FAQs

Wear non-restrictive athletic clothing, like a t-shirt, yoga pants, or gym shorts without pockets.  We recommend you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth during training.  For footwear, barefoot training is the norm; alternatively you can wear wrestling shoes or clean socks. We recommend that you bring a pair of slip-on shoes to wear when you are off the mats.

Rolling, also known as sparring or grappling, is a free flowing practice of jiu-jitsu techniques against a resisting training partner. It’s like wrestling and playing chess combined.

Yes, we offer new students two free classes to see if jiu-jitsu is a good fit. We just require that you sign a waiver before you train.  Please be sure and bring a good attitude before you hop in.

The short answer is no. We do not actively hit each other during class.  This is a contact art, so sometimes incidental “hitting” can and does happen.

Jiu-jitsu is a martial art that is adaptable to any age.  The key to maintaining your health while training is to be smart about how you practice.

It depends on your goals. To get a solid grasp of the art, we recommend at least two times a week.  To train competitively, we recommend four or more times a week.

Stick with it. Consistency is key when studying jiu-jitsu. It’s like learning a new language— you have to practice regularly to become fluent.

Train smarter, not harder. Staying safe is largely within your control.  If something doesn’t feel right, stop.  Moderate your intensity, especially when learning new moves.  Leave your ego at the door and don’t treat every training session as a competition.  Be willing to lose in order to learn—even world champions start out as beginners.

We recommend soaking your clothes in hot water and Oxyclean for at least 20 minutes prior to washing. This helps to dissolve residual salts and oils that host bacteria and ensures your clothes get truly clean.

Make sure it is disinfected and bandaged before you train. We recommend that you wrap your bandage with athletic tape to prevent it from falling off during training.  A clean, healthy training environment is paramount. Be courteous to your training partners by taking responsibility for yourself. If you have any doubts, ask a coach.

The more time you put in, the faster you will pick things up.  Other options include taking private lessons or having a video analysis done using E-coach.  Contact Coach Seals for more details.

Jiu-Jitsu can be an intense workout, especially if you aren’t used to it. Staying hydrated is a must, so make sure you drink plenty of water prior to and during class.  Eating prior to a workout is very person dependent.  You want to have enough energy for class, but you don’t want food to impair your training.

We want to show respect to our training partners, the training environment, and the teachers.  Bowing is a formal show of respect to demonstrate our intention of having a positive interaction during training.

• Be on time, to the best of your ability. If you do arrive after the start of class, join in silently and courteously.
• Be mindful of your training partner’s well-being.   Moderate your intensity during drilling and rolling, and always be respectful.
• Maintain good hygiene. We ask that you shower before coming to class, wear clean attire, keep your nails trimmed, and cover any abrasions with a clean bandage and athletic tape.
• Focus on learning.  Leave gossip and politics off the mats.