Like all things, when it comes to 1-on-1 instruction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu there are things that will either compliment or detract from your experience. Here are four things you need to know before going into your private lesson:
- Knowing is Half the Battle: While it’s not mandatory, it certainly helps to have an idea as to what you’d like to work on. This can be as specific or general as you’d like. You may want to learn how to perfect the triangle choke, or perhaps you want to work on defense from the most common scenarios. If you have a basic idea you’ll be off to a good start.
- Being Prepared: Don’t assume that you’re going to remember every important detail from the lesson. Make sure you bring a notebook to jot down the key points. You can also ask your instructor if it’s OK to record the lessons on video.
- Length of Lesson: Common sense would dictate that an hour of 1-on-1 instruction is better a half hour. Not so fast! What you’re paying for is the knowledge that your instructor possesses, not the repetition of techniques. If you’ve come prepared and ask questions, you’ll have all you need to rep the techniques with training partners.
- Less is More: You’ll get the most out of the lesson if you limit the number of techniques you do. This is another reason why the 30 minute lesson is best. If you want to cover a dozen techniques, you may end up overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The details make the difference.
Private lessons are a fantastic supplement to group classes. It’s difficult for an instructor to help a student perfect the techniques when he or she has 10 or 20 other students to help. Most likely your instructor offers private lessons, schedule one today!