FAQ

What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

BJJ is a grappling Martial Art. It emphasizes getting the fight to the ground, controlling the individual(s) and performing a fight ending submission. This is typically done through either a choke or joint lock (there are no punches, kicks, knees, or elbows). 

What should I expect my first class?

Walking into any new gym is stressful and intimidating. Rest assured we have a proven system to make sure anyone can feel comfortable after a few minutes. You will go through a light warm up, be partnered with a seasoned practitioner, and practice several new moves. This is hands-on instruction and you will never be asked to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.

What should I wear to my first class?

Your instructor will let you know specifically, but typically you will wear comfortable shorts with no zipper or rivets and a clean T-shirt to class.   

Do I need to train live (Randori/compete etc)?

The short answer is no. Everyone finds their way to us for different reasons, and in that spirit some people simply might not want to train live. We want people to work to their comfort level. More than likely you will eventually want to, and that is the beauty of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

What are the school rules?

1. Relax

Until you know how to properly move you are more apt to use strength, quickly lose stamina and hurt yourself or others. Your focus should be on executing moves learned during class, and not on “winning” against teammates.

2. Ask questions

We have one of the most welcoming environments in martial arts. The best way to get better training partners is to help new students learn. Everyone is willing to help each other. After all, we are a team.

3. Maintain good hygiene

We clean the mats daily and without exception. Please do yourself and your partners a favor and wash all of your training clothes after every class. In addition, stay safe by taking a shower as well. 

Be sure to keep your nails short. We are grappling, and while we do our best to not hurt our partners, long nails can cause injury and infection.

4. Show up

If BJJ was easy everyone would do it. There is no short cut or a secret weapon. The people that get good at this show up to as many classes as possible and focus on learning new things.

5. Support each other

It’s the duty of higher belts to support the lower belts in order to learn and grow. That means training with each other to the “right” level and making sure we always tap early and often.