The right number of BJJ privates depends on your goal: one or two to fix a specific problem, three to five spaced out before a tournament, or roughly one a month alongside group classes for steady progress.
How Many BJJ Private Lessons Do You Actually Need?
It depends on the goal, not some fixed number. One session can fix a specific leak in your game. A short run of three to five before a tournament sharpens what you already know. A monthly cadence alongside group classes keeps you improving steadily over the long run. There is no universal answer because the goal changes the math.
Fixing One Specific Problem: Usually One or Two Sessions
If you have one clear leak, one or two privates is often enough to feel a real difference. Maybe you get stuck in someone's half guard every roll. Maybe your triangle choke defense falls apart against bigger training partners. Maybe you cannot pass a strong De La Riva guard no matter what you try.
A single hour lets me watch you move, find the actual habit causing the problem, and give you two or three things to drill. I am not handing you a magic fix. I am giving you a clearer picture of what to work on and a way to practice it that makes sense for your body. Some of these leaks connect to bigger topics I have written about, like guard passing basics or how to escape side control as a beginner — a private lets us go deeper into your specific version of the problem than a group class allows.
For this kind of problem-solving session, one hour at a time is usually the right call. Come back for a second if the first one opened up more questions than it answered, which happens more often than not.
Getting Ready for a Tournament: A Short, Focused Run
How many privates before a competition is realistic?
A short run of three to five sessions in the weeks before a tournament is a reasonable amount for most people, spaced out so you have time to drill what we cover between sessions. This is not about learning something new the week of the event. It is about tightening your best positions, building a simple game plan, and rehearsing the sequences you are most likely to actually use.
The tri-state competition calendar in New York keeps a steady stream of local tournaments running most of the year, so there is usually something on the horizon to train toward. A private lesson in the run-up is a good place to work on takedown entries, your go-to guard, and whatever submission chain you actually hit in live rolling — not just what looks good in isolation. If you are new to competing, BJJ competition prep in Brooklyn covers more of what that stretch of training should look like.
Cramming five privates into one week rarely works as well as spreading them out. Your body and your brain both need the days in between to actually absorb anything.
Training Alongside Group Classes: A Monthly Cadence
For steady long-term progress, a private every few weeks alongside your regular group classes is a solid rhythm for most people. The group classes give you volume, live rolling, and exposure to different body types and styles. The private gives you focused, undivided attention on whatever is not clicking yet from all those rounds.
I don't run adult group classes myself, so this cadence usually means pairing what I teach one-on-one with a group program somewhere else, or with open mat rolling. If you are trying to figure out how those two pieces fit together, BJJ private lessons vs group classes breaks down what each format is actually good for. A monthly private is enough to keep correcting your habits before they calcify, without turning into a crutch that replaces the reps you need from live training.
Total Beginners: Front-Load a Few Sessions Early
If you are brand new, a few privates close together at the start save you a lot of confusion later. The first weeks of BJJ are overwhelming — new vocabulary, new positions, a body that does not yet know how to move on the ground. A session or two early on to learn how to fall, how to escape the worst positions, and how to tap before it hurts gives you a foundation the group class pace does not always allow for.
After that early stretch, most beginners can shift toward the occasional tune-up rather than a fixed weekly schedule. First BJJ private lesson: what to expect walks through what that first hour actually looks like if you have never done one before.
So What Should You Actually Book?
Match the number of sessions to the size of the problem, not to a schedule someone else follows. One private to fix a leak. Three to five spaced out before a tournament. One a month to keep pace with your group training. There is no set number that fits everyone, and anyone telling you otherwise is guessing.
- One specific problem — one or two sessions, come back if needed
- Tournament coming up — three to five sessions spaced across the weeks before
- Training alongside a gym's group classes — roughly one private a month
- Brand new to the sport — a couple of sessions early, then as needed
Sessions run one-on-one, gi or no-gi, and a training partner can split the cost with you. Rates and the exact hours I have open are on the pricing and booking page.
Where this happens
Private lessons are held at Darfight Martial Arts, 130 Brighton Beach Ave, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn — a short walk from the Brighton Beach B/Q station. Solo sessions and partner sessions are both available by the hour.
Figure out what you actually need, then pick a time that works. Booking takes a couple of minutes.
Questions people ask
How many BJJ private lessons do I need to fix one bad habit?
Usually one or two sessions is enough to identify the habit and give you a clear way to drill it. Book a second one if the first raises more questions than it answers.
How often should I take BJJ privates before a tournament?
A short run of three to five sessions spaced out over the weeks before the event works better than cramming them all in the final week. Space lets you actually absorb and drill what you cover.
Should I do private lessons instead of group classes?
Privates work best alongside group classes, not instead of them. Group classes give you live rolling and volume; a private every few weeks fixes specific habits that group pace doesn't always catch.
Can a beginner start with private lessons only?
Yes, beginners often do a couple of privates early on to learn fundamentals like falling and escapes safely, then move to an as-needed schedule once they're training regularly.