Guidelines

Training Guidelines

Respect and Courtesy

1. Show respect to your instructors, training partners, and all other people within the class.
2. Be on time for class. If you come in late, try to join the class without disrupting them.
3. Be attentive when the instructor is speaking and teaching.
4. Do not shout loudly or use profanity in the gym.
5. Do not go shirtless in the gym.
6. During class keep cell phone conversations outside of class to avoid distracting the other students and the instructor.
7. If the instructor has not changed the task, then continue doing the task he or she has given. You can NEVER do a technique too many times.

Safety

1. If at any time during training you are in danger of being injured through an applied technique or a dangerous position, firmly tap your partner 2 times or say ‘STOP’ or ‘TAP’ and this will initiate your partner to immediately STOP applying any technique.
2. If any position, drill, technique, exercise, movement or activity is causing pain or discomfort with potential for injury then it is your responsibility to stop that activity.
3. When working with members who are less experienced than you, focus on working at a pace that will help them develop their techniques as well as yours. Members with less experience will have a hard time making a technique work on a 100% resistant partner. Progressive development is what is needed in order to improve in jiu-jitsu.
4. Avoid cranking any submissions in a way that does not give your opponent ample time to tap. Be conscious of whether your opponent can tap or not in order to avoid accidents.  If during training, your partner lets out an audible sign of distress or pain, then STOP.
5. If a throw or take down is being practiced, be sure your partner is confident in break falling, if not, practice the move without releasing your partner in a forceful manner.
6. When practicing takedowns avoid slamming the opponent on the ground. The goal of training is to be able to practice for a long duration.  If the takedowns are too hard it will cut down on the training time for everyone.
7. When gripping your partner’s hand, be sure to at least have 3 fingers in the grip to avoid cranking their fingers.

Personal Care and Hygiene

1. 1. Maintain good hygiene (i.e. shower and brush your teeth regularly). As you can imagine, it is difficult to concentrate on technique when you find your partner’s smells distracting!
   2. Keep finger and toe nails short and clean to prevent injury to yourself and others.
   3. If hair is long it must be pulled back and secured, for your own protection.
   4. Bring a clean, dry gi to each gi class. After the first month you are expected to have a gi.
   5. For no-gi classes wear a t-shirt or rashguard, do not practice shirtless. Also be sure not to wear anything that is too loose as it can injure the toes and fingers of training partners.
   6. Keep shoes off the mat, so that we can keep the mats clean and sanitary.
   7. Do not walk off the mat with bare feet. If you have to go outside, wear sandals or shoes. Items (6) and (7) are especially important to prevent the spread of skin conditions such as ringworm.
   8. If you are sick or have any contagious conditions including: Ringworm, Staph Infection, Impetigo, Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores), Cellulitis, etc, please do not participate in class. You can train again as soon as the infection has cleared up.  Jiu-Jitsu is a close contact sport which means it is easy to pass illness to others.

The following techniques are prohibited for all ranks during normal in-class sparring.

• Twisting neck cranks
• Small joint manipulations (fingers and toes)
• Fingers or hands in the mouth, ears, or nose
• Attacking the groin
• Gripping or pinching the skin
• Hair pulling / grabbing
• High velocity slams from the guard
• Pinching or gripping the trachea (windpipe) with your hand
• Face crushing (face choking)
• Uncontrolled dropping of body weight onto partner of any kind
• Any takedown where your partner will land on their head
• Elbows, forearms, knees or shin to the face or other vulnerable areas
• Scissor takedown (kani basami)

The following techniques are prohibited for and on White Belts

• Heel hooks or twisting foot locks
• Toe holds
• Twisters or any lock that attacks the spine
• Straight cervical neck cranks