Is there Money in BJJ? 7 Ways to Make Money in Jiu Jitsu
Wouldn’t it be the greatest thing to make money in Jiu Jitsu by doing what you love to do?
Is there money in BJJ?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that has been growing in popularity in recent years. With competitions, as well as top competitors, finally becoming more popular, the opportunities for making money in the sport are growing.
As a result, more and more practitioners are thinking about making a living through BJJ. But is it possible?
The short answer is:
Yes, there is money to be made in BJJ, but it requires dedication, hard work, and most important, entrepreneurial skills and creativity. It is not easy, and Jiu Jitsu doesn’t offer a straight path to wealth for most athletes.
In this article, we will explore how you can make money in BJJ and whether you can make money competing in BJJ.
How to make Money in BJJ
#1 Teaching BJJ classes
One of the most common ways to make money in BJJ is by teaching classes. Jiu Jitsu gyms and academies make money by offering BJJ classes, and if you have the skills and knowledge to teach, you can become a BJJ instructor. Becoming a teacher is the natural progression for most dedicated practitioners.
You can either teach at an established academy or start your own BJJ school.
Keep in mind, just like in every other business branch, a position as an employee offers higher stability and safety while starting your own school/business involves a lot of risks but also has a higher ceiling for income.
#2 Selling Instructionals
Selling BJJ Instructionals becomes increasingly popular and profitable as Jiu Jitsu is growing as a sport. It can be a great option for you to make money if you are an expert in certain techniques, strategies, or training methods.
Keep in mind, selling a product is not easy. It requires a great product, marketing skills, and sales skills. If you are looking to sell your BJJ instructionals to the masses, you will need to prove your expertise and build a following.
#3 Selling BJJ Merchandise
Another way to make money in BJJ is by selling BJJ-related merchandise. This can include anything from BJJ street clothing, like T-Shirts and Hoodies, to equipment, supplements, and instructionals.
You can start your own online store or sell your products through established BJJ stores and online marketplaces like Amazon.
Running a physical product business like that requires you to convince potential customers that they need your product and that your version of the product is the best among many.
#4 Writing about BJJ
If you have a passion for writing and you are good at it, you can make money in Jiu Jitsu by writing about the sport. Many BJJ websites and blogs pay for content, and you can also write your own e-books or courses and sell them online.
#5 Competing in BJJ
Competing in BJJ may not be the most lucrative way to make money for most athletes as the biggest share of price money will go to only a few top athletes.
However, it is still possible to earn money through Jiu Jitsu competitions. Some tournaments offer cash prizes, and if you are a top-level competitor, you may also be able to earn money through sponsorships.
We will go into detail on the question “Can you make money competing in BJJ?” later in this article. Keep reading.
#6 Sponsorships
Sponsorships are a great way to make money doing Jiu Jitsu. If you are a top athlete that regularly wins competitions, you stand a good chance of signing a sponsorship deal.
However, it is important to understand that it doesn’t only matter how good you are, but also how popular you are. You will need a large following to be valuable to sponsors. In the end, brands are only willing to sponsor an athlete if he makes them more money than they spend on the sponsorship!
#7 Starting a BJJ YouTube Channel
Starting a BJJ YouTube channel is another way to make money in the BJJ industry. YouTube is a great platform to showcase your BJJ skills, share your knowledge, document your BJJ journey, and connect with other members of the BJJ community.
Here are some steps you can take to start a successful BJJ YouTube channel and make money with it:
Choose a Niche
The first step in starting a successful BJJ YouTube channel is to choose a niche. This could be anything from technique breakdowns and tutorials to vlogs and competition footage.
By choosing a niche, you can differentiate yourself from other BJJ YouTubers and attract a dedicated audience. You will also be able to charge higher prices in case you are planning to sell a specialized product as the saying goes “Riches are in the Niches”.
Create Quality Content
The key to success on YouTube and anywhere else is to create quality content that provides value to your audience. If YouTube detects that your audience keeps rewatching your content, it will rank your videos higher and suggest them to other users.
Quality content could include detailed technique breakdowns, tips, and tricks for improving your Jiu Jitsu game, or vlogs that show your journey in the BJJ world. Make sure to put effort into the production value of your videos, including lighting, sound, and editing.
Build an Audience
Once you have created quality original content, the next step is to build and grow an audience. This can be done through promoting your videos on social media, collaborating with other BJJ YouTubers, and engaging with your viewers through comments and live streams. It’s important to be consistent with your uploads and engage with your audience regularly to keep them coming back for more.
Monetize your Channel
Once you have built an audience, you can start to monetize your channel. One way to do this is through YouTube’s Partner Program, which allows you to earn money through ads that run on your videos. Don’t overdo it, your audience will be annoyed, and will question your integrity if you focus too much on monetization.
You can also earn money through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, merchandise sales, and paid instructionals, as explained above.
Continue to Grow and Improve
Finally, it’s important to continue to grow and improve your channel over time. This could include experimenting with new types of content, improving your production value, and engaging with your audience in new ways. It all comes down to rolling out content, analyzing what works, and taking action accordingly. Practice makes perfect.
By continuing to grow and improve, you can increase your earning potential and establish yourself as a household name in the BJJ YouTube community.
Can you Make Money Competing in BJJ?
Competing in BJJ can be a great way to make money, but it is not a guaranteed source of income, and the biggest prizes are reserved for a small number of top athletes.
For most athletes, the amount of money that a tournament promotion offers as a cash prize may not even be enough to cover their expenses.
Additionally, unless you are a top-level competitor or influencer with a significant following, it is unlikely that you will earn money through sponsorships.
On top of that, you shouldn’t depend on prize money from BJJ competitions. Professional athletes always run the risk of getting injured to the point where they need to take long breaks from the sport.
The risk of injury is especially high in combat sports like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Check out our article on How common are injuries in BJJ?
However, whether you make money from competing or you don’t, competing in BJJ is always a valuable experience, as it can help you improve your skills by testing them in a realistic fighting environment. If you are passionate about BJJ and enjoy competing, then it is probably worth pursuing. Just keep in mind the concerns listed above.
BJJ Tournament Price Money
Here are some of the prize money numbers that have been awarded at recent big tournaments:
ADCC World Championship Prize Money 2022:
The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship offered a total price pool of $230,600.00 in 2022.
Winners in men’s weight divisions would each win a prize of $10,000.
Winners in women’s weight divisions would each in a prize of $6,000.
The Absolute Weight Class Winner would win $40,000.
The Super Fight Winner would also win $40,000.
On top of that, there were some performance awards for Best Fighter, Best Takedown, Fastest Submission, and Best Fight of Competition.
World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) offers cash prices of $7,000 for each Black Belt Division and $10,000 for the Absolute Black Belt Division.
Conclusion
There is money to be made in BJJ, and as the sport is growing, so are the possibilities of making money.
However, it requires hard work, dedication, entrepreneurial skills, and creativity. Whether you choose to teach classes, sell merchandise, write about BJJ, or compete, the key is to find a niche and provide value to the BJJ community.
Competing in BJJ might be the first way of making money in Jiu Jitsu that comes to mind, but it may not be the most lucrative way to make money. Nevertheless, competing in BJJ can still be a valuable experience for those who are passionate about the sport and want to keep improving.
