Being
a Good Jiu Jitsu Visitor
Part
One: What To Know Before You Step on the Mats
If
you stay in jiu jitsu for any length of time (and I hope you do!) then at some
point you will probably be a visitor to another academy, school, dojo, gym,
mat, club, lab or whatever name your host will use to refer to the place where
they do jiu jitsu. Each will have its own unique rules and dynamics. As a
visitor, you represent both yourself and your team. Knowing what to expect can
help you be the best guest you can be. Through the years, I have come to the
realization that I was not always an ideal guest. The following is what I wish
I had known when I first started.
Why
would you visit an academy other than your own?
There
are a lot of great reasons to visit another academy. They host seminars, camps,
special events, and open mats open to members of the jiu jitsu community. I
highly recommend taking advantage of these events. They can be incredible
opportunities to learn new techniques and meet members of the community. Always
mention to the head of your academy if you plan to attend an event. It is a
sign of respect to your team to let them know where their students will be, and
they may have information you
need
to know about who you are visiting. They may even ask you to share what you
learned when you
returned.
Other
types of visits are more personal and you will be the only representative of
your team on the mats. If your academy is part of a larger affiliation, you
might drop in at other locations within that affiliation. A friend from another
team may invite you to visit their academy as a guest. Perhaps you are on
vacation or a work trip and want to stop in somewhere to get your jiu jitsu
fix. The toughest visit of all is when you are looking for a new jiu jitsu
home. There are many reasons you may need to find a new academy, and for the
purpose of this article we will assume you are on good terms with your previous
team. In any of these situations, let your head instructor know ahead of time
that you are planning to visit another academy and the reasons behind it. Your
teammates and instructors might have connections
and recommendations for places to visit in other cities. Typically
your academy will have a policy about cross training. Find out what that policy
is. With social media, visiting without letting your instructor know can easily
get back to them and be interpreted as disloyalty. Jiu jitsu is not an
individual sport and trust is earned between teammates and with your
instructors. Take care not to break the trust of your jiu jitsu family.
In
addition to being up front with your instructor, there are some basic things to
do before you arrive to the academy you are visiting. For events (Seminars, Open Mats, etc.),
always pre-register or sign up as “attending” if possible. This will give the
host a better idea of how many are coming and hopefully allow them to contact
you if there are any last minute changes. If you have a child, find out whether
they are allowed to attend the event or if there will be a place for them to
hang out while you participate.
Whether
visiting on your own or with a friend, contact the owner ahead of time for
permission to stop by. They
have no obligation to allow you to participate even if you show up with one of
their students. They are
responsible for the safety of everyone that visits their academy, and allowing
you onto their mats is a risk
that they do not have to take. Additionally, not all classes may be open to
visitors or those below a certain
rank. Some academies will not want you to drop in unless the head instructor is
on site. When you contact
the owner, always offer to pay a drop-in fee and ask what it is. Drop-in fees
vary quite a bit, and you
should never assume fees will be waived for you.
If
an academy has a website, it can be a great source for information when kept up
to date. It is a good idea
to check the website before contacting the instructor. There are several basic
things to find out about the
class you want to attend: type of class; start time; and attire. Many
academies teach a variety of classes
so know what you are getting into. Do not show up to advanced MMA class
expecting beginner jiu
jitsu. Uniform requirements vary by academy. Example questions for
uniforms include:
Are there requirements for gi colors?
Are patches from other teams allowed?
For no-gi/MMA are spats without shorts allowed?
Are rash guards required?
Do
you know what submissions and positions are allowed for your rank and below?
This can vary
significantly
and is important to know for your own safety as well as the safety of your
host’s students. Never
assume that what is allowed is the same as your home academy. Safe submissions
are not universally
agreed upon within jiu jitsu.
Whether
attending an event or visiting a class, it is best to show up early. Some
academies run on
“Brazilian
time” and you may end up hanging around outside for a bit waiting for the place
to open. Others have punishments for late arrivals. It is better to be early
than arriving at the last moment or late. When you arrive, be ready to
sign a waiver and pay your drop-in fee. Show up clean (body, clothing, and equipment)
and well-groomed with nails trimmed. Don't assume that an academy will have
sufficient private
changing space for you to get into uniform after you arrive. If possible,
arrive so that you could get into the remainder of your uniform in full public
view. It may not be necessary, but it is better than having to wait for the
only restroom.
DO
NOT WALK INTO A RESTROOM BAREFOOT!!! Footwear and how it is dealt with at
different academies
has surprised me more than any other item. Figure out the rule for footwear as
soon as you enter
the building. Sometimes you will have to leave your shoes next to the front
door. Other places you must
wear them at all times until you step onto the mat. In general, never walk onto
the mat in shoes and never
walk into the bathroom without. For anything in between, it is probably
directly related to how the academy
is cleaned and not following the rules can cause bacteria and grime to be
tracked where it can cause
a problem.
Once
you know what to do with your shoes, have filled out the paperwork, and are
changed for class,
take
some time to introduce yourself to the instructor and other students. Talking
to members of another team can be tricky. Everything you say reflects on you as
well as your jiu jitsu teammates. When it comes to first impressions, the best
option is to stay positive. Whether talking about your own team or one you are
not associated with say nice things or keep quiet. Leave any frustrations or
problems you have at the door. Talking poorly about a rival academy or student
will reflect very poorly on yourself as well was your team. The impression you
will leave with your host is that you are a gossip that talks poorly about
people behind their back. They’ll be left wondering what you will be telling others
about them. By association, your academy can develop the same reputation.
Typically
students do not talk poorly of their own team. They tend to err toward
excessive praise of
their instructors
and teammates. Remember to be humble when talking about your home academy.
You think
you’ve got the best instructors and students? That’s great! Then why are you
visiting? Realize that they
have something special to offer. It could be their location, a class at a time
you can actually make, a seminar
you want to attend, or that friend that you came with. Saying your team is the
best ever means you
think the academy you are visiting is not. Maybe your academy truly is
that incredible, but respect your
host enough to keep your praise in check.
Are
you ready to step on the mat? Check out part 2 next week!
Ms. Faisão is a cunning and relentless purple belt with triangles from everywhere.
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