Skip to content

What to Expect at Your First Class

Your first class will be a blur. That’s normal. Here’s what to expect.

Before You Arrive

Section titled “Before You Arrive”
  • Wear: Athletic shorts with no pockets, no zippers, and no buttons (board shorts & soccer shorts generally work). A rash guard or fitted athletic shirt. We have loaners available at the gym if you need them - but don’t leave with them
  • No jewelry. This means watches, ear rings, necklaces, etc.. They need to come off before you’re on the mat
  • No makeup. It stains clothing and mats. Remove it before class.
  • Bring: Water, slides or sandals for walking off the mat.
  • Arrive: 10-15 minutes early. This gives you time to find the space, change, and meet a coach before class starts.
  • Don’t worry about: Being in shape, knowing any techniques, or being “ready.” There’s no way to get in jiu jitsu shape without doing jiu jitsu. The training itself will get you there.

When You Get There

Section titled “When You Get There”

Introduce yourself to the coach. They’ll know you’re new (we track this) and will pair you with an experienced training partner. Your partner’s job is to help you learn the games and keep things playful.

Every member in the room was new once. Most of them remember what it felt like. You’ll fit right in.

What a Class Looks Like

Section titled “What a Class Looks Like”

Every fundamentals class follows the same format:

  1. Warmup (~2 min). Light jogging to get moving. Nothing complicated.
  2. Evergreen game (~8 min). A recurring grappling game that runs every week. You’ll be told the rules and paired up. Play, get caught, reset, play again.
  3. Retrieval (~10-15 min). A game revisiting something the class worked on a few weeks ago. Your partner will help you through it.
  4. Main topic (~35-40 min). The week’s primary lesson. You’ll work through drills and games that build on each other, with the coach introducing concepts along the way.

Total class time is about 60 minutes.

What It’ll Feel Like

Section titled “What It’ll Feel Like”

Expect to feel a bit lost. You’ll hear terms you don’t recognize, end up in positions you can’t name, and not win many games. That’s all normal and it’s exactly where everyone starts.

What you’re actually doing in your first few classes:

  • Getting used to the physical closeness of grappling
  • Learning to control your breathing
  • Starting to recognize what’s happening around you
  • Figuring out how to be a good training partner

The technique comes later. These habits come first, and they’re the ones that matter most.

During Class

Section titled “During Class”
  • Don’t overthink it. A common instinct is to stop and figure out the “right” answer before moving. Just play. Jiu jitsu makes more sense through your body than through your brain, especially on day one. The understanding comes from doing, not from thinking about doing.
  • Go light. Your default intensity should be low. This is play, not a fight. If a training partner is going harder than you’re comfortable with, use your words: “Hey, can we slow down?” If that doesn’t work, it’s always okay to stop a round mid-roll. Your safety always comes first.
  • Sitting out. If you’re genuinely gassed, take a round off. No one will think less of you. If you find yourself needing to sit out a lot, try dialing your intensity down. Most beginners gas out because they’re going harder than they need to.
  • Tap early and often. If something hurts, feels wrong, or you’re not sure what’s happening, tap. Pat your partner, pat the mat, or say “tap.” Your partner will let go immediately. Tapping is not losing. It’s what lets everyone train again tomorrow.
  • Ask questions between rounds. Coaches check in with new members throughout class. If you’re confused about a game’s rules, ask before the next round starts. During the round itself, just play. It’s okay to not know what you’re doing.

Live Sparring and Your First 10 Classes

Section titled “Live Sparring and Your First 10 Classes”

After the structured games, most classes end with open sparring rounds. For your first 10 classes or so, we’ll restrict your training partners to more experienced members who can keep both of you safe. This is standard for all new members, regardless of athletic background.

This is how we ease everyone in. Grappling is a contact sport where two people are trusting each other with their bodies. Your experienced partners will help you learn to manage intensity while keeping things safe for everyone.

Most people transition naturally within a few weeks as they get comfortable.

After Class

Section titled “After Class”

After the last round, we line up, bow out to each other, and dap everyone up. After that, grab a coach if you have any questions or want to talk about your experience.

If you’re interested in signing up, ask a coach about the intro promo. It’s only available day-of, so don’t wait on it!

Your second class will feel about 50% less chaotic than your first. By your fifth class, you’ll know the format and start focusing on the actual grappling instead of just orienting yourself to a new sport.

What’s Next

Section titled “What’s Next”