What to expect at your first jiu jitsu class

Starting jiu jitsu can be daunting for many, so we wanted to demystify what it’ll be like to come to your first class. 

1. Be ready for touch, but you don’t need to fight

If you’ve signed up for jiu jitsu, you probably know that this is a close proximity, full-contact sport (if you don’t, you might want to watch some videos ahead of your first class). But even with this knowledge, it can still take some getting used to being in such close contact with your training partners. 

We may warm up with some solo drills, but most of the class will normally be spent in a pair, with each of you being the dummy for the other to learn a technique. This kind of drilling is not a competition between you; your partner lets you complete the sequence without resistance. 

At New School we respect that people come with different histories, so you will never be forced to do anything you don’t want to do. However, we’ll encourage you to get stuck right in and start learning the movements, however clunky they may feel at first. Embracing the unfamiliar is fundamental to learning a new skill, and it’s completely normal to feel a bit awkward or vulnerable the first time you wrap your legs around a stranger! If you can, jump right in; if you’d prefer, you’re also welcome to observe for your first session. 

2. Don’t expect to learn everything — in fact, you may have more questions 

Jiu Jitsu is a complex, high-skill sport. Even black belts are always still learning. You may hear the same cues for years without understanding them, until one day something lands in your system and you get it. 

So for your first class, keep an open and curious mind, but don’t expect everything to stick. In the beginning chapters of your jiu jitsu journey, the more you learn, the more you’ll realise you don’t know. This is one of the ways this sport will humble you from the very beginning, and why not everyone will make it past their first class. Be patient and trust the process, knowing that progression will require you to keep showing up and asking questions. 

3. We’re a community!

Yes, we’re all here to train, but what carries us through the highs and lows of this challenging journey is the community we form around this sport. We’re all here for different reasons, with different goals and intentions, but we’re all in it together. If you’re starting jiu jitsu to meet like-minded people, establish local community and have fun, remember to keep that attitude in your first session. 

Overall, just remember that there will be no pressure on you in your first jiu jitsu class. Just come and get involved, and see where your curiosity takes you. 

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