Written and unwritten rules of engagement on the Jiu Jitsu mats
BJJ Etiquette
BJJ etiquette on the training mats is a set of largely unwritten rules in the Jiu Jitsu world. Although you won't get kicked off the mats for violating them, but many people will frown upon it if you do. This type of knowledge is passed down from student to student by just watching how other people interact on the mats, regardless of the academy. Here are some of the things that I now expect of my students because I've finally written them down at my academy:
Be on time for class, even for the warm ups.
Be clean by bath or shower before a training session
Show up to training on time unless you had unexpected delays beyond your control
Wear a Gi uniform that is clean and not worn in previous training since washing.
Slap and bump hands before each roll
Ensure rolling partner is not hurt by surrounding people or objects
Ensure surrounding people are not hurt by your roll
Thank your partner after each roll or drilling session
While watching other people roll, ensure they do not bump into each other
Before training with a partner, wipe down all your sweat
Bring your own water bottle and towel to training
Check into class upon arrival at the front desk or using your membership app
Bowing out and shaking hands with everyone in class at the end of class
You may have noticed I didn't put down the old-school rule pertaining to a student not asking for a roll from a higher-rank student. I'm inclined to think that this rule hinders the progression of the lower and upper ranked students, so I never instill it at my academy.
Prohibited Actions
Prohibited actions are there for everyone's safety and learning experience on the mats. It makes sense for these types of rules to be written down at your academy. Each academy has their own set of prohibited actions. Here are the prohibited actions on the BJJ mats at my academy:
Striking of any kind
Not letting go of a submission hold once your rolling partner indicates his submission
Grabbing individual fingers or toes of partner
Jabbing your fingers into your partner
Eye gouging
Biting
Hair pulling
Slamming partner into floor or against wall
Wearing jewelry or watches
Wearing makeup
Wearing shoes or jandals on the mat (except wrestling boots)
Being barefoot off the mat areas
Not wearing a shirt for gi or no-gi training
Not wearing shorts over spats for no-gi training (males only)
Wearing revealing shirt or shorts for no-gi training
Wearing singlet during no-gi class
Wearing clothes with protruding hard bits
Purposefully being disruptive to others’ learning experience
Not addressing your rolling partner’s safety once you realize he is injured or unconscious
Jerk Moves
Jerk moves (also known as "dick moves") are harder to qualify than prohibited moves, so they fall under this category. Some of these moves are just annoying to witness. Here is a list of what I consider to be jerk moves at my academy:
Applying force to submissions that aren't properly on
Applying submissions too quickly to give your opponent time to tap
Driving elbows or knees into partner
Using painful pressure points to solicit a submission (neck, groin, kneecaps, temples, etc)
Covering nose or mouth or eyes with your hand
Teaching techniques to classmates without being asked to do so (especially for the white-belt professors)
Using high pain tolerance to avoid tapping from a strong submission hold
Applying advanced leglock techniques (including knee reaping) on lower ranks without his permission before roll
Rolling without awareness of neighboring classmates, mat borders, or surrounding dangers
Pinning your rolling partner for long periods without advancing your position or allowing him to escape
Purposefully using your strength or weight advantage to dominate a weaker person
Moving explosively without technique during drilling or light roll
Using full resistance during drilling without being instructed to do so
Being completely limp during drilling or rolling without any resistance
Not communicating location of your injuries prior to, or during, a roll and then complain that you got injured there
Pretending to strike partner after gaining a dominant position
Making sexual comments about BJJ positions
Shouting negative commentary during anyone’s roll
Intentionally not doing a technique as taught by the instructor during the class
Coaching your rolling partner through a technique during a roll without his request
Coaching teammates during their rolls without their request
Doing cardio taps when tired during a roll
Talking to classmate while instructor is addressing the entire class
Asking instructor complex questions that do not relate to the topic being taught during class time
Cursing loudly on the mat
Striking up a conversation with your rolling partner during the roll
Retaliating because someone refuses to roll with you
Training with others while you’re sick
Training while you’re dirty or wearing a dirty gi
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