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Alex Kennedy

By Martin S.

Welcome to Gael Force Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (GFBJJ)!  As a member, you are welcome to attend as many classes as you would like each week.  Our class offerings and schedule can be found online at gaelforcejiujitsu.com.

For class, please bring:

  • Water bottle
  • Mouth guard (suggested brands:  SISU, Impact)
  • Gi & belt (can purchase of your own or Fuji brand gi’s can be purchased through the school at a discounted rate)

GFBJJ Rules:

  • Upon arrival, please sign-in using the tablet in the lobby to earn credit for attendance.  While not required, you may register for classes in advance through the Zen Planner app (you will need to obtain user credentials from an instructor).  Please note that the paper clipboard sign-in sheet is for Police Jiu Jitsu (PJJ).
  • No shoes are allowed on the mats.
  • You must wear shoes or sandals to the bathroom.
  • Because we have so many families training at the school you must wear a shirt at all times in the training areas.  Locker rooms are provided for you to change in.
  • Grabbing individual fingers is prohibited during training since it is illegal in the sport of BJJ. You may however grip 4 fingers together.
  • Please be respectful of your training partners by practicing regular personal hygiene and keeping nails trimmed short.
  • Your gi & belt must be washed after each class.
  • For white belts, the only permitted leg lock is a straight ankle lock.  See the vestibule corkboard for more details on our leg lock policy.
  • No picking up and slamming partners to the mat to open their guard.
  • Our prohibited takedowns are Tani Otoshi (This takedown will only be used in judo class under the supervision of coach Kevin Heitzman), single leg takedown where the head is on the outside of the hip, and Kani Basami (scissor takedown).
  • Class is ended by assembling in line at the front of the class.

Mindset and expectations:

  • Progression is based on attendance and instructor discretion.  Because there are only 5 belts in BJJ, stripes and belt promotions are provided at roughly half the speed of other martial arts.  Please note that while no gi training will help develop your skills overall, participation in no gi classes is weighed to a lesser degree in your advancement compared to participation in gi classes.
  • Consistency is key.  In their initial excitement, some students come daily before ultimately burning out and taking a prolonged period off.  Attending at a rate you can reasonably sustain will benefit your learning and performance 3x a week is a great goal to strive for.
  • Newcomers often try to “win at practice” by relying on strength or past experience in other styles of grappling.  While both will aid in BJJ, we encourage you to check your ego and view training as practice instead of a fight.  Checking your ego works both ways.  You should be able to honestly tell your partner to slow down and take it easy.  Not everyone is looking to compete, we need to adjust our practice to the goals of our partner.  Playing off your back is unique to Jiu Jitsu. If you come from a different grappling style you should primarily focus on developing your escapes and attacks from the bottom. You will learn more and become a desirable training partner.  Strength will enhance good technique, strength without technique usually leads to avoidable injuries.

FAQ:

  • How do I get better?
    • Keep coming to class since the common cliche, which holds true, is to accumulate time on the mat.  Additionally, some members take notes after class to aid with info retention.
  • What are good goals for a white belt?
    • To learn a sweep from the bottom, submission from the top, and guard pass. Repetition equals improvement.  Even if the technique doesn’t work at first every time it fails you will learn how to adjust it to suit you.
  • How long does it take to become a blue belt?
    • While it varies by individual, a newcomer who trains consistently can expect to earn their blue belt within 2-years.

Definitions:

  • Positional training - Training from a predetermined spot for focused repetition.
  • Flow speed - Low intensity effort and speed where little resistance is offered to your opponent.
  • Competition speed - Real world effort and speed.

Additional Resources:

  • Jiu-Jitsu Journey - A free app developed by GFBJJ member, Nick Ferraro, to aid white belts in learning fundamental skills.
  • YouTube - The following channels provide helpful content that aligns well with our curriculum:
    • Chewjitsu
    • Jonthomasbjj
    • Marcello Garcia
    • Emily Kwok
    • Bernardo Faria
    • Marcos Tinoco (big oss Jiu Jitsu channel)
    • Art of Jiu Jitsu

Learning Techniques from YouTube can be a blessing and a curse.  While there is good information out there there is a ton of information that is essentially “Style over substance”.  Above are some very highly regarded instructors with valuable content.  BJJ Fanatics is an amazing resource for instructionals from the top teachers in Jiu Jitsu.

We are excited that you’ve made the choice to join GFBJJ!  We are here to help you on your journey and answer any questions you may have along the way.