Club Rules And Etiquette

  • Clean gi/no-gi uniform
    – Your uniform should be washed after every class without exception. 
  • Always shower after each training session.
  • No shoes/slippers on the mat
    – No shoes on the mat
    – Shoes must be worn once you leave the mat.
  • Put shoes/slippers on when going to the toilet. Socks alone are not acceptable.
  • If you have a skin infection, you will not be able to train until it clears up.
  • Nails should be kept short and filed.
  • Any make-up must be removed before training in Gi classes.
  • No chewing gum on the mats
  • For Gi classes. You can wear any Jiu-jitsu/Judo gi you like. We recommend a black, white or blue gi so that it is suitable for competition. We have a partnership with Progress and you can purchase a gi through us. If you would like to purchase a gi through us just let us know.
  • For No-Gi classes, a rashguard and shorts/leggings (without zippers) are ideal.
  • If you do not own a rashguard, normal t-shirts are fine for the first few classes.
  • Remove all jewellery before training.
  • Lateness
    – We recognise that schedules can be tight, especially in London. If lateness is unavoidable, we understand this, and ask that you wait to be invited onto the mat if you arrive once the class has started. Please inform our instructors if you will regularly need to arrive late to class. Our classes are carefully planned, and our warm-ups are designed to improve your grappling, not to fill time. 
  • Tapping
    – If you want anything to stop in jiu jitsu, tap. Ideally, tap your partner’s body clearly. If this is not available, say “tap” clearly and loudly, or tap the mat loudly. Do not verbally tap by saying “Yeah” or “Oss”.
  • Safety when sparring
    – Apply all submissions with control. Always stop when your opponent taps.
    – Take responsibility for your own safety when in a submission by tapping. 
    – Be aware of your surroundings; don’t roll into other grapplers, and don’t roll off the mat. 
    – Always try to protect your training partners by using the full mat space available.
    – There is no striking in BJJ.
    – Slams are not allowed in any circumstances. (Picking people up off the ground and slamming them into the mat).
  • Don’t spar like a maniac.
    – Early on, sparring can be overwhelming. Expect that smaller experienced teammates will get the better of you while you develop your understanding of the sport.
    – If you have to use significant strength and energy on a teammate, then you are not being efficient with your technique.
    – If there is a significant or notable size and strength discrepancy, it is the responsibility of the larger participant to adapt their sparring. Focus on movement.
    – Training is for learning; we prioritise developing our technique through sparring in the training room, and competing to win at competitions. If you are only sparring to win at training, your game will not develop as efficiently.
    – If you are sparring from standing, there should be plenty of space without any ground sparring going on near you. The right of way goes to the participants on the ground, regardless of grade.
  • Deference (ground sparring only)
    – If you’re rolling too close to another pair and there isn’t an easy space to move into, then you defer to the highest grade (lower grades move away and find a new space). This not only allows continuous sparring, but develops the spatial awareness of lower grades.