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Good Hygiene for Jiu Jitsu Classes

Have you ever been to Jiu Jitsu class and had a rolling partner be that guy or girl with the stinky gi? Your trying to hold your breath and keep your guard together at the same time. Here are some tips to keep your rolling sessions fresh and clean.

For those that do not know, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a close combat system. It is unlike almost any other sport that people participate in. You are touching or just inches away from your teammates or opponents almost the entire time. It is disrespectful not just to yourself but also your rolling partners to not have a high level of personal hygiene. In this article I will offer some advice on how to properly keep your hygiene what I have dubbed “Jiu-Jitsu Clean”. I wish I didn’t have to write this article. I have never ran into an unclean person rolling along with my teammates, yet I know this will help guide some people to prepare properly for class.

The first thing you will want to do is keep your gi clean and dried. Once you are done rolling in it and you’ve changed to go home from the academy it should be washed. I bring a gym bag to class, yet I fold my pants into my Kimono and use my belt to loop it around as a neat package. I find this helps me to take it into the house and leave the bag in the car.

Follow your Gi manufacturer’s instructions. Most will say gentle cold water and hang dry. Do not use bleach on gi’s, this will damage the fabric. If you train more than twice a week, then adding a second gi to your line up can be a time saver. When you wash your gi, it’s a good habit to wash your belt and any rash guards and hand towels as well. I use a hemp belt and as much as it is toted for being anti-bacterial I still wash it.

Now that your gi is taken care of, you’ll want to take care of yourself. Conventional soap works, but I find ones with tea tree oil helps fight against bacteria as an extra precaution. I have used Grounders Soap for months, but have heard amazing things about Fight Soap, Arm Bar Soap and Soap-A-Licious as well. I know what you’re thinking, “Soap made specifically for BJJ?” yes, and I don’t mind paying for a quality product that keeps me feeling clean while knowing I am treating my skin to a handmade healthy product.

You should always shower before and after class. This cuts down on the chances of ring worm, staff infections and other nasty’s. Please make sure your finger and toe nails are trimmed. I was at the IBJFF Boston Open a few months back and treated a random purple belt, during his match his opponent tried to get a triangle and the guy’s eagle talon of a big toe nail scratched his face enough to bleed.

If you use a mouth guard it must be cleaned after each session. You’re placing a product directly into your mouth and have a much higher rate of bacteria growing there. There are sprays that are made specifically for disinfecting mouth guards. You may also use a toothbrush and toothpaste followed by a cold water rinse, then rinse it with mouth wash and pat dry.

So there you have it, keep your gi; belt, gear and yourself clean and you’ll be the stylish guy or girl in the academy that people will be happy to roll with. If there is someone in your school that needs a gentle reminder that they may be lacking good hygiene, a gentle pull to the side at the end of class is the best approach. Keep it respectful and quiet. Everyone has an off day. One last bit of advice, I like to wash my gym bag once a week to kill any lurker germs that could be in there. I hope you enjoyed this blog article and would love if you checked out the official Renzo Gracie NH Facebook. There is a new, free email subscription that we have set up on the main page, sign up and receive a new detailed instructional video each month. Till next time, keep your gi clean, keep going to your Jiu Jitsu classes and keep learning.

A special thank you to Meerkatsu and Grounders Soap for their permission to use their artwork and photo.

June 24, 2015/by Renzo Gracie NH

The Top Five Benefits of Self Defense Classes for Kids

Defend

Top Five Benefits of Self-Defense Classes for Kids

I arrived to class this week to see my BJJ team mates and showed up a bit early. I wasn’t planning on rolling, as I had a little princess at home waiting for me to read to her and put her to bed. Such is the life of a BJJ dad or mom. When I walked into the academy I saw the mats were filled nicely with children ranging from 4 to 12 on the mats in separate groups based on size. This was self-defense classes for kids and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

I would not realize the importance of this visit until a few days later. Up until this point, I had not placed much thought into the kids jiu jitsu classes. Even with a year and a half year old toddler at home, I figured she would eventually join because it’s something I love and have a passion for. Let me take a moment and give a quick explanation of what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is. BJJ is a sport and self defense system that focuses on submissions on the ground. There are no strikes taught, as leverage and pressure create arm, foot and headlocks. It teaches techniques that a smaller, weaker person can use to stop and defeat a larger attacker.

I was like most every other kid who grew up in the Eighties, my parents thought that Karate would be the best thing for me and keep me out of the arcade. What actually happened was a latchkey after school program that had almost zero bearing on discipline, self defense, nor activity. Now please understand, Karate has it’s place and I have the utmost respect for it. I am not slamming Karate, but the school and Instructor that I, and many other people attended are what I found lacking.

So many Karate academies focus on building the students self esteem up with various belt test and promotions. It makes the kids chase the colors, not the goal. It seems kids have a belt test every two months, leaving the child holding a belt rank that wasn’t vested.

We would fill in each day and tie our belts, bow to the flag and teacher, bow to each other then practice throwing imaginary punches and kicks into thin air, then afterwards we would practice Kata, which are detailed choreographed patterns to give muscle memory. I remember not staying there for too long as we were lower income and we could not afford the constant belt test fees.

So back to the class going on at Renzo Gracie New Hampshire. There are several purple belts on the mats with the kids, each have a line leading to them, practicing kicks and a take down of the leg.

The children are focused and pay attention to the instructions. They hit actual padded targets, not air, so they get instant feedback. The purple belts are correcting mistakes in a manner that encourages the children. Parents look from just behind the partition, with pride as the children’s smiles grown bigger when they are asked if they would like to do some jiu jitsu.

The kids are shown a side control technique that will help them to escape or subdue an attack.

The older students are instructed to find clear places on the mat, and get into a guard position, the younger students form a line against the wall and each find a partner. They slap hands and bump fist, and start to practice. They get feed back not only from their training partners but the purple belts and Professor Landry as they walk around checking to make sure the technique is done correctly and safely. If they get past the persons defense, the winner gets on the ground and another child partners up with them and they slapped hands and go for a fresh round.

The kids finish class, bow to the mat and run to their parents, talking about the class. They just spent an hour having fun, building social skills, learning and exercising all at the same time. I was jealous. I wished I had been shown BJJ at such an early age. Deep down I know it would of better prepared me for life. It would of kept me focused during my years in school, kept me healthier and definitely kept me a bit less socially awkward.

As someone who has lived almost his entire life with obesity and low self esteem, who is also in the process of turning his health around, you don’t have to take my word for it. Taken directly from the CDC website; “Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.”

I hope this answers some questions about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The 8 year old in me hopes that you take your child to a free introduction class. When you see the smile on their face and their confidence grow, you will see the benefits first hand.

What lesson did I learn you ask? I learned that my little daughter will join me on the mats as soon as she is old enough. The Renzo Gracie Self Defense classes for kids will help her learn team work and goal building. The benefits of using your mind and body to overcome a bigger attacker will giver her tools that she will use all of her life. Mental and physical sharpness, confidence, and self esteem all while being a humble and respectful young adult.

Key Takeaways:

Your child will learn to defend themselves from bullying in a safe and nurturing environment.
They will gain confidence in their daily life.
Your child will learn about team work and camaraderie.
They will learn about discipline, its principles and how to work towards goals.
They will increase their exercise habits and learn healthy living habits that will last a life time.

June 4, 2015/by Renzo Gracie NH

BJJ Classes – The First Week

Defend

Where did I leave off with my BJJ classes? Oh yes, I finished my first day sore but extremely happy.

The next morning I had the previous night’s events fresh in my head and it felt as if I picked the right school to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I was nervous, sure, but it felt right to be on the mat and learning about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu history and techniques.

Two days go by and I head back for an open mat session. Some of the same people who greeted me before were already there warming up with smiles on their faces.

I share a smile and head nod and head to the changing room. I didn’t have a gi yet so I was wearing my shorts and a rash guard I picked up from a box store. I can feel some of the anxiousness in my gut return from just a few days before. I do my best to shrug it off and walk out of the changing room, most likely as pale as a Super Mario Brothers ghost.

I head for the mat and do my warm up, adding what I learned from my first night into my routine. Some teammates and I share some greetings and I notice I am the only one going no gi. I had not received my gi yet, and figured just showing up and watching would further my knowledge. Heck, I was a blank canvas when it came to Jiu Jitsu and wanted to immerse myself into it. As I am done warming up, I apologize to those around me that I don’t have my uniform just yet – I’m told it’s not a big deal and that I’ll get my gi soon.

A blue belt comes and grabs me for some roll time. We pick a clear corner and I take his lead. He shows me what is called a Kimura. I looked the move up after class and find out it’s a double joint arm lock, named after Masahiko Kimura. Masahiko used the move on Helio Gracie in a famous match; Helio was one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Prior to being renamed to Kimura, it was called a reverse arm entanglement. Back to the mat, my partner talks about proper posture and how Jiu Jitsu is about leverage and technique not size and strength. He shows me how to sit in someone’s guard, and goes over some of the terms. He also shows me how to hip out – in this case – a move where you push your hips and hands as a way to create space when you’re in the guard position.

After about 30 minutes we go our separate ways and I grab some needed water and a moment to catch my breath. I meet a few more fellow teammates and have some short conversations. I go back to the mat and practice hipping out. I was having a hard time being agile like my training partner. Mostly due to the 150 pounds difference and my amount of inexperience. I know that if I don’t give up I’ll be able to move around much better soon enough.

I grab some wall space and watch the others roll. I look for any clues on how to improve. A white belt comes up and introduces himself. We slap hands, bump fists and he shows me some moves as well. Before I know it, an hour has passed and its time to clean up and go. I throw my sweatpants on and head to my car. It’s winter in New Hampshire and the thermometer in the car is already 3 degrees. I head home gulping down water trying to replenish what I lost. If I was going to stay in the game I told myself I’d have to make sure I got my water in. It was a long week but I love this stuff. Till next time.

May 11, 2015/by Renzo Gracie NH