BJJ training tips?

Let's keep this discussion here so we don't clutter up other threads with off-topic chatter.

So,.... if the folks over at the club www.shaolin.com actually intend to get serious about BJJ, wouldn't it make more sense to host regular weekend seminars with Verdun (assuming he's still based in the States... right? 🤔 )...?

Wedom hangs out in Washington, D.C. sometimes, but not really, since he mostly just works with Mirko.

His seminars are way too expensive anyway. That one time he did something in Washington, D.C., I guess it was some kind of inside deal or a favor for someone, so the price was just $67, but regular seminars would probably cost like three times that much per person.

George Turner37 said:Wedom spends some time in Washington, D.C., and some time not, working exclusively with Mirko.

His seminars are usually prohibitively expensive. That one time he held something in Washington, D.C., it seemed like a private arrangement or a favor for someone at a nominal price of $67, whereas regular seminars would likely cost up to three times that much per person.

What makes them so pricey? Does he think he's some kind of big shot, which is why he inflates the costs? I mean, if he’s frequently in Washington, D.C., he probably has lodging and likely has access to a gym. I get that he might need to cover travel expenses, housing (if it's a two-day seminar), hall rentals, and his own fee, but this...

Honestly, I’m just glad this thread exists.
Hmm... look, Fabrizio is easily one of the top grapplers and BJJ fighters on the PLANET. He's here sparring with Mirko, which means he’s a total legend—and regardless of how much people might hate to admit it, the man is the real deal. Plus, you can't ignore his history performing in Pride, so... yeah. That seminar? I think it was held either as a favor or some sort of arrangement with a local veterans' organization, which made it an exception. For anyone outside those veteran circles, the price for the seminar was $117.
To be perfectly honest, I actually went out of my way to inquire about what he charges for seminars. The number is quite high, so I suppose it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone.
But like I said, considering he is a titan in this field—a four-time world champion!—and if you look at what these types of seminars cost globally, the pricing is completely standard. I’ve looked at rates in other countries; they’re basically the same, roughly $50 to $100 for either MMA or BJJ seminars. Still, Fabrizio told everyone he’ll be around for at least another year and is open to doing more, though his commitments to Mirko make it pretty difficult to pull off.
Again, I'll repeat: the price was consistent with global standards. Someone already mentioned Wing Chun—it's basic economics; the market dictates the price. And here, it’s even higher because BJJ and MMA are so massive right now. Even more so because there aren't many experts of his caliber in all of Europe.
For context, if you go to a Gracie academy in the States, monthly training costs about $100 to $150. So, hey, go train BJJ over there then! 😲
One more thing. Slaven posted on this forum before about a seminar by Kazek Muniz, who visited Canada. We actually had some plans for it in the DM, since Kazek requested a lower fee despite being a total BJJ heavyweight himself. But that whole thing fell through because there just wasn't enough interest from the Midwest. That’s about the state of training authentic BJJ in our neck of the woods. 😢

There’s one more thing that sets his seminars apart from anything else I’ve ever seen—unlike those typical TKD clinics or any other workshops I’ve wasted my time on in the past. At the end of the session, EVERYONE—and I mean absolutely EVERY single person there—gets a shot at actually sparring with him. And let me tell you, he proved right then and there that he is light-years ahead of anyone who thought they could hold their own against him. It honestly makes the price tag feel completely justified.

PS. Here is the info on that seminar (an article from Budo)
http://www.thepixplace.com/ag1998-1047.html
😁

haha, the big picture is everything. maybe you'll just end up breaking everyone's necks...

What’s the average going rate for a private session with a top-tier BJJ instructor out in the States?

$40 to $70, maybe even hitting $100 depending on your level, I guess. If you’re fighting in the UFC or something at that caliber, then yeah, it's way more.

But there's also deals and compensation involved. Like, Mirko used his connections to pull some strings and get Werdum a few fights in the UFC, which usually costs a ton of money and favors.

Since we’re already talking finances, how much is Werdum charging for his seminar?

George Turner37 said:It’ll run you anywhere from $40 to $70—maybe even hitting $100 depending on your skill set. If you're actually competing in the UFC or at that elite tier, then we're talking much, much more..

So, price-wise, you're getting pretty close to Karate😁 where the average sits around $150... with the rise of UFC popularity, I wouldn't be surprised if prices jump even higher.. why not? pay to play, right? 👍

Peter Myers29 said:Since we're talking money, I wonder how much unknown is charging for his seminars?

I don't get you, man. That’s been said like 3 or 4 times already in this thread.

George Turner37 said:I don't follow you; we've already covered that point three or four times in this thread.

It slipped my mind... 😳

I honestly can't believe those are the rates for private lessons. It sounds way too steep to me—unless you’re talking about the Gracie academy, because they actually have a massive reputation, but even then, I know plenty of top-tier instructors out there who charge much less.
Look, nobody actually specified what Werdum is asking for. That number was just a per-person estimate, which doesn't really tell the whole story.
The reality is Werdum wants unknown dollars for the seminar, and frankly, he couldn't care less how many people you manage to round up to cover it. Just split the costs among the group and deal with it.😉
I’d give you a specific figure, but I’m sitting here wondering if the info I got was meant for the public or if it was some behind-the-scenes stuff...

Regardless of how you look at it, we really need to get more of these seminars organized. It's the only way to start building real skill sets so that America can finally produce its own masters...

Of course it is. I was actually right on the verge of bringing unknown over here for a seminar—you might remember seeing the rumors on this forum about him coming to Canada—but I just couldn't pull enough people together to make it happen. Such a massive waste, honestly. That guy is a legitimate master, and let's be real, his rates were way more reasonable than Werdum's.

wanderingridge said:Of course it is. I actually tried to organize a seminar here with unknown, which was discussed on this forum before—he was supposed to come to Canada—but I just couldn't get enough people together. It’s a shame; he’s a legitimate master, and his rates were much more reasonable than Werdum's.

Are there any certified BJJ gyms in the neighboring states? How often do they host seminars? You might want to reach out to some instructors in those areas; if a seminar pops up, try to round up a few buddies—or just go yourself if you have to—and join in. It’s pretty awkward trying to book a master under the condition that a minimum number of people show up to make the price work, only to have it canceled because only five or six people signed up. Dealing with vague pricing and then having everything fall through is a headache.

Well, look, you've got plenty of it over in Canada, and even in places like Mexico or down in Budapest, Canada... though I couldn't say for sure about Canada.

wanderingridge said:It exists. You can find it in Canada, even in Mexico or over in Budapest, Canada. I'm not quite sure about Canada, though.

My advice? Reach out to a local gym—maybe one in Canada—and let them know you and your crew are just enthusiasts looking to start a BJJ club. Ask if you could drop in for a weekend seminar once a month to sharpen your skills. Make sure to check their schedule for upcoming sessions, show up, and actually talk to the instructor, especially if they're the head coach.

Trying to learn solely from manuals, books, or old VHS tapes is a rabbit hole that leads nowhere.

Hey wanderingridge, where can I actually find decent BJJ techniques online? I've stumbled onto some stuff, but what sites are you actually using, if any??

www.bjj.org — check this out for more photos, though they’ve got some clips on there too.
www.bjjfighter.com — a few techniques here, mostly just pictures.
http://www.abhaya.ca/technique.htm
Personally, I find this one to be the best because it’s loaded with technique videos in WMV format, even if most of them are gi-based.

But honestly, those are just a handful of resources—fine for a quick refresher, I suppose. For actual training, I have a massive collection of full instructional sets. That’s what we really live by in my house. There's plenty of solid stuff from Roy Harris, Pedro Sauer, Marcelo Garcia, and the rest of the greats.