How Often Should You Train BJJ?

Wondering how often you should train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? At Renegade BJJ in Kensington, we break down the ideal training frequency for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students, helping you find a rhythm that builds skill, prevents burnout, and keeps you on the mats for life.

How Often Should You Train BJJ?
  • Jamie Murray

    Jamie Murray

    Co—Owner and Head Coach

    Jamie A. Murray is the co-owner and head coach of Renegade BJJ Academy in Kensington, a thriving martial arts gym serving Melbourne’s inner-west since 2010. A third-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with the Australian Elite Team, Jamie is passionate about using grappling to foster positive change across Kensington, the Western suburbs and beyond.

    He is a Ridley Theological College graduate and a seasoned competitor in national and international BJJ tournaments. Jamie has coached students to the highest levels of the sport, including the UFC, and continues to compete himself.

    At Renegade BJJ, Jamie champions a culture of care, learning, and community, creating a supportive space where people of all levels can grow through the discipline and lifestyle of BJJ.

  • How Often Should You Train BJJ Classes in Kensington?

    If you’ve just started training at a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy or are thinking about trying BJJ classes in Kensington, you’ve probably already asked:

    “How often should I train BJJ?” Or “How many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes should I do in one week?”

    It’s a simple question, but like most things in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the answer depends on where you’re at in your journey. Whether you’re taking your first trial class, training consistently at BJJ classes in Flemington, or preparing for comps, finding the right rhythm is the key to growth and longevity.

    At Renegade, we’ve seen it all: the over-eager beginner who burns out after a few months, the consistent warrior who improves slowly but surely, and the black belt with over a decade on the mat. The lesson is always the same:

    It’s not about how much you can train; it’s about how much you can sustain.

    Let’s break down what that looks like for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students at any Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy, including ours in Kensington.

    Beginner: Build the Habit, Not the Obsession with BJJ Classes in Kensington

    (Recommended: 2–3 times per week | Aim for 5 sessions every 2 weeks)

    When you first start BJJ training, everything feels foreign. Even learning how to hip escape properly takes effort. You’re not just learning moves, you’re learning an entirely new language of movement.

    At this stage, your nervous system, joints, and muscles are still adjusting. You might feel like training every day, but doing so too soon often leads to overtraining or injury.

    A solid goal for beginners at BJJ classes in Kensington or BJJ classes anywhere is to train every other day. That allows time to process what you've learned, recover physically, and avoid burnout.

    Consistency beats intensity. Five sessions every two weeks is a smart, sustainable start.

    Intermediate: Train Smarter, Not Harder in your BJJ Classes

    (Recommended: 3–4 times per week)

    Once you've developed a fundamental foundation, the next challenge is learning how to self-regulate your training. That means understanding that not every roll needs to be a war, and not every class has to leave you gasping.

    At this stage, many students start increasing their BJJ training volume, and that’s great, but only if they’ve learned how to control intensity.

    Training three to four times a week allows you to balance:

    • Positional drilling
    • Technical development
    • Specific sparring
    • Recovery and reflection

    If you're training at BJJ classes in the inner west of Melbourne, it’s also a good time to start paying attention to your own body’s patterns, sleep, diet, mood, and soreness. Avoid the trap of mistaking fatigue for discipline. Pushing through pain doesn’t prove you’re committed, it just proves you’re short-sighted.

    The best intermediate students we’ve seen at our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Kensington, they train regularly, but not recklessly.

    Advanced: Training as a Lifestyle for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

    (Recommended: 4–6 times per week depending on intensity and goals)

    If you’re an advanced practitioner, black, brown, or a seasoned purple belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is likely no longer just a hobby. It’s become part of your identity.

    You know how to train hard without burning out. You know when to go all in, and when to stay light and technical. Your training schedule can include:

    • Two or three high-intensity rolling sessions per week
    • Technical or conceptual sessions at 50–75% intensity
    • Solo drilling or positional work
    • Rest days that are actually restful

    If you’re attending BJJ classes near me regularly and want to stay on the mats for decades, this is the key: sustainable intensity. You’re no longer chasing fast gains; you’re building deep rhythms of training.

    Two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners spar on the mat during training, one on his back in a white gi controlling his opponent’s posture. Several teammates in gis stand around watching intently on the green mat under natural light.

    The Hidden Trap: Overtraining in a Gentle Art at BJJ Classes

    One of the beautiful things about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it lets us train at high intensity without major injury. Unlike striking arts, we can “tap before injury” and that’s what makes BJJ so addictive.

    But this can also become a curse.

    Because you can train 6 days a week, many people do, even when their body is screaming for rest. The injuries that show up from overtraining aren’t always dramatic. They’re subtle: tight ribs, tweaked knees, inflamed elbows. Not bad enough to stop you, but bad enough to wear you down over time.

    At Renegade, we’ve seen that most consistent long-term students attend BJJ classes in Kensington three times per week, or about five sessions every two weeks. That’s the “minimum effective dose” for growth without breakdown. And when life allows, you can always train more, or less, without guilt.

    Life Happens. Training Should Adapt.

    There will be seasons when you can train six times a week, maybe you’re on holidays or prepping for a comp. And there will be seasons where once or twice is all you can manage due to family, work, injury, or just life getting busy. That’s normal.

    The key isn’t to train more. It’s to train in a way that fits your life and keeps you coming back.

    That’s why at our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Kensington, we encourage students to build training into their lifestyle, not around it. Some weeks, it’ll be BJJ classes in Kensington after work. Other weeks, it’ll be early mornings or Saturdays. The important thing is that it’s consistent, realistic, and enjoyable.

    Final Thoughts: Faith, Flow, and the BJJ Journey

    At Renegade, we believe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a martial art. It’s a vehicle for growth, physically, mentally, and spiritually. We teach with intention. We care for each other on and off the mat. And at the heart of our culture is the belief that this journey is about becoming not just better grapplers, but better people. For me personally, this perspective comes from my faith in Christ. The lessons of humility, perseverance, and community that I find in Scripture are the same ones we try to live out on the mats. A culture of care, a culture of learning, and a long-term path that’s grounded in grace.

    So whether you're just starting out or have been on the BJJ journey for a long time, know this:

    The mat will always be here. And so will we.

    Train smart. Train with purpose. And we’ll see you on the mats in Kensington, Inner West Melbourne or wherever your journey takes you.

    Looking for BJJ Classes Near You?

    Renegade BJJ offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes in Kensington, just minutes from Flemington and Kensington, the inner west of Melbourne. Whether you're a beginner or advanced, there's a place for you on our mats.

    Check our timetable, join your first class, and start building a routine that lasts a lifetime.

    Looking for high quality BJJ Classes near me in Kensington or Melbourne?

    Send an email to info@renegadebjj.com.au and join us for a free BJJ class.