Episode 145
E145 | Bonus | How to Research a Jiu-Jitsu Gym: Red Flags & Expert Vetting Tips
This episode dives into the essential, yet often overlooked, legwork of researching a Jiu-Jitsu gym before you ever step onto the mats. As an instructor and black belt, I share my recent experiences scouting gyms in San Diego and the red flags that every student—especially white to purple belts—and coach should keep on their radar.
3 Key Takeaways
- Look Beyond the Highlight Reel: Social media gives you the vibe a gym wants you to see; look for genuine interactions, laughter, and consistent activity to gauge the true atmosphere.
- The "Invisible Instructor" Red Flag: If an instructor’s name or face is scrubbed from the website or social media, but they are mentioned in reviews, it’s time to dig deeper into their professional background.
- Trust Your Gut on the Mat: During a trial, observe how instructors handle mistakes; impatience or a lack of respect toward students is a major indicator of a poor gym culture.
Chapters
- 0:00 - The Evolution of Gym Research
- 1:04 - Building a Seminar Network in San Diego
- 2:36 - The Reality of Power Dynamics in Sports
- 4:14 - Case Study: The Hidden Instructor Red Flag
- 6:17 - Decoding Social Media and Websites
- 8:41 - Using Yelp and Reddit for the Deep Dive
- 10:11 - What to Look for During Your First Class
- 12:28 - Evaluating Instructor Patience and Respect
- 14:35 - The Importance of Female Representation and Leadership
- 16:04 - Final Vetting: Background Checks and Safety Policies
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David Figueroa-Martinez
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Transcript
Full Transcript
(0:00) Welcome to Tapped In. My name is David Figueroa Martinez of DFM Coaching and today we're going to be talking about how to research gyms.
(1:04) I am in the middle of trying to expand my workshops and seminars. I would like to get to the point where I can have a seminar maybe two or three times a year at different gyms within San Diego County.
(2:36) It is prevalent and I don't want to blame this on Jiu-Jitsu because it's not. It is prevalent anywhere where you're going to have people, kids, and a power dynamic.
(4:14) And then I happened to start searching reviews on Yelp and Google. And on Yelp, some of the students were posting certain things about a certain instructor and it caught my eye immediately. I didn't know this person was here.
(6:17) When you go to their website and you look at a website for the page or the gym, are there testimonials? Can I see the instructor's faces, names, and credentials?
(8:41) And then I started going into their reviews on Google and Yelp... and I just started skimming. And I was looking for pictures. I was like, someone's got to post something so I can see who the instructor is.
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