ACADEMY POLICIES AND FAQ

Come to class willing to learn, train hard and respect everyone. The great Roger Gracie has said that he has just one rule in the gym: respect. We want to have a fun, welcoming environment that emphasizes learning and mutual improvement. Here are few specifics: Come with a clean gi — it’s important that you wash your gi & belt after every class. There is no requirement for gi color or style. If you do not have a gi, you may be able to borrow one for your first class or two. Come with a clean body with trimmed fingernails and toenails. It’s grappling, so we don’t want to scratch each other up.

We believe affiliation is a personal choice, and an important one. Loyalty develops with time and trust, and everyone should respect the relationship a student has with their instructor. This means two things to us at TAP Jiu Jitsu regarding students who come to us with previous training experience. Whoever you are and whatever your affiliation and instructor, you are welcome to train with us. You don’t have to remove patches from your gi (or buy ours), you don’t have to switch affiliations, and you certainly don’t have to give up your instructor relationship – we wouldn’t want you to! We want you to learn and progress! – we just want you to train, and we want you to know you’re welcome to train here regardless of school or team affiliation. You can train here temporarily or permanently if you choose. We want the person you consider your instructor to promote you. That means if you’re here temporarily (say, for studies), but consider someone back home your instructor, that’s cool – we won’t try to promote you, at least not without your instructor’s explicit knowledge and consent. That also means if you train here and start to consider us your instructors, we will happily welcome you into our lineage. Our head instructor, Kenneth Tan, has a Jiu Jitsu lineage through Professor Muujig Altantugs (head instructor of Equilibrium MMA) who learnt from both Jason Hunt and Roger Gracie, a 10x World Champion, known by most as the greatest of all time in the sport.

Yes! we are affliated to Checkmat BJJ. Checkmat is an international academy, competition team, and family of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners. Founded in 2008 by Master Vieira, Checkmat has affiliate academies in thirty-four USA cities and sixteen countries worldwide. At Checkmat, you will find world-class, hands-on instruction that has been tested on the practice mats and proven on the competition field. Checkmat men, women, and youth have won some of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport including the World Championships, the Brazilian National Championships, and the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World Championships.

Should I Come Train?: Yes. What if I’m Out of Shape? Should I Get in Shape First?: No, just come train What if I’m Brand New, With No Athletic or Martial Arts Background?: Come train. What if I’m a Black Belt World Champion?: Please come train. What if I Have a Different Affiliation?: Come train. What if I Have a Team Patch on My Gi From A Different Team?: Come train. What if I Have This Thing on My Skin That Looks Infected?: Don’t come train. Go to the doctor.

No! we firmly believe that everyone has the right to reject a roll WITHOUT giving a reason. If you are a 40 year old hobbyist that comes to train after a 8-5pm job, its completely understandable if you dont wish to roll with the 80kg competitive wrestler. Likewise if you are not comfortable training with members of the opposite sex, you should not feel pressured or obliged to. Bottom line: If you dont wish to roll with your partner, just let him/her know nicely, no explanation needed!

Ideally grappling shorts/spats and a rashguard! If not any sports attire will do, just ensure that there are no zippers/metal buttons/pockets, that might accidentally injure or scratch your training partner.

Absolutely not! If you are not comfortable with sparring, or simply dont feel up to it, there is no pressure to spar in the class. If you are looking for weight loss and exercise, just let the instructor know and he will be able to cater to your needs. Brand new white belts are not allowed to spar immediately. They will be guided on the rules and etiquette, and only will be allowed to spar upon approval from the instructor.