Your First BJJ Class – A guide to Help with the Unknown
Stepping into any new environment is a daunting task and this is particularly true for your first BJJ class. It makes sense. BJJ classes come with a host of unknowns and a room full of sweaty people who are unreasonably close, trying to twist each other’s joints the wrong way or wring each other’s necks. While there is no way of fully preparing for your first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class, there are a few tips Joey and I can share with you to help you out.
I can remember my first BJJ class incredibly well, even after 14 years and I know I’ve spoken with Joey about this too and he’s the same – so we both want you to be able to say the same things a decade plus later with hopefully a black belt tied around your waist.
A final thing worth noting here is that I’ve trained all over and no two gyms are the same, so this advice is best served as a holistic, general guide to your first BJJ class.
Let’s Look at Hygiene
Given the close nature of BJJ, it’s important you aren’t a stinking, sweaty mess before you even step onto the mats. Here are a few tips to help out with your Jiu-jitsu class hygiene.
Shower, if Possible
While not always doable, having a quick shower before class can ensure you’re fresh on the mats and respectable for your training partners. If you’re working 10 hours a day, outside in the sun, doing a labour-intensive job you’re likely not going to be your freshest. You’re not wanting to get the reputation right off the bat as the sweaty, grimy, smelly guy no one wants to partner with. Obviously not always needed, but certainly something to keep in mind.
Oral Hygiene
Again, you’re going to be close with training partners and the last thing anyone wants is your smelly breath breathing down their neck. Brush your teeth, floss, and swill some mouthwash – sound advice for life too.
Deodorant
Another obvious one again, but despite being so obvious, I’ve come across plenty of guys who seems to have forgotten this one. Throw one in your gym bag and you’ll always have it with you. Again, it all comes down to proximity. You’re going to close with training partners. Would you want to roll with someone who hasn’t showered, not brushed their teeth and doesn’t know what deodorant is? Didn’t think so. So don’t be that guy.
Cut your Nails
Another one that seems obvious, but needs a mention is to make sure you clip your finger and toenails prior to your first jiu-jitsu class. This is sadly something that is often overlooked, even by people who have been training a while, so get ahead of it on your first day.
Why cut them you ask? It’s really easy to scratch someone in training and the longer the nail, the more likely this is to occur. And while it seems like a small issue, if there is a wound, there is a chance of infection, and a chance of infection means a potentially long time off the mats and a hefty recovery – staph infection is no joke.
Arriving at the Academy
With hygiene covered, onto what to do and what is likely to happen on your first day in your new BJJ gym. Again, this will vary dramatically from gym to gym, so think of this as a good guide to your jiu-jitsu first day.
Arrive Early with a Smile
Given it’s your first day, it’s important to arrive a little early. This is more important than you may think. You will likely have to get some paperwork out of the way, introduce yourself to the coach or coaching staff, have a little introduction to the rules, a little tour of the academy, what’s expected of you, to pick up a loaner gi perhaps, etc.
Whatever happens, as with the hygiene, a lot of this is obvious, but turn up early, with a smile, an open mind, and a polite tone and you’ll do just fine.
Street Clothes and Shoes
Prior to your first BJJ class, you may have bought yourself a gi ready and good for you. It’s important tough, as eager as you may be, to not wear it on the way to the gym. Keep it tucked away in your gym bag and change when you get to the gym. Get into the habit of keeping street clothes on the street and gym clothes solely in the gym. Take this little changing room chat as a chance to bond with your teammates – it’s a good place to get the dynamic and types of people you’re about to share the mats with.
No Shoes on the Mat
This is a big one and people don’t quite understand it immediately. It’s all about cross-contamination. Cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance in BJJ and the no shoes on the mat, no bare feet off the mat ruleset is to keep the outside world and bathroom funk away from the place you’re training.
Flip-Flops and BJJ – a Match Made in Heaven
Flip-flops are synonymous with BJJ classes and during any class you’re likely to see a host of em’ besides the mats. Flip-flops are important because they’re an intermediary footwear between street footwear and being bare foot on the mat. Remember, no shoes on the mats, no bare feet off the mats.
Walk into the academy in streetwear, get yourself changes into your gi / nogi gear, and back to the mats in flip-flops before kicking them off to train. You need to leave the mat for whatever reason, flip-flops back on.
Getting Ready to Train
BJJ aren’t typically like other martial arts gyms, they’re a lot more causal atypically. Again, each gym is different, and I can tell you from 14 years’ experience that some are state of the art, shiny, and modern, while some are spit and sawdust.
A lot of BJJ gyms won’t have a changing room (we do at Yokai), so expect different things from different places. Some will have a large changing area, others a small room, and some will be a space at the side of the mats. If you’re following the advice above anyway and getting to the academy early, you’ll have ample time to discuss what’s what with the coach on duty.
Keeping Valuable and Personal Items Safe
If your BJJ academy happens to have traditional lockers, good for you! As mentioned, a few times now, each gym is different and most likely won’t. Luckily however, the BJJ community is unlike most others. It is outstandingly friendly and close-knit, meaning locker room theft is quite uncommon. I know in my entire time training, in countless gyms right through to blackbelt, I have never has a single item stolen.
Obviously don’t test this theory and leave things lying around. Keep everything secure in your gym bag and if you have any major concerns speak with the coach on duty and they will be able to help you out.
Forgotten Something?
Mistakes happen and you may have forgotten an item of training clothing, your belt, some tape, something – if you need something speak to other students or the coach. Most gyms will have spare gear and will be happy to help.
Typical BJJ Class – What to Expect
It’s time for your first BJJ class – an exciting time and hopefully the start of a long and rewarding journey. I mentioned it earlier, but I can clear as day remember my first day 14 years on and I hope you do the same.
I’ll be honest, you’re going to feel lost. You’re going to have no idea what is going on and it’s going to seem like they’re showing you and speaking to you in a new language. It’s going to be uncomfortable, awkward, and even claustrophobic in parts – all part of the fun though!
Get ready to feel incredibly uncoordinated and exhausted.
Again, each gym is different, and each class will vary, a typical class tends to look like – warm-up, technique and drilling, then sparring.
What does that mean?
Warm-up
Warming up will differ massively from place to place. Some will be short and sweet, others long and quite extensive. A lot will follow a rough guide of – basic calisthenics to warm-up the muscles and get a little sweat on. This is followed by a series of BJJ specific solo movement drills or perhaps some partner assisted drills that are geared towards the focus of the class ahead. A guard passing focussed class may have a period of passing drills, or a stand-up class, some stand-up drills, etc.
It's your first day, so you’re not going to have a clue either way! Just get involved, keep an open mind, and ask questions if needed – everyone will be happy to help.
Technique and Drilling
This is what typically constitutes the bulk of the class time. This is the part where your instructor for the day will show techniques while students gather around to watch The instructor will typically lay out the technique in a simple step-by-step manner and after a few goes over it, you’ll go off with your partner and drill out the movement.
While you’re going through the motions, the instructor will typically go around the class and check on each group to see how the technique is coming along.
As the student, it’s your job to remember the series of moves verbatim and repeat them to your willing partner. You likely won’t get it at first and that is totally fine – honestly expected.
Remember, it’s your first BJJ class, so ask for help when needed.
Sparring
This is the fun part. Sparring, or rolling, Is real-world grappling. It’s where you put your techniques, knowledge, and understanding to the test against a resisting opponent. You’re looking to stay safe first and foremost and ascend the jiujitsu hierarchy, looking for control and submissions along the way.
Each BJJ gym will have different rules when it comes to beginners sparring, so speak with your coach about what is okay and what isn’t.
If you do get to participate in some form of sparring or rolling, expect to be manhandled and be flat-out exhausted beyond belief. You’ll be moving in ways you’re not used to and using muscles you didn’t know existed. Just know, while BJJ is always tough, it does get easier!
After the Class is Over
This is where you’re likely looking to eat everything in sight and be clamouring for a shower. Depending on your gym, there may be a little time after class to stick around for some extracurricular activities.
Additional Training
Some gyms will allow for a few extra rounds of sparring or time to drill techniques after the class is over – obviously, if the schedule allows. If there is a class directly after the one you have just taken, it’s time to be respectful and leave the mat ready for the next class.
Take some Time to Stretch
If there is a period of time free after class, it’s advisable to take a moment to cool down and stretch. It’s your first class, so you’re likely going to feel pretty beaten up, but this will pass – to a certain extent of course. Taking the time to cool down and stretch will help your body recover and it will pay dividends down the line because BJJ requires a high level of flexibility and mobility.
Getting to Know Your Teammates
BJJ is a very social martial art, and a lot of people will spend time in the academy just to hang out. You’ll make a lot of new friends in Brazilian jiu jitsu and they’ll be from all walks of life. At my academy, we have heart surgeons training with tattoo artists, law enforcement, academics, students, and the gambit in between.
You’ll find people of all ages and it can be a fantastic opportunity to grow your network.
When you get home
Hygiene has been mentioned numerous times within this beginner BJJ first-class guide and here is no different. You’ll come to understand that on one hand you have BJJ and on the other, you have showering, flip-flops, and washing gym gear – you’ll become best friends with the washing machine before you know it.
Shower right after
If your gym has access to showers, make use of them right after class – Yokai certainly does if you don’t mind it cold. There will likely be a large number wanting to use them too, so shower thoroughly, washing your hair and body without dawdling too much! If you happen to find yourself with a shower free with no one waiting, take your time of course!
If you’re not able to shower in the gym, make sure it is the first thing you do when you get back. You don’t want to be spreading the bacteria and germs you’ve come in contact with all over your home and others – especially if you have kids.
Back into Street Clothes
Even if you’re showering at home, make sure you change out of your gi and back into your street clothes for the trip home. The gi is going to absorb a lot of not only your own sweat but others too. Quick frankly, after a tough session, they’re pretty disgusting!
Laundry Bag the Gi
When you take that nasty gi off, have yourself a separate laundry bag to put that thing straight in. You want to keep your gym bag free from nastiness, so having the gym bag’s interior for clean gi’s and a laundry bag for the nasty gi, you’re keeping contamination risks low.
Wash the Nastiness Away
When you get home, let’s get that gi and the laundry bag in the washing machine pronto. And yes, it needs washing after every single session – even if you didn’t feel super sweaty or it doesn’t smell – wash it after each and every session!
We’re covered in bacteria continually, all over our skin, and some are particularly nasty (Google: “Staph infection” at your own risk). The gi is sopping up the nastiness even when you can’t see it, so don’t take the risk and make sure it gets washed.
That, and the last thing you want to be known as is “smelly gi guy”.
Recovery Time
After the shower and the washing machine shenanigans, it’s likely the adrenaline has worn off leaving you feeling tired, beaten, achy, and hungry.
Have something to eat that is healthy, nutritious, and satisfying. I’ll avoid any details because diets, goals, and lifestyles are so varied it’s hard to even give an example, but you know your body better than I do.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is tough, especially on your first day of BJJ. It’s truly a full-body workout every time you train. You may find that as you continue to train you need more sleep. Make sure you’re sleeping well and sleeping enough. A lack of sleep can not only affect your training, but mood, body composition, relationships, and work life. Sleep is also the place your body heals and grows, so let it do its thing.
Conclusion
There you go! That was quite an extensive list for you to take in. We’ve covered what to bring to your first BJJ class, a typical bjj class, what to expect as a beginner in bjj, and what to expect in your jiujitsu gym.
While this list is by no means exhaustive or even going to be the case in every gym, it is a great starting point for you on your jiujitsu journey. It’s things I have dealt with, seen, been part of, and considered over the 14 years I’ve been training and it's advice I stand by as a black belt coach now.
Any questions, comments, thoughts, or musings, feel free to get in touch with me. I love hearing from you guys.