BJJ Private Lesson Programme Structure: Complete Guide

Based on 2026 UK market research, expect these hourly rates:

• Blue belt instructor: £30-50 per hour
• Purple belt instructor: £40-60 per hour
• Brown belt instructor: £50-75 per hour
• Black belt instructor: £60-100+ per hour

In London and other major cities, add 30-50% to these rates. Research from UK BJJ academies shows that experienced black belts with strong reputations can command £80-150 per hour, particularly for competition preparation or specialist instruction.

Several factors influence appropriate pricing for your private lesson programme:

• Instructor experience and belt level: Higher belts justify premium pricing through depth of knowledge and proven teaching ability
• Location: London privates typically cost £80-100 per hour, whilst regional gyms charge £40-60 for similar instruction
• Demand: Popular instructors with waitlists can charge premium rates
• Session length: 60 minutes is standard, but 30-minute focused sessions and 90-minute deep dives serve different needs
• Student goals: Competition preparation often commands higher rates than general skill development

Don't underprice your services. UK martial arts private lessons consistently range from £30-80 per hour, and positioning your prices within this range communicates quality and professionalism.

Package deals encourage student commitment whilst securing upfront revenue. Typical UK package structures include:

• Single session: £60 (standard rate)
• 5-session package: £275 (£55 per session, 8% discount)
• 10-session package: £500 (£50 per session, 17% discount)

These discounts reward commitment without devaluing your service. Research on private lesson packages shows that students who purchase bundles complete more sessions and see better results than those buying single lessons.

Consider requiring package purchases for competition preparation or long-term skill development programmes. This ensures students commit to the process rather than expecting overnight transformation from a single session.

Semi-private lessons serve training partners, families, or small groups whilst generating higher total revenue per hour:

• 2-3 students: £40-50 per person per hour (£80-150 total)
• 4-6 students: £30-40 per person per hour (£120-240 total)

Group privates work particularly well for families, friends training together, or competition teammates preparing for tournaments. The slightly lower per-person rate makes lessons more accessible whilst the higher total rate rewards the instructor's increased coordination demands.

Different session lengths serve different purposes:

• 30 minutes: Intensive focus on a single technique or position, ideal for quick fixes or busy schedules
• 60 minutes: Standard session allowing technique instruction, drilling, and positional sparring with feedback
• 90 minutes: Comprehensive deep dive covering multiple positions or complex systems

Most UK gyms standardise on 60-minute sessions as they provide sufficient time for instruction, drilling, and application without creating scheduling difficulties.

Structure private lessons consistently to maximise learning:

• 0-5 minutes: Check-in and goal-setting (what does the student want to work on today?)
• 5-20 minutes: Technique instruction (1-3 related techniques with detailed explanation)
• 20-50 minutes: Drilling and positional sparring (progressive resistance from cooperative to realistic)
• 50-60 minutes: Feedback and homework (techniques to practise in group classes)

This structure ensures students receive instruction, repetition, and feedback whilst maintaining clear objectives. Positional sparring methodology works particularly well in private lessons because instructors can provide real-time feedback and adjust resistance levels appropriately.

Student-Led Approach: Students bring specific questions or positions they want to address. The instructor responds to immediate needs with relevant techniques and strategies. This flexible approach works best for experienced students who understand their own game and can identify specific weaknesses.

Instructor-Led Programme: The instructor designs a multi-session curriculum that systematically builds skills over time. This structured approach ensures comprehensive development and works best for beginners or students committing to long-term private instruction through package deals.

Hybrid Approach: The instructor maintains a general progressive programme but adjusts based on student feedback and immediate needs. This balanced approach accommodates both structure and flexibility, making it the most common method in UK gyms.

For students purchasing 10-session packages, consider mapping out a structured curriculum that addresses fundamental positions systematically whilst remaining flexible enough to address emerging questions or frustrations.

Effective privates feel genuinely personalised. Implement these strategies:

• Address specific weaknesses: Focus on positions or techniques where the student struggles most
• Build on existing strengths: Develop the student's natural game rather than forcing an incompatible style
• Film and review: Record techniques and positional sparring, then review together to identify improvements
• Assign homework: Give specific techniques or positions to practise during group classes
• Track progress: Keep notes on what you've covered to ensure progressive development

Students who feel lessons are genuinely personalised to their needs renew packages and recommend privates to training partners.

Choose a booking approach that matches your gym's operational style:

• Online booking: Use Calendly, gym management software with scheduling, or other automated tools for 24/7 booking convenience
• Email or phone booking: Provides personal touch but requires more administrative time
• Hybrid approach: Online booking for regular members, personal coordination for new students or special requests

Require advance booking of at least 24-48 hours to allow instructors to prepare. Clear online booking systems reduce back-and-forth communication and allow instructors to control their availability.

Strategic scheduling maximises instructor efficiency and student convenience:

• Before or after regular classes: Instructors are already at the gym, reducing travel time
• Off-peak hours: Lunchtime and early morning slots appeal to working professionals and keep your facility utilised
• Weekends: Popular for students who work traditional hours
• Recurring vs ad-hoc: Weekly recurring sessions create consistency and revenue predictability

Block out specific private lesson hours in your schedule to prevent conflicts with group classes and ensure mat space availability.

Most private lessons occur at your gym facility, but alternative formats serve specific needs:

• Gym facility: Standard approach with no additional costs or logistical complexity
• Student's home or private space: Premium service with travel fee (add £20-40 depending on distance)
• Online via Zoom: Convenient for remote students, lower pricing (£30-50 per session)

Online Private Lessons: Video-based privates gained popularity during the pandemic and remain valuable for technique analysis. Students can film themselves drilling or rolling, and instructors provide detailed feedback and corrections. Whilst less hands-on than in-person sessions, online BJJ coaching serves students unable to attend in person and generates income with minimal time investment. Price online sessions 30-50% lower than in-person rates to reflect the reduced hands-on value.

Structure: Instructors keep 100% of private lesson fees. The gym provides facility space at no charge as part of the instructor's class-teaching arrangement.

Advantages: Maximum instructor motivation, simple accounting, no gym revenue sharing needed. Works well for small gyms where the owner teaches most classes and wants to incentivise assistant instructors.

Disadvantages: Gym generates no direct revenue from privates. May create scheduling conflicts if instructors prioritise higher-paying privates over regular classes.

Best for: Small gyms with 1-2 instructors where private lesson income helps retain quality teaching staff.

Structure: Gym takes 20-40% of revenue, instructor keeps 60-80%. The gym provides facility, scheduling systems, marketing, and administrative support.

Typical UK splits:

• Small gym: 90/10 split (instructor/gym) or 80/20 split
• Medium gym: 70/30 or 60/40 split
• Large gym: 60/40 split reflecting higher facility and administrative costs

Advantages: Fair compensation reflecting that both parties contribute value. Gym generates revenue whilst instructors earn substantial income. Industry research suggests 60-70% instructor splits provide strong motivation whilst ensuring gym profitability.

Best for: Medium to large gyms with multiple instructors where the gym handles booking, marketing, and payment processing.

Structure: Instructors pay £10-20 per session for facility access and keep all remaining revenue.

Advantages: Simple accounting, predictable gym revenue, instructors control their rates and retain most income.

Disadvantages: Gym revenue doesn't scale with instructor pricing. May discourage privates if instructors feel they're paying to use their own workplace.

Best for: Gyms with independent contractors who handle their own marketing and scheduling.

Structure: The gym sells private lessons directly and pays instructors a fixed rate (£30-50 per session). The gym handles all booking, marketing, and administration.

Advantages: Simple for instructors who receive guaranteed pay. Gym controls pricing and branding. Works well for large, corporate-style facilities.

Disadvantages: Lower instructor motivation compared to revenue-sharing models. Instructors may feel undervalued if gym margins are too high.

Best for: Large commercial gyms with employed instructors on salary or hourly contracts.

Based on UK gym owner experiences and industry standards:

• Small gyms (under 50 members): Instructor keeps 90-100%, or pays small facility fee
• Medium gyms (50-150 members): 70/30 or 60/40 split provides fair compensation whilst generating gym revenue
• Large gyms (150+ members): 60/40 split or fixed instructor payment depending on employment structure

Whatever model you choose, document it clearly in your instructor manual and employment contracts. Transparency prevents disputes and ensures instructors understand compensation before conducting privates.

Your existing members represent the best market for private lessons:

• Class announcements: Brief mentions that instructors offer privates, positioned as available for those who want extra attention
• Posters in gym: Display pricing, contact information, and instructor belt levels
• Email newsletter: Quarterly reminders about private lesson availability and success stories
• Student check-ins: When students express frustration or plateau, instructors can suggest privates
• Social proof: Share testimonials from students who've benefited from private instruction

Position privates as an investment in faster progress rather than a remedial service for struggling students. Frame them as what serious students do to accelerate their development.

Attract new students specifically seeking private instruction:

• Website page: Create a dedicated privates page with pricing, instructor bios, and booking information
• Google Business Profile: List private lessons as a service to appear in local searches
• Social media: Instagram posts showcasing technique instruction and student progress
• Local advertising: Facebook and Google Ads targeting "private BJJ lessons [your city]"

Some students prefer starting with privates before joining group classes. Make this pathway clear in your marketing materials.

Private lessons sell themselves when positioned correctly:

• Plant seeds: Mention benefits during class when relevant, but never push hard
• Highlight investment: Frame privates as accelerating progress and providing personalised attention
• Package deals: Encourage commitment through discounted bundles
• Testimonials: Share results from previous private students
• Trial offers: Consider discounting the first session to reduce barriers

Train instructors to mention privates naturally when students express relevant frustrations, but avoid aggressive selling that makes members uncomfortable. The best approach positions privates as an available option for those who want to accelerate their progress.

Document these policies in your booking system and membership terms:

• Minimum advance booking: 24-48 hours required for scheduling
• Cancellation policy: 24-hour notice required or session is forfeited
• No-show policy: Charged full session fee
• Rescheduling: Allowed once per session with sufficient notice

These policies protect instructor time and ensure students respect the commitment. Be firm but fair in enforcement.

Professional boundaries ensure appropriate instructor-student relationships:

• Technique focus: Private lessons emphasise technique and positional work, not unlimited sparring
• Safety discretion: Instructors can decline unsafe or inappropriate requests
• Professional relationship: Maintain teacher-student boundaries even with friendly rapport
• Payment timing: Require payment before or at the beginning of sessions, never afterwards

Clear boundaries protect both instructors and students whilst maintaining professionalism.

Private lessons must work within your gym's operational constraints:

• Approved hours only: Privates scheduled during designated times, not during group classes
• No disruption: Private lessons don't interfere with regular class operations
• Facility care: Students and instructors clean up after sessions
• Mat space allocation: Clear which areas can be used for privates during busy times

Communicate facility rules clearly to both instructors and students booking privates.