So, you’ve done your due diligence and picked a gym to start your first class in your Jiu Jitsu journey.
The Complete Guide to Picking Your First Jiu Jitsu Gym
Congratulations! I’m confident you have found a fun activity that has the potential to change your life in very positive ways. Now that you’ve chosen your first gym to try, it’s time to prepare your mind, body, and equipment for the journey ahead. Being prepared in these three aspects will help ensure that you are properly prepared for what’s to come and meet the challenges of learning Jiu Jitsu headfirst.
In this guide, I will cover some tips on things to do and bring to your first Jiu Jitsu class to make your transition into your Jiu Jitsu journey smooth.
What should I bring to my first Jiu Jitsu class?
For your first Jiu Jitsu class, you only need to consider bringing a minimal amount of items. As you continue on your journey you will start to incorporate more items in your Jiu Jitsu kit, but for now here are the bare minimum items to bring to your first Jiu Jitsu class.
Equipment bag for your Jiu Jitsu items: Any bag that fits your items will suffice. Backpacks, duffel bags, and cinch bags all work well. My preference is a small duffel bag with multiple pockets for separation of gear and enough room to accommodate a GI, a no Gi kit, and a change of clothes.
Water: Hydration is one of the keys to performing well during class and recovering after. Bringing a bottle of water is essential. I can smash through a large 40oz bottle during a hot and heavy Jiu Jitsu session. Any of your favorite bottles will work and most gyms have a water source for you to refill as needed. Pick a bottle that you can confidently throw in your bag without fear of it leaking.
What clothes should I wear to my first Jiu Jitsu class?
Shirt: Any normal t-shirt will work for your first Jiu Jitsu class. Generally, you want to have a properly fit tee shirt that isn’t too loose on you. A loose shirt will get in the way of grappling and can trap fingers and toes. If you have an athletic shirt, such as an Under Armour shirt, that will work great as cotton tees can trap sweat easily and get wet.
Shorts: Any athletic type of shorts like basketball shorts are fine for your first Jiu Jitsu class. Stay away from any shorts or pants that have any metal on them like buttons or zippers. Metal on pants can injure your teammates or tear the expensive grappling mats. Shorts with drawstrings or Velcro work well for Jiu Jitsu.
Underwear: Wear underwear at Jiu Jitsu. My favorite underwear to wear is athletic underwear that keeps everything supported and guards against chafing.
Footwear: Generally speaking, footwear is not used during Jiu Jitsu class with practitioners going barefoot on the mat. One item to consider bringing is a pair of flip-flops or other sandals to use in the bathroom and locker room. It is a bad hygienic practice to utilize the restroom barefoot and return to the mats. Some gyms have sandals available for use, but I always prefer to bring my own.
Do I need to get a Gi for my first Jiu Jitsu class?
In almost all cases, you do not need to bring a Gi to your first Jiu Jitsu class. It will depend on the gym you are going to, but most of the time beginners will have their first sessions without a Gi or will be given a loaner Gi to use for their first few classes. Ask your gym about the necessity for a Gi in the beginning. Some gyms also may have Gi requirements or require the use of their school’s GIs.
Optional items for your first Jiu Jitsu class
Mouthguard: Jiu Jitsu can be hazardous to your tongue and teeth at times as the collision of knees, heads, and limbs is a constant threat to your jaw area. A mouth guard does a lot to protect your teeth, protects from biting your tongue off if your jaw gets hit shut, and also can help protect from concussions in the event your teeth smash together hard from an errant blow. I never practice without a mouthguard. Mouthguards are inexpensive and I would have less teeth if it wasn’t for the use of a mouth guard.
Extra contact lenses: I wear contact lenses regularly and I wear them while rolling and practicing Jiu Jitsu. There have been times when I’ve lost one during a roll and having an extra set in my bag saved my bacon from having to try and drive with one lens in.
Towel: Some gyms have showers available at the facility and it can be very and even preferable to shower right after your Jiu Jitsu session. If you plan on doing this at the facility after practice, bring a towel to dry off.
Deodorant: If your gym doesn’t have a shower or you prefer to shower at home a stick of deodorant can be helpful to get you smelling ok from the gym to your home.
Snack: A snack is a good idea to help replenish your body if you are going to have some time between the end of your session and your next meal. I usually have a one-hour drive from my gym to home and for a snack, I have a Gatorade Zero and a protein bar during the trip home.
This is a start to your Jiu Jitsu journey and as you progress through and gain experience, you will find different pieces of equipment that you will prefer over others. Once you’re deep into Jiu Jitsu you can start looking for a specific No Gi kit including grappling shorts, rash guards, and spats. Here is an article detailing my regular Jiu Jitsu equipment bag and contents:
What’s in my everyday Jiu Jitsu bag
How should I prepare physically for my first Jiu Jitsu class?
From a physicality standpoint cardio, strength, and flexibility are the main attributes when considering Jiu Jitsu performance. For your first class do not put any stock into your current attributes. The big thing for your first Jiu Jitsu class will be to just show up. If you’ve not done any grappling or other martial arts in the past, Jiu Jitsu will probably be a shock to your system in the first few weeks. Even people that are in great physical shape, I’ve seen crumble to exhaustion on the mat because it is so different from anything else they’ve done or accustomed their bodies to. Jiu Jitsu can be done around most physical weaknesses and deficits so don’t worry about preparing your body beforehand and just show up!
If you have some time between when you start your first Jiu Jitsu class, regular workouts and stretching are fine, but I’d aim to have a fresh body on the day of your first class. Get a good night’s sleep, have a nutritious meal a few hours before class, and hydrate throughout the day.
How to hydrate for Jiu Jitsu class
How should I mentally prepare for my first Jiu Jitsu class?
The biggest thing you can do to mentally prepare for your first Jiu Jitsu class is to free your mind of assumptions and preconceptions of Jiu Jitsu or self-defense before coming to your class. This is especially important if you have previous martial arts experience. You want to come to your first class with an open mind ready to absorb new information and experience.
Knowing some basic Jiu Jitsu etiquette and common rules can help prepare you for your first Jiu Jitsu class. Here is an article where I’ve outlined some common Etiquette and Rules with Jiu Jitsu.
Common Etiquette and Rules with Jiu Jitsu
Again, the big thing here is to not put too many expectations on yourself with the most important factor being to just show up. If you show up with an open mind to your first class many of the secondary or tertiary parts of Jiu Jitsu will just fall in place for you.
Appropriate personal hygiene before class
Jiu Jitsu is one of the sports with the most physical contact with another person you will find. It is two opposing bodies entangled in a human knot exerting maximum force on each other to dominate and subdue. There is direct skin-to-skin contact and even body fluid exchange via sweat and other bodily functions. Having appropriate hygiene with yourself and your partners is a must for the continual practice of Jiu Jitsu.
Before your class, it is best practice to have a clean body by taking a shower before your class. If it is at all possible if you’ve worked all day take a shower before class. Your clothing should also be freshly washed and washed after each practice. Remember you will be very close often face to face with your Jiu Jitsu partners so having fresh breath during the class is another good practice. Brush and floss before Jiu Jitsu and consider having a mint right before. As Jiu Jitsu is practiced barefoot, make sure your feet are clean and do not go barefoot in the locker room and restroom.
Another consideration is the length of your finger and toenails. The hands and feet are utilized frequently in Jiu Jitsu and long nails can be hazardous to your training partners as they flail about like mini knives. Keep your training partners safe from scratches by trimming your nails before class.
Creating a routine from day 1 of your Jiu Jitsu journey
The trick to becoming better at Jiu Jitsu and staying on the path of mastery is to build habits and routines that will automatically make going to Jiu Jitsu part of your normal activities for the day. If you follow the same routine to prepare for Jiu Jitsu class you will more likely make it to planned sessions prepared and without variance. If you can start this from day one you can evaluate your process, improve, and continue to practice your preparation process so that it increases the probability that you will attend regularly almost without thinking. Here is an outline of my preparation process for the day that I will be practicing Jiu Jitsu.
- After waking I will prepare a 40oz water bottle with a salt tab and ice to begin hydrating for the day.
- I work from home so after lunch, I will prepare my bag by packing clothes, a protein bar, my wallet, another 40oz water bottle, and a Gatorade Zero.
- I will then place my packed bag in my car.
- After work, I will dress out by putting on my no gi kit or Gi Pants with an undershirt.
- Once dressed I will have dinner with my family.
- When it’s time to go to class all I need to do is make my way to the car and go.
Having this routine has made it nearly impossible for me to skip a class. If I’ve gone through all the steps to hydrate, pack my bag in the car, and dress out the only logical step is to go to class. Try setting up a routine for your first class and adapt it as you see fit throughout your Jiu Jitsu journey.