Photo by Daria Kochetkova Photography. IG: Tebezvonu.

If you don’t have any previous martial arts experience, you must be freaking out right now. And, that’s okay, everyone does. But, don’t let this be the reason for changing your mind of not going to the class. We will help you out in getting ready, by letting you know the basics for the first class and ahead. Let’s get started then, shall we?

• Nervous About it and Don’t Know What to Fear?

Every other person you will meet there began just like you, scared to death on the very first day. Therefore, do not be intimidated by them. All you need to do is take the first step and begin training. Once you have made up your mind, don’t look back.

Don’t even worry, about what you need to wear? For the first class you won’t need a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi. A simple t-shirt, board shorts or a sweat pant will suffice. Just make sure they are without extra pockets, belt loops or baggy fabric such as baggy cargo shorts.

• Begin With the Warm Up

Warm up plays a significant role even in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well. Some trainers go for the light, warm up, whereas, the others begin the class with a heavy duty session. As a beginner, you’ll most probably do the light, warm up such as running, doing push ups, followed by forward & backward breakfalls along with shrimping. Do not worry, if you don’t get the exercises right – no one does on the first day.

• Watch and Learn a New Techniques

You’ll be partnered with someone, right after the warm up session. To learn the first lesson of the beginner’s curriculum you will need to go to your own section and pay attention.

Everything that you will do in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, will follow one core principle of, “position before submission.” Position means the relative position of your body to your opponent. Submission means the action that will cause your opponent to submit. This will teach you to seek and advance towards the dominant positions and attempt submission only when they are obtained.

• The Situational Live Drilling

Once you become fully aware of the techniques, you will apply them in the live situational drills. During these drills you will begin with a certain position and work to apply the techniques learned. This will not just only allow you to understand, but also practice with your partner with full resistance. It will help to increase your strength and stamina day by day. Since, it requires you to get in direct contact with a person, so to avoid any skin infection and bad body odor, take a shower with the best antibacterial soap before the training.

• Time to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Live Sparring, at the end of the class is where you will attempt to pull off what you have learned in real time, with a real opponent. It usually starts with the instructor pairing you up with someone who is more experienced than you are. This will make you aware of your strengths and weaknesses. However, there are general rules that need to be followed which are:

• No kicks or punches
• No slamming
• No neck cranks
• No heel hooks
• No manipulating finger joints

While sparring, remember don’t forget to tap often and loudly.

• Maintain Your Hygiene and Cleanliness

Maintaining a good hygiene in this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is highly recommended. While getting into direct contact with others, you will not want them to get your skin infection or get one from them. Therefore, always take a nice shower before & after the training with the best antibacterial soap. 

Also, do not forget to wash your gi regularly with good quality detergents. Keep your toenails and fingernails short and clean using an antibacterial soap. And, apart from them, cut your hair short or tie them up in a pony tail. Remove any earrings or rings you are wearing. Be safe.

So, don’t be afraid to take the first step. The only difficult thing to do is to show up, if you make through the door you won’t regret it. Good luck folks!