Preparing for Your First Jiu Jitsu Class

Welcome to Fluxo Jiu Jitsu! So, after days, weeks, or months of researching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the area you’ve decided to check us out. The hardest step on any journey is often the first step, and the journey of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is no different. Think of how many people never take the first step of signing up to train. Making the commitment to train BJJ is the start of the journey toward personal growth and development through this beautiful martial art.

That being said, all journeys require planning. What follows is a plan for putting your best foot forward for the first step of your BJJ journey: your first Jiu Jitsu class. 

What to Pack

  • Water bottle: You will be moving quite a bit. Proper hydration starts hours before training – ideally first thing in the morning. The day of your first class, start hydrating early by drinking water throughout your day. And be sure to bring some water to class. Many of our students also add electrolytes to their water during and after training to avoid cramping and to promote rehydration after class.

  • Flip Flops: You’ll need to wear footwear any time you have to leave the mat (for any reason). Flip flops are quick and easy to put on and take off. When you go barefoot you risk tracking bacteria back onto the mats that could lead to some nasty infections.

  • Change of clothes: As mentioned earlier, expect to get sweaty. Driving home in sweaty clothes can be annoying so fresh pants and a t-shirt are a great idea.  

Jiu Jitsu Hygiene

Jiu Jitsu involves a lot of close, personal contact. If you feel sick, do not come to class. We are happy to reschedule your trial lesson when you’re feeling better.

Good hygiene is essential for protecting yourself and your training partners from scrapes, cuts, and infections. Come to class clean, wearing deodorant, and with freshly brushed teeth, if possible. Please avoid wearing makeup to class as the residue can stain uniforms. Make sure your nails are cut short, with no white part visible at the tip, and filed. Taking the extra step of filing your nails removes the ruff edge that clippers leave behind.

What to expect

A welcoming community of martial artists, who will help you through your journey every step of the way. We focus on building the skills needed to defend ourselves in the street (Gracie Jiu Jitsu), as well developing the versatility to have fun and play the sport. In class, you can expect to learn various mobility drills that will help you develop your Jiu Jitsu, then you will learn how movements are applied during the technical portion of class.

When lining up: if you hold ranking in Jiu Jitsu, please join us in the line up accordingly. If you are new to Jiu Jitsu, when we line up, please head to the beginning of the line. We line up highest ranking students to the left and newest to the right of the instructors.

What to wear

For your very first day of class you should wear clothes you are comfortable working out in, such as athletic shorts and a tight fitting athletic shirt. Remember Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art so baggy clothes might get stretched. Also don’t wear anything that might poke your partner, like belts, or anything that has buttons or zippers. 

  • Women/girls, we recommend a pair of shorts preferably with no pockets or leggings, a sports bra, and a t-shirt or compression top, over your sports bra.

  • Men/boys, a pair of shorts- preferable with no pockets so your fingers don’t get stuck in them and a t-shirt or compression top will do.

Timing

Expect that your BJJ class will take 60-90 minutes. We understand, that sometimes there is traffic or other reasons out of our control, but please do your best to arrive before the start of class and definitely before the warmup, 10-15 minutes early.

We have a saying in Jiu-Jitsu: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you tire. And if you tire... you can’t win.” -Saulo Ribeiro

Food for Thought

  • All of our classes are beginner friendly, except for Saturdays Competition class. (3+ months of training required)

  • It is also polite to ask your training partner if they have any injuries they would like you to know about before drilling.

  • Please keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

  • Make sure you eat a healthy snack before class such as, a protein shake shake with a small sandwich or fruits. heavy meals should be eaten 2.5-3hrs before class.

  • And last, try to get plenty of rest the night before. You want to make sure you have fuel in your body and plenty of energy for class!

Try to relax, have an open mind and most importantly have fun!

For most first-time athletes – and even for seasoned athletes – BJJ is like nothing else they have ever done. Furthermore, most adults are not used to struggling. They’ve grown accustomed to seeing success in their areas of expertise.

Nearly everyone struggles in their first few days, weeks, months, and even years of Jiu Jitsu. This is normal and part of the growth process. The more you mentally prepare yourself for this, the more fun and transformative your training will be.

Know that everyone – from the instructors to your fellow students – wants you to succeed. Know that they have all been where you are. And know that we’ll all be here to support you every step of the way.

Jose Dominguez