One of the most common questions I get as the Beginners Coach at Viking BJJ in Milton Keynes is:
“Why 12 weeks? Why not 4? Why not 20?”
It’s a fair question. After all, plenty of martial arts gyms run one-off “intro sessions” or quick courses. But at Viking BJJ, we’ve found that 12 weeks is the sweet spot.
Here’s why.
Why Not Shorter? Why Not Longer?
A four-week course might give you a taste, but it’s not enough time to build real skills or confidence. By the time you start to get comfortable, it’s already over.
On the other hand, a 20-week commitment can feel overwhelming for beginners. Life is busy, and most people aren’t ready to lock themselves into a long-term programme when they’re just starting out.
Twelve weeks is long enough to see progress, but short enough to stay focused and motivated.
Twice a Week: The Perfect Training Rhythm
Our programme runs two sessions per week. That’s deliberate.
Training twice a week gives your brain and body time to absorb what you’re learning without getting overwhelmed or burned out. You’ll make steady progress without feeling like you need to reorganise your life around training.
How the 12 Weeks Are Structured
The Viking BJJ Beginners Programme is broken down into three blocks of four weeks each. Each block focuses on one of the core areas of Jiu Jitsu:
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Chest to Back
Learning to control and escape one of the strongest positions in BJJ. -
Chest to Chest
Building pressure, control, and escapes from dominant top positions. -
Destabilisation, Balance & Guard Play (my personal favourite)
Developing balance, posture, and guard work to attack and defend effectively.
By the end, you’ll have experienced the most important situations you’ll face in Jiu Jitsu—and you’ll have the skills to handle them.
What to Expect Across the 12 Weeks
The course is designed to take you on a clear journey from complete beginner to confident white belt.
✅ The First Few Sessions – Building comfort, staying calm under pressure, and learning the basics.
✅ Weeks 3–6 – Things start to click. You’ll discover escapes, transitions, and a new sense of confidence.
✅ Final Weeks – Sparring, problem-solving, and realising just how far you’ve come.
By the time the 12 weeks are up, you won’t just know techniques—you’ll know how to apply them.
The Best Part: Joining the Main Academy
One of the biggest fears beginners have is: “What happens when I join the main classes?”
Here’s the good news: after our 12-week programme, you won’t feel lost.
Sure, you might not have seen every technique before, but you’ll understand the positions, the movements, and what’s expected of you. Instead of panicking, you’ll feel strangely comfortable.
You’ll roll with other white belts and suddenly realise: you actually know what to do.
That’s when the real confidence kicks in.
The Foundation for Your Jiu Jitsu Journey
By the end of the course, you’ll leave with:
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A strong technical foundation.
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A clear understanding of how Jiu Jitsu works.
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The belief that you belong on the mats.
And that belief is priceless.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
If you’ve ever wanted to try martial arts in Milton Keynes but felt nervous about being thrown in at the deep end, our 12-week Brazilian Jiu Jitsu beginners course is built for you.
It’s structured, supportive, and designed to help you fall in love with training.
Take the first step—and in 12 weeks, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.
