Develop a Structured Curriculum for Your BJJ School

Oct 8 / Laura Peretti

Creating a well-structured curriculum is one of the most important aspects of running a successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) academy. A curriculum provides a roadmap for your students’ progression, helping them build skills systematically and achieve their goals. It also sets clear expectations, which can increase student retention and ensure consistency in teaching. In this post, we’ll explore how to develop a structured BJJ curriculum that caters to students at all levels and keeps your academy thriving.

Define Your Academy’s Core Values and Teaching Philosophy

Before diving into the specifics of techniques and belt promotions, it’s important to establish the guiding principles of your curriculum. These core values and your teaching philosophy will form the foundation of how you structure classes and what you emphasise in your instruction.

Ask Yourself:
  • What do you want your students to gain from their time at your academy?
  • Do you prioritise self-defence, competition, or jiu-jitsu as a sport, or a balance between all?
  • How will you instil discipline, respect, and camaraderie in your students?

Structure Your Curriculum by Skill Level

One of the key aspects of a good curriculum is ensuring it caters to students of all levels—beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Each level should build upon the previous one, allowing students to progress logically.
  • Beginners:
Focus on the fundamentals. Introduce core techniques such as basic sweeps, guard positions, and escapes. Drilling these essential moves is crucial for establishing a strong foundation.
Tip: Develop a rotating syllabus that covers a range of foundational techniques over a set period (e.g., 6-8 weeks), ensuring beginners get exposure to all key areas before moving to a mixed class.
  • Intermediate:
Once students have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, they should move on to more complex techniques. Introduce combinations, transitions, and different guards other than closed and half. This level should also focus on improving positional awareness and timing.
Tip: Incorporate situational sparring, allowing students to apply their skills in specific scenarios given by the curriculum, the length of this curriculum can vary greatly.
  • Advanced:
At this level, students should refine their game and develop a deeper understanding of strategy. Focus on higher-level techniques, advanced submissions, and counters. Encourage creativity and individual expression in rolling, encourage students to develop their own strategic thinking and give freedom to perform their own techniques.
Tip: Allow advanced students to work on competition scenarios, refining their strategies for both points-based and submission-only matches.

Balance Technique, Drilling, and Sparring

An effective curriculum strikes a balance between technique instruction, drilling, and live sparring (rolling). Each of these elements plays a crucial role in a student’s development.

Technique Instruction:

This is the foundation of every class. Dedicate time to breaking down and demonstrating techniques in detail. Encourage students to ask questions and understand not just how a move works, but why it works.

Drilling:

Repetition is key in BJJ. Incorporate drills that reinforce the day’s techniques. Drilling allows students to build muscle memory, improving their ability to execute moves efficiently under pressure.

Tip: Use both static drills (where students practice a technique without resistance) and dynamic drills (where there’s light resistance to simulate a real scenario).

Sparring:

Live sparring is where students truly test their skills and build adaptability. Ensure that students of all levels have the opportunity to roll in a controlled environment. Beginners can participate in positional sparring to gradually increase their confidence.

Tip: Use specific positional sparring sessions to help students focus on improving certain areas (e.g., starting in side control or mount).

Keep Your Curriculum Flexible and Evolving

While it’s important to have a structured curriculum, it’s equally important to remain flexible and open to adapting as needed. As your students progress and the BJJ landscape evolves, you may find the need to adjust certain techniques or focus areas.


Monitor Student Progress:
Pay attention to how your students are responding to the curriculum. If they seem stuck on certain techniques or concepts, it may be time to adjust your approach or spend extra time on those areas.

Incorporate Feedback:
Encourage feedback from students and instructors to ensure your curriculum is meeting their needs. This can help you identify areas where students need more support or new trends in BJJ that could be integrated into your classes.

Stay Updated with Trends:
BJJ is a constantly evolving martial art, with new techniques and strategies emerging all the time. Make sure to stay updated with the latest developments in the sport and consider incorporating relevant techniques into your curriculum. Attend seminars, watch competitions, and collaborate with other instructors to stay on top of the game.
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Lastly, remember to establish a belt testing structure and ensure that your curriculum thoroughly covers all the skills and requirements necessary for students to progress to the next belt level.

A structured curriculum is essential for building a successful BJJ school. It provides your students with a clear path for progression, fosters consistency in training, and ensures that each student—whether a beginner or advanced—receives the appropriate level of instruction.

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