What happens at your first jiu jitsu class

1. Booking

Fill out the form on the homepage. You'll get a text with the next two beginner classes. Reply 1 or 2 and you're booked.

2. What to wear

For your first class, comfortable athletic clothes are a safe choice: a t-shirt or rash guard and shorts or pants without zippers or pockets. Take off jewelry before class. If you have questions about the gi (the traditional uniform), ask Eder when you arrive.

3. Get there early

Arrive about 10 minutes before class and ask for Eder. He'll show you around and get you settled.

4. The class itself

Beginner jiu jitsu classes usually start with a warm-up, then a technique shown by the instructor, then time to practice it with a partner, slowly and with control. You go at your own pace. If something doesn't feel right, you can stop.

5. Tapping

In jiu jitsu, you "tap" (pat your partner or the mat) to say stop. When someone taps, their partner lets go right away. It's the most important safety rule, and you'll use it from your first day.

6. After class

Ask questions. That's what the first class is for. The next day you'll get a text asking how it went and whether you'd like to keep going.

Questions

What should I wear to my first jiu jitsu class?

Comfortable athletic clothes without zippers or pockets, and no jewelry. Ask about the gi when you arrive.

Do I have to spar on my first day?

You go at your own pace, and you can stop anytime by tapping.