FAQs

What can i Expect on my first session?

All of our sessions are suitable for complete day one beginners right through to experienced black belts and competitors.

A typical session will start with a warm up comprising of movement drills and various stretches, from there we move on to the technical portion of the class where our instructor on the night will demonstrate a move or technique.

Following this we pair up with a partner (don’t worry if you come on your own we’re a friendly bunch and people will be happy to train with you) and drill (practice) the demonstrated technique so it becomes part of your muscle memory - if you’re struggling don’t worry, our instructors and senior grades are always on hand to help.

Finally we finish off with the sparing portion of the class, this will typically be positional rounds or free sparing (rolling).

There is no pressure to roll on your first few sessions, however most students would agree this is most fun part of the session and the reason Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is such a fantastic martial art.

do I have to roll (spar) on my first session and will i get hurt?

As mentioned above there is absolutely ZERO pressure for you to roll on your first night.
If you would like to?- Great!
If you’d like to sit out and watch? - Also great!

Rolling is where you get the chance to try the techniques you’ve learnt against a resisting opponent which is what makes BJJ such a fantastic martial art, we are able to roll at a good level of intensity every night but not injure our sparring/rolling partner.

We instil in our new students to tap early and to feel for the pressure and not the pain, if you follow this simple rule you will be injury free at the end of each session.

Of course Jiu-Jitsu is a full contact martial art so injuries can and do happen, however over the last 15 years I’ve seen a lot more people injured from standing up funny and rolling their ankle, or bending a finger backwards on the mat than I have being injured from a partner cranking on a technique with ill intent.



Am I to old/unfit to start
Jiu-Jitsu?

The short answer to this is absolutely not, Jiu-Jitsu is a very personal journey, the best time to start was 10 years ago, the second best time to start is today.

Am I To old?

We have people on the mat at Yokai aged 16 to 60, I’ve trained with partners well into their 70’s - in jiu-jitsu age is very much just a number and you’ll be welcomed on the mat regardless - I always advise older grapplers to look at this article and read about the ‘Boyd Belt’ system for a good outlook on what is expected from older grapplers in Jiu-Jitsu.

Am I to unfit?

Jiu-Jitsu will help you to get fit, as a coach one thing i’ve heard A LOT is people saying they will start class once they get fitter/lose some weight/put on some muscle - my response is this: would you tell a child to get smarter before going to school?

We welcome all levels of fitness on the mat at Yokai, whether you can spar for 30 minutes or 30 seconds, you’re welcome to train and i guarantee with consistent training your fitness will improve.

how does the belt system work?

There are 5 main belts in the adult grading system for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - no more, no less.

They are:

White
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black

Each belt may include degrees (stripes) to mark progress between full belt promotions. Advancement between belts typically takes years.

Beyond this there is also belts such as coral and red, but they’re reserved for practitioners who have dedicated their life to the art and have typically trained for 40+ years.

To be considered for grading at Yokai you must be training consistently in both gi and nogi classes, everyone’s jiu-jitsu journey is different thus there is no single path on how to achieve promotion, turn up, work hard and eventually the rewards will come.

‘A belt only covers two inches of your ass, the rest you have to cover yourself.’



What equpment do i need?

All you need for your first class is shorts/leggings and a t-shirt (no zips) and some flip flops/sliders (no bare feet off the mat/no shoes on the mat.)

I’d also advise picking up a gumshield and bringing a bottle of water to stay hydrated.

You don’t need to go out and buy a £100+ gi straight away, we can loan you a gi to get you started.

Please ensure when you come to class your nails are trimmed, teeth brushed and you’re generally not stinky.

Also if you have any rashes/open wounds/cough or cold symptoms please stay off training until you’re 100% and ready to come back.

If you’re unsure please see a coach who will be happy to help.

what is the difference between brazilian jiu-jitsu and japanese ju-jitsu

Great question! While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Japanese Jujutsu (or Jiu-Jitsu) share historical roots, they’ve evolved into very different martial arts. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Japanese Jujutsu:

  • Origin: Feudal Japan, used by samurai for self-defense when disarmed.

  • Focus: Traditional martial art focusing on strikes, joint locks, throws, and even weapons.

  • Style: More self-defense oriented and sometimes practiced in kata (pre-arranged forms).

  • Philosophy: Often taught with a blend of spiritual or traditional discipline.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ):

  • Origin: Developed in Brazil in the early 20th century from Kodokan Judo (which evolved from Japanese Jujutsu).

  • Focus: Ground fighting, submissions (chokes, joint locks), and positional control.

  • Style: Sport-oriented with live sparring (rolling); very practical for one-on-one combat and MMA.

  • Philosophy: Emphasizes leverage and technique to allow a smaller person to defeat a larger opponent.

In short:

  • Japanese Jujutsu = Traditional, broader martial art with strikes and throws.

  • BJJ = Modern, ground-focused grappling art built around live sparring and submissions.