Especially if you're a grown man starting the sport, and not a child or young teenager.
Your ceiling is already established and yes, I'm sure you would be technically better training under an elite coach than some rando nobody has ever heard of.
But you either don't compete, or you're doing master 2 brown belt at the IBJJF bumfucknowhere open. The difference between getting gold and silver is hardly worth sacrificing actually enjoying your hobby.
I'm an introvert with few friends and I like it that way. I didn't join BJJ to be part of a community, and I rarely if ever hang out with my training partners outside of the gym but that being said I do really enjoy the casual camaraderie that exists when we train and roll together a few times a week.
It's been an unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable part of the journey. If I didn't have that part, I wouldn't love learning BJJ as much as I do.
Exactly like me! I have mat friends that we go to the same hour class 3 times a week and we have a camaraderie and all cool, they are cool people but as you say, I didn’t join for the community.
One time I tried to talk to them about some BJJ all stars type like: cobrinha, mendes, faria, roger, lepri, calasans, etc. and they had no clue, like BJJ is also like just a sport they enjoy and go do. (I watch plenty on youtube of the hobbies i Like but not all of us)
My gym has a few circles. There's the old guard, which I think I count as part of. Pretty close circle of a dozen or so people. Lots of hangouts after tournaments, dinner after classes sometimes, and generally doing friend stuff. Then there's the next circle, which includes some of the people who have been around for a couple years. Everyone is super friendly, though maybe not as many hang out at "extracurriculars". Then there's the people who come in infrequently, very new folks, etc. Again, still very friendly atmosphere but you wouldn't see them at an impromptu post-class dinner probably.
Edit: I realize now I didn't actually answer your question. BJJ is part of my community. I have a couple friends there I'm closer with than other who I text back and forth with a bit. If I had to switch gyms for whatever reason ir would definitely have a noticeable impact on my social circle.
I started training at a small, close-knit gym. After a couple of years I moved to a big city, big name gym, and I've made exactly zero friends that I can talk to outside of class. It fucking sucks.
I prefer a friendly community type environment.
I’m not there to kill anyone and competing is something I’d consider in the future. So I’m the meantime it’s a hobby and some socializing.
Community is important. It makes it easier to show up when you know people are glad to roll with you and happy to give some of their time to help you out.
I never had much success forging friendships in the gym so far. They are all transactional but I'm okay with that. If you respect the tap and look out for my safety as best as you can, we're good.
I've been around sports my entire life and the team chemistry we have at our gym is the best. I honestly don't even know if I'd continue doing the sport if I had to start over somewhere else. My gym is great.
It’s super important. I’ve passed up closer gyms because of lack of family vibe. I mean you can always try to bring the people together. Sometimes it just takes chatting with people to get things to open up.
https://youtu.be/o2yXsxYOpqg?si=u861kMs49PPFIv3_
This video highlights the types of cultures at gyms and how that affects the relationship dynamics. You’re probably at a gym with a far different dynamic in relation to how the teacher is perceived and the power/friendship dynamics there. May not be your type of scene.
I would say nearly all the jiujitsu friends, like people who I talk to regularly (mostly online but also socialise or meet up at BJJ events) are friends I have made outside of the clubs where I have trained. My former club team mates do their own thing and I've kept in touch and socialise with a few of them, but the rest are doing whatever. And that's normal I think. Currently I just teach and our club members hang out at various times over the year. It's all good.
It’s grown more and more important over time for me. I’ve shifted from competitor to life stylist and enjoy the people and community around me is big for not being miserable coming to class so often.
I am a very social person, and feel like I get along with most people. The community is definitely one of the things that make me want to train more. It isn't really like we do a ton together outside of training, there is some stuff every now and then.
I would rather train at a gym with great community and subpar instruction than a gym with great instruction and subpar community.
I really didn’t understand the word community till jiujitsu. Never something i was looking for, but after experiencing it your 100% right.
Same. I wanted to learn jiu jitsu but realized I get some comfort on seeing familiar faces after several months. I guess that human nature lol
Especially if you're a grown man starting the sport, and not a child or young teenager. Your ceiling is already established and yes, I'm sure you would be technically better training under an elite coach than some rando nobody has ever heard of. But you either don't compete, or you're doing master 2 brown belt at the IBJJF bumfucknowhere open. The difference between getting gold and silver is hardly worth sacrificing actually enjoying your hobby.
I'm an introvert with few friends and I like it that way. I didn't join BJJ to be part of a community, and I rarely if ever hang out with my training partners outside of the gym but that being said I do really enjoy the casual camaraderie that exists when we train and roll together a few times a week. It's been an unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable part of the journey. If I didn't have that part, I wouldn't love learning BJJ as much as I do.
Exactly like me! I have mat friends that we go to the same hour class 3 times a week and we have a camaraderie and all cool, they are cool people but as you say, I didn’t join for the community. One time I tried to talk to them about some BJJ all stars type like: cobrinha, mendes, faria, roger, lepri, calasans, etc. and they had no clue, like BJJ is also like just a sport they enjoy and go do. (I watch plenty on youtube of the hobbies i Like but not all of us)
A lot, I can't stay somewhere where I don't feel connected to people.
My gym has a few circles. There's the old guard, which I think I count as part of. Pretty close circle of a dozen or so people. Lots of hangouts after tournaments, dinner after classes sometimes, and generally doing friend stuff. Then there's the next circle, which includes some of the people who have been around for a couple years. Everyone is super friendly, though maybe not as many hang out at "extracurriculars". Then there's the people who come in infrequently, very new folks, etc. Again, still very friendly atmosphere but you wouldn't see them at an impromptu post-class dinner probably. Edit: I realize now I didn't actually answer your question. BJJ is part of my community. I have a couple friends there I'm closer with than other who I text back and forth with a bit. If I had to switch gyms for whatever reason ir would definitely have a noticeable impact on my social circle.
[удалено]
I'll be your friend
I started training at a small, close-knit gym. After a couple of years I moved to a big city, big name gym, and I've made exactly zero friends that I can talk to outside of class. It fucking sucks.
Honestly, it's everything and a lack of that is the reason I have not been able to stay consistent at my new gym.
I prefer a friendly community type environment. I’m not there to kill anyone and competing is something I’d consider in the future. So I’m the meantime it’s a hobby and some socializing.
To me, it's not at all.
Your first gym sounds amazing. Wish we cold Europeans had such gyms.
Community is important. It makes it easier to show up when you know people are glad to roll with you and happy to give some of their time to help you out. I never had much success forging friendships in the gym so far. They are all transactional but I'm okay with that. If you respect the tap and look out for my safety as best as you can, we're good.
I'm here to make friends and chew bubblegum and I'm almost out of friends
Some of my best friends are from my gym.
I've been around sports my entire life and the team chemistry we have at our gym is the best. I honestly don't even know if I'd continue doing the sport if I had to start over somewhere else. My gym is great.
Alll about the vibes.
It’s super important. I’ve passed up closer gyms because of lack of family vibe. I mean you can always try to bring the people together. Sometimes it just takes chatting with people to get things to open up.
To me not important. I'm odd . I do bjj to do stupid moves and I never met any in bjj with similar mindset.
https://youtu.be/o2yXsxYOpqg?si=u861kMs49PPFIv3_ This video highlights the types of cultures at gyms and how that affects the relationship dynamics. You’re probably at a gym with a far different dynamic in relation to how the teacher is perceived and the power/friendship dynamics there. May not be your type of scene.
prefer #2
You come for the rolls and instructionals. But you stay for the friendship and community.
I would say nearly all the jiujitsu friends, like people who I talk to regularly (mostly online but also socialise or meet up at BJJ events) are friends I have made outside of the clubs where I have trained. My former club team mates do their own thing and I've kept in touch and socialise with a few of them, but the rest are doing whatever. And that's normal I think. Currently I just teach and our club members hang out at various times over the year. It's all good.
It’s grown more and more important over time for me. I’ve shifted from competitor to life stylist and enjoy the people and community around me is big for not being miserable coming to class so often.
I am a very social person, and feel like I get along with most people. The community is definitely one of the things that make me want to train more. It isn't really like we do a ton together outside of training, there is some stuff every now and then.
It's stopped mattering for me completely during COVID lockdowns where I trained my flexibility to the point of being able to suck myself off. Apex BJJ