Etiquette

There are written and unwritten rules of jiu-jitsu etiquette. Each school is different. Here is what we expect from our students and what our students can expect us.

Hygiene

  1. No shoes on the mat.

  2. Wear clean gear (gi, rashguard, t-shirt, shorts, etc.) to class.

  3. Come to class showered.

  4. Keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed.

  5. Do not come to class if you are sick or have a skin infection.

  6. Wash your belt.

  7. No bare feet in the washrooms.

Appropriate Attire

  1. Gi Classes: Wear a gi on gi days. If you don't have a gi, buy one. We have some extra jackets for you to borrow if you forgot your gi.

  2. No-Gi Classes: Rashguards are traditional no-gi attire but t-shirts (with short or long sleeves) are acceptable too. Shorts, spats (tights), or gi pants are best options for lower body during no-gi classes.

  3. Under the Gi: The question, "What should I wear under my gi?" is often asked. The answer is simple: Anything you don't mind showing the world if your pants slide past your hips. Some people wear shorts, while others are okay with just underwear.

  4. Jewelry: Remove all jewelry. Silicone rings are the only exception.

  5. Zippers: Avoid wearing shorts or shirts with zippers or similar accessories.

  6. Mouthguards: While most people use one during live training (and we advise using mouthguards), not everyone wears one. Mouthguards are optional but recommended.

Classes

  1. Warming up: Most classes don’t include a formal warm-up. If you feel the need to warm-up, you are invited to come a few minutes early, find a quiet place on the mat away from the class being taught, and quietly warm-up/stretch.

  2. Timeliness: Please try to make it to class on time. If you cannot make it to class on time, quietly enter the mat, acknowledge the instructor, and find a training partner or work in with a group.

  3. Talking: When the instructor is demonstrating, they should be the only one talking. It is acceptable to politely ask a question about the technique if you are unclear as to how apply it. During drill, keep the conversation on jiu-jitsu - leave the general conversation for after class.

  4. Drilling: Stick to the techniques that the instructor has shown. Most techniques have other technical options, defenses, counters, and escapes. The instructor is almost certainly aware of them, but that's not what s/he taught. Stick to what has been taught.

  5. Cell Phones: If you can, silence your cell phone. We realize that some people are waiting for an important call or text or are “on-call” for work during class and have to be responsive to their phones; in these cases, keeping your phone on is acceptable.

  6. Filming and Taking Pictures: Filming and taking pictures is encouraged at The Academy! However, it is NEVER appropriate to film instruction. It is okay to film yourself after class reviewing the days lesson. Also, only take pictures or videos of other students with their permission.

Rolling

Rolling or Training/Live Training or Randori or Sparring (in this case, they all mean the same thing) happens after most classes. This is where you are attempting your grappling techniques against a resisting opponent. There are things that you should keep in mind when rolling that will influence how positive the experience is for you and your training partners.

  1. Respect the Tap: Tap when you are uncomfortable or have run out of defensive options - don’t gut anything out: TAP! At the same time, release pressure or let go of a submission when your training partner taps, says “Tap”, says something that rhymes with tap, or you think they tapped. It is better to be wrong than to hurt someone. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE.

  2. Don’t Be a Spaz: Always try to roll under control, even if you are a beginner. It is important that we do everything in our power to not elbow, knee, kick or punch our partners. It is important that we apply our submissions slowly with control so that our training partner has the opportunity to tap. We need to protect our partners when rolling. We are not here to hurt one another.

  3. Keep Your Ego in Check: When you’re rolling, don’t let your ego cloud your experience. There is no winning and losing in Live Training. Live Training is just practice. We are here to help each other get better. Practice is not competition. Save your ego for competition.

  4. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: When rolling, you and your partner will eventually roll into another’s space or someone else will roll into yours. If you roll into someone, just stop what you’re doing and move. If there is a question as to who moved into who, always defer to the more senior student/instructor. Even if you are CERTAIN that a senior student/instructor rolled into you, do not argue or hold your ground, just move and reset.

    Spatial awareness is especially important when starting from a standing position. It is 100% on you and your training partner to make sure that you have enough room to land a takedown. If you aren’t certain, do NOT attempt the takedown.

  5. Mind Your Grips: Accidents are not going to be held against you. However, you are NOT allowed to intentionally grab fewer than three fingers, pull hair, pinch, or dig your elbows into people. In no-gi training, you are not permitted to grab your partner’s clothing.

  6. Respect Size, Age, and Strength Differences: Experience matters in jiu-jitsu, but it is equally important to remember that size, age, and strength are real factors too. Don’t think that just because someone is a higher rank than you that you are entitled to go as hard as you want.

    If you have a training partner that is obviously much weaker, smaller, or less athletic than you, try to match his/her intensity in order for both of you to get the most out of a roll.

  7. Be Humble: Celebrating after submitting someone is bad form. If you get the tap, smile, adjust your uniform, slap up and start again.