I wrote this article as a helpful guide for those that may be victims of a BJJ cult like academy. They deserve this. They deserve a chance for BJJ to be a positive influence in their lives, not a negative one that makes them have a ‘us against them’ attitude. They may not realize that they are actually in a cult as as this is the only BJJ academy that they have been exposed to

I look at this article as a reminder of what I never want to become: a manipulative cult BJJ instructor. I instead strive to be a positive influence, be open minded, friendly, democratic, positive, leading by example type of BJJ instructor that just wants Jiu-Jitsu to help the students in their lives. I may fail in some of these goals but I damn sure am always going to try my best.

One of my BJJ students was once a member of a cult and was able to get out. They helped me to write this article.

If you are training in a BJJ academy or have just joined a BJJ Academy, please take the time to look at these signs of cult behavior that you may have seen in your own BJJ academy. Some academies have some of these features and that’s not so bad. If your school has most of these features then you should be asking yourself some questions and think of what’s best for YOU.

First of all, what is a cult?

A cult is any group which employs mind control and deceptive recruiting techniques. A group or movement may be a cult if it acts in ways that are illegal, abusive or otherwise unacceptable in a civilized society.

Cults look great on the outside but on the inside they are rotten and very manipulating.

Here are cultic BJJ warning signs 

1. Opposing critical thinking

The best BJJ instructors  are open minded. They do not see their way as the only way and accept the fact that BJJ is a complex martial art that can be taken into hundreds of directions. In a cult -like group, your professor asks you to stick strictly to what is being teached, not allowing you to explore new BJJ techniques on your own.

A cult BJJ academy will not allow their ways or practices to be questioned. If you question, then automatically you will be alienated and they will assume that something is wrong with you. The members don’t know any better as this is the only BJJ academy that they have been exposed to. The one who ask questions will be deemed as having a “bad attitude”.

2. Single charismatic leader.

The cult BJJ instructor is very dangerous because of the influence they have on the students. They have a cult like following when they seek  inappropriate loyalty from the students.  The students are fed a blown up or false story about the instructors accomplishment (it can be a having an unbeaten 400-0 fight record for example) or even having ‘mythical powers’.

A BJJ cult leader may come off at first as being very friendly but beware, they know how to take advantage of vulnerable people who are looking for answers, leadership, guidance etc.. They can get vulnerable people to believe anything or to do anything. You might think you’d never get taken in, but don’t bet on it.

Anything the group/leader does or has done can be justified no matter how bad it is.

3. Brainwashing and mind control over the students

Mind Control are psychological techniques that cult leaders attempt to control their members with. They are a dishonest influence applied by the cult leader on members.

They are the only true Jiu-Jitsu academy, the only one teaching ‘pure Jiu-Jitsu’ straight from the source… So why go anywhere else and learn wrong the ‘other’ Jiu-Jitsu?

4. Members seem constantly happy and enthusiastic (fake).

Very often they have been instructed to act that way in front of the potentially new recruits.

5. The  instructor abuses of his influence to regularly receive free services from his students.

In an academy you have all types of professionals: lawyers, web designers, marketing experts, doctors…An instructor should not take advantage of his situation to ask students to constantly provide him with free services. The students pay the instructor to learn BJJ. It should be the other way around.

Your instructor has a habit of flirting with and dating students. This is a recipe for disaster. The instructor should never take advantage of his influence in order to sleep with students. Falling in love is of course normal but quick flings are not. Very often the student will leave the school after the fling is over.

6. You make instant friends.

Real friendship takes time to build, but in this academy, you will make best friends right away. This is very attractive for those who are lonely and have no friends. If you disagree with them then you will lose those friends.

7. Your instructor and team mates begin to impose their will upon the rest of your life.

The instructor should lead his team on the mat. Outside of the mat, the instructor should know his place. The same goes with the team. If somebody decides to take a break or quit Jiu-Jitsu, they shouldn’t be harassed for their decision.

8. If you are instructed who you can or cannot talk to or associate with.

BJJ politics is a horrible thing. Friendship is more important than politics. If you’re a paying customer/student, then why let someone tell you who you cannot talk to or not associate with. You can be loyal to your club while still visiting other clubs once in a while to see friends.
Robert Drysdale On BJJ Politics: “I’m Not Political. I Tell My Guys That They Can Train Where They Want & It Works Out Fine.”

9. You are imposed a mandatory dress code

Most academies allow their students to come in whatever gi they have, whatever rashguard, pretty much anything that allows them to train, the goal being getting the session in, not looking fancy. There are some academies that specifically ask and require their members to buy the academy’s Gi, which usually comes at a high price.

10. Constantly asking for money for the next level.

Saying that they have to make people pay for it because otherwise they will not appreciate it. Pressure is placed on students to purchase academy products and services (pay for belt promotions, academy gis, privates, patches, seminars, DVD’s, etc). Sometimes it’s even mandatory.

11. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving

The instructor and students act like bullies and makes fun of, put down other students. They do this by making you feel terrible about yourself. Former members are considered negative. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

12. Reacting violently to perceived acts of betrayal from students.

Physical and mental punishment is not uncommon in this BJJ academy…

How to avoid a BJJ cult?

You need to have a very strong BS Detector…
This means that you should do your research and examine the evidence about potentially false claims made by the instructor and members. BJJ is getting more and more popular which means more academies are around. So take your time when choosing one.

They will tell you that they are not a cult.
This is a tactic used by cults to counter warnings from your family and friends. If any BJJ academy tells you that they are not a cult when others say that they are, then you need to find out why.

If you are stuck in cult like BJJ academy, then my advice is to get out ASAP and find a safer academy it will be better for you in the long run. You may lose some friends in the process but were they really your friends in the first place?