What to Expect at Your First BJJ Class

Eat something light an hour or two before class, not a heavy meal. Hydrate throughout the day. Trim your fingernails and toenails (this is a real safety thing, not nitpicking).

Show up 10–15 minutes early so you can meet the coach, sign a waiver, and get oriented to the space.

For your free trial: comfortable athletic clothes, shorts and a t-shirt or rashguard. We'll provide a clean loaner gi if you'd like to try it on.

Bring a water bottle. Skip jewelry, including rings and earrings.

The class will start with about 10 minutes of warm-up, jogging, hip movement, and basic drills like shrimping. Don't worry if these feel awkward; everyone looked just as awkward on day one.

Then the coach demos one or two techniques. You'll partner up and drill them slowly with a more experienced student, they're there to help, not test you.

At the end, more experienced students often roll (live spar). You're welcome to watch or sit out. There's zero pressure to roll on day one.

Step on the mat with bare feet. Keep shoes on when you walk off the mat (especially to the bathroom, never barefoot off the mat). Tap (with your hand or verbally) immediately if anything hurts; tapping is normal, expected, and how everyone learns.

If you don't know something, ask. Coaches and training partners want to help you.

You'll probably feel that good kind of tired. Most beginners are a little sore the next day in muscles they didn't know they had, totally normal and it fades within a few weeks.

Come back. Two to three classes per week is the sweet spot. Skill compounds fast.