BJJ is evolving rapidly and the instruction is greater than it has ever been. Unfortunately, there are still bad BJJ coaches out there and you have to know what to look for.
Here are 14 signs of a bad BJJ coach to avoid joining a bad Jiu-Jitsu gym.
Lack of Clear Instruction
The coach gives vague or confusing explanations of techniques, leaving students unsure how to execute moves. A good coach breaks down techniques step-by-step, ensuring clarity for all skill levels.
No Progression in Curriculum
Classes feel repetitive or random, with no structured plan for skill development. A bad BJJ coach might focus only on their favorite moves or neglect fundamentals, stunting student growth.
Ignoring Beginners or Advanced Students
The coach caters only to one group (e.g., beginners or competitors), leaving others disengaged. A good coach balances attention across skill levels or provides tailored guidance.
Poor Safety Oversight
The coach allows reckless rolling or dangerous techniques without supervision, leading to injuries. Look for a coach who enforces safety rules, monitors sparring, and teaches proper tapping etiquette.
Ego-Driven Teaching Style
What to look for: The coach brags about their achievements, belittles students, or refuses to admit mistakes. A red flag is if they demand unwavering loyalty or discourage questions about techniques.
Lack of Personal Engagement
The coach doesn’t learn students’ names, track progress, or provide individualized feedback. I know this one from personal experience and the gym lost tens of thousands of dollars due to the coach being a douchebag.
A good coach builds rapport and offers constructive tips to help each student improve. This is fundamental to building a great Jiu-Jitsu program.
Unhygienic or Unsafe Gym Environment
The gym is dirty, mats aren’t cleaned regularly, or the equipment is broken. A bad BJJ coach neglects hygiene standards, which can lead to infections like ringworm or staph. A good coach always keeps their mats clean.
Overemphasis on Winning or Competition
The coach pushes everyone to compete, regardless of their goals, or only focuses on top athletes. This alienates recreational practitioners who train for fitness or self-defense.
A good coach knows how to teach both competitive and hobbyist students.
Doesn’t Compete
On the other hand, a coach who doesn’t compete could also be a bad BJJ coach. It’s not the most important thing, but a coach must lead by example.
Win or lose, you have to compete and lead by example for your students.
Questionable Credentials or Exaggerated Claims
The coach claims high ranks (e.g., black belt) without verifiable lineage or affiliation with a reputable instructor. If a coach is shady with their credentials or exaggerates their victories, they’re likely a fake BJJ black belt.
Check their background or ask about their training history. If they refuse to answer or give a bs response, get out of there and find a new gym.
Doesn’t Roll With Students
A clear sign of a bad BJJ coach is when they won’t roll with their students. They either always have an excuse why they won’t roll or just flat out refuse.
This shows that they’re either avoiding being exposed as a fraud or having a fragile ego. A good coach always trains with their students and doesn’t care if they get submitted.
Bullying
Bullying is a common trait in a lot of bad BJJ coaches. It’s okay to poke fun at some students, but some coaches take things too far.
When a coach starts targeting one student and makes them the butt of every joke, that is bully behavior.
A Jiu-Jitsu coach who acts like this usually doesn’t last long in his position.
Favoritism
Showing constant favoritism of a student over others is a clear sign of a bad BJJ coach. It’s okay to praise a good student, but propping one over the rest of class wrecks the class dynamic.
I’ve seen it firsthand when a coach starts putting their favorite above the rest of the gym. They start showing their favorites techniques off to the side that they won’t show other students.
Then, before you know it, they start putting down the other gym members, it gets back to the other students, and it causes an irreparable rift.
Dating Students
A big sign of a bad BJJ coach is when the coach gets a reputation for dating their students. Every time a pretty new student walks in, this coach puts all their focus on them.
The next thing you know, he’s taking her out, and tagging her in every post. Then, they break up, another pretty new student walks in, and the cycle repeats.
This behavior puts a weird vibe in the gym and it isn’t needed in a place of business.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.