Hey gang, Rick here. Owner of Reap Jiu Jitsu and BJJ practitioner of 10 years (ish). 

At both of our gyms (Stealth Teesside & Dark Arts Jiu Jitsu) we have seen hundreds of new Jiu Jitsu members through the doors, some have stayed since day one and others dropped off. 

We thought we'd break down what to expect from your first class. 

Jiu Jitsu Classes

Most gyms offer a first lesson free trial, so you probably won't get charged for your first session. Many gyms offer beginner blocks, where you might get to train for a reduced price and start in a class of other beginners for cheaper than the usual gym membership, this is a great way to start your BJJ journey, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to wait for one to roll around to get stuck in. 

Firstly, check if the session is Gi or No-Gi. A Gi is a Kimono, typical martial arts wear, tied by a belt. The colour of the belt denotes what rank you are, if you are just starting out you will be a white belt. In adults, it goes from White > Blue > Purple > Brown > Black. 

Progressing through belts is different from gym to gym, but is usually determined by skill level, consistency, attitude in class and competition results (if you choose to compete). 

Gi or No Gi

If the session you want to go to is Gi but you don't want to buy a Gi and then realise it's not for you, then you can always get in touch with the gym first, as I'm sure they'll be happy to source a Gi you can borrow for a session or two. 

If it's a No Gi session, then simply turning up in your usual training gear will suffice. A t-shirt and shorts will do. Though try and make sure your shorts don't have pockets or zips on, as they can scrape your training partners or they can get fingers, toes & everything else stuck in your pockets. 

Eventually you'll want to graduate to a Rashguard & some proper flexible Jiu Jitsu Shorts. 

What to expect

A typical Jiu Jitsu class is around and hour and a half. Ours are split into 10-15 minutes mobility warm up (nothing insanely heart racing, though this differs gym to gym) then around 30 minutes of technique breakdown, where a coach will demonstrate a move or sequence of moves and you'll partner up with someone a similair size and belt level and practice the techniques shown. 

Then we move onto rounds, AKA rolling or sparring. Our usual standard is 5 minutes Jiu jitsu rounds, followed by a 45 second break to grab a drink / recover, then another 5 minutes with a different team mate, and so-on until the end of the class. 

Rolling

Rolling can seem incredibly daunting at first, but if you're new to a class, in a good gym most people will introduce themselves (if you're new) ask how long you've been training and help you out during the roll, offer tips, pointers and talk you through positions. Once you've got the hand of it, rolling is the most fun part of Jiu Jitsu. Offering endless sequences and movement. 

Beginner sessions

In a lot of beginner sessions they'll leave out the rolling section of the class until you're all maybe 4/5 weeks in and have been shown the fundamental positions off Jiu Jitsu so you can get the hang of where you are mid-roll. Again, if it's your first class and it's not a beginner session I'm sure your coach will be fine with you taking a step back and watching the guys roll before diving in. Though we recommend getting stuck in as soon as you can, as the longer you put it off the more daunting it will become. 

We've fired a lot of information at you for now, if you have any questions or would like to know more please get in touch, we'll be happy to help. 

Keep an eye on our other blogs for more information & if you're ready to take on the mats, please check out our Store. 

See you on the mats, 

Rick / / Reap