I\u2019m a Jiu-Jitsu noob. I\u2019ve been practicing for just under six months and had no prior martial arts or wrestling experience, but I still think Jiu jitsu is an amazing sport.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve already learned a lot (and learned that there\u2019s a heck of a lot more that I don\u2019t know). Learning jiu jitsu is a process, and a large part of that process is dependent upon others – your drilling partner, your coaches, the rest of the people at the gym.<\/p>\n
As a newcomer to the academy, the last thing you want to do is alienate these folks. People at BJJ schools are usually pretty laid back and understanding, but as a newbie, you might not be aware of the unspoken rules of etiquette.<\/p>\n
Here are the top 3 things I wish I knew before starting BJJ<\/p>\n
No one wants a smelly partner. I assume no one wants to be a smelly person either, but who knows, there are smelly people out there. When you\u2019re grappling, you get very up close and personal with another person, your face may be in their armpit or worse. If they smell, or you smell, it\u2019s an unpleasant experience for everyone.<\/p>\n
To that end, here are some basic things you can do to not be this person:<\/p>\n
A few notes on washing your gi:<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, some really gross germs can spread via uncleaned mats, but especially via unwashed gis, and these bacteria can lead to skin conditions that can keep you or your partner off the mats. It\u2019s important to wash your gi after every class to prevent these bacteria from spreading, as bacteria LOVE the warm sweaty environment of a post training gi. (Make sure you wash the belt too. Don\u2019t worry, your stripes will stay on).<\/p>\n
Also – don\u2019t cheat by throwing your stinky wet gi in the dryer with a dryer sheet and think because it smells fresh(er), it\u2019s clean. As said above, bacteria thrive in warm environments so this just makes things worse. And seriously, you\u2019re not fooling anyone, it still stinks under the smell of dryer sheets.<\/p>\n
Yes, we may be learning how to choke people out, break their arms, elbows, legs, etc, but that doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ll actually be doing these things. The goal is to learn and apply the correct technique without harming your partner. There are also moves that aren\u2019t allowed, particularly at the lower levels. Listen to your coaches, and practice the move as recommended. Don\u2019t go crazy and try out a new move you saw in some UFC match as: A) you\u2019re probably doing it wrong, B) it may hurt your partner and C) you\u2019re supposed to be practicing the move of the day.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re performing a move that can injure your partner – go slow. Don\u2019t crank the move so quickly your partner doesn\u2019t have time to tap.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re the partner – tap early<\/em>. Injuries can sneak up on you and show up after class after all the adrenaline starts wearing off.<\/p>\n Either way, don\u2019t go too hard. Save this for competition, or at least live rolling. Focus on technique. If you\u2019re asked to give resistance, do your best to match the level of resistance your professor suggests, keeping in mind that 30% resistance for a 200lb partner may be completely different than 30% resistance for a 115lb partner. Remember that your goal is still to be a good training partner and help your partner complete the move with a realistic level of resistance, not to to \u2018win\u2019.<\/p>\n Beyond the actual moves – be careful to keep your nails trimmed, remove all jewelry (fitbits, etc). Long fingernails almost always result in scratches on your training partners, but in some rare cases can cause serious injuries to the eyes. Jewelry can get caught and break, or worse (don’t look up “ring avulsion” if you have a strong stomach).<\/p>\n Finally…<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a newbie like me, you\u2019re just starting out on the journey of learning jiu jitsu. Brazilian\u00a0Jiu jitsu is amazingly fun, but it\u2019s also a challenge.\u00a0<\/span>Some days don’t leave you with that amazing post workout endorphin rush that can make jiu jitsu so addictive.\u00a0<\/span>Some days are just hard. <\/span><\/p>\n3. Remember to Have Fun<\/h2>\n