Some things are great, some are okay… But some are just a big no-no in training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They should not be tolerated for one simple reason: if they’re allowed for, they will make the training experience a whole lot worse for everyone involved.
Here are the 5 things that you should stay away from in BJJ training.
5 THINGS NOT TO DO IN BJJ
1) Stinky gi: you do not want to come to class with a stinky gi on. It won’t just be unpleasant to your training partners for the time being, but it’ll also make them much less likely to want to train with you in the future.
So, make it a priority to keep your gi clean and odorless at all times. Never wear the same gi twice in a row, before washing it first – so was it as soon as your class is over. And remember: it takes just one strike to be labeled as a “stinky” person.
2) Bad breath: sure, everyone’s going to have a bad breath from time to time. But do what’s in your power to stop it from happening; brush your teeth before class, floss them, and/or chew some gum.
It doesn’t take much (the most it’ll take is just a bit of space in your bag for the toothpaste and the toothbrush). But it’ll go a long way in being likeable by others.
3) Long nails: whatever you do, please do not let your nails and toenails stay long before your Jiu-Jitsu class. Long nails are a safety hazard, and not just because you might (and probably will) cut someone with them; but also because these cuts can get infected along the way.
Keep ’em short. Just make sure to clip them at least one day before BJJ – as clipping them on the day of training will leave your fingers feeling sore a couple of rolls.
4) Stinky feet: yes, we understand that you’ve been working all day. That you’ve been in those shoes for 8+ hours… And that it’s normal for your feet to stink after bathing for so long in all that contained sweat and bacteria. But that’s not an excuse for your feet to stink when you step on the mats.
Here’s a simple solution: buy antibacterial wipes at a nearby supermarket and use them to wipe your feet before training. Problem solved.
5) Not wearing a shirt under the gi: listen, if you’re a guy and you’re not wearing a shirt underneath your gi… Plus you have chest hair – that’s not fair towards your training partners. And not just towards the one you’re rolling with at the moment, but also the ones which’ll come after you and see all that on the mats as well.
So, please wear a shirt. It’ll make training a much more pleasant experience for everyone involved.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.