There are a number of reasons why you might decide to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether it’s as a hobby or in order to defend yourself. You may have seen it on TV during a UFC fight, or maybe you’ve heard about it from a friend. Regardless of your reason for wanting to learn the discipline, you’ll eventually have to get started.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most popular martial arts disciplines. This is due in large part to its effectiveness on and off the mat, whether for self-defence or for sport.
You may already be wondering about what to expect from your first class, but I’ve got good news for you: it’s nothing like you might be thinking. There is no sparring involved in a beginner’s class. Instead, you will begin learning the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by focusing on techniques such as chokes and joint locks. These submission techniques are what made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu so famous in the first place.
What You Should Expect From Your First BJJ Class
Let’s face it; learning BJJ can be a little intimidating. After all, there’s a learning curve that has to be overcome.
But fret not, as we’ve compiled an all-encompassing guide on what to expect from your first BJJ class with tips, videos and advice to keep in mind.
1. The Gis
The first thing you should expect to see once you enter the mats is the abundance of white cotton kimonos.
BJJ practitioners are required to wear the gis to differentiate between other martial arts that are allowed to wear gis.
The gis have their own unique style and colour schemes, and there are rules governing the appearance of the gis such as the collar and the skirt of the gis.
2. The Instructors
BJJ is a martial art that is more than likely going to be taught by a black belt instructor.
BJJ instructors are typically judged by their rank and the number of years they’ve been teaching the martial art.
The instructor of your first class will be a black belt and will be an expert in the art. The instructor will be an excellent source of information and will be sure to keep your attention.
3. The Mat
The mats are the most important feature inside any BJJ academy. In most classes, the mats will be red or blue coloured, and each mat space will be different from one another.
The mats are also the places where all of your techniques will be executed.
4. The Drills
Drills are the first things that you’re going to learn in any BJJ class.
The most common drill is the isolation drill, where a lone partner is engaged with. Other drills involve switching partners back and forth and working with multiple partners at the same time.
5. The Techniques
The techniques of BJJ are the ultimate goal of any BJJ class.
Aside from the drills, the techniques are the classes that you’ll be spending the most time on. This is where you’ll be learning how to properly execute the moves that make up a BJJ session.
You’ll learn the signature moves of BJJ and you’ll be taught how to properly execute each one.
Start your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey by booking a class at Marcus Soares Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Let us help you reach peak performance and rise the ranks until you attain your black belt!
