Treat everyone with respect and help make everyone feel welcome at the academy. Do not use inappropriate language or be disrespectful or discriminatory. Sexual harassment is not tolerated.
No shoes on the mats. Wear shoes when stepping off the mats or going outside. Do not go into the bathroom barefoot.
Wear a fresh uniform to each class. If you train in the morning, you need a clean uniform to train again in the evening.
Maintain good hygiene. Keep your finger and toenails short and clean. Deodorant is recommended, but no strong scents or perfumes. If your feet are dirty, clean them before stepping on the mats.
Shower right away after every class.
Wash your gi, rashguard, and other gear right away after every class. Do not leave sweaty gear at the academy or sitting in your gym bag, car trunk, or laundry hamper.
Wear a rashguard under your gi. You can use mouthguards, wrestling headgear, and wrestling shoes if desired. Joint braces/wraps can’t have hard components.
Appropriate gear is required for no-gi class, i.e. rashguard, fight shorts, and athletic underwear. Do not wear tank tops, baggy t-shirts, basketball shorts, cargo shorts, sweat pants, or train shirtless.
Remove all jewelry and watches before class. Tie back long hair.
Stay home if you are sick. Do not train if you have any skin infections or open wounds. Please notify academy staff if you have a transmissible illness (cold, flu, COVID) or skin condition (ringworm, staph) so we can protect the health and safety of other students.
Let the instructor know if you have any health concerns or injuries to be aware of.
Please arrive at the academy with enough time to check-in and get changed before class starts.
Set your phone to silent and keep it off the mats during class.
No food, drinks, or chewing gum on the mats. A water bottle kept near the mats is OK. Throw away any empty plastic bottles at the end of class.
Clean up after yourself and don’t leave stuff lying around. Unclaimed items in lost-and-found will be thrown away periodically.
Do not talk while the instructor is talking. Pay attention during instruction. Sit, stand, or kneel with good posture during demonstrations.
Talking should be kept to a minimum and should relate to the class.
Continue to drill until the instructor says to do otherwise. You can never practice a technique too many times.
Do not sit out rounds of sparring. Finish every round you start even if you are exhausted. Whether you’re training for self defense, sport, or fitness, you will benefit from learning to pace yourself and work out of difficult spots while tired.
If you have any questions or don’t understand anything, ask an instructor for help. That’s what we are here for!
As a white belt, do not teach or correct techniques, even if asked to by another white belt. Ask an instructor or higher belt to help you and your training partner instead.
Let an instructor know whenever you leave the mats, such as when going to the bathroom or leaving early.
Do not brag and gossip about who taps out who. Everyone should feel comfortable tapping as a normal and necessary part of training. There is no shame in tapping out. We improve fastest by going to the edge of our abilities!
Follow IBJJF rules in sparring. No jumping guard. No flying submissions. No slams. If you would like to use techniques that are not legal at your belt rank or the rank of your training partner, get their OK first.
Be mindful of your training partners’ safety. Be aware of what is happening around you, even during sparring. If you are about to run into other students, stop and move away if you are lower ranked. Otherwise, whoever can relocate most easily should move.
Do not intentionally harm anyone. Do not crank a submission too hard even if a training partner won’t tap. It’s better to let go than to risk injury. Let an instructor know if you have concerns about another student’s behavior or safety.
Do not train while intoxicated or under the influence of anything that impairs your judgment.
Rules for Parents
Do not coach from the sidelines. If you would like to coach, speak to an instructor about joining the instructor’s training program.
Your children are your responsibility outside of class. Children are not to play on gym equipment or run loose around the facility.