Ego is the enemy.
Your main opponent on these mats is yourself. We are all in this to better ourselves and help each other on the path. Your training partners are your ALLIES to help you on your journey and bring out the best in you. Do not compare yourself to others, that will lead only to heartache. Focus on being 1% better than you were yesterday and keeping this up EVERY DAY.
Respect everyone. Fear no one.
Treat everyone on the mats with the highest respect, regardless of how long they have been training. Fear no one on these mats, know that you will be looked after and supported on your journey of personal development. Always tap early and give your training partners ample time to tap. Bullies will not be tolerated in our gym.
Love the art, enjoy the ride.
Should you choose to embark on this journey, success requires falling in love with the game. It will present you with challenges at every turn, you will never be satisfied and always hungry to improve yet you can’t get enough. There is no destination, there is only the journey so you better love the ride!
Be an Ally. Don’t be a Dick.
Respecting everyone includes respecting yourself.
This means you will:
- Show up to class 10 MINUTES EARLY so you can contribute to setting up the mats and putting them away at the end
- Respect the mats. Treat them like the £12,000 piece of equipment they are and take the utmost care of them.
- Come to class clean with fingers and toenails trimmed, long hair tied back in a clean rash guard and shorts.
- Wear a mouth guard at all times.
- Wash your feet before stepping onto the mat. (chokes will be distributed indiscriminately to those who choose not to obey this rule ?)
- Slap and bump your partners hand before and after every roll.
- Give every member a fist bump or hug at the start and end of every class.
- Pay 100% attention when the coach is speaking.
- Speak up and ask questions.
- Help all members of the team improve
- Tap verbally and physically, early and often
- Give your training partners ample TIME TO TAP
- You don’t lose when you tap out, real loss is not learning something from each roll.
- If you are even slightly unsure as to whether you are ill, DO NOT come to training. Due to the nature of the sport and the large amount of physical contact, illness can spread quickly so stay off the mats until you’re 100% symptom free.
- If you notice any kind of skin irritation, do not come to training and go see a doctor immediately. Ringworm, staph infections etc are horrible to deal with and highly contagious so we must do all we can to mitigate risk.
- We will keep the mats clean for you, it is your job to make sure your body, and uniform are clean. Wash before and immediately after training and choose a good quality soap that is anti fungal. Do not wear your rash guard or shorts twice without a wash.
Have fun, keep it light.
Jiu Jitsu should be about playing and having fun so roll light; it is not a fight.
