lead by example, and just have an infectious charisma that they could attract , keep and get good numerous students and keep them for a year, Thus if they had more than years worth of material they could simply open a school teaching a style centered around the first year of any style and make a million buck if they had a good business plan. I'm not talking about being a legit martial artist, this is about business acumen, customer service and leadership. Those things are that critical to establishing a gym and having it succeed.

[@tededo]

Bliss.@@deejin25

[@905legends]

I mean mats alone cost like 10k, I wouldn't exactly call it cheap lol.

[@Jusgoaway]

Why do so many fail?

[@FFTuk]

Because it’s really hard work 👍

[@tededo]

Cause they expext to hit a homerun withn 5 years. Expect less, way less. And I would suggest if you begin with a small group to take your small group and visit other grappling schools to build your name. Visit them like birds flying in flock together. Visit them from time to time, then go back to your school location.

[@mikewhite2299]

And if you're homeless just get a house (not that hard)

[@martiallife4136]

Man😂. Keenan's stepfather is Tom Callos, a retired martial arts consultant and very successful martial arts business owner. I'm sure that really helped Keenan.

[@artnos]

Is your gym not profitable, is that why you are exploring other avenue of revenue

[@fritzdagger]

My gym does over 1 million dollars a year in revenue, I want to teach others how to do it. Just like I won many jiujitsu competitions and then taught people how I did that.

[@stupidrunescapeplayer2002]

@@fritzdagger i love the transparency keenan

[@gensunasumus101]

​@@fritzdagger 1 location does over $1 million?

[@PaMuShin]

@@gensunasumus101 Did you see where his training facility is located? Next to a golf course, a brewery and restaurants in the best spot.

[@gensunasumus101]

@@PaMuShin thanks for the input!