How Do I Get Started?
Contact us to schedule a free first class. You can contact us through this website, our Facebook page or call/ text the gym at 207-808-1012.
What should I bring to my first class? Do I need to buy anything?
Wear form fitting workout clothes for your first class for Jiu Jitsu and Boxing, preferably shorts or leggings with no pockets where toes or fingers can get caught on. Bring sandals to wear off the mats. For boxing and MMA we have gloves you can borrow. If you decide to sign up, you will eventually need:
For Jiu Jitsu
- Pocketless shorts/ leggings and a rashguard or form fitting workout shirt. We have some for sale here.
You can also get some on Amazon or any other online store. You don't have to buy our branded stuff.
- Sandals/ flip flops to wear off the mats. This is mandatory.
- Mouthpiece, optional but recommended.
For Muay Thai:
-16 oz boxing gloves
- Mouthpiece
- Cup
- Shinguards
- 180 cm handwraps
- Headgear optional
For MMA:
-4 oz MMA gloves
- Mouthpiece
What to expect in a typical Jiu Jitsu Class?
We start class with a short warmup that is Jiu Jitsu specific. After the warmup we start the teaching portion of class where we go over a couple of techniques. We partner up with another student and learn and practice the technique on each other on a minimally resisting partner so we can understand the general body mechanics of how to perform a technique. We then move on to the live training portion of the class where the real learning happens. All of our classes include some sort of live training whether it's specific drills and games that improve certain aspects of your Jiu Jitsu, positional rounds, and full on rolling and sparring.
In our beginners classes, we focus more on positional sparring and games. Meaning the training is focused on a few small areas. For example, coach will teach a mount escape. The live training will focus on just escaping the mount while the top person focuses only on maintaining mount position. This class also focuses on the fundamental concepts of Jiu Jitsu and we do specific drills that help you apply these concepts into techniques. In the beginners class, you will have clear and specific goals based on what was taught that day and will get a chance to practice what was taught on a fully resisting partner. This class also focuses on the self defense aspect of Jiu Jitsu. Since this class is mostly beginners, coaches are watching during live training to ensure everyone is safe.
In our all levels classes, the training goes a step further and is not necessarily based on trying to work the technique or concept that was just taught. Beginners are always welcome to stay for the all levels class. If most of the class is mostly beginners, we go over more beginner friendly techniques. If most of the class is advanced students, we teach more advanced techniques. Aside from the techniques being taught, another difference between the beginner and all levels class is how we train. In the all levels class the coaches are also training and not watching the students roll. Both partners are going 100 percent and trying to take each other down, establish a position of control and submit you via chokeholds and joint locks and other techniques with no specific guidance on what to do.
In either class, the live training/sparring portion is not choreographed, is not done with a compliant partner or given a narrow set of allowed techniques. All techniques are allowed and legal in our gym.
If you are brand new to Jiu Jitsu and grappling, you will be worked up to this portion of class over the course of several days / weeks depending on your comfort level. New people start in the beginners class and when ready, they start coming to the all levels classes. Some people feel ready on day 1, some people need to work up to it and we will work with you. New people are partnered with more experienced students who can help and guide them through this process.
To put it simply, your kid or yourself will not be hitting/kicking boards or bags. You or your kid will be put in joint locks, choke holds and other submissions. This is what sets us and Jiu Jitsu apart from other martial arts in the area, our training has a live component to it, meaning we train full speed and full force to prepare you for a real life scenario and the intensity/ unpredictability of a real fight.
What is the class atmosphere like?
Our gym is a pretty laid back place.
We don't follow outdated rituals. You don't have to bow to the mats, you don't have to face a wall to tie your belt, you don't have to call your coaches sensei, sifu or any other silly name, you don't have to ask to get water, you ARE allowed to ask higher belts to roll.
We are more of a tight knit group of friends who help each other improve.
How can you spar or train live without getting hurt?
First and foremost, although we are training live, we aren't trying to hurt each other. Your partners are not trying to crank on submissions and neither should you. We give our partners time to tap and we emphasize slow and controlled finishes on submissions, especially on newer training partners. We also emphasize tapping early when caught in a submission, especially if you are a new student and not sure how to get out.
When a partner is caught in a submission they tap or submit, signaling their partner to let go of the submission. You can tap for any reason, including being gassed out, anxiety, feeling claustrophobic etc, even if you are not in a submission. The second you tap, your partner lets go and everything stops.
In addition to rules surrounding tapping out, we also have other safety rules. The majority of injuries happen during takedown rounds against two new people. For this reason, we don't let 2 white belts do takedowns on each other. White belts can only work takedowns with blue belts and above because the higher belts can keep the round controlled.
We also make sure new people first roll with our black belt and brown belt instructors who can keep the round controlled and make sure that the new student knows how and when to tap.
Although we rely on the tap and have safety rules to minimize the risk of injury, keep in mind this is a combat sport and risk of injury will always be there. Expect to have cuts, bruises, sore muscles and joints at the very minimum and more serious injuries do sometimes happen.
How often should I come to class?
This depends on your goals. The more you train the better progression you will see. It is recommended to train at least 2- 3 days a week to make consistent progress. Jiu Jitsu is a life long journey and it's not a race. Most people will go through periods where they can train a lot and sometimes life gets in the way and you can't come to class as much. As long as you're consistent over a long period of time and do your best every class, you will see improvement.
However, we understand everyone has different goals and priorities and we don’t require anyone to come to a certain number of classes unless you have aspirations of competing or fighting MMA under our team.
We have strict standards for our competitors, instructors and fighters who represent our gym and you must train a certain number of days if you wish to compete or fight.
What kind of people train at your gym?
We have kids aged 6 and up and adults of all ages 18 to 60+. We have aspiring fighters and competitors, police officers, federal officers, your average person that just wants to get in shape, hobbyists, single moms, nerds, healthcare workers, blue collar workers and basically people from all walks of life with different goals. Do not feel like you wouldn’t fit in if you don’t want to fight. Our students train for a variety of reasons ranging from self defense, wanting to get in shape, mental health, anxiety relief, making friends and socializing, stress relief, or just to learn a new skill or hobby to name a few. The people who want to fight and compete are actually a very small minority. This is a place for people from all walks of life to come together and work towards the same goal of improving oneself in a very supportive environment. Jiu Jitsu attracts all kinds of people for all sorts of reasons and our gym, like most other Jiu Jitsu gyms is truly a melting pot.
Do I need to be in shape to do Jiu Jitsu?
No. This is a common misconception. We have people of all fitness levels and of all shapes and sizes that train. The best way to get you in grappling shape and to prepare you for Jiu Jitsu is to train Jiu Jitsu. Over time you will get in better shape. We don’t expect anyone to know anything when they first come in, we don't require you to have prior experience or require you to be in shape before you come in. Most people who come and try a class are out of shape or have average fitness levels. Even the people who come in and are athletic, quickly realize they are not in Jiu Jitsu shape as Jiu Jitsu requires to use your body in different ways than most are accustomed to. The best way to get in Jiu Jitsu shape is simply come and train as often as you can.
We also have cardio and fitness classes to get started or supplement your martial arts training.
Do you have self defense or women's self defense classes?
If by "self defense class" you are referring to a 2 or 3 week course with no sparring or no contact that promises the ability to defend yourself by the end of it, then no, we don't offer these types of classes. Though these classes are great money makers, we will never offer these types of classes simply because you cannot effectively learn to defend yourself against a resisting person in a few short weeks without ever training under realistic conditions.
Martial arts that have been proven to be effective in self defense are also combat sports. Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, Sambo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing are all examples of martial arts that are effective as self defense. Every class we teach is applicable to self defense. We also have certain classes that focus on common self defense scenarios and how to take advantage of common things untrained people do. No matter what martial art you decide to train in, for it to be effective in self defense, you must train consistently under realistic conditions for a long time.
Both women and men need to train for several years under realistic conditions that include grappling and striking for anything to work in a self defense scenario. So yes, we do offer self defense classes, but it takes years and not just a short course.
Are there punches / strikes in Jiu Jitsu?
There is a misconception that there are no strikes in Jiu Jitsu and that is not true.
SPORT Jiu Jitsu has no strikes in it as you are competing or training under a certain ruleset which completely eliminates strikes.
The MARTIAL ART and self defense application of Jiu Jitsu very much deals with and utilizes strikes.
Many gyms today have completely removed the striking aspect of Jiu Jitsu and only teach the sport of Jiu Jitsu.
We do both. Some of our classes focus only on grappling, others deal with the self defense application of Jiu Jitsu which include strikes. We still very much train with self defense in mind.
Do women train at your gym?
Yes, women train at our gym and we have a growing group of women who train Jiu Jitsu.
In fact, all of our beginners classes, fitness classes and about half of our all levels Jiu Jitsu classes are taught by our female brown belt instructor who also co-owns the gym.
Do you have women's only classes?
No, we currently don't offer women's only classes because all of our beginners classes as well as a good chunk of our all levels classes are already taught by our brown belt female instructor, so women who prefer to learn from a woman can come our female led classes. Our beginners classes are an excellent class for women to start training in. Our beginners classes teach the same techniques that would be taught in a women's only class. There is no difference in the techniques that are taught to women and men.
Instead of having to create a "safe space" for women to train, our focus is making sure ALL of our classes are a safe and supportive environment for both women and men. Everyone who trains here is respectful of the opposite gender. Anyone who is a creep or makes women feel uncomfortable is promptly removed from the gym with zero tolerance.
Do women have to train with men? Do men have to train with women?
Training with the opposite sex can be awkward or uncomfortable for certain people for a number of reasons. We certainly don't make anyone partner up with anyone they don't want to train with.
So no, women don't have to train with men.
That being said, Jiu Jitsu is still very much a male dominated space, so if you are a woman who isn't comfortable training with men, you may end up with only a few or no training partners if no other women show up to class that day. Luckily, we have several women who train consistently.
Also, if you are a woman and your goal is for your Jiu Jitsu to be effective in a self defense situation, you should eventually start training with men so that you can learn to deal with the size and strength difference in a safe environment. Our coaches can work you up to this over time and will partner you up with more experienced guys who can safely train with female partners.
You can of course do Jiu Jitsu for reasons other than self defense. People come to Jiu Jitsu for a multitude of reasons such as fun, as a hobby, to learn something new, for stress relief, for anxiety relief, to combat depression, to socialize, to get a workout, or to become a competitor. If that's the case, you can only train with women and still get really good at Jiu Jitsu.
On that same note, men don't have to train with women either. In fact, you don't have to train with anyone you don't want to train with.
What is the belt system in Jiu Jitsu? Is there a belt test?
There are 5 belts in Jiu Jitsu.
White--- Blue--- Purple--- Brown--- Black
Everyone is a white belt when they first start training.
Expect to spend about 2-3 years at each belt level though this is just an average. It takes about 10-13 years to get to black belt. Some people take longer, some shorter. Everyone learns and progresses at their own rate but if you are consistent you will see progress.
You do not have to be a black belt for your Jiu Jitsu to be effective against an untrained person. Our blue belts are expected to be able to control the round against most untrained individuals so a couple of years of consistent training goes a long way.
We do not have belt tests. We don't charge for belt promotions. Your ability to memorize a certain set of moves and demonstrate them is not indicative of your progress. Belts are not given based on attendance either so X amount of training doesn't equal a belt. Some gyms promote based solely off of attendance. We don't do that. Instead, we look at your progress on the mats and your coaches will promote you to the next belt when they think you are performing at that level.