Academy Etiquette

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academies tend to teach in a more relaxed and less rigid atmosphere than traditional martial arts. Nonetheless, in order to maintain a positive environment that is both conducive to learning and welcoming to potential students, we require our students, parents of students in the kids/ classes, and staff to adhere to the following Academy Etiquette guidelines:

1. Always show respect to your instructor, training partners and fellow human beings. Respect in training means: do not seek to harm fellow students physically or emotionally. Respect also means that you must train seriously and hard enough for you and your partner to improve his or her skill, conditioning and fighting spirit. Not giving your best during training detracts from both you and your partner’s experience.
2. Maintain good hygiene (i.e. shower and brush your teeth regularly and manage your body odor). As you can imagine, it is difficult to concentrate on techniques when you find your partner’s smells distracting! Bring a clean, dry gi to each class. Wash your gis and rash guards after every class!! NO EXCEPTIONS! You will not be permitted to train if your gis and rash guards are not clean! Clean and cover all wounds, scrapes, etc. This is how we prevent MRSA and ringworm! Also, you will not be permitted to train if you have any contagious skin conditions.
3. Keep finger and toe nails trimmed and clean to prevent injury to yourself and others.
4. It is disrespectful to be late for class. If you have an understanding with your instructor because of your schedule to be late, do not distract him or the other students while he is showing a move. Quietly stand by the door until your instructor is done, then proceed to the locker room.
5. Bare feet on the mat only! Keep shoes off the mat so that we can keep the mats clean and sanitary. Do not step off the mat with bare feet. You must wear flip-flops, sandals, sneakers, etc. while not on the mat and when entering and leaving the restroom.
6. Do not walk outside with bare feet. If you have to go outside, wear sandals or shoes. Items (5) and (6) are especially important to prevent the spread of ring worm.
7. Do not shout loudly or use profanity in the Academy. Treat your Academy like a sacred area. This should go without saying.
8. Do not talk while the instructor is talking. It is disrespectful to those who are trying to learn and to the instructor.
9. It is disrespectful not to wear your belt in class. Your rank was given to you by your instructor. Wear it with pride! If your belt falls off, tie it back on.
10. Please wear your gi, a T-shirt, or a tank top while in public areas of the Academy. No bare backs! Please change in the locker room and leave your belongings in the locker room. Try to keep the mat area clean for possible new students who may want to join the Academy.
11. Do not leave the mat during class without the instructor’s permission.
12. Keep all cell phones off during class. They distract those who are trying to learn. This goes for parents watching class as well.
13. If the instructor has not changed the task, then continue doing the task he or she has given (i.e. don’t sit around talking because you feel you have done the technique enough). You can NEVER do a technique too many times.
14. “Respect the Rank!!” It is disrespectful to ask an instructor or a higher ranked belt to train with you, so wait until they ask you to roll. All lower belts should speak and act respectfully to anyone ranked higher than them. Also, if you are sparring next to someone who has a higher belt rank than you or your partner, then you and your partner must move and yield the space to the higher belt rank.
15. Always bow or shake hands before live training or sparring.
16. When classes are crowded, students will sometimes bump into each other when sparring. Take special care to be aware of your surroundings and stop sparring if you are too close to other students.
17. Much of what we practice routinely with each other will seriously injure people not familiar with Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. It should not be practiced on others outside the Academy.