I am enrolling my daughter in BJJ. I haven’t really shopped around but I did take her to a Gracie Barra studio. The kids were mostly younger than my daughter but there was another girl her age if a tad shorter. They seem to get along and my daughter likes the instructor.
Does 90$ a month sound reasonable for one hour sessions twice a week?
I think it sounds a little high. I feel that a lot of places are flexible with their prices. You might be able to get a better deal if you try.
Yeah it sounds expensive to me, although Gracie Barra schools seem to have a good reputation- not that I think that justifies a high price, but it might help explain it a little.
I’d look around at other schools and compare prices, also most schools will let you (i.e. your daughter) take a few lessons for free. Getting good instruction is much more important than getting a well known school, in my opinion. That being said, getting good instruction is worth paying extra for, too.
Any reason you want, or she wants, to take BJJ classes specifically (as apposed to other martial arts)?
Is she interested in the sport, fitness, just for fun?
Have you considered judo? It is quite often a cheaper option.
[quote]tassietaekwon wrote:
Yeah it sounds expensive to me, although Gracie Barra schools seem to have a good reputation- not that I think that justifies a high price, but it might help explain it a little.
I’d look around at other schools and compare prices, also most schools will let you (i.e. your daughter) take a few lessons for free. Getting good instruction is much more important than getting a well known school, in my opinion. That being said, getting good instruction is worth paying extra for, too.
Any reason you want, or she wants, to take BJJ classes specifically (as apposed to other martial arts)?
Is she interested in the sport, fitness, just for fun?
Have you considered judo? It is quite often a cheaper option.
[/quote]
There really isn’t a specific reason for BJJ beyond trying to get her more active between soccer seasons. She has mild scoliosis and I figured BJJ was probably a good way to keep her fit and increase her strength and flexibility in her core/back. She had a lot of fun with it as well at the first lesson.
well…I hate to say it, but the price of memberships depends on the demographic of the area. I was paying 170/month in Houston, in Waco, a much smaller city, the gyms and McDojos charge around 50/mo. Find out the lay of the land. There’s a good possibility that all other similar places that run near the same give or take 10 bucks. So then you have to look at quality. Gracie Barra is well known and respected.
Where in California are you? For the adults at my school they offer BJJ 6 days and week and kick boxing 3 days a week for 150 a month.
I payed 200USD for mine, but then again it’s one of the best schools in the country producing the best fighters in the country.
[quote]silkyhorse wrote:
I payed 200USD for mine, but then again it’s one of the best schools in the country producing the best fighters in the country.[/quote]
90 dollars sounds crazy for just two one hour sessions a week… but I guess it is a regional thing. I pay 100 for as many classes as I want to attend(that I’m cleared to attend)
[quote]HolyMacaroni wrote:
silkyhorse wrote:
I payed 200USD for mine, but then again it’s one of the best schools in the country producing the best fighters in the country.
[/quote]
…
Price sounds a bit high for the number of classes per week, but still reasonable. I’ve seen places where parents pay around 100-120 but their kids can train 5 times a week. If you find the $90/month to be too steep, you can always find a Judo club (which are usually a lot cheaper and have a higher attendance for kids) - won’t be the same as BJJ, but it does provide an excellent stand-up/clinch game and basic ground skills which play well with BJJ once you find a school with a price more of your liking.
[quote]tassietaekwon wrote:
Yeah it sounds expensive to me, although Gracie Barra schools seem to have a good reputation- not that I think that justifies a high price, but it might help explain it a little.
I’d look around at other schools and compare prices, also most schools will let you (i.e. your daughter) take a few lessons for free. Getting good instruction is much more important than getting a well known school, in my opinion. That being said, getting good instruction is worth paying extra for, too.
Any reason you want, or she wants, to take BJJ classes specifically (as apposed to other martial arts)?
Is she interested in the sport, fitness, just for fun?
Have you considered judo? It is quite often a cheaper option.
[/quote]
+1. I’ve done both Judo and BJJ (at a GB school) and I would say that Judo is a better option for kids. They’re almost the same thing, really, except that Judo has much better standup. Learning to fall well, as you do in Judo, is an invaluable skill and that’s much easier to do as a kid. Overall, Judo’s probably a better workout. And Judo’s almost always dirt cheap.
Sign her up for TKD instead, she will be a blackbelt much faster.
[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:
Sign her up for TKD instead, she will be a blackbelt much faster.[/quote]
A black belt doesn’t mean anything if it is primarily a matter of speedy timing. It only means something if it means that the holder knows how to fight. I’m pretty sure the parent (and the kid) appreciate this fundamental truth.
Also, in serious TKD instruction (say Oly TKD), then don’t give black belts that fast - compare that to the typical strip mall dojo where you see 10 year old kids with a black belt.
If parents understand that those black belts are only motivational and support that, it is all ok and dandy. But when parents and kids are told (and actually believe after paying the monthly fees) that such kiddie-lite black belts actually represent a high level of skill in fighting or self defense, they are in the wrong in so many levels it’s not even funny.
My six year old daughter goes to a Gracie Barra with me. Adding her on to my membership was only about $20- a month.