Respect and Safety: What NOT to Do on the Mat at Gracie Barra Upland

Why is Mat Etiquette Essential?

Some might view etiquette rules as mere formalities. However, they serve very important purposes within the academy:

• Safety: Many rules (like no shoes on the mat, respecting the tap, training with control) exist primarily to prevent injuries.

• Respect: Etiquette demonstrates respect for the training space, instructors, training partners, and the martial art itself.

• Learning Environment: An orderly and respectful atmosphere allows everyone to focus better on learning and training.

• Hygiene: Rules about personal and gear cleanliness are crucial for everyone’s health in our Upland academy.

• Tradition and Discipline: Following etiquette helps instill discipline and honors the traditions of Jiu-Jitsu and Gracie Barra.

Understanding the “why” behind the rules helps internalize them and appreciate their importance.

Crucial Behaviors to Avoid on the Gracie Barra Upland Mat

To ensure a positive and safe environment for everyone at our Upland academy, here are some fundamental “don’ts”:

1. DON’T Be Consistently Late

Punctuality is a basic form of respect for the instructor’s and training partners’ time. Furthermore, arriving late means:

• Missing Warm-ups: Warm-ups prepare your body for training, reducing injury risk. Skipping them isn’t ideal.

• Disrupting Class: Walking in during an explanation or demonstration can distract the instructor and other students.

• Missing Initial Instructions: Often, important announcements or the class theme are given at the beginning. Of course, unexpected things happen. But habitual lateness shows a lack of commitment and respect. If you must be late, enter discreetly and wait for the instructor’s permission to join.

2. DON’T Train Sick

This should be obvious, but it’s critical. Jiu-Jitsu is a very close-contact sport. Training while you’re sick (even if it’s “just a cold”) means:

• Risk of Contagion: You put your training partners and instructors at risk of getting sick too.

• Slower Recovery: Your body needs rest to heal; training can prolong your illness.

• Reduced Performance: You won’t be able to train at your best and might even injure yourself more easily. For the health of everyone in the Gracie Barra Upland community, please stay home if you’re feeling unwell.

3. DON’T Neglect Hygiene (Personal & Gear)

Hygiene is absolutely paramount in BJJ due to close contact. Neglecting hygiene is disrespectful and unsanitary. Ensure you:

• Keep Your Gi Clean: Wash your Gi after every training session. Never train in a dirty or smelly Gi. Own multiple Gis if you train frequently.

• Maintain Personal Hygiene: Shower regularly, use deodorant, brush your teeth. Avoid strong perfumes or colognes.

• Keep Nails Trimmed: Long fingernails and toenails can seriously scratch and cut training partners. Keep them short and clean always.

• Cover Wounds: Any cuts or scrapes must be properly covered with a waterproof bandage.

• Remove Jewelry: Rings, earrings, piercings, necklaces must be removed before training to prevent injury to yourself or others. Maintaining a high standard of hygiene is everyone’s responsibility in Upland.

4. DON’T Wear Shoes on the Mat

This is a universal rule in most martial arts and BJJ academies. The mats are where we roll; our faces and bodies make direct contact with the surface. Walking on them with shoes you wore outside brings dirt, germs, and debris onto the training area. Wear flip-flops or sandals when walking off the mat (e.g., to the restroom) and leave them at the edge upon entering.

5. DON’T Disrespect Instructors or Higher Belts

Jiu-Jitsu has a hierarchical structure based on experience and knowledge (represented by belts). This doesn’t mean subservience, but rather respect for the time and dedication these individuals have invested in the art. Avoid:

• Interrupting the Instructor: Wait for an appropriate moment to ask questions.

• Openly Arguing with Instruction: If you have questions, ask respectfully after class or at a suitable time.

• Ignoring Advice: Be open to feedback from instructors and higher belts (when offered constructively).

• Refusing to Train (Without Valid Reason): Part of learning is training with different people. Respect for the hierarchy helps maintain order and facilitates learning at Gracie Barra Upland.

6. DON’T Talk Excessively During Instruction

When the instructor is explaining or demonstrating a technique, your full attention is required. Chatting with classmates during this time is:

• Disrespectful to the instructor dedicating time to teach.

• Detrimental to your own learning, as you miss crucial details.

• Distracting to other students trying to focus. Save social conversations for before or after class, or during designated breaks.

7. DON’T Roll Recklessly or Without Control

Safety during sparring (“rolling”) is the responsibility of both partners. Avoid at all costs:

• Explosive, Uncontrolled Movements: Especially as a beginner, focus on technique and control, not brute force or excessive speed.

• Applying Dangerous or Illegal Submissions: Know the rules for your age/rank (certain leg locks, neck cranks, spine locks are restricted). Never apply any submission too quickly or forcefully (cranking).

• Slamming: Lifting an opponent off the mat and forcefully throwing them down is extremely dangerous and prohibited at most academies, including Gracie Barra Upland.

• Ignoring Size/Skill Differences: Adjust your intensity when training with smaller, lighter, or less experienced partners. The goal is mutual learning, not “winning” at all costs. Training with control is a sign of respect and maturity.

8. DON’T Ignore the Tap (Yours or Your Partner’s)

This is perhaps the single most important safety principle. The “tap” (tapping three times on your partner, the mat, or verbally submitting) means “stop immediately.”

• DON’T hesitate to tap: If you feel pain, excessive pressure, or are caught in a submission you don’t know how to defend, tap out. There’s no shame in it; it’s smart. Trying to “tough it out” can lead to serious injury.

• DON’T hold on after your partner taps: As soon as you feel or hear the tap, release the submission immediately. Holding on longer is dangerous and extremely disrespectful.

9. DON’T “Coach” During Rolling (Unless Asked/Appropriate)

Unless you are an instructor or a higher belt helping a beginner with permission, avoid stopping the roll to correct or teach your partner. While the intention might be good, this can:

• Interrupt the flow of training for both people.

• Come across as condescending, especially if you are a lower rank.

• Potentially offer incorrect advice if you are still learning yourself. Leave the teaching to the instructors. Focus on your own training. If you have a question about something that happened during the roll, ask your partner afterwards.

10. DON’T Display Excessive Ego or Bragging

Humility is a pillar of Jiu-Jitsu. The mat is an equalizer; there will always be good days and bad days. Avoid:

• Over-celebrating after submitting a training partner (especially a beginner).

• Complaining or making excuses after being submitted.

• Being overly aggressive just to “win” in training.

• Talking only about your own successes. The focus should be on mutual learning, respect, and constant improvement, not proving superiority.

11. DON’T Leave the Mat Without Permission

During class time, if you need to leave the mat (use the restroom, get water), ask the instructor for permission with a simple gesture or eye contact. This shows respect for the instructor’s authority and the class structure.

12. DON’T Bring Food or Drink Onto the Mat

For obvious hygiene and safety reasons, food and drinks (other than water in closed bottles, usually kept at the edge of the mat) are not permitted on the training area.

13. DON’T Forget to Bow

Bowing upon entering and leaving the mat, and before and after training with a partner, is an important tradition. It symbolizes respect for the training space, the art, the instructor, and your partner. It’s a small gesture with significant meaning.

The Gracie Barra Upland Standard

At Gracie Barra Upland, we adhere to the Code of Conduct and principles established by Gracie Barra globally. This ensures a consistent, safe, respectful, and conducive learning environment for all our students in Upland and the surrounding area. Our instructors actively reinforce these etiquette rules to maintain the integrity of our training environment.

Conclusion: Building a Better Environment Together

Following mat etiquette and avoiding these common pitfalls isn’t just about following rules; it’s about actively contributing to an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to learn and grow in Jiu-Jitsu. By practicing good etiquette, you show respect for yourself, your training partners, your instructors, and the art. Together, we can keep Gracie Barra Upland an exceptional place to train.