Inside this guide, you’ll learn about our mission, academy hygiene & personal conduct policies, safety rules, training etiquette, membership polices (signing up, pausing, cancelling) , and fundamental BJJ concepts that will help you succeed on and off the mats.

Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is like learning a new language with your body and it is often compared to chess in it’s complexities and strategy. It is challenging, humbling, and incredibly rewarding. Here we aim to build strong students with well rounded games and a social club atmosphere backed by support and positivity. This guide is designed to help you navigate your first few weeks so you can train safely and effectively. Remember on average it takes 8-10 years to earn a blackbelt, it is very common to feel lost after your first few classes, and there is nothing as a coach that I can say or demonstrate, in a limited amount of time, that will make you have a complete sense of the art. With consistency you’ll find things quickly begin to make sense and patterns emerge.

Stay with it! I’ve been doing Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts for over 17 years, however in my first 3 months, I really didn’t enjoy it. One day it clicked and I saw it for the game of chess it is, with strategy, tactics, and the added joy one feels after a tough workout with friends. I’m glad I stuck around past those initial 3 months, because my life improved in so many ways because of jiu-jitsu. I got healthier, I visited places throughout the world to train and compete, I’ve met hundreds of people whom I would of never met, learned an amazing art, I’ve won and lost competitive matches in BJJ and MMA, I’ve used what I learn to defend myself in real life, and discovered the joy of teaching, all because of jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is tough in the beginning, I won’t lie to you, but if you stick with it, you will progress quickly. Find joy in the little accomplishments like the first time you escape a bad position. I hope you discover your own rewards as well from consistent training.

What is Jiu-Jitsu? Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art focused on controlling and submitting an opponent using leverage, technique, and positioning rather than strength. It emphasizes ground fighting, joint locks, and chokeholds, allowing a smaller person to effectively defend against and overcome a larger opponent through skill and strategy. You can also think of it as wrestling with submissons. The philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu centers on efficiency and problem-solving under pressure. It values control over force, steady improvement over ego, and using smart technique and concepts to manage difficult situations. It is full of different styles and strategies to choose from to compliment your personality and physical build. It is a corner stone of MMA and many self-defense systems, with it’s own unique subculture and tournaments.

The primary goal of Jiu-Jitsu is to bring an opponent to the ground, where their mobility and ability to strike are greatly reduced. This also helps minimize advantages in size, strength, and athleticism.

Once on the ground, we work to advance around their legs to dominant pinning positions such as mount, side control, or the back. These positions allow us to progressively isolate and control different parts of our opponent’s body. Much like capturing pieces in a game of chess, every positional improvement limits our opponent’s options while increasing our own.

As we gain control, we continue to break down their movement until we can hold them safely, apply a submission such as a joint lock or choke, or, in a real self-defense situation, create opportunities to disengage or, if absolutely necessary, deliver strikes.

To prepare for real-world confrontations, we practice by playing the game of Jiu-Jitsu with our teammates. During training we do not strike one another, but at times we spar with realistic resistance and intensity. This allows us to safely develop the timing, pressure, problem-solving, and composure needed to apply these skills under stress while minimizing the risk of injury.

A Message to Parent’s with children enrolled.

Our philosophy on teaching kids is we strive to find a balance between fun, discipline, and skill development. Especially among younger children this can be a challenge, but your support in helping correct behavioral issues is always appreciated. If your children begin to cry, encourage them to come back to the mat. When they lose focus, help us refocus. If they play too hard or argue with another student, remind them to limit their intensity. We will do our part to correct this behaviors as well, but it is always good when parents and coaches are teaching the same lessons.

We do not baby our students. At the end of the day we want to deliver certain outcomes. We take the development of the kids very seriously and we want them to be able to defend themselves and develop confidence from that as soon as possible. We want them to make friends and learn how to be social in a world that is conforming kids to be content with an abundance of screen time. We want them to enjoy the training and do a good job so we can we can reward them with a game of soccer at the end of a class.

Kids will be doing plenty of live grappling and sometimes this can be difficult at first emotionally. If they stick with , most children will get over this, and begin viewing it as an extension of their play. Through overcoming emotional barriers in live grappling and moving instead towards real time problem solving, children are learning an incredible skill that will benefit them the rest of their lives. They will learn how to relax, breathe, and work their way through anything that comes their way in life. If they run off the mats every time they feel frustrated and the parent reinforces this behavior, then this problem may persist for years. Jiu-Jitsu teaches patience, confidence, humbleness, but remember this can take time and it sometimes, just like it is for the adult student , can be tough mentally and physically. Jiu-Jitsu teaches us that often, growth often doesn’t come easy, and it must be worked on and tended to over and over. Give your a child a chance to overcome barriers and grow.

Golden Rules of Wolves
1. Tap Early, Tap Often

Safety is our #1 priority. If you are caught in a submission or feel uncomfortable pressure:

The Tap: Physically tap your partner’s body 2-3 times with your hand and/or say tap. If your hands are pinned, tap your feet on the mat or yell “TAP!”
The Response: The moment you feel a tap, release immediately.
Ego Check: Tapping is not losing; it is a “reset” button that allows you to keep training without getting injured. Every tap is an opportunity to review what went wrong and find ways to fix it.

2. Hygiene: Respect the Mats & Your Partners

BJJ is a close-contact sport. Following these rules keeps everyone healthy:

Trim Your Nails: Long finger and toe nails act like claws. Keep them short and smooth to avoid scratching your partners.
Wash Your Gear: Your Gi (uniform) and rash guard must be washed after every single class. Also wash gym bags, BJJ belts, and anything else that needs washing. Never wear a dirty Gi to the mats. Trust me. We smell it.
No Shoes/Socks on Mat. Mandatory Footwear Off Mat: Never step on the mats with shoes. Conversely, never walk into the bathroom or non matted area barefoot—always wear flip-flops. No street shoes in the gym, please remove them in the hallway at the base of the stairs and put on your indoor footwear. No socks on mats, only bare feet. We wash the mats after every class to ensure they stay safe as possible. With this policy we are trying to reduce slippery floors, dirt in the gym, and anything harmful that can lead to infections on the mat.
Shower ASAP , Wash hands, Deodorant, Mouth Wash: Shower as soon as possible after class to prevent skin issues. Always wash your hands after bathroom use. We have hand sanitizer here for you as well. Please make sure you are wearing deodorant and freshen your breath if needed.
Monitoring skin, : Shower as soon as possible after class to prevent skin infections. Also always wash your hands after bathroom use. We have hand sanitizer here for you as well. Please make sure you are wearing deodorant. Skin infections and fungus are a potential reality for all martial arts schools, but with good hygiene and sanitation, they rarely appear. Keep an eye on your skin for any unusual rashes or irritations and seek medical advice if needed. If an issue does occur, please let the instructor know, so we can address the problem to students so we can limit further spreading through knowledge and appropriate sanitation . We will keep it anonymous. Don’t train with open wounds.

3. The Positional Hierarchy & Understanding Jiu-Jitsu Early On

In BJJ once on the ground, we follow a “ladder” of positions. Your goal is to move from a bad or lesser positions to a better one. Getting to a better position is essentially like removing your opponents chess pieces off a board. They will have less available options and they are closer to being checkmated. Some people start on the ground, others like start standing and try to takedown their partner into ground work. You may also find yourself in someone’s guard, and you’re goal will be to pass their guard ( move around or through the legs to get to mount, back control, etc). In a actual fight the more advantageous positions would put you in a position where you could strike an opponent with lesser risk of getting hit yourself. In tournaments we do not strike, we can score based on getting to more dominant positions or win by getting a submisson. Not everyone competes, but we still want to train with this hierarchy in mind.

Position	Status	Your Goal
Back Control	Most Dominant	You are behind them with legs hooked inside their legs or locked across their waist. Look for the attacking option such as a choke or an armbar.
Mount	Dominant	You are sitting on their stomach. Maintain heavy pressure and look for attacks. You can also transition to the back. In a fight you can also strike your opponent or use the strikes to set up submissons.
Side Control	Advantage	You are on top chest-to-chest, perpendicular. Keep them pinned and improve position or look for an attack.
The Guard	Neutral	The guard is what generally separates us from other grappling arts. The purpose of the guard is first defensive. If someone is on top of you in a fight, it is imperative to keep your legs connected to the front of your opponent to control them and manage . The guard allows you to make connections on your partner to destabilize them for the purpose of knocking them over, taking the back, standing to feet, or looking for submisson. Depending how and where we position our hands and feet, will define which guard we are playing. Some of the common guards are closed, half, butterfly, De la Riva, and X guard. All guards have the same purpose as discussed above, but some are better suited for different body types and situations.
Bottom Mount, back control, bottom side control	Disadvantage	You are pinned. Stay calm, frame, and look to escape.

5 Pillars of Jiu-Jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu contains hundreds of techniques one could learn, making it impossible to remember every detail. Rather than focusing solely on individual moves, students should strive to understand the underlying concepts that make those techniques work.

Learning a specific technique is like memorizing a recipe for a loaf of bread. Understanding concepts is like learning how flour, water, yeast, and heat interact to create bread in the first place. Once you understand the principles, you can adapt, troubleshoot, and create solutions in situations you’ve never encountered before.

Concepts provide a deeper understanding of Jiu-Jitsu and often apply across a wide range of positions and scenarios. While techniques may change, the concepts behind them remain constant.

Base, Balance, and Posture- You want a good base anytime you are on your feet wrestling, passing, or doing Judo. Poor balance, posture, and base will mean you will get knocked over often or leave you vulnerable to submissons and bad positions. Good base usually means that your feet are shoulder with apart, your head is aligned with your hips, and your grounding your weight to the mat.
Connection + Off-Balancing (kazushi)-Controlling and staying connected to your opponent. From guard, your goal is to make and maintain connections to your your partner with the goal of keeping their weight off of you and to eventually off-balance them to sweep, submit, or take their back. Vice versa, while in someone’s guard you are actively trying to remove connections to be at less risk. When in a top dominant position, we try to remove their pieces from the board ( frames) to limit their escapes and make them easier to control. Kazushi can also mean moving their limbs to vulnerable positions. In positions where you are vulnerable, keeping your elbows and knees tight to your core will often help out on defense.
Frames, Space Management & Movement – Creating space when defending and removing space when attacking. Frames ( using your arms and legs to keep someone away) and getting onto your side is a big part of this. Denying frames and controlling things like hips, head , and shoulders while on top , limits movement from your opponent.
Angle Creation– Creating angles, transitions, and mobility. Opens up attack options, opens up passing opportunities.
Pressure & Control Off-balancing, pressure, and positional dominance. Understanding how to control your partner and what they need to escape. Pressure is using our body’s mass against their center to keep them pinned. Control is limiting movement through pressure and denying them the use of their arms and legs.

Every technique taught can be tied back to one or more of those pillars. For example:

Mount → Pressure + Control

Closed Guard → Connection + Kazushi + Angle Creation= Armbars, triangle chokes, sweeps.

Side Control Escape → Frames + Space Management= Getting your guard back

Double Leg Takedown → Base + Connection+ Off-Balancing = Top position

Fundamental Classes, Fundamental Skills and Concepts
We do not have a traditional fundamentals class here. I prefer the white belts to be in the same room as experienced practitioners , that way they are not only receiving guidance from instructors, but also people with 2-10+ years of experience. After 18 years of doing this, I have found this to be a much greater catalyst to developing students faster, but of course this requires a bit faith on behalf the new student, because we are not necessarily giving them a nice orderly list of 30 beginner techniques to learn. The truth is you can memorize and demonstrate all 30 of those moves against non resisting partners, but it may not mean much if you can’t perform it live under stress. That is why understanding concepts and live resistance games matter. I do not believe that fundamentals are techniques. I believe fundamentals are concepts which are building blocks for technique. Concepts are versatile. Some concepts from the guard will apply to other non – guard situations, so one bit of knowledge can cover a vast amount of scenarios, and that principle can help you learn much faster.

Traditionally a fundamentals class would be something like “Here is an armbar from guard”, demonstration , and rep it until time it is up. The curriculum would have something 30 moves on it. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but what I would encourage you to do along with learning individual techniques is the concepts and understanding of why things work, how we get to situations where it is possible to do those techniques, and the concepts surrounding these situations. In our class, there will always be a fundamental concept surrounding the day’s lesson.

If we are learning to escape a pin such as mount, a fundamental concept would be framing & creating space, in this case your partner’s hips and creating space. The fundamental frame helps to prevent your partner from improving his position. The frame will keep them connected to your hips and legs while protecting your arms from being attacked. By having your hips connected directly underneath their hips and your legs closer to their legs, our pathway to recover our guard ( attaching our legs to our partner) or reversing our partner and getting on top. If we do not frame our arms become vulnerable to attack and the top player can move their hips up into your armpits and we would be much less mobile, able to escape and face potential armlocks.

With that here is a list of some of the techniques you will commonly see through out all BJJ belt levels. Everyone is different and not everyone carries the same technique in their game. Not every technique is for everyone and the truth is a lot of the techniques listed below have shared concepts as others. Do not worry about trying to memorize all this, over time, even if we don’t attach a name or label to these moves, you will start to understand how they work in a live setting. As you learn technique, ask yourself, what is it about my position and my opponents positioning that allows for this to work. If it doesn’t work when you try, now is the time to work on problem solving skills. Maybe their posture is to strong to flip them over your head. Maybe their elbow was to tight to their body to successfully isolate for an armbar. Understanding what needs to happen to make a technique work is more valuable than the technique itself when it comes to improving your game quickly. As you improve you learn to anticipate reactions from opponent’s defense. This is where the fun begins, because timing anticipated movements is how we capture an opponent’s energy and use it against them. If we are both pushing and suddenly I pull, they will stumble.

Feel free to Youtube some of these if you want some context.

Wrestling/ Judo/ Takedowns
Basically if we want to take someone to the ground, then we need to find a pathway through their defense ( hands , head , and hips) and then connect to their center. We can do that by grabbing legs, hips, or head . Once connected we want to off balance and bring them down. Takedowns can be throws ( hip throw, shoulder throw) , trips (inside or outside) , sweeps ( foot sweeps), leg attacks (single leg or double leg). The difficult part will be fighting those hands and getting close enough to make the initial connection as your partner tries to do the same to you!

Standing Wrestling/ Judo- Double leg takedown, single leg, snap downs, arm drag, harai goshi ( hip throw), o-soto-gari,inside trip, mat return. Ties such as collar tie, 2 on 1, over under. Front headlock.

Standing Concepts- Stance & Posture, grip fighting, level changing and footwork, kazushi (off-balancing) building pressure, managing distance. Chaining takedowns based on their reaction.
Standing Defense– Sit-out, sprawls, whizzer, posturing, fighting hands
,
Guard
Guard aka fighting off our back serves as a defensive minded shell that can be used to keep an attacker away from us, to allow us to stand back up, or we can attack from their with submissions, sweeps ( reversing and getting on top) or taking their back. In sport Jiu-Jitsu alot of people like to fight off the back, but in a real altercation we would rather be on top to avoid strikes. Guard is the most versatile position in jiu-jitsu and people can play a wide range of styles. The important part is keeping our legs on our opponent at all time to manage distance and keep control. Legs and hips are strong and without them I reliant purely on upper body strength. We then use our connected legs in combination with some grips via our hands to destabilize our partner until we improve our position.

Guard Attacks– Armlocks, kimura and the figure 4 grip, guillotine, collar chokes, triangle choke, omaplata.
Guard concepts– Creating connections, controlling distances, framing, kazushi and disrupting base ,breaking posture and defensive structure, angles, inside position, attacking in combination, guard retention,elbow knee connection, grips, posts, hooks and grip fighting, moving between different guards.
Guard defense– Framing, leg pummeling, base-post-hip escaping.
Guard sweeps and taking the back– Hip bump sweep, pendulum sweep, hook sweep, tripod sweep, scissor sweep,tomoe nage sweep, arm drag to back.
Guards often defined as “beginner guards” – Closed, halfguard, butterfly, X-guard, single leg x-guard.

Passing – Passing can be one of the most difficult things to master. Against experienced people you will be faced with a spider web of guard play, where they will look to entangle, knock you over or attack. Overtime you will learn how to disconnect from them, keep your balance, find angles, and navigate around their legs to achieve a dominant position.

Passes– Torreando, kneecut, split pass, smash pass, single under , double under, body lock, 3/4 mount pass, leg drag. 2 legs outside, 2 legs inside, headquaters position. Opening closed guard.
Passing Concepts– Posture, base, defensive structure ( head up , elbows tucked to your body), removing connections and winning grips, inside/ outside position, pressure, hip control, head control, creating angles, chaining passes, chest to chest, leg staples.

Dominant Positions Offense (side control , mount, back control) & Defense (bottom of side control , mount, back)– When on top , stay on top. Don’t let them reguard. Looking for attacking opportunities or improve your position.
When on bottom, remember to relax and breathe. This is problem solving and its toughest. Try to find frames and begin to create space. A little or a lot of space, it doesn’t matter, any bit will help.

Attacks– head and arm chokes such as arm triangle, anaconda, darce. Triangle chokes, armbar, kimura, americana, collar chokes, rear naked choke.
Attacking concepts – Removing frames, inside position, pins and pinning, creating pressure, transitioning to other dominant positions, isolating limbs, minimizing space, creating dilemmas ( make them choose between 2 bad options) and traps, back exposure and taking the back, finishing mechanics for various attacks. Controlling the centner of mass.

Defensive Techniques- Framing and keeping elbows in, elbow-knee escape, posting and basing, hip escaping, bump and roll, turtling and fighting from turtle, recovering guard, technical standup, inverting.
Defensive Concepts- Creating space via frames, back exposure, timing, counter attacking, winning inside position, leg pummeling, facing your opponent vs rolling away from, hand fighting.

4. Learning to Fall / Breakfalls ( Very Important! )

Before you learn to throw someone, you must learn to land. Please take the time to watch the video below. Even pros can forget to do this, so it is important to build this habit early. There is a section on live wrestling safety below that you should also become familar with.

Tuck Your Chin: Never let the back of your head hit the mat. Keep your chin glued to your chest.
Disperse Energy: When falling backward or sideways, slap the mat with your palms and forearms at a 45-degree angle. This absorbs the impact so your spine doesn’t have to. Make noise with your hands and stayed relaxed throughout the process.
Don’t Reach: Never, ever, try to “catch” yourself with a straight arm; this is how wrists and elbows break.

5. The “White Belt Fog”

Jiu-Jitsu can take a while to grasp. For the first few months, you will likely feel like you are lost in certain areas or that you don’t know what to do with your limbs. Your body is sore and every round is exhausting. This is normal and if you keep showing up with a learner’s mindset your body will adapt. Confused? Good! There are no stupid questions! Ask away, we are here to help!

Consistency and balance is Key: Showing up 2-3 times a week is better than training 6 days a week for one month and quitting. It is common to think you aren’t making progress early on, but if you are consistent, I promise that you are making progress, it’s just hard to see the forest for the trees in the beginning. We are always available to answer the question “What can I do to be better?”.
Focus on Survival: Your only goal for the first 6 months is to learn how to breathe, stay calm, and escape bad positions while learning how to avoid bad positions.
Belts : Adult belt system goes- White, blue, purple, brown, black. With consistent training you can expect to earn a blue belt in 1 to 2 years, determined by consistency, skill development, and attitude.
Stripes are awarded to white belts for effort, consistency, and skill development.

6. Relaxing and what not to do..

It can be tense for a lot of people when they begin live work. Try to stay loose. Try to catch yourself if you’re clenching muscles or holding your breath and remind yourself to relax. Being overly stiff can actually lead to injuries for you and your partner. Good jiu-jitsu is relaxed jiu-jitsu and allows you read the situation and shifts in energy and weight more easily to use in your favor . In the beginning try to focus on stuff you learned in class and don’t try to brute force your way through positions. Again, feel free to ask when stuck.

We call it spazzing when someone is just trying to use pure strength, speed, and force to move in and out of positions. This can lead to injuries and training partners are less likely to want to train with you. It is also not scalable to higher skill levels and will lead to you gassing out early. We try our best to help people get over spazzing quickly. Rolling methodically and with control, tells your new training partner that “I can trust this person”.
Focus on Survival: Your only goal for the first 6 months is to learn how to breathe, stay calm, and escape bad positions, and focus on not ending up in bad positions. In guard practice keeping your connections on your partner and keeping them in front of you.
We play jiu-jitsu as a sort of game, to fine tune our own individual game. As you progress through the months, you will see how efficient you will become and how easy it will be to control a brand new student, giving you confidence that you can defend yourself in a real altercation. We do a lot of live mini games in this academy. This is to develop the skills needed to work against resistance which is what you’ll be dealing with in an actual altercation or while competing.

Cranking and Illegal Academy Techniques. Do not crank submissons, the goal is to always give your partner time to tap. Likewise always be willing to tap. Trust me, this stuff works, and it will injure if you let your ego get the best of you. We’ve all tapped countless times throughout our journey. It is simply part of the process while you’re developing your skills. We do not allow moves such as neck cranks, flying leg scissor takedowns, bending fingers, slams, hands to the inside of the face (eyes/nose/mouth) and white belts unless having permission from a training partner may only finish straight ankle locks for their option of leg locks. We have a very low injury rate here, but it continues to be everyone’s responsibility to keep one another safe.

Always be aware of your surroundings. Look around and try to never crash into another group or fall outside the matted area. Wrestling into a grounded group can be very dangerous. Always find a new spot to reset if your about to run into another group.

Respect the gym and your training partners. We welcome all walks of life into our gym as long as they respect their team and academy and want to get better at jiu-jitsu. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and we have no problem removing members who threaten our gym’s positive atmosphere and culture. Help keep the gym clean, by throwing out or recycling your trash.

Learn to adapt to different partners over time. Some members are older with full time jobs and families and do this for fun and exercise once a week. Other members are competitors with less obligations and dreams of winning medals. Just remember to let everyone know you are new and they will help you out. At the end of the day we all want to go home healthy and continue growing a positive academy.

7. Friday Night Roll, Open Mats, Group Chat

Once a month on a Friday Night, we do the Friday Night Roll. We generally turn on the LED lights, music, do open sparring for an hour or so, then everyone hangs out afterwards and have drinks and some food. Sometimes we play Super Smash Bros, watch a hockey game, play games, NERF wars, soccer, or celebrate a member who is moving away, anything at all. It is a lot of fun and highly recommend trying to make it. It is a great way to meet everyone on a personal level and feel like your apart of the culture.

Open Mat on Saturdays at noon, is where we don’t teach class, but rather our team and other area teams all roll for an hour and a half. It is excellent training, but always make sure to introduce yourself to someone new and let them know you are a beginner that just started. That tells the other person to lower their intensity. If you are not an active member of a BJJ or grappling school, then you are not permitted to come to our open mat. This is for safety concerns.

We also have a Messenger Group chat we suggest joining. It’s a good way to keep up to date with gym news, talk technique and get to know people. Just ask Brandon for an invite and he will send you an invite!

Your “White Belt” Vocabulary

You’ll hear these words a lot. There is more, as jiu-jitsu language will use a mix of English, Brazilian-Portuguese, and Japanese, sometimes with the same word have multiple names . Here is some of the definitions.

“Rolling/ Rounds”: This is our word for sparring.
“Shrimping/ hip escape”: A fundamental hip movement used to create space .
Upa/ Bridge: Using your hips to off-balance your partner by first driving your feet in the mat when fighting off your back. Used to reverse or escape.
“Guard Passing”: The act of getting past your opponent’s legs ( the guard player fighting off their back) to reach a dominant position such as side control, mount, or the back control.
“Frames”: Getting your arms back in front of your training partner to try to keep them at a distance so you can recover to a stronger position.
“Sweep”: When you are on the bottom of guard and use your legs/hips to flip your opponent so you end up on top.
“Gi vs. No-Gi”: Gi is the traditional kimono (jacket, belt and pants). No-Gi is training in shorts and a “rash guard” (compression shirt). It is the same game, with different nuances. The gripping in gi can be more complex with a variety of extra styles of guard you can play. The rulesets can differ slightly between gi and no-gi at different tournaments. Both styles compliment each other and I recommend training both.
- The Slap Bump: Before every live round (sparring), you slap palms and bump fists with your partner. It is a mutual agreement to train safely and with respect.
Grips & Connections: There are Collar grips, sleeve grips, hooks ( using your “shoelaces” to control or “hook” an arm or leg), posts ( using palm or sole of your foot to control distance). Basically anyway we can attach yourself to someone to control.
Recompose : To put yourself back in front of your partner with your feet attached to them in someway while playing guard. This is a good thing , because if our feet are not in attached it usually means they have a strong position on us like side control.
Spaz: Someone that recklessly spars . They try to brute force and race their way though the round without much technique in order to win. They lack knowledge and try to compensate by being overly athletic, but while doing so puts them self and others at risk. They gas out quickly as well and while they might do well against other smaller beginners, this style is not scalable against experienced people and is quickly defeated. Try not to be a spaz.
Oss: A versatile term derived from Japanese, used to mean “okay,” “understand,” ,”acknowledgement”, or “respect”.

I will try to make a video series in time, but feel free to Youtube BJJ beginner basics ( I like Lachlan Giles and John Danaher’s free videos ) and how to tie a BJJ belt if your itching for more information.

Membership, Pause, Cancellation Policy

At Wolves Academy of Jiu-Jitsu, we keep things simple:

No long-term contracts
No sign-up fees
No cancellation fees
You may cancel anytime

When you signup, the membership tuition is month to month and auto debit. If you signed up October 2nd, your next payment will be November 2nd. When signed up you are considered an active member of the gym with month to month payments. If you are someone that locks their card, please unlock it the day of payment. The software will usually run the card at the same date and time of when you first signed up.

Membership Pauses and Cancellation

To keep the academy running sustainably, all membership pauses must include a specific return date so we can schedule billing to resume accordingly.

Indefinite or open-ended pauses are not permitted.
If your situation changes (injury, life events, etc.), just reach out — we’re happy to do a 1 time per pause adjustment to your return date in most cases.
We do not pause accounts or credit for injuries/travel/sick days for anything less than a month.

Pausing without a return date effectively reserves a training spot without contributing to operating costs. Because mat space and class capacity are limited, we cannot hold spots indefinitely. The reason for the pause may be taken into consideration when determining whether the requested duration is reasonable. As a small business, we know it is not possible for everyone, but it is always greatly appreciated and remembered anytime you continue paying tuition rather than pausing.

If You Cancel

You may cancel anytime prior to 3 days of your next billing. Simply send us a message at wolvesjiujitsu@gmail.com. If you choose to cancel instead of pausing:

Re-enrollment is subject to current availability
You may be placed on a waitlist if classes are full
Membership will be subject to current pricing

Once a payment has been made, we do not offer refunds. If you can’t use the time to train during that month, we’ll allow for another time.

If your payment does not go through and we are unable to contact you / you do not contact us, we will considered the account cancelled after a couple weeks and you will potentially lose your spot and be put on a wait list and lose your current rate if you want to return. Keeping us informed and up to date on payment delays is very much appreciated.

Non-active members may not compete under the Wolves name or receive benefits like belt promotions.

We’re committed to keeping jiu-jitsu affordable and stress-free, while also making responsible decisions to keep Wolves strong long term.

If you have any questions, just reach out!

BJJ Sparring and Training Guidelines

Respect Your Training Partners: Always treat your training partners with respect. Communicate openly and ensure everyone feels safe during practice.
Start with Controlled Techniques: When sparring, begin with slower, more controlled movements to prevent injuries and help both partners acclimate to the flow of training. Always give your partner time to tap. While drilling, unless stated, don’t resist your partner’s movements, there is a time to spar later.
Tap Early, Tap Often: If you are caught in a submission or feel uncomfortable, tap physically and/or verbally to indicate a stop. This ensures safety and helps prevent injuries.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Maintain awareness of your environment, including other sparring pairs, to avoid accidents and collisions, especially if wrestling near grounded groups.
Use Appropriate Intensity: Adjust the intensity of your sparring based on your skill level, size and the experience of your training partner. Avoid going 100% with less experienced partners. If new, it is often a natural instinct to go as hard as you can, a better way to approach is to go light and work on the things you have been taught so far or ask your partner for guidance
Communicate Before and During Sparring: Maintain open lines of communication. Discuss with your partner what techniques you want to practice or any concerns about safety. If a body part hurts prior to training, let your know partner know so they can focus on avoiding it. Likewise respect your partner’s injuries and do your best avoid aggravating it.
No Striking or Slams: In BJJ training, avoid striking or slamming moves that are not part of the training to keep the environment safe and focused on grappling.
Stay Focused on Technique: Concentrate on executing techniques correctly rather than just trying to win. This mindset improves skill development for everyone involved.
Encourage and Support Each Other: Create a positive atmosphere by encouraging your training partners, helping them to improve their skills while fostering camaraderie.
End Sparring Respectfully: At the end of each sparring session, acknowledge your partner with a handshake or friendly gesture to maintain a respectful and positive training environment.
Illegal Techniques: We do not allow scissor takedowns, neck cranks, small joint manipulations (fingers), fishhooks, slams, striking, takedowns that lands your partner on their neck or head. For leg locks, White belts may only use straight ankle locks. They may use other techniques, but must have prior permission from their partner before rolling. As always, you must apply techniques with control and safety in mind.
Leg Locks: No heel hooks in the gi. In NoGi it is best to ask a partner what they are okay with before attempting a certain leg technique during training. Some people are willing to train full leg locks while other’s may have previous injuries and prefer not to do something like a heel hook. When in doubt, ask your partner before rolling please!
Do not coach over a coach: If an instructor goes to a group to help teach a technique, try to listen, and let the instructor complete his instruction before trying to help training partner.
Yield to Higher Belts: Though not always necessary, if a group bumps into a higher ranking group while sparring/drilling, it is considered respectful to move out of the way and find an open space to reset.
No Jewelry: Do not wear jewelry on the mats. This includes necklaces, earrings, watches. This is for your you and your partners safety and to protect your bling.

Learn to adapt to different partners over time. Some members are older with full time jobs and families and do this for fun and exercise once a week. Other members are competitors with less obligations and dreams of winning medals. Just remember to let everyone know you are new and they will help you out. At the end of the day we all want to go home healthy and continue growing a positive academy.
Stand-Up / Wrestling Safety Rules
I understand that failing to follow these rules may result in injuries to my training partner, negatively impact the academy, and may result in suspension or expulsion from the gym.
I will not attempt any technique that I am not confident I can perform safely.
I will immediately reset our position if we enter another group’s space. I will not crash into another group. I recognize that colliding with a grounded group can lead to devastating injuries.
I will always try to avoid making my partner land on their head or neck.
I will wrestle against the walls and will remain aware of the walls, poles, and other obstacles.
While completing a takedown, I will create enough space so my partner does not absorb the full impact of my body weight.
I will do my best to allow my training partner to perform a proper breakfall by ensuring they have the use of a free arm before landing whenever possible. I will also do my best to avoid landing on any part of their body that is trapped or twisted as a result of the technique.
I will not throw or drive my leg into my partner’s knee to complete a takedown.
Scissor takedowns are prohibited.
Before participating in stand-up training, I acknowledge that I understand what a proper breakfall is and how to perform one. If I have not been taught how to breakfall correctly, I will ask a coach for instruction before participating.
If I am not comfortable training stand-up with a particular individual, I will pull guard or ask to start on the ground. I will not pressure anyone to participate in stand-up if they are uncomfortable.
When the mats are crowded, I recognize that it is safer to begin training on the ground until adequate space becomes available.
If I am significantly larger or stronger than my training partner, I will adjust my intensity accordingly.

BJJ Gym Code of Conduct and Behavior Guidelines

Respect All Members: Treat every member, regardless of their skill level, with respect and kindness. Promote a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Inform, do not diminish if a newer student does something not conducive with our guidelines . We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
No Discrimination, Harassment, Making Members Feel Uncomfortable On or Off the Mats : Maintain a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, or any form of bullying. Everyone has the right to train in a safe environment. Members have every right to anonymously report any undetected harassments of any sort and we will address the issue with confidentiality and be open with both parties. Anyone caught violating the harrasment policy will have membership terminated. This includes racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, hate speech, sexual harassment ,etc. This also applies to out of gym conduct as well if evidence proves it. This policy is for every student, instructor, and parent of Wolves Jiu-Jitsu.
Practice Good Sportsmanship: Win or lose, demonstrate good sportsmanship. Shake your training partner’s hand and maintain a positive attitude during practice and competition.
Encourage Each Other: Foster a supportive environment by encouraging fellow members. Help others improve by offering constructive feedback and celebrating their successes.
Stay Open to Learning: Approach training with a growth mindset. Be open to feedback from instructors and peers, and take the initiative to learn new techniques and concepts.
Arrive on Time: Be punctual for classes and training sessions whenever possible. It is fine to be late if coming from school/work/ mandatory obligations, but when you can be on time it help’s the instructors stay focused on the current task rather then having to teach something previously taught.
Keep Personal Matters Private: Maintain the confidentiality of personal discussions and respect the privacy of other members. Do not engage in gossip or negative talk. Politics, religion, etc, and other sensitive conversations are not recommended on the mats.
Prioritize Safety: Always prioritize safety during training. Follow the gym’s guidelines, communicate any injuries or concerns, and avoid reckless behavior.
Please focus and do not talk during instruction: Instructors work hard to develop lessons and talking while they are teaching is disrespectful. You are more than welcome to have a conversation while drilling or non instruction times.
Sign into Class: Sign into class on the tablet before stepping onto mats. Signing in allows us to track attendance, memberships, and makes managerial duties much easier.

Guidelines for Parents at BJJ Kids Class

Encourage Participation: Support your child’s involvement in class by encouraging them to participate and try their best, fostering a positive attitude towards learning.
Be Punctual: Whenever possible ( we know life is hectic) try to ensure your child arrives on time for class. Arriving late can cause disruptions and prevent your child from fully engaging in the warm-up and techniques being taught.
Stay Outside the Mats: Please remain outside the training area during class. This helps maintain a focused environment and allows instructors to effectively manage the class.
Respect Instructors: Trust and respect the decisions and instructions given by the instructors. They are trained to create a safe and effective learning environment for your child.
Avoid Distractions: Limit distractions during class time by keeping conversations to a minimum and ensuring that younger siblings are supervised .
Promote Good Sportsmanship: Teach your child the importance of respect, kindness, and encouragement towards their training partners. A positive attitude goes a long way in building camaraderie.
Discuss Concerns Privately: If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, approach the instructor privately instead of during class time.
Monitor Attendance: Regular attendance is crucial for your child’s improvement. Encourage consistent participation to maximize skill development.
Support Healthy Competition: Encourage your child to do their best while also emphasizing that learning and improvement are more important than winning.
Prioritize Safety: Educate your child on the importance of safety in training. Remind them to communicate with their instructor if they feel any discomfort or have injuries.
Limit Food and Drinks:Avoid bringing food into the matted area.
Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s achievements and milestones in training, no matter how small, to boost their confidence and motivation.
Avoid Coaching Over A Coach: Our instructors are here because they are good at what they do. Jiu-Jitsu is a complicated art, that is a lot tougher than it looks. Please have faith in the instructors and do not try to coach over them. They want success for your children as much as you do.

Promotions, Attire, Visitors , Miscellaneous Guidelines

We do stripes for white and black belts: Unlike some other gyms ,we only do stripes on white belts to give a beginner their earned sense of progress. I have found stripes on colored belts to be more trouble than they are worth, tracking progress towards stripes tends to be arbitrary and attendance based not skill development, and creates a sense of jealousy and resentment among certain members.
Belt Promotions: Belt Promotions are given as a combination of attendance, skill progression, attitude, and fulfillment of personal and physical potential. Competition may help facilitate a promotion, but it is not mandatory. Members are always welcome to ask what skills they need to develop to help progress towards their next belt and we will happily help. Demanding a belt doesn’t help towards promotion. For a general timeline for minimum years at each belt, refer to the IBJJF belt requirements chart. This is a general guide we will use.
Black Belts Membership: BJJ Black Belts are entitled to special rates.
Visitors are more than welcome to train: If visiting from out of town feel free to send us a message first or just show up prior to class starting and we will send you the waiver and information. Open mat visitors are required to have a membership at another BJJ school.
Cross training: Members are more than welcome to cross train at other gym’s as long as those gyms are acting in good faith and do not engage in poaching behavior.
Wear a gi to gi class: Wear a gi to gi class. Trial members can wear gym shorts and t-shirt if a free rental is not available, until membership commitment. After that signing up, a gi is required.
Do I have to wear gym brand attire?: No you do not have to wear gym gis, rashguards, etc. Feel free to bring any training gear you have, but buying gym gear, does help support us financially via a small markup and is greatly appreciated as a small startup.
NoGi Attire: For safety concerns, nothing with zippers, pockets, overly baggy clothing,etc. Wear form fitting clothing (rashguard and shorts) whenever possible.
Be Open to New Training Partners: Embrace the opportunity to train with new partners of varying skill levels to enhance your learning experience. We we all had our first day at one point.
Have Fun: Enjoy your training experience and foster a passion for learning both techniques and camaraderie along the way.

Guidelines for Instructors

Encourage Lifelong Learning: Inspire students to adopt a growth mindset and encourage them to continually seek knowledge and improvement in their BJJ journey.
Create a Safe Training Environment: Ensure the safety and well-being of all students by maintaining a secure training atmosphere. Address any safety concerns promptly.

Be Approachable and Supportive: Foster open communication with students. Make yourself accessible for questions and provide encouragement to promote a positive learning experience.

Personalize Instruction: Tailor your teaching methods and feedback to individual student needs and skill levels, recognizing that everyone learns differently.

Maintain Professionalism: Exhibit professionalism in your demeanor, attire, and interactions with students. Set a positive example for students to follow.

Encourage Respect and Sportsmanship: Instill the values of respect, sportsmanship, and teamwork in your students. Emphasize the importance of treating others well both on and off the mats.

Provide Constructive Feedback: Give regular, constructive feedback to students to help them improve their techniques and understanding of BJJ. Balance criticism with praise to motivate learners.

Monitor Class Dynamics: Pay attention to class interactions and dynamics to ensure a positive atmosphere. Address any conflicts or negative behavior swiftly to maintain harmony.

Continue Your Education: Stay updated on the latest BJJ techniques, trends, and teaching methodologies. Attend seminars, workshops, and training to further enhance your knowledge and skills.

Prioritize Inclusion: Promote an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background or experience level.

Be Mindful of Injuries: Be attentive to signs of injury among students. Provide modifications as needed and encourage students to communicate any discomfort or injuries.

Engage with Parents: For youth classes, maintain communication with parents regarding their child’s progress and any concerns they might have about training.

Thank you for reading this novel! In closing, stick with it! Even after a year of training, I trust most students to be able to handle themselves against an attacker. It is tough at first, no doubt about it, but incredibly rewarding and a fun healthy addiction once it clicks for you. You will lose weight, make friends, and find those little milestones and amazing epiphanies along the way. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Brandon or any coach in person or at WolvesJiuJitsu@gmail.com .

Wolves Beginner Guide