I agree, a lot of the time they are just paying for a meet and greet. It's very hard to add a new skill within a couple hour session. Most people I'm sure don't continue to drill the techniques the next day like you would in your normal training schedule. I've ran some seminars in the past and it's not always a big money maker for the school. The guest instructor can make a nice buck though. Depends on the turnout. If you price it too high, it may deter people to register. Price to low and you leave money on the table.

I've been to many seminars, most were awesome and I still use tricks that I learned from them today, that said, some for sure were garbage. Good seminars have the advantage of you being able to interact with the instructor, something video instructionals don't provide. Actually feeling little details can make a world of difference.

Also, I believe in supporting the local schools who spend an arm and a leg getting instructors over. I meet old friends, and just have fun at the seminars.

In the day and age when you can find whatever song you like on the streaming services or listen to it for free from youtube why would you pay to go see your favourite band/artist live?

Coincidentally, I'm also not into live music, and I don't think it's worth it, in most cases, to see my favorite band live.

To use this analogy, if I have $200, I think it makes better financial sense to stream whatever music I want for a couple years, than to blow it all on one concert.

However, there are plenty of people who would disagree with me, and maybe that's why seminars are still a thing?

I have never been a big fan of seminars, but I do occasionally do them. The last one I did was Keith Owen in 2019 and I'm going to a Chewy seminar next month. I only do seminars if I think it's someone that can help me, so I generally only do them it's someone that I think has something to offer. I got a lot out of the Keith Owen seminar and I would do another one with him if he was still alive. I trained at Chewy's gym a few years ago while I was travelling and he also had good things to offer. If it's a 145lb guy that's known for cartwheel passes and other stuff like that I'm not going to waste my time and money on that, although if it's a local person that I respect and want to help out I may still go and just know it won't be my game.

So why not seminars? First of all they are usually about 3 hours long and my body won't tolerate that any more. It's often a struggle to get through a regular one hour class, so 3 hours is really asking a lot.

As stated above, there's so much that can be learned online that there isn't much of a need. The one benefit of training in person is that you may be able to get some help with making a technique work for you that you won't get from a youtube video.

Also as stated above, one class isn't going to change your game. If someone comes in and shows 10 techniques it probably isn't really going to help very many people. However, if there is only one technique and the focus is on refining that and doing the small things that really make it efficient I believe that an upper belt can benefit from that.

One thing I think is most often a waste of time is when brand new people go to a seminar without at least being somewhat familiar with the basics first. I think a new white belt is better served by just going to class for a few months and figuring out some things. Then instead of a seminar try investing that money in a few private lessons to help with any problems they have. Once they are to the level of having a really good grasp on the basics they may get good benefits from a seminar by an expert in a technique that focuses on cleaning up what they already know.

I like seminars, just depends on who it is. As a technique junky, I’ve watched countless hours of YouTube. Especially at brown belt, I’ve seen a lot of stuff. But I’m always chasing those little details you can’t get anywhere else.

Dean Lister’s seminar was excellent - he’s hilarious and I would have paid the $50 just to hear his stories. But he also had some fabulous small details that I hadn’t seen before. And it’s one thing to see them, it’s another to have him do it to you so you can feel it, and then coach you up as you do it to someone else.

It's all about the little details. Nobody remembers the whole seminar, but if you remember at least one new detail, it's worth it.

Not all seminars are the same. I just had Magid Hage in for a seminar and it was very good. I will definitely have him again. So I think depending on the person it is worth every penny.

I find techniques that I learn and drill at a good seminar will stick with me and often get incorporated into my games. After a seminar, if there's techniques I like, I will continue to drill them and work on them. On line instruction can be very useful, but it's not the same as having someone live to demonstrate the small details and correct you if you're missing something. Seminars are also great for asking specific questions that relate to your personal game. I got to ask Royce Gracie about specific strategy as an older (over 60) black belt, and that would never have been possible on line. I also give seminars and it's generally different material from what is readily accessible on line, and in MUCH more detail.

I see it a little different.

I am a part time instructor (purple belt) and only teach a small group 3 times a week after duty.
My blackbelt coach, Roy Marsh (Royce Gracie blackbelt) lives 600km away from me in the Black Forrest, so I have to host seminars to learn from him regularly in person (or/and some of us drive down).

1. our seminars are small (max 12 peeps, so we get a lot out of the seminars, plus taking privates) .
2. yes, there are instructionals and „you tube“, etc., but I made the experience, often you don’t get the subtle details (at least I don’t) that count only via video/online instructionals.
The feedback and correction of my Coach when teaching a seminar/ semi privates is what made me understand certain things far better so I can teach it back later more easily.

3. I don’t get any money out of the seminars hosting my Coach and make it as reasonable as possible for my guys to host him… so it’s not about money for me. My Coach is a full time coach and lives from teaching Jiu Jitsu: I improved a lot since learning from him, so great value for the money!

4. For sure there are many, many very good blackbelts around 50-100km around in my area or near by, but they teach a different approach of BJJ than my Coach does.
My Coach moved from NC, near Fort Bragg/USA to Germany in 2017 and teaches, let’s say, a more „old school“ Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu approach, including punch protection, self defense, you name it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t say it’s better than „modern“ style bjj approach, but it’s the approach I like and want to learn and teach and what served me very good on duty in my main profession, too.

So yes, Hosting my Coach at our place, travelling down to attend privates, seminars or Camps is the way for me to learn under my given circumstances and needs/ interests.
Plus I made friendships and it’s really cool to socialize and hang out with them after the seminars/ camps…

I do like seminars. First of all I do them to see a different approach to the stuff I am usually doing. If I can get only one new idea to work on its already great for me. I also like to feel a technique hands on. Its different then watching it on a screen. You can feel how its meant to be or how it is executed. You get a sense for timing and balance, setup etc.
You can also train and exchange ideas with people you usually cant do it with.
I agree on the other hand that not all seminars are worth it. Its hard to sort the good from the not so good.

I read this post a few weeks ago and decided to write a comment after, well, attending a seminar...

I personally like going to seminars but have actually never questioned this before. I am obviously passionate about BJJ (hence being here), and have always perceived seminars as an opportunity to meet new people and learn new things. IMO, it's a great way to be exposed to different training and teaching ideas, and also to have a peek into the mindset of full time competitors/successful practitioners.

Way more often than not I end up learning something that I can incorporate into my game. That said, I honestly don't get upset when this doesn't happen - attending a seminar gives me same trill and satisfaction that (normal ;-) ) people have when they go to something like a NBA game.

My local team do 1 or 2 seminars per year with my instructor. We don't charge very much, and barely break even(sometimes losing a bit). We do it with very specific information being asked to be shown to those in attendance(areas that we may be wanting additional insight into. We don't do it for celebrity stuff. We don't do it to make loads of money. We do it so we can get hands on help with specific techniques and knowledge. My professor charges pennies compared to many others.

I teach them, I attend them, and I host them. Honestly, because theres always a nugget of gold in every seminar that's worth the cost of the whole thing. Yeah, it's cool to meet new people and make new friends, there's just something about attending a seminar you can't get from an instructional. Wether it's from the actual lessons they teach, the help they give, or a question they answer, there's always something to be learned and gained. In my humble opinion.

Yes! i really like seminars! For many years i was without a Sensei/Professor/Teacher so seminars was my source of information, and to get to talk and learn from Black belts. Many of my "moves" and specialities has come from seminars. I Only have positive experience.

I’m all for seminars. Never really had a bad experience attending.

Like Jay Pages already said, there’s always a golden nugget to be found.

I’m all for seminars. Never really had a bad experience attending.

Like Jay Pages already said, there’s always a golden nugget to be found.

Really depends, I teach seminars and I think it really depends on what the school wants. I know I normally ask the teacher questions ahead of time what they are looking for and what they want me to show them. If I get the I dunno teach us your favorite move then I will do it that way. I Don’t think that really helps them that much. I think it also depends on the student base too. If I have a lot of newer students then it gets tailored to that skill level. If it’s more advanced then it’s a little more fun. I’ve been to awesome seminars and really bad ones. That’s my thoughts.

I prefer camps, so that's where I put my money now. I've been to some good seminars, but it's rare I'll bother with them these days. I also don't host seminars at my gym anymore, I just run camps. I much prefer the atmosphere at a camp too, I find it's a friendlier vibe. A seminar almost always feels colder.

I encourage my guys to go to seminars as it gives a feel for different games but I usually tell them to chose seminars by someone who is known for a facet of their game..

I have done seminars but as I have become a hermit in my old age and don't like to travel I don't really do many anymore. That said I would always talk to the instructor and get input on what he wants me to show. I have a very crossbred grappling style and I usually advise a concept I feel is from my A game and build a series of techniques off that or some unique details and approaches I use on basic techniques that differ from standard BJJ approach.

I have always felt that if you walk away from a seminar with one detail or concept that fits in your game it was worth it.

I like seminars but I'm sure also depends on who is hosting and teaching at them. If you find right person and right one it's great way pick up knowledge especially in small details. Remember we always growing and learning and you can go over stuff so many times and learn a better way or new variant of doing a move. I've gone to several and of course I love going to Master Joe Moreira because he has ridiculous amount of knowledge and it's nothing super crazy over complicated it's what has worked for years tried and true. So yes it comes down to who you know and what they know is it worth it depends on how you absorb that info and experience.

In my point of view:

Seminar is not just a question of the technical part, the exchange of experiences and different views of the same situation are part of professional growth. The problem is that nowadays we have a lot of "Black Belts" from YouTube

Best regards

We have hosted a few seminars and we still do. Every single one we hosted only cost as much as travel expenses, hotel stay, and a couple hundred bucks for his time. It was like a no loss no gain kind of situation. In my opinion, that's very inexpensive. As a student, I learned something new at every seminar I ever went to. I have no regrets. I think there is a lot of Jiu-Jitsu that I may never get a chance to witness. Seminars have a way of reminding me how vast the pool of knowledge is. I also find them motivational toward constantly seeking new perspectives on Jiu Jitsu.

I agree, camps are definitely the way to go as you sign up and pay for the whole event and the atmosphere x by the different range of instructors skill/experience is what I enjoy the most.

As for everything is available online, yes this is true but from experience not everyone learns the same way, so having hands on interaction with said seminar instructor can be extremely valuable and can allow for a greater transfer & understanding of efficient technique. again this is solely based on the teaching ability of whoever is running the seminar as I have been to “celebrity” seminars (paid through the nose) and their teaching ability/professionalism is horrific.

I agree, camps are definitely the way to go as you sign up and pay for the whole event and the atmosphere x by the different range of instructors skill/experience is what I enjoy the most.

As for everything is available online, yes this is true but from experience not everyone learns the same way, so having hands on interaction with said seminar instructor can be extremely valuable and can allow for a greater transfer & understanding of efficient technique. again this is solely based on the teaching ability of whoever is running the seminar as I have been to “celebrity” seminars (paid through the nose) and their teaching ability/professionalism is horrific.

Yep, I've been to big name, expensive seminars, not been impressed. E.g., Rickson.

Though to each their own: I know people who love his seminars, also possible I just caught him on a bad day. ;)

If that had been a camp rather than a seminar, most likely I would have then gone to some classes taught by other instructors and had a better experience. Diversity is pretty much always a good thing. :D

I've attended several and actually taken away a fair amount of information from each. I'm pretty selective, but also if my coach is bringing them in they usually have a good relationship with the guest and it's more than just a photo op and dip out the back door.

We had Cobrinha and JT Torres up. In each instance, they were two-day seminars and they taught sequences.

It spoke to all levels and I still apply and teach the details I picked up.

That being said, other than Ryan Hall's seminar, most seminars are moreso meet and greets and / or belt promotion opportunities.

I’ve been to several seminars. 2 Renzo Gracie’s, 2 Jean Jacques Machado, and 2 Roger Gracie’s.

I enjoy the experience, but it’s not really possible to retain and be proficient with any technique in a few hours time. For the most part, seminars are mostly just photo ops.