Frequently Asked Questions
What do I bring to my first class?
-If possible, please try to arrive 15 minutes early so that you can meet the staff and instructors, sign a waiver if you haven’t already etc.
- As far as footwear goes, there are no requirements, but bringing some slips on and off would be best! No shoes are permitted on the mats, but we do ask that you wear shoes when you're off the mat, so something like flip flops makes that transition much easier!
- If you have a gi of your own, bring it! If you don't have one or don't even know what that is, don't worry, we'll have one for you to borrow! Just be sure to bring a shirt or rashguard and shorts or leggings to wear underneath.
- And of course, a water bottle is highly recommended. We have water fountains so you can refill as needed.
What IS a gi? Is that the same as the kimono?
A gi is a uniform worn during jiu-jitsu (as well as various other martial arts, including judo, karate, and sambo) training. The word “gi” comes from the Japanese term, “Keikogi” or “Judogi”.
Keiko means practice; gi means dress or clothes. A gi consists of 3 pieces; the gi jacket, pants, and belt.
Different parts of a gi are strategically utilized for grips, chokes, guards, and other techniques during training. Typically, it is heavily stitched and usually made of cotton to withstand the rigors of daily practice.
Do you have any restrictions on what kind of gi I can wear?
The only requirement that we have is that your gi is white. We really really wanted to allow all other color options available, and did when we first opened, but those fabrics left stains on the mats and we had to go back to white gis only.
If your gi has any patches on it, even if they're patches from another school or jiu jitsu team, that's completely fine!
We also ask that you keep your uniform clean!
Is jiu jitsu good exercise?
Most definitely! In addition to being immensely FUN, training jiu jitsu will increase your muscle tone, bodily coordination, cardiovascular capacity, muscular endurance, balance, and will (inevitably) reduce overall body fat. All that being said, please make sure you hydrate and fuel yourself properly before and after training.
I'm a woman: Is jiu jitsu right for me?
YES! Jiu Jitsu is an excellent choice for women, especially for how it contributes to one’s self-defensive ability, sense of community and belonging, and of course, mental and physical fitness.
Regarding self-defense, it is a fantastic skillset to have (and practice) because, when an “opponent’s” physical size exceeds our own, jiu jitsu trains us to utilize leverage and specific techniques that work to fill that gap.
Outside of self-defense, the jiu jitsu community is widespread and actively growing; people with a shared passion come together to practice, make mistakes, and learn from one another.
Lastly, unlike other popularized martial arts, jiu jitsu does not include over-aggressive attacks, punches, or kicks that leave people unconscious. Rather, jiu jitsu is quite the opposite. It is a more fluid, almost graceful-looking martial art that will challenge you both physically (get ready to increase your cardiovascular endurance!) and mentally, as you think logically to apply learned techniques and movements during training.