WILDFIRE BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
While Brazilian Jiu-jitsu typically tends to be less formal than many martial arts, abiding by the following basic rules of etiquette will ensure that everyone has a safe, fun, & rewarding training experience in an environment that is conducive to learning. Always Be Safe, Be Clean, Be Humble, and Be Respectful.
BE SAFE
- Safety is paramount. Know your limitations & those of your training partners. All submission holds should always be applied in a slow and controlled manner. Do not overly resist your partner during drilling, especially if you are learning a brand new technique. Drilling should always be done with 10% power at first, then 20%, then 30% and so on. It is possible to accidentally injure yourself or your training partner if you are resisting at the wrong time!
- Learn & abide by the rules of jiu-jitsu during training. In competition, there are certain techniques are considered illegal or restricted to higher ranks. In general, you should abide by these same protocols when rolling during class. This will help to ensure the safety of your training partners, and will also help to prepare you for competition. If you are not sure if a technique is legal, DON'T DO IT.
- Watch your spacing when rolling! If the mat is crowded, be aware of those around you and do not roll into other people or the walls. Sometimes you will have to adjust how you are rolling to ensure you don't run into and injure yourself or someone else. Also, be very careful when training takedowns to ensure that you have sufficient space. If the mat is crowded, students should generally start from a kneeling position, when in doubt, the higher belt has the right of way.
- Injuring your training partners or using illegal techniques may result in suspension or cancellation of your membership at the instructor’s discretion.
- The following techniques are NEVER allowed while rolling: Strikes of any kind, grabbing or pulling hair, eye gouging, attacking the groin, grabbing fingers or toes, grabbing the windpipe, slams, can openers, heel hooks, fish hooking, reaping the knee, placing the fingers inside your opponent's gi sleeve's/pants legs. We will learn to defend against all of these techniques in time, but to attempt them while rolling is dangerous and will not be tolerated.
BE CLEAN
- Training in jiu-jitsu involves close personal contact. Please ensure that you and your clothing/gi are clean, free of foul odors, & in good condition for EVERY class. Be aware of your personal hygiene. Make sure that your fingernails & toenails are properly trimmed, and your hair (if long) is pulled back & secured & remove any jewelry during training. If you have any cuts, scrapes, fresh tattoos, please cover them properly and secure the covering with tape before you train.
- If you have any type of skin infection (staph, ringworm, etc.) you will not be allowed to train until it is cleared up. These bacterial & fungal infections are highly contagious and can quickly spread throughout the entire class. If you suspect you may have an infectious skin condition or are not sure, ask the instructor. It is better to be cautious than to infect the entire class.
- If you are sick, or have been exposed to anyone who is sick, you will not be allowed to train. (We have had this rule since the day we opened in 2016, now everyone does)
- Keep the mats clean. No shoes of any kind are allowed on the mats. Shoes damage the mats & carry unwanted germs into the training area. Always wear shoes when off of the mat, especially in the restroom. Do your part to keep the training area clean & free of germs. Don't bring food or drinks onto the mat. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that we have a clean & safe environment to train. Mats are cleaned and sanitized after every training session, if you are able, you should assist in cleaning the mats.
BE HUMBLE
- Check your ego at the door. Wildfire classes are not a competition to see who is the toughest. Your concern should be with learning & improving, not defeating your teammates during training. Tap early & often. Tapping is not a sign of weakness! Tapping is an important part of the learning process. Tap now and train tomorrow, roll to learn, not to win.
- If you find yourself using only strength to resist a technique, TAP. Using only strength means that you are not using jiu-jitsu and you are no longer learning anything, it is also a surefire way to eventually injure yourself. Tapping is is part of training.
- Don't be afraid to try new things & put yourself in uncomfortable positions. The essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the ability to defend yourself and subdue your opponent from what most people would call a disadvantageous position, if you put yourself in these positions during class, you will learn to utilize all of the available techniques and defenses until there is no such thing as a bad position for you.
BE RESPECTFUL
- Please bow when stepping on or off the mat.
- Always respect the instructor and your teammates. Pay attention and don't talk during instruction, missing a key detail may cause someone to be injured during drilling. The instructors will frequently ask if there are any questions during instruction and before drilling any technique.
- Do not shout instructions or questions from the side of the mat if you are not participating in class. If you would like to be a part of the discussion you may join the students who are there to learn and are paying to do so.
- Please show up to class on time, however, sometimes being late is unavoidable. If you arrive late, please quietly change into your training gear and join the rest of the class as soon as possible. Having someone stretching or running through their warmups during instruction is distracting to others, join your teammates as soon as you can. If you need to leave class early for any reason, just let the instructor know ahead of time if possible, they will help you watch the clock as well as possibly adjust the class schedule accordingly.
- Make the most of your training time. Often times you will finish the minimum number of repetitions of a technique before your teammates (5 and switch!) This does not mean you are done! Continue to repeat the technique back and forth with your partner and pay attention to more and more detail as your improve your technique. Have your partner start to add slight resistance or check your balance during the technique, do not start rolling or just sit and talk.
- Drill what the instructor is teaching. It is often tempting to work on several techniques related to the technique being taught, this can be distracting to your teammates. Focus on the technique at hand, and do not get too far off subject.
- Avoid profanity or inappropriate subjects when necessary. We are all adults and adult language will happen, but do your best to avoid it when new teammates or children are in the building. Some people may not have the same sensibilities as you and it is important that everyone feel comfortable and safe in this environment. Wildfire Martial Arts has a zero tolerance policy in place relating to physical, sexual, and emotional harassment.
Wildfire Martial Arts LLC is a privately owned and operated business and reserves the right to refuse services to anyone at any time.