The Home Gym Checklist for Every BJJ Enthusiast

Designing a home gym for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a highly valuable endeavour for martial arts practitioners. Whether you are supplementing your academy instruction or simply seeking a room for rolls, drilling patterns, and conditioning at home, a thoughtfully designed home gym provides safety, efficacy, and long-term development. A number of factors, including mats, mirrors, flooring, and intelligent design, are essential to designing a room for regular training.

Begin with the Right Mats

No home BJJ gym would be complete without good mats. They're the cornerstone of your training space; they should be shock-absorbing to minimise the risk of injury.

• Puzzle mats: Simple to set up, cheap, and adaptable.

• Roll-out mats: Offer a flat surface, like an academy-style floor.

• Tatami mats: Ideal for a more professional appearance with excellent grip and durability.

Choose mats that are at least 40mm thick to catch falls and soften joints. Prioritise quality over price, as cheap mats can quickly deteriorate and diminish safety.

Mirrors to Self-Reflect

Though not essential for safety, mirrors are helpful for building technique. Being able to see yourself move allows you to pinpoint posture faults and grip mistakes. Real-time feedback can be particularly helpful when training alone or shadow grappling.

Mirrors should be placed to help you observe different angles without compromising safety. Using framed or shatter-resistant mirrors can help minimise risks during intense activities.

Floor and Surface Choices

In addition to mats, the floor underneath them is equally important. Think about what lies below the surface to provide stability and comfort.

• Concrete floors: Require more substantial mats to provide effective shock absorption.

• Timber or laminate flooring: Might require extra padding to avoid sliding.

• Specialised sports flooring: Provides greater traction and longevity, but at a greater expense.

If you're converting a garage, spare room, or shed into a gym, the right flooring will help minimise noise, last a long time, and make your training area safe and functional.

Large Equipment Besides the Mats

Although BJJ training is dominated by live rolling and drilling, the incorporation of additional equipment adds strength and conditioning.

• Resistance bands – for warm-ups, grip work, and rehabilitation.

• Kettlebells and dumbbells – perfect for explosive power and grip endurance.

• Pull-up bar – builds upper body strength required for guard control and transitions.

• Skipping rope – enhances footwork, agility, and cardio endurance.

These pieces of equipment take up little space and can assist you in performing better overall.

Spatial Organisation and Design

One of the biggest challenges of creating a home Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym is maximising small space situations. A cluttered and crowded room is hazardous and unpleasant to train in. In this case, careful planning is necessary.

• Maintain walkways clear for safety.

• Stack smaller machines onto racks or wall mounts.

• Identify specific areas for initial exercises, repetition of skills, and strengthening.

Hiring custom builders is the best way to transform an irregularly shaped room or small space into a usable gym. Custom builders can maximise space configurations, install reinforced walls to hold equipment, and make the space structurally sound and ready for frequent training.

Ventilation and Lighting

A good home gym must be revitalising, not claustrophobic. With good ventilation, you can avoid heat accumulation and maintain dry mats in your home BJJ gym, lowering the risk of mould or odour. Open windows, fans, or portable air conditioners can be a lifesaver on long sessions.

Lighting is equally important. Natural lighting is ideal, but in the absence of that, choose bright and evenly distributed artificial lighting to provide an inspiring and safe gym setting.

Personalised Features

After the basics are established, make the space personal to motivate ongoing practice. Provide motivational posters, medals or belts to display, and install a sound system to listen to music. These personal touches create an environment that fosters concentration and fun.

The Indispensable Checklist

The following is a brief list to help with your home BJJ gym construction:

• High-quality mats

• Mirrors for feedback

• Correct flooring substrate

• Resistance bands, kettlebells, and a pull-up bar

• Jump rope for conditioning

• Storage facilities for small machinery

• Sufficient ventilation and lighting

• Inspirational furniture and personalised touches

Final Thoughts

Constructing a home gym as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner is a testament to continuous practice and education. With a proper setup, it is possible to drill, condition, and do technique work at your convenient time. The primary considerations are prioritising safety, functionality, and personalisation to create an environment you will enjoy using again and again. 

Train with Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland

Though your home gym will take your training to the next level, nothing beats learning from seasoned coaches and rolling with committed training partners. We at Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland bring together community, discipline, and world-class teaching to enable you to learn faster and with greater confidence. Come on down to Zetland and see how our welcoming, encouraging atmosphere can drive your BJJ progress.