Legion American Jiu-Jitsu, co-founded by Keenan Cornelius and Miha Perhavec, has implemented an innovative approach to introducing new students to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The academy offers a structured 5-week beginner course that serves as a prerequisite for joining the regular classes.
Miha Perhavec, a black belt under Cornelius and co-owner of Legion, explains the rationale behind this unique program in podcast appearance: “We realized that the free trial system that everyone’s doing might not be the best idea. We decided to do this 5-week beginner course, which is new in the sense that we didn’t really allow people to go do our classes unless they did the beginner course first.”
The course starts with different intake dates, bringing groups of beginners together to learn a proprietary curriculum from day one. By the end of the five weeks, students are fully capable of rolling safely and have a solid foundation in Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals.
The program includes five Judo for Jiu-Jitsu classes taught by Perhavec himself, along with uniform videos of the curriculum and access to the weight area. This comprehensive approach ensures that new students have the best possible starting point in their Jiu-Jitsu journey.
“All of our students that graduate from that course go into the next courses, and they have this basic knowledge,” Perhavec explains. “Plus, the instructors in the other classes don’t have to explain to a new person how to shrimp or how to fall or what mount is – they all come in with knowledge. So it’s pretty efficient.”
This structured approach allows Legion to maintain a high level of instruction in their regular classes, as all students enter with a shared baseline of knowledge and skills. It also helps to create a safer training environment, as beginners learn proper techniques and etiquette before engaging in open rolling sessions.
The 5-week course has been a success for Legion, with Perhavec noting that they’re currently running their 50th course since implementing the system two years ago. He likens the approach to the training of the Roman legions, focusing on structure, discipline, and efficient skill development.
While some may view this as a barrier to entry, Legion sees it as a way to ensure that all students receive a solid foundation and are well-prepared for the challenges of regular Jiu-Jitsu training. The academy does offer evaluations for those with prior experience, potentially allowing them to skip the beginner course and enter the fundamentals class directly.
