Things you may want to know

Showing up to a martial arts class for the first time can seem daunting. But it doesn’t need to be. Here’s a quick overview of things to know that may help make your experience fun and enjoyable. 

I am a complete beginner...

• What should I bring?
  

Clothes for training and a towel for showering is all you need. For the first few training sessions I recommend you just wear track bottoms and a t-shirt. As Jiu Jitsu involves a fair bit of close contact, I recommend you wear something that you don’t mind being grabbed. If you have a gi (the jacket and bottoms commonly worn in martial arts), feel free to wear that.

• I am unsure about whether I will want to do a martial art. Can I just come along and try it out for a bit?
  

Of course and I would strongly encourage you to do that as it is almost impossible to decide whether you like something unless you've tried it a few times. For your first two sessions training is free of charge so you can get a general idea of what the class is like. After that the fee is 25 Euros per month.

• I have never done martial arts before. Can I still learn to do Jiu Jitsu?
  

Definitely! I have never done any martial arts before stepping on to a Jitsu mat and now I find myself teaching this club. Athletic skill or being generally sporty is not required either and I myself was considered relatively unathletic when I started. I can definitely tell you that with enough practice anyone can learn Jiu Jitsu and it is more a question of the time and effort you put in as opposed to any prerequisites you might have.

• When can I come along?
  

You are welcome to come along anytime and we are happy to take on beginners anytime throughout the year so feel free to drop in at any of our training sessions. We'd love to see you there.

• Is there a minimum/maximum age at which you can start training?
  

The club is open to children and adults. There is no minimum or maximum age and anyone will be welcome on the mat.

I have done martial arts before...

• Can I wear my belt from my other martial art?
  

No, as the skills you have learned there may not transfer to Jiu Jitsu. In Jiu Jitsu, wearing a belt means you are automatically expected to be able to perform certain techniques at a certain level. In order to save yourself having to live up to certain expectations, I recommend you wear a white belt and come talk to me about your martial arts background before or after the session.

• How hard is it to learn Jitsu after having done a different martial art?

That largely depends on your martial arts experience (as some martial arts strongly overlap) and mindset. Generally speaking, martial arts experience allows you to learn certain movements quicker and some techniques you may be familiar with already. However taking up a new martial art also requires you to unlearn certain things you have been taught, which is where mindset comes into play. Remember, there are different ways to do certain techniques without one way necessarily being "right" or "wrong".

Etiquette

Like all Japanese martial arts, Jiu Jitsu has certain points of etiquette that are very important to respect. If it’s your first time, don’t worry about violating etiquette as I know that some of these points may seem strange to a non-martial artist and you probably just didn’t know. As a general guideline, here’s some of the more major points:

· We bow before entering or leaving the dojo. This shows respect for the hall you are training in.

· Do not wear shoes on the mat. Training on the mat is barefoot or, if required, in socks, in order to keep the mats clean.

· When the instructor shouts “Yame” it means “stop”. This is a sign that everyone should stop what they are doing immediately and turn to face the instructor. This is important for safety and for the general flow of the class.

· You bow to your partner before you start training and when you finish training. This shows respect for your partner. Bowing before the start of training also represents that if you happen to hurt your partner it is accidental, not malicious and it happened during the course of training. Bowing after you finish training with that partner is a way of saying thank you for letting you train with him.

· Make sure you make eye contact with the instructor and bow to him before coming on or off the mat. This is also important for safety, as it allows the instructor to keep track of who is on the mat and possibly take care of students who are feeling unwell.


· There is no drinking in the dojo. If there is a water break, make sure to drink outside of the dojo. Again, this is a sign of respect for the training hall.

There are other points which I will be happy to fill you in on as time goes on.