One of my first posts this year was about the etiquette of BJJ. That post focused primarily on how to be a good training partner, though it did have tips on hygiene and attitude. This post, however, is focused solely on things each student should be mindful of while training, unrelated to technique.
(1) Do not be the smelly kid.
Wash your gi after every class. No exceptions. If you wore it and stepped one foot on the mat, do not ever come back to the academy with that gi on unless it has been washed in hot water, with soap, and fully dried.
No, hanging it up to dry in the sun after class is not the same thing. Once you start to sweat on that thing again, all the stank from the prior training session will come pouring out.
Yes, I can tell. You smell. Everyone else can smell you.
Most importantly, you are unnecessarily putting your health and the health of your training partners at risk of contracting staph, ringworm, and other communicable diseases due to the petri dish you've decided to wear on the mat because (1) you didn't have time to wash it or (2) you don't have more than one gi.
If you have been training more than 6 months, you should have a gi for each day of the week you train. Do some internet research and find a cheap gi. Ask higher belts in your gym where they get their gis (they may even be willing to sell you a used gi on the cheap). Hell, my academy is selling used gis for as low as $20 right now. Gis are part of the cost of training. Deal with it.
Finally, brush your teeth and put on some pit stick before you train. Your training partners will love you forever.
(2) Trim your nails.
Again, coming to class with untrimmed nails is an unnecessary risk to you and your training partners. I've seen cheeks sliced open, nails ripped off, and chunks taken out of ankles, toes, and wrists because of untrimmed nails. Some gyms are so serious about it they do a nail check at the beginning of class, and ask you to leave the mat and trim them before returning if they are too long.
If there is any nail above the nail bed, you and your training partner are at risk of injury. Ladies, if you cannot live without gel tips, get off the mat. Guys, your toenails are nails. Trim them. No one wants to get cut by your Howard Hughes-esque talons. Carry clippers in your gear bag and check your nails before each class.
(3) No bare feet off the mat and no shoes on the mat.
This is my personal and ultimate pet peeve, because it is just unsanitary, rude, and thoughtless. In BJJ, my face is likely about to be smashed into the mat. MY FACE. The last thing I want is for someone who's been walking around the gym without shoes on, on the same surface that people walk around with shoes from the outdoors (that have stepped in who knows what), to put those feet on the mat that my face is about to get smashed into. Would you rub the bottom of your shoe on your face? No? Then do not ever put your bare feet off the mat. Ever. Not even right off the edge of the mat. No. Stop it. STAPH IT. In a perfect world, you'd sit down on the edge of the mat and clean your feet with wet wipes before walking around on it, but nothing is perfect.
(4) No make up on the mat.
I'll admit to being in a hurry and forgetting this one, but ladies, take a moment to use a make-up removing towelette before you get on the mat to avoid staining your training partner's brand new white gi with your makeup.
(5) Train with everyone.
No one can learn BJJ alone. It requires training partners of all different levels and sizes to truly learn the art. It frustrates me when I see white belts refusing to roll with other newer white belts because the newer student is "too green" or "too spazzy" or doesn't know the drills and positions properly. That attitude is upsetting, because the older student has gotten to where they are in their training because other students rolled with them despite their inexperience.
The only times you should ever turn down a roll are (1) when you know from experience the training partner asking goes too hard/puts you at risk or (2) you are injured (to clarify, an ouchie or boo-boo does not count as an injury). If you think your training partner is going too hard, you must advocate for yourself and ask them to slow the pace and the pressure down. If there is a training partner you know goes for a submission too quickly and risks injury, tell them.
A huge YES to no makeup on the mat. I tell that to ALL women, and after training with my coach for 3 years I finally just told him that if women wear makeup, I don't want to be their partners. It's just flat out rude.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that you should only turn down a roll from folks going too hard or when you are injured. If you are exhausted and need a break, take one. If you turn someone down, it's good form to not roll unless you say "I already told So-and-So I would roll with them" and then accept later.
But - I really think that especially women should be allowed to turn down rolls from people who give them the creeps. Or that ANYONE should be able to turn down a roll with the really stinky guy. Yes, you should roll with a variety of people, but the reality is that that is your extreme personal space, and anyone should be able to veto anyone else entering into that personal space.***
***please note that I may contradict myself about this at any point. :D