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Three weeks already gone intro 2012. Have you started your New Year’s resolution yet? If your as many other’s New Year’s resolution is to start a new sport activity or simple: get fit, I will tell you what you should “have a go”: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the world’s fastest growing martial art. Let’s find out how to get there!

FIRST STEP: It is important to find the right school. Your first concern should be the legitimacy and experience of the school’s instructor. You should be looking for a school with a certified Black Belt instructor on hand who teaches regular classes and has done so for some time. The practice of people teaching at lower ranks was a necessity about five years ago due to a high demand and so few Black Belts to teach the art, but at this point in time, most areas of the UK have Black Belt instructors within a reasonable distance. Another important thing about learning from a Black Belt as opposed to lower ranking people aside from the obvious issue of experience and ability to give rank when deserved is that you want to be your teacher’s student, not his training partner. People under the rank of black belt are still working on personal goals and may be a better training partner than teacher.

SECOND STEP: Make sure the school has good mats and good people. No egos or bad attitudes; the students are a reflection of the teacher. If you feel like the students are going too hard on you, they probably are and you shouldn’t go back. People more experienced than you ‘beat’ you at some point; after doing so they should show you how they did it so that you can learn and progress. Remember that you are there to learn, not get hurt; it would be ironic to get hurt trying to learn Self Defense.

STEP THREE: Go for it! Done your researches now is time to find out if BJJ is for you! I would recommend at least 5 classes to start with. As everything in the life, the beginning may be a bit difficult, but give the chance for things to happen!

Good luck and have a good roll!

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