Every sport or subculture has its specific set of rules and etiquette. When you are first introduced to the sport and art of brazilian jiu-jitsu, people will explain to you as you go, but not knowing some of these rules of conduct will identify you as a “noob” or even worse, create an unsafe environment for you and your training partners.

Here are the important rules & etiquette of our school:

1. Don’t walk on the mats in your street shoes. You transfer who-knows-what substances from the ground to the training area. This is important to prevent skin infections!

2. Cut your fingernails and toenails at the start of every week of training. I have seen people with toenails so long they could swoop down and snatch their dinner out of a lake! Don’t scratch your training partners while trying to get a grip on their kimono.

3. Show up with a clean smelling kimono. Trying to drill techniques with a partner with a funky gi is really nasty. You probably need more than one kimono if you are training more than once per week. You need to allow it to dry properly in between training sessions.

4. Don’t be the guy who purposely shows up late to miss warm-ups and spends an extra-long time tying his belt or taping his fingers to avoid the drills. It sets a poor example for the other students.

5. Show that you understand the technique being taught in the class before asking all of the “what if he does this?” questions. It is good to be curious about the counters and the counters to the counters, but let’s get the original technique correct first!

6. If you have the flu or a cold please stay off the mats, especially if there is a competition coming up. You run the risk of getting all of your teammates sick before an important event.

7. Don’t talk in the background when the instructor is teaching a technique. This is not the time for that hilarious one liner that just popped into your head. This is time to pay attention and allow everyone to focus on what the instructor is teaching.

8. Neither be a super stiff or a wet noodle when your partner is drilling the technique. You can drill with resistance after you have learned the basics of the move. How is it helpful if you are resisting your partner the first time they are attempting a move? Or just as bad, just flopping over limp when they try a sweep?

9. Never go into the bathroom barefoot and then track who knows what bacteria back onto the training surface.

10. Cellphones in the training area are not appreciated. The class time is an oasis way from the rest of your worldly cares. Carrying on a full volume conversation or loud ringtones breaks the atmosphere of the academy and is disrespectful to the other students.

Bow to Carlos Gracie Sr or the center of the mat when you enter and exit the training area.
Classes begin with a formal bow to the instructor, with students lining up in descending grade order.
Classes end with a formal bow to the picture of Grand Master Carlos Gracie Sr, and then to the instructor.
All students must line up with the attendance card in hand at the beginning of the class.
During class, when the instructor is demonstrating the techniques, every student must sit or stand in good posture in seize.
For safety reasons, if you are late for class or you need to leave early, sit by the side of the training area and wait for the permission from the Professor.
Bow to your partner before and after practice.
Talking should be kept to a minimum level and should relate to the class subject.
Absolutely no foul language inside the school.
It is mandatory to wear the official Gracie Barra black rash guard or Gracie Barra training shirt underneath the kimono.
It is mandatory to have underwear underneath the gi pants.
For No Gi Classes, students must wear a Gracie Barra black boardshort (or black short) as well as Gracie Barra Black Rash Guard or Gracie Barra training shirt.
The uniform must be clean at all times. A dirty uniform is a sign of disrespect.
The uniform must be worn at all times and when tying the uniform, students must face the edge of the mats.
The belt represents your progress. Keep it on.
Refer to black-belt instructors as “Professor”, to Carlos Gracie Jr. as “Mestre” and to non black belt instructors as “Coaches”.
All metal objects, jewelry, piercing, necklaces and other items should be removed.
No shoes, food or drink on the mat.