Is your jiu-jitsu gym a cult? How to spot red flags and find a healthy community

Jiu-jitsu, like many martial arts, is a highly structured discipline with a strong emphasis on the student-teacher relationship. While this can foster an environment of growth and mentorship, it can also create an atmosphere where cult-like behaviours can take root.

For the vast majority of practitioners, their gym is a healthy community built on values like discipline, humility, and respect. For others, however, the intense bonds and hierarchical structure can be exploited. If you’re a practitioner or considering joining a new school, it's important to recognize the difference.

Red flags of a toxic, cult-like gym

While every gym is different, certain behaviours can signal an unhealthy environment.

• Excessive loyalty to the instructor: Healthy gyms value their instructors, but in a cult-like atmosphere, the head coach is glorified to a “guru” status. In this environment, unquestioning loyalty is demanded, and criticism is not tolerated.

• Forbidden cross-training: A major warning sign is a gym that forbids its students from training at other schools or open mats. Healthy gyms do not discourage students from learning elsewhere and engaging with the wider jiu-jitsu community.

• "Us vs. them" mentality: Cult-like gyms often foster a strong sense of rivalry against other schools, painting them as enemies. This fundamentalism discourages friendships and collaboration within the jiu-jitsu community.

• Inappropriate involvement in personal lives: While a supportive community is normal, it becomes a red flag when an instructor or teammates try to exert control or undue influence over a student's personal life outside the gym.

• Financial exploitation: The instructor may use their position of power for monetary gain. This can take the form of excessive or mandatory fees for belt promotions, higher rates for required team gear, or other unethical financial practices.

  
  

The core values of a healthy jiu-jitsu community

When practiced in a healthy environment, jiu-jitsu fosters significant personal growth through a clear set of core values.

• Humility: Regularly "tapping out" to more experienced or even smaller training partners is a humbling experience that helps kill ego.

• Respect: Practitioners show respect for their instructors, training partners, and the martial art itself through proper gym etiquette and conduct on the mat.

• Discipline: Progress in jiu-jitsu requires consistent and dedicated training, which builds mental and physical discipline.

• Perseverance: The long and challenging journey from white belt to black belt teaches patience and resilience through setbacks and plateaus.

• Community: The physical and strategic nature of sparring creates a strong bond of trust and camaraderie among teammates.

  
  

How to choose the right gym for you

Before committing to a gym, do some research and ask questions.

• Take a trial class: Many gyms offer a free or low-cost trial class. Use this opportunity to observe the culture and atmosphere.

• Talk to other students: What are their experiences like? Do they feel supported and respected?

• Assess the instructor: Look for a coach who is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in their students' growth, both on and off the mat.

• Check for red flags: Be mindful of the warning signs mentioned above. Does the gym's code of conduct or culture feel restrictive?

  
  

Your gym should be a place where you feel safe, challenged, and respected. By understanding the core values of jiu-jitsu and keeping an eye out for warning signs, you can find a healthy and rewarding martial arts home.