It’s easy to be confused when looking for a fitness outlet, especially when you’re trying to choose the right martial art school for you and your family. Below are some things that set Insight Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) apart from our competitors.

• Insight BJJ is the longest running martial arts program in Bastrop County; We’ve been steadily growing our program since August 2014 and upgrading our facilities several times over the years to offer more and more as time goes on.
• Insight BJJ has the most, and highest ranked BJJ black belts in the County.
• We have multiple Worlds, Pans, and International Open gold medalists in our ranks.
• We have the only Judo program, with multiple Judo black belt instructors, including Owner and Head Instructor Alex Henley – meaning you can simultaneously earn rank in BJJ and Judo. 
• We are affiliated with Team Renzo Gracie which has locations all over the world as well as locations all over the area, with options in Bastrop, Elgin, La Grange, Taylor, Austin and Houston.

Some things to be aware of when looking for the right martial art school are…

• Vague/obvious/empty promises or selling points, like:
  • “Germ-free” – Cleanliness SHOULD be a given, not a standout point.
  • “We care about your progress” – Every school SHOULD care about your progress.
  • “Family Friendly” – Unless you’re running an underground fight club, the whole family SHOULD feel welcome.
  • “Good for on and off the mats” – ALL martial arts, and especially BJJ, are designed for self defense.
  • “Jiu Jitsu for everyone” – There are no viable BJJ gyms that exclude people because of their goals, physical fitness, or level of involvement. In fact, some schools claim to be for everyone, but will not give you the same attention unless you compete.
  • “We care about your safety” – Well… of course! The place you trust to train you in combat sports SHOULD care about your safety. This also includes safe temperatures, a safe space for women and children (the ability to be in the room with your kids & proper adult to child ratio) as well as being positive role models for adults and kids alike.

Finally, beware of schools that have a cult-like mentality. If you’re strong-armed or outright forced to buy team gear from a school, that’s a huge red flag. If a school has a “closed door” policy for visitors from outside gyms, that’s a huge red flag. If your school charges for striped or belt tests, BEWARE.

Being new to the BJJ community can be daunting, so we suggest that you try all options available to see what each school has to offer.