Why Private Jiu Jitsu Lessons Deliver Faster Results (Especially for Beginners)

The Kodokan
Aug 6
2 min read

Updated: Aug 14

BJJ students practicing grappling at The Kodokan academy in London

Group classes offer a powerful rhythm — shared energy, live resistance, and community. Still, some aspects of progress don’t scale. Sometimes what a student needs most is quiet. Precision. A focused environment where feedback happens instantly and repeatedly.

That’s where private Jiu Jitsu lessons come in — not to replace group training, but to amplify it.

What Makes Private Lessons Different?

In a private setting, time isn’t divided.

The instruction responds directly to you — your pace, your habits, your questions.

Instead of adapting to a class plan, the lesson adapts to the student. That might mean revisiting basic mechanics for a white belt, refining pressure for someone mid-journey, or exploring edge-case details for a competitor preparing to peak.

It’s not “more advanced.” It’s more personal.

When Are Private Lessons Most Useful?

While anyone can benefit from them, private sessions tend to create the most impact in a few key situations:

Beginners who want to start with clean habits rather than self-correct later
Professionals with unpredictable schedules who need flexibility
Competitors refining specific sequences or transitions before events
Returning students looking to get back up to speed with support

In each case, private time acts as a lens — narrowing the field of focus to what matters most right now.

A Typical Session at The Kodokan:

There’s no fixed template. Sessions vary depending on who’s in the room — and what they need.

But generally, your first private lesson might include:

A movement and posture assessment

Review of your current base: guard, passing, or control
A breakdown of concepts and corrections most relevant to your game
Time for questions — and the space to repeat until it’s clean

The idea is to give you a level of precision that’s hard to access in group settings.

Why We Offer Them:

Private lessons at The Kodokan aren’t upsells or add-ons. They’re part of our broader approach: to help students develop a sharper understanding of the art and themselves.

The gym isn’t a conveyor belt — it’s a learning space. Some of that learning happens best with a partner. Some of it happens best in focused silence, when there’s time to examine the details.

Private sessions make that possible.

From the Mat

“Absolutely the best BJJ gym I've trained at, every time I turn up there's always a positive atmosphere and everyone there will make you feel welcome and have your progression in their best interests. Couldn't recommend enough no matter what skill level you may be!”