Question 1

What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Accepted Answer

Bjj is a grappling art that descended from the Japanese martial art of ju jutsu.

Japanese immigrants brought ju jutsu with them to Brazil in the early 1900s. There, the art was adapted (most notably by the Gracie family) as a form of self-defense in which a smaller person uses technique and leverage to control a larger, stronger opponent.

Modern day Brazilian jiu jitsu has become wildly popular both as a means of self-defense and as a sport.Jiu jitsu is also a favorite with law enforcement officers. Bjj has been proven to drastically reduce injuries to both  law enforcement and the people they physically interact with.

Question 2

What are the benefits of bjj?

Accepted Answer

The benefits of Brazilian jiu jitsu are truly too numerous to list, but we'll try to touch on the top 10!

1. When you commit to training bjj regularly, your cardio, strength, flexibility, and overall fitness will skyrocket. You may even lose a few pounds from burning all those calories.

2. Bjj is a total body workout. You don't have to worry about targeting a different muscle group each day, because you'll be working EVERYTHING!

3. Bjj is a great form of practical self-defense. You will learn how to de-escalate aggressors and how to react when de-escalation tactics fail. You'll feel more confident knowing that you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

4. Bjj is for everyone. No matter your age, height, weight, race, gender, or occupation, jiu jitsu is for you! You will learn what techniques work for you and your body type. Our gym invites people from all walks of life and levels of fitness to come train with us!

5. You'll make new friends. Like we said above, jiu jitsu is for everyone. You'll meet a lot of new people, and you'll all have at least one thing in common: a shared love of bjj.

6. You'll never stop learning new things. Bjj is a lifelong journey, and the art itself is constantly evolving. This means that you'll never run out of new techniques to learn or ways to refine them!

7. You'll have opportunities to compete if you choose to. Competition isn't required, but we believe that one of the best bjj learning experiences you can get is from competing, where you put the skills you've learned in class to the test against opponents from other academies. Win or lose, you'll come away with a sense of accomplishment from all the hard work you put in, as well as newfound knowledge on where you can improve your game.

8. "Pressure builds character" is one of our favorite sayings. When you train bjj, you learn how to deal with literal, physical pressure. You learn how to relax your mind and think through ways to solve your problems. This translates into the real world, where you can take this mindset with you to work, school, or anywhere else you may face challenging situations.

9. You'll develop your self-discipline. Self-discipline can be a hard skill to master. But it is one that will take you far in all walks of life. By committing to training bjj and showing up to class consistently, you will also ingrain that discipline into other areas of your life.

10. It's FUN! While we take our training seriously, we love to have fun while we're at it. Even after a tough class, you may find yourself leaving the gym laughing or smiling, already excited to come back for your next class.

Question 3

What should I wear/bring to my first class?

Accepted Answer

Wear comfortable athletic clothing and bring a water bottle with water or your favorite sports drink.

Question 4

What is a gi? And why do you train in it?

Accepted Answer

A gi is a traditional jacket and pants worn for martial arts training. The gi is used to simulate clothing. If we were to train wearing t-shirts or jackets, our clothing would stretch and rip, and it would need to be replaced after every class. A gi is much more durable. A quality gi will last for many years and 1000s of training sessions.

Question 5

Do I need my own gi?

Accepted Answer

We have a selection of gis that new students can borrow. If you decide to stick with jiu jitsu you will want to purchase your own gi.

Question 6

Do you offer no gi classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have no gi classes every other Monday night.

Question 7

What Should I Know Before I Go? (Mat Hygiene)

Accepted Answer

Proper hygiene is crucial for maintaining a clean and safe training environment. Here are some things you can do to help us keep our gym safe:

Please Do NOT:
* Come to class if you are sick. Training puts you into close contact with other people. If you're sick, please stay home. 
*Wear shoes on the mats. This tracks bacteria and dirt onto the mats that we then have to train on. 
*Go the bathroom barefoot. Whatever bacteria is on the bathroom floor is then transferred onto the mats. 
*Train if you have a contagious skin infection such as ringworm.

Please DO:
*Wear deodorant and practice basic hygiene.
*Wash your gi and rash guard after every class. Nobody wants to train with a smelly partner.  
*Keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed. We don't want to scratch our training partners. 
*Remove ALL jewelry before training.

Question 8

How long will it take to get my black belt?

Accepted Answer

A student who trains consistently will generally be ready for promotion from white to blue belt in approximately 2 years. It can take 10 years or longer to get your black belt.

Jiu jitsu is a lifelong journey. In comparison to other martial arts, bjj takes the longest amount of time to earn a black belt. Innate ability, the amount of time it takes you to become proficient with the techniques you are taught, and the amount of time you can invest in training, varies from person to person.

We recommend focusing on your personal journey rather than belt rank. If you train consistently and put in the hours, the knowledge (and belt promotions) will come in their own time.

Question 9

Do you have a kids' class?

Accepted Answer

At this time we do not have a dedicated class for kids. Kids age 10 and up are welcome to train with the adults.

Question 10

How do adult belt ranks work?

Accepted Answer

Adult belt rankings (age 16+):

White | Blue | Purple | Brown | Black 
 White belts are beginners. After you have trained the requisite number of hours and have shown you understand the skills you've been taught, you earn a stripe for your belt. Each belt rank from white to brown can earn up to 4 stripes before being promoted to the next colored belt rank.

Black belts have their own unique ranking system. After decades of training, a black belt may even earn the coveted (and rare) red and black belt. The red (or coral) belt is reserved for the original founders and developers of Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Question 11

How do children's belt ranks work?

Accepted Answer

Kids (age 16 and under) belt colors:

White | Gray | Yellow | Orange | Green

A child must be at least 16 years of age to advance to the adult belt ranking system and earn their blue belt.

Harrison County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Self-Defense Based Jiu Jitsu Classes | MMA | Boxing
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FAQ

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