These rules exist to keep everyone safe, clean and respectful, so that every trip to the mat is a good one.
When attending classes
- Always make sure your finger and toe nails are cut short before class.
- Always wash your hands before class.
- Remove all jewellery. You could injure yourself, your team-mates, or damage the jewellery.
- Your Gi must be washed after every class.
- All Gis must be white.
- Keep your uniform in good condition. Never wear a ripped, torn or stained uniform.
- Please do not walk around bare-chested.
- Always greet the instructor when entering the mat at the start of class.
- When the instructor calls for line-up, do so quickly and quietly.
- Let your instructor know if you need to leave the mat before the end of class.
- Let your instructor know if you expect a lengthy absence from classes.
- Always let your instructor know if you are injured or ill.
- Arrive 10 minutes before any scheduled class. If you are late, take up the front position outside the mat, wait for the instructor's attention and ask permission to join.
- Phones on vibrate or silent.
- No shoes, food or drink on the mat.
- No foul language will be tolerated.
- Always wear a mouth guard when sparring. A groin box is optional.
- There are no barriers between the sexes.
Our advice
- Wear a clean Gi, live a clean life.
- Identify the hidden lesson in every tap.
- Log on to the online courses regularly.
- Become a black belt in Gracie Fundamentals.
- Use training time wisely. Talk less, drill more.
- When nursing injuries, come to class and observe.
- Respect all students and make their safety your priority.
- Go beyond techniques; become a student of principles.
- Make the most of the mat. Leave your ego at the door.
- Learn to become comfortable in worst-case scenarios.
- Be eager to share and receive knowledge from anyone.
- Like our Grand Master, learn to instruct yourself.
- Pace yourself. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
- Learn how to fight so you never have to.
- Learn to learn between the lines.
- Tap early and tap often.
Parents watching sparring
It is not healthy for a child's Gracie Jiu-Jitsu journey if a parent sits on the sidelines shouting instructions with the intent of helping them win during sparring with another child. The instructor coaches; parents cheer. Read more.