Coaches Guide
If you haven’t read it yet, please first read our pedagogy article: GJJ Pedagogy
This is the main reference document for coaching at Golden Jiu Jitsu. Read through it fully when you start the coaching program, and come back to it periodically as a reference while you develop as a coach.
How to use this guide
Section titled “How to use this guide”Each module follows the same flow:
- Listen to the assigned podcasts first. They provide context that makes the written sections land better.
- Read the module sections.
- Complete the quiz and think through the reflection prompts.
Work through the modules in order. Later modules build on earlier ones.
Modules
Section titled “Modules”- Philosophy & Mindset — Why coaching BJJ is hard, coaching vs teaching, accepting that students will struggle, and improving through reflection.
- Game Design & Structure — Grappling games vs positional sparring, FYJJ, communicating rules, perception cues, and the drill-to-game pattern.
- Coaching in Real Time — Preparing for class, less is more, student assessment, changing games based on what you see, and staying engaged.
- Communication & Feedback — Training athletes’ perception, internal vs external language, speaking in a common language, and giving feedback.
- Culture & Environment — Enforcing gym culture, getting people to chill out, and welcoming newcomers.
Program-specific coaching guidance
Section titled “Program-specific coaching guidance”For guidance specific to the program you’re coaching, see:
- Coaching Kids Classes
- Coaching by Program: Fundamentals & Advanced (coming soon)
Resources
Section titled “Resources”Books:
- Rob Gray — How We Learn to Move
- Doug Lemov — Coaches Guide to Coaching
If you want to read either, let me know and I’ll buy you a copy. I’ll also give you $50 per book for reading it and talking to me about your favorite parts.
Rob Gray also has his own podcast — not the best produced, but often informative: Perception & Action Podcast
All podcast episodes referenced in this guide:
| Episode | Module | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Ep. 236: Empathy, feat. Valerie Worthington | 1 | Curse of knowledge, survivorship bias, empathy as a coaching skill |
| Ep. 262: Gamification, feat. Rob Biernacki | 2 | Why and how gamification works in jiu jitsu |
| Ep. 185: F Your Jiu Jitsu, feat. Rob Biernacki | 2 | The FYJJ game and self-handicapping |
| Ep. 378: Repetition and Representation, feat. Cal Jones | 2 | Quality of reps, PVCT model, designing training that transfers |
| Ep. 145: The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, feat. Doug Lemov | 3 | Less is more, coaching language, teaching principles |
| Ep. 299: Student Assessment, feat. Adam Medlock | 3 | Assessing student understanding in real time |
| Ep. 305: Common Coaching Language, feat. Rob Biernacki | 4 | Building unified coaching vocabulary |
| Ep. 242: Daniel Coyle — The Culture Code (The Learning Leader Show) | 5 | Building safety, sharing vulnerability, establishing purpose |
| Ep. 340: Awkward Turtles, feat. Sonia Sillan | 5 | Supporting introverted and atypical students, inclusive mat culture |