Welcome to HOGA Jiu Jitsu! These guidelines and etiquette rules are designed to create a safe, respectful, and productive training environment for all our members. Following these rules is essential for the success of our community and the well-being of all trainees.

BJJ students of HOGA

Hygiene Guidelines

Maintaining personal hygiene is of great importance in a sport where people come into very close contact with each other and plays an important role in keeping all gym members healthy.

  1. Pay attention to your appearance. You should always be clean.
  2. Come to class showered.
  3. Always use deodorant.
  4. Brush your teeth before each class, use mouthwash, or chew gum.
  5. Keep your finger and toenails trimmed. Long nails can cause cuts to your training partners.
  6. If you have cuts, tape them up. Make sure they are not open and will not bleed during training.
  7. Do not train with a dirty gi, rash guard, or clothing in general. Always use a clean gi.

Note: Your belt does not have magical antibacterial properties and must be washed after each class, just like the rest of your gi.

  1. Use the changing rooms to change your clothes.
  2. Do not leave your clothes and uniforms lying around everywhere. Keep yourself and your gym clean.
  3. Do not come to class if you feel sick or have a skin infection. Stay home and treat it.
  4. Go to the bathroom before class to avoid interruptions.
  5. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the mats.

Class Guidelines

The way you behave in class directly affects how much you and your fellow students can benefit from the experience. It only takes one person to disrupt the flow of the class and ruin it for everyone. BJJ etiquette during class is specific and there are certain basic rules that should not be broken.

  • Never enter the mat with shoes.
  • When you leave the mat, wear sandals or shoes. Do not go outside with bare feet.
  • Arrive on time for class (15 minutes early). Being late is rude. If you are late, always ask the professor(s) for permission to join the class.
  • Always bow when entering and leaving the mat, and immediately greet the professor(s) first and then your teammates when entering the mat for the first time.
  • Don't skip the warm-up. Even though this is not the most exciting part of the class, it plays an important role.
  • Students must put their phones on vibrate or silent.
  • Listen attentively and quietly to all instructions on or off the mat.
  • Do not talk while the professor is demonstrating a technique. If you have questions, raise your hand and wait for the instructor to call on you.
  • Maintain an attentive posture when watching the technique, and stick to the techniques the instructor has shown.
  • Do not stop practicing a technique until the instructor tells you to stop.
  • Do not leave the mat during class without the professor's permission.
  • When the professor(s) call for lining up, do it quickly and quietly.
  • Be an example for the lower belts.

Sparring Guidelines

BJJ etiquette doesn't stop when the technical part of the class is over. In fact, there are things you should consider when sparring that really impact how positive the experience is not only for you and your training partner, but also for the people around you.

  • Treat everyone with respect, you are sparring with your teammates, not your enemies.
  • Always shake hands, fist bump, or bow before and after sparring.
  • Control your breathing during sparring. This is one of the keys to developing tatami fitness.
  • Be aware that you put technique over strength.
  • Take care of your training partners.
  • Do not teach unless you are specifically asked to. Most people don't like it when their partners teach while they are rolling or performing techniques anyway.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. You need to pay attention to what's happening around you.
  • Lower-ranked pairs are expected to make room for higher-ranked pairs when they get too close to them.
  • If you are too tired to roll, still try to roll, but just defend.
  • Work on your weaknesses. Don't always use your "A-game". Training is not competition. It's a laboratory to improve.

Cross-Training Guidelines

How should you behave when visiting a BJJ academy? Of course, all the BJJ etiquette points we covered about behavior during class and while rolling still apply, but there are a few more things to consider when you are a guest.

  • First and foremost, you should research the gym in advance. Find out about schedules, rules, guidelines, etc.
  • Don't just be on time, preferably come early. This is a new gym and you need to familiarize yourself with the rules and customs there.
  • Treat everyone with respect.
  • Treat the visiting gym as if it were your own.
  • Ask to pay at the end of the class, even if you are not asked to.
  • Pay attention to your rolling etiquette. All BJJ rolling etiquette applies here, perhaps even more than usual.
  • You should just roll. Not to murder everyone in the gym or prove a point. Stick to the basic rules of rolling and enjoy your time on the mats.

Freezing a Membership

We know that accidents and health problems can occur. These can partially or completely prevent participation in classes. Therefore, we allow our members to freeze their active membership once a year upon request.

Important!

At HOGA we promote discipline and respect, we protect and care for our team members and treat them equally, regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or background.

We also apply a zero-tolerance policy for all discriminatory incidents, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct inside or outside the gym.

What does this mean for you?

If you are accused of discriminatory or sexual misconduct in the gym, outside the gym, toward another student or any other person, you will be temporarily suspended while an internal investigation is conducted to determine the facts.

Anyone who is accused will be temporarily excluded until an investigation determines the facts, and if found guilty by our investigation or by the authorities, that person will immediately lose their membership to our team without refund, and their belts and ranks will be automatically revoked.