Jiu Jitsu Gym Etiquette

Clean Gear: Always wear a freshly washed Gi or rash guard. Never reuse sweaty gear from a previous session.

Trimmed Nails: Keep fingernails and toenails short to prevent scratching your partners or catching them on the mats.

Shower Post-Class: Shower as soon as possible after training using antimicrobial soap to prevent skin infections like ringworm or staph.

Health Awareness: If you have any skin infections (e.g., ringworm) or are feeling sick, stay off the mats until you are cleared. 

Footwear Rules: Never wear street shoes on the mat. Conversely, never go into the restroom barefoot; always wear flip-flops or slides when off the mat.

Punctuality: Arrive 5–10 minutes early. If you are late, wait at the edge of the mat for the instructor to acknowledge and invite you on.

Lining Up: At the start and end of class, students typically line up by rank. Higher belts (Black, Brown, Purple, Blue) are at the front, with White belts at the end.

Bowing: It is customary to bow to the center of the mat when entering or leaving as a sign of respect for the training space.

Addressing Instructors: Refer to Black Belt instructors as "Professor" and other instructors as "Coach".

No Talking During Instruction: Stay quiet and focused when the instructor is demonstrating a technique. 

Tap Early, Tap Often: Tapping is a signal to stop. Do not let your ego lead to injury; tap as soon as a submission is locked in.

Mat Space Awareness: If your roll is about to collide with another pair, the lower-ranking pair should move to give space to the higher belts.

Technique Over Strength: Especially for beginners ("white belts"), focus on using proper technique rather than "spazzing" or using brute force.

Slap and Bump: Most rolls begin with a "slap and bump"—a quick palm slap and fist bump to signal readiness. 

Ask First: Contact the gym beforehand to inquire about drop-in fees and their specific dress code (e.g., some gyms only allow white Gis).

Be a Humble Guest: Introduce yourself to the instructor immediately upon arrival and follow their house rules strictly.

No "Schoolyard" Tactics: Avoid grabbing individual fingers (at least three fingers must be gripped together for safety), hair pulling, eye gouging, or fish-hooking.

No Slamming: Never "slam" a partner to escape a submission (like a triangle or armbar), as this can cause catastrophic injuries.

Don't "Crank" Submissions: Apply submissions slowly and with control, giving your partner ample time to tap before you reach the point of injury.