Classes at Primate Jiu Jitsu start out with a traditional line-up followed by warm-up drills. The warm-ups are generally technical movement drills which help develop functional muscle memory. After that, the instructor will show a technique or series of techniques and students pair off to practice them on one other. After technical drilling, we situational roll. In Jiu Jitsu, rolling is the equivalent to sparring. It is an opportunity for us to safely test the evolution of our skills against a fully resisting opponent. This is where we develop situational awareness, fine tune our timing, technique, and balance, and develop our own “style.” Situational rolling is rolling from a particular situation and will be relevant to the technique we drilled that class. After situational rolling, we free roll for a few rounds. In free rolling, we generally start from standing or an open guard position and roll until a submission is achieved or the bell rings. Depending on a few things (experience level, comfort level, body control) new students may or may not free roll for their first couple classes until they understand how to train hard without injuring themselves or others.
Muay Thai classes have a similar structure: Warm-ups, technical drills, and their respective form of sparring.
Kids Jiu Jitsu classes also include these same elements, though with much more supervision and occasional games at the end of class, time permitting.
For more details on each of the classes we offer at Primate BJJ, please click here.
For your first few classes, we will provide you with a loaner BJJ Gi (pronounced ghee) though eventually you will want to purchase your own. When that time comes, we sell Primate BJJ Gis at the academy. The BJJ Gi is different from other martial arts kimonos as it is made from significantly stronger weaves with reinforced stitching in order to endure all of the grabbing and yanking that is native to the sport.
No-Gi BJJ classes do not require a specific uniform. However, loose shorts and t-shirts tend to snag and rip, so we encourage the use of board shorts (or leggings/spats for women) and a rash guard or compression shirt such as those popularized by Under Armour. All attire must be void of pockets and zippers to avoid snagging fingers and toes or damaging the mats.
Of course! Many students begin their Jiu Jitsu journey looking for a fun way to lose weight or get in better shape. It is not uncommon for a student to lose 50-100 lbs their first year of training. We have several students at Primate Jiu Jitsu that could testify to that! BJJ is not only one of the best full body workouts on the planet, it’s certainly one of the most fun to train! You’ll never have to drag yourself to your workout if you are training Jiu Jitsu!
As with any exercise regimen, you should seek approval from your doctor before starting your training.
In Jiu Jitsu, everyone begins as a white belt. As you become more proficient, you begin to earn stripes. Stripes are generally awarded based on a combination of skill, character, and commitment. This is done at the discretion of the Professor. Once you’ve earned four stripes, you qualify for the next belt color in the belt rank progression.
Adult belt ranks are as follows:
White > Blue > Purple > Brown > Black
The children’s belt rank progression includes more intermediate belts. Some institutions take this a step further and add a white-striped belt, a solid belt, and a black-striped belt at each belt level for further granularity.
Children’s belt ranks are as follows:
White > Gray > Yellow > Orange > Green
When a child matures into a young adult and begins training in the adult class, he or she may qualify for a blue belt.
Absolutely! Your first class is on us! And if you need more convincing than that, we also offer prospect students a 2 week trial membership of unlimited classes for only $20!
It is personal preference of our students whether or not they choose to wear accessories such as jockstraps and mouth guards, although the latter is highly advised. A water bottle and flip flops or slides are also recommended.