FAQ
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport based on ground fighting and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one's opponent, gaining a dominant position, and using number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks or chokeholds.
Absolutely! in addition to being fun, training will increase your muscle tone, bodily coordination, cardiovascular, muscular endurance, balance, and is likely to reduce overall body fat. It is important to make sure that you hydrate and fuel your body properly before and after training.
If possible, please try to arrive 15 minutes early so that you can meet the staff and instructor, sign a waiver, and become familiar with our gym.
It's a good idea to bring flip flops/sandals. No shoes are permitted on the mats. Walking up to the mats with flip flops makes it an easy transition.
If you have a gi of your own, bring it! If not, we have rental gis available as well as gis for purchase. For a no-gi class, a rash guard and shorts are recommended.
A water bottle is highly recommended. We have a filtered water station if a refill is needed.
A gi is a uniform for training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (as well as various other martial arts). The word "gi" is adapted from the word "keikogi" used in modern Japanese martial arts.
Keiko means practice; gi means dress or clothes. A gi consists of 3 pieces; a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring trousers, and a belt which communicates the ranks.
Different parts of a gi are strategically utilized for grips, chokes, guards, and other techniques during training. The heavily stitched cotton is made to withstand the rigors of daily practice.
In short, the uniform. In gi classes, you wear a gi. In no-gi, you don't wear a gi. Gi jiu-jitsu, the uniform is a fundamental piece of most techniques and movements. No-gi Jiu-jitsu more closely resembles wrestling as it is often faster paced and places emphasis on speed rather than leverage. In no-gi classes, you can wear rash guards and board shorts or leggings.
While each style has advantages and disadvantages (technically speaking), they share a remarkably similar conceptual foundation and are absolutely complementary to one another in training jiu-jitsu overall.