We’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions. If you have any questions or want to chat to us, please get in touch.
What do I need to wear/bring?
– Gi class / Open Mat: BJJ Gi (jacket and trousers)
– Gi & No-Gi Class: Close-fitting clothing – we suggest something like a rash guard and shorts, it helps if the clothing is close-fitting so it doesn’t get pulled with the Gi
– Indoor shoes – e.g. sliders. We train barefoot so we like to keep the mats as clean as possible
– Sports drink or water
– Mouthguard – not essential but highly recommended
If you’re new to BJJ, we have Gis that you can borrow so don’t feel like you need to buy one before you sign up, just make sure you wear clothes that are close-fitting with no pockets or zips as these can get caught up and/or injure others.
Do I need to buy a Gi?
Yes. For the Gi classes, you will need to wear a Gi. There are a couple of well-known brands, including Tatami which are reasonably priced and make good rash guards. Progress is a brand used by pros – Strive gets a 30% discount on Progress clothing so we can order these for you.
How does progression work?
Coaches collaborate to decide when a member is ready to progress based on the skills and techniques they’ve learned and how well they demonstrate them during training. If you’re new to BJJ, you’ll start as a white belt. Each belt has 4 stripes to denote your progression through the belt. Once you’ve earned 4 stripes as a white belt, the next progression is a blue belt. Again, once you’ve earned 4 stripes as a blue belt, the next progression is a purple belt. After purple is brown, then black and then you can work towards your black belt stripes.
Do I need to buy the belts?
All belts are provided by the gym so you won’t need to buy any of the belts. When you progress, we’ll present you with the next belt and it’s yours to keep.
What are the facilities?
– Professional Zebra mats
– 100m2 open-plan gym
– Toilets
– Seating area with a TV
– Parking (there’s a very small car park directly outside the gym and plenty of space to park on the road)
Is there somewhere for parents to wait during kids’ classes?
Yes. During the children’s classes you’re very welcome to wait in our seating areas just inside the main door. If you want to watch, you’re welcome to come into the gym and sit on the mats but we do ask that small children stay around the edges as there is a risk of getting bumped into.
Is there parking at the gym?
Yes. There is a very small car park directly outside the gym so we recommend members park on the road where there is plenty of space
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