Beginner’s Guide

What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting and joint locks and chokes. The goal is to control your partner and force them to give up with a submission – without strikes or kicks. Technique, timing and leverage beat raw strength, which is why smaller people can control bigger, stronger partners.

BJJ has its roots in Japanese jiu-jitsu and judo. In the early 20th century the Japanese judoka Mitsuyo Maeda brought the art to Brazil, where the Gracie family developed it further with a focus on ground fighting. BJJ gained worldwide recognition in the 1990s when Royce Gracie won the first UFC tournaments – proving just how effective grappling is.

Who is BJJ for?

BJJ is for everyone – regardless of age, gender, fitness or prior experience. You don’t need any martial arts background to start. Many people come to get fit, to be able to defend themselves, or simply to be part of a community. Our minimum age is 16. If you’re unsure, come to a free trial class and just give it a try.

Rules & objective

A match starts standing. The objective is to take your partner down, establish a dominant position and eventually force a submission – a joint lock or choke – making them tap. The “tap” signals surrender, and your partner releases immediately.

If a round ends without a submission, points decide the winner. Points are awarded for reaching dominant positions such as passing the guard, the mount or back control. Strikes, kicks and slams are forbidden – BJJ is not MMA. Light sparring is called “rolling” and is part of every session.

Health & safety

BJJ is safer than many people think. Minor knocks happen, but serious injuries are rare – as long as everyone trains responsibly. The most important rule: tap early and any time. Your health is more important than your ego. Position before submission, applying techniques under control, and mutual respect keep the mat safe. Certain techniques (e.g. heel hooks or neck cranks) are left out of regular training. You’ll find all the details in our rules & guidelines.

Hygiene & skincare

Because BJJ is a close-contact sport, hygiene is essential to prevent skin infections. Come to training with a clean Gi and clean clothing, and wash both after every session. Keep your finger- and toenails short, don’t walk barefoot off the mat (especially not to the bathroom), and stay home if you’re sick or have open wounds. This protects both you and your training partners.

What equipment do I need?

You need very little equipment to get started – one of the reasons BJJ is so accessible. We train in the Gi (the uniform worn in far-eastern martial arts); a judo Gi works too. For your first trial class, regular sportswear is fine, and if you message us beforehand we can probably lend you a Gi.

• Required: a Gi (kimono), ideally with a rash guard underneath
• Recommended: a mouthguard
• Optional: ear guards (to prevent cauliflower ear), groin guard