Rolling Etiquette
Our goal is to get you from white belt to black belt in a safe, friendly environment in which everybody works together to grow stronger as a family. In order to accomplish our goal we need to make sure that we work together to keep our training partners safe.
If you have never participated in BJJ before, in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu we call sparring (or actively practicing our technique),”rolling”. Here at Nova we ask that you please take the time to watch our four part video series before your first rolling session so that understand general BJJ etiquette, as well as develop a general awareness of what you should and should not do.
Here are your general guidelines, thanks in advance for watching our videos -
Use technique, not strength when rolling. Don't hurt your BJJ training partners:
Don't have a "don't get tapped" mindset (It is ok to tap):
There is no reason that you or your BJJ training partner needs to get hurt when rolling. Please tap deliberately, fast, hard, and loud. At the same time, please make sure that you give your opponent the opportunity to tap by practicing our 2 second rule.
BJJ is fun, as long as nobody gets hurt, and they shouldn't. Check your ego at the door, and we will all grow together:
Rules of the Mat
Don't hurt or injure your BJJ training partners. Use technique, not strength when rolling. Do not try to overpower your training partner with muscle power and brute force. Never punch, kick or slam them on the mat to try and gain position or control or escape from holds or position. Use the techniques you’ve been taught not your strength.
Don't have a "don't get tapped" or “go for the tap” mindset. Rolling is for training not a test to see who can tap who first. We all have a competitive nature but you must check your ego at the door and realize that we are here to learn and train. It’s NOT a competition. There is a time and place for competing and that not in the gym.
When it’s time to tap out you tap deliberately, fast, hard, and loud. When you hear or feel the tap release immediately.
Make sure that you give your opponent the opportunity to tap by practicing our 2 second rule. Which is when you have set the submission (without pressure) hold and count one thousand one, one thousand two “before” you begin to apply pressure. This gives your partner plenty of time to tap out. It’s also OK to tap before when you know a submission hold is locked in.
Never get angry. If you find yourself frustrated that’s OK but never let it consume you where you slap the mat of punch the wall, curse because you are mad etc. Never let anger make you abandon the rules for rolling. Take a breath or even a break and then resume your training with proper discipline and self-control.
BJJ is the gentle art of self-defense. Our goal at Nova Gyms is to create a safe and comfortable environment for you to learn and train where no one gets hurt. Practice these simple rules of etiquette and you’ll help us maintain our goal.