Unita Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training Guidelines

Please note: there are four quizzes below, all Unita students must take and submit these quizzes.

Getting started

Welcome to Unita BJJ!  We are delighted to have you train with us.  This information is intended to help you have the best experience possible in our gym.

Bowing and Tying Belt

We bow at the beginning and end of class.  Some students like to bow when they enter or leave the mat and that’s definitely OK, but that is not expected.

Some gyms expect students to turn away when tying the belt.  This is not expected at Unita but if you wish to do so, no problem.

Hygiene

BJJ is a full-contact martial art that requires every student to pay maximum attention to cleanliness.

Wear a CLEAN uniform to class, meaning it has been washed since the last time you trained. Don’t be the stinky person in the class.

Maintain trimmed fingernails and toenails.  Sharp nails can cause painful cuts.

When training in the Gi, please wear a rashguard underneath (please click here for an explanation why this is important). 

When training Nogi, please do not wear loose fitting t-shirts and baggy shorts with pockets.  Instead, please wear snug-fitting tops (rash guard or dri-fit) and shorts (or spats) without pockets.

Please do not go barefoot into the bathroom.  Put on a pair of flip flops (which are available by the bathroom door) before entering.

Always wash your uniform and shower thoroughly as soon as possible after every practice.  Clean uniforms prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria.

Take Quiz 1 by clicking this link

Rolling

Brand new students do not participate in full sparring (“rolling”) until the first stripe. This gives the new students a chance to get adjusted to the fundamental movements and gym culture.  Exceptions are made in the case of prior training elsewhere, please check with the coaches.  

In order to help new students get ready for rolling in a low-pressure way, they will participate in positional training from closed guard or drill with their training partner. New students will not be rushed into rolling before they feel comfortable.

Safety

Almost everything about safety can be boiled down to common sense: treat others like you want to be treated.

While rolling, remember that safety is more important than victory. DO NOT ROLL IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO INJURE YOURSELF OR YOUR TRAINING PARTNERS.  

When Tapping Out Others

Apply submissions slowly and under control.  Allow partners plenty of time to tap. 

One of the most common sources of injuries is sudden, surprising, and explosive movements.  There is a time and place for this kind of more intense training, but in regular training, these kinds of movements often lead to injury. Please train under control.

If you have your teammate in a submission and they won’t tap, just release it and continue sparring.  Don’t let their stubbornness end up causing a potentially disastrous injury.  Let the instructor know if this is a common situation with one of your partners. 

When You Need to Tap Out

The flipside is that If you are on the receiving end of a submission, RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A SUBMISSION AND TAP OUT. This will prevent injury and make training a fun experience.  

There is no dishonor in tapping, it’s a great way to learn.  You don’t have anything to prove, so “toughing it out” is counterproductive. It’s possible that you tapping out to your partner may be the encouragement they need to keep training, especially if you are more experienced.

Take Quiz 2 by clicking this link

Awareness

Be aware of others rolling nearby to avoid collisions.  

If you notice another pair rolling nearby and they are unaware, go ahead and move to a safer area (don’t wait for the other pair to do it).

Illegal Techniques

Illegal techniques are extremely dangerous and never allowed.  These include: slamming, striking, biting, eye gouging (includes chin to eye), head butting, fishooking, small joint manipulation (finger locks or toe locks), hair pulling, grabbing the windpipe (or using elbow or forearm on the windpipe), or ear pulling.

When rolling Nogi, do not grab any cloth, even if your partner is wearing gi pants.

Techniques that are Sometimes Allowed

Neck cranks, bicep slicers, calf slicers, wrist locks, heelhooks, kneebars, and toeholds are only allowed with permission from the instructor.  The straight ankle lock is the exception and is allowed without permission.

Helpful Culture

Be courteous to your teammates. As mentioned above, treat them like you want to be treated.  For instance, bragging about how you tapped out another student or dominating new white belts can lead to a toxic gym culture.

Avoid just smashing smaller or less skilled teammates every time you roll.  Instead, spend time also working on your defensive skills. Be sure to encourage and help them.  Doing so will ensure that the entire team grows and improves together.  Also, remember you were the less experienced or smaller person at one point.

Take Quiz 3 by clicking this link

Promotions

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that uses a system of stripes and belt colors. At Unita, we believe BJJ is a fun journey but also can be really challenging. That’s why we feel the belt system and promotions provide an excellent way to recognize your hard work and progress!

New white belt students are eligible for a white stripe on the belt every 20 classes, there are no belt fees. Along with the 20 classes, students must show progress in technique and teamwork. 

At 100 classes, white belt students are eligible for a blue stripe, as well as at 120 and 140 classes.  Once there are 4 white stripes and 3 blue stripes, the student is eligible for the blue belt.  

The blue belt is awarded after a minimum of 160 classes (1.5 to 2 years), but must also have blue belt skill and technique in rolling, mentoring, and drills.  Success in competition may also be included in the evaluation of readiness.

Stripes on blue, purple and brown belts are awarded after a minimum of 6 months and 50 classes, assuming the student is making progress in skill, technique and mat maturity.

After 4 stripes on blue, purple, and brown, another minimum of 6 months/50 classes is required as a minimum before going to the next belt color. It takes approximately 2.5 years between these belt levels, assuming 2-3 classes per week.

Students with prior experience and rank coming from another gym are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Progress and Perspective

The key thing to remember in BJJ is to always compare yourself to where you were before (say, 6 months ago).  Focusing too much on the belt promotions as an end in themselves or tapping out partners in rolling often will take the fun out of training and leads to discouragement.  If you mainly concentrate on your own progress with a big dose of patience mixed in, you will likely stick with it and eventually get a black belt.

If you are having difficulty in class, please ask an instructor or senior belt to help. You will find your teammates are happy to share what they know and asking questions will greatly improve your progress (it’s rewarding and beneficial to senior belts also!). 

If you ever think of quitting or taking extended time off from training due to a feeling of lack of progress (“I will never get any better”), please discuss it with the instructor first.  Every black belt has had periods of discouragement along the way.  Sometimes it takes a higher belt to put things in perspective and remind you how far you’ve come.

Finally, if you have had an extended time away for the gym (for whatever reason), never feel shy or embarrassed going back to the mats. Most of us have had interruptions in training. It is our promise that you will be welcomed back with a bunch of huge smiles and nothing but happiness from the team.

Take Quiz 4 by clicking this link

Every day on the mat is a good day!  Have fun and enjoy the journey!