Food Jitsu

I occasionally find myself out of town on visits to family. We’re spread across the globe (which makes for wonderfully interesting food talk). But like all addicts in need of their “Jits Fix,” I scour Google for local MMA or Jiu Jitsu gyms and send friendly emails to gym owners asking if it were possible for me to train there for a class or two.

I’ve found that the Jiu Jitsu/MMA community in the US is overwhelmingly friendly… to a point. They’re more than happy to take on a new training partner that they haven’t sparred/rolled with before. But I say that the friendliness extends to only a specific point because as a visitor I am a stranger, possibly interrupting (even in the slightest way) their routine.

From the perspective of being from a gym that constantly allows other players to join in on the fun, great blog posts from solid BJJ coaches, and from being a visitor to other gyms, I’ve come up with some general guidelines that I follow when visiting other gyms. It’s basic common sense to many jits players, grapplers, or MMA fighters, but it might be nice for those  first striking out on their own into a strange club.

FoodJitsu- Training Out Of Town

1. Don’t be a dick.

This is a general guideline that I follow at my home gym and bring to gyms that I visit. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen visitors from other gyms go into competition mode when they should really be learning the vibe and rolling with the same energy as the rest of the gym. Things like exploding an arm bar in a slow-roll, skull rides, mandible crushes, while legal in (some? most?) competition, might be considered dickish moves in the gym you’re visiting. Also note that many times, the first person you’re rolling with is trying to get a bead on how you train before you start on his training partners, which leads to my second guideline while visiting a new gym:

2. Be a good training partner.

Be concerned about your partner’s safety. You accidentally elbow him in the jaw, kick his head while transitioning, or slamming him while in his guard without knowing your new training partner might escalate force when it’s definitely not necessary. You’re there to train with new people and to work out. This new person you’re rolling with is the tool you’re using to complete your goal. Don’t break him (or her).

3. Follow house rules.

My gym doesn’t bow to the mat, or anyone for that matter. In fact, we’re pretty laid back and focus on fundamentals and training partner safety… But that doesn’t mean I won’t line up with all the other white belts at some schools after bowing to the mat if the school asks. It’s like taking your shoes off before entering some homes. Different strokes for different folks, right?

4. Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene!

Don’t be the stinky kid in class. Seriously. If you are visiting a friendly gym, they won’t be so friendly once they realize that the stranger they’ve invited into their fold smells of a combination of Funyons and goat cheese. Seriously. Take a shower. Also, make sure you cut your nails. You don’t want to be remembered as the stinky kid that leaves scratch marks in the ni-go class. This should be something of a given, but sometimes, being on vacation in a strange town might steer some into being a little lax on the shower scene.

5. Introduction.

Always seek out the instructor/point of contact and introduce yourself. By this point, you should have contacted the school via email/phone and squared away class times, rules, and any fees. Keep in mind that particular instructor might be bombarded with visitors so tell him where you’re from, and don’t be shy about giving details on your training. The instructor, like your first training partner, will try to get a bead on you. That’s cool. He’s just looking out for his own. You would do the same, right? Shake hands with everyone you roll with, and take the introduction time to go over what subs/techs are taboo in that gym. Some places might be taking it easy on the day you’re visiting. They might have a fighter competing the next day and the last thing they want is some stranger heel-hooking the crap out of their guy. See #1.

6. Roll with everyone that’s willing.

I like to think that the more people you roll with, the better you get. You learn different body styles, contact levels and sparring games. So get the most out of your experience with a different group of grapplers. Look to roll with everyone. If you’re not a dick on the mat, pretty much everyone will be willing to roll with the new guy. You’re also giving up some of your game while rolling with these new guys, and it’s a good time to work on your fundamentals. For example, while I thought my mount escape was really good, rolling in a gym where they were training mount retention for the past month straight really helped my escape game.

7. Don’t be the loudest guy in the room.

If you’ve been grappling for any length of  time, there’s “That Guy” who likes to talk about the latest UFC fight, and how he can do X-technique, or how he tapped X amount of jits players in competition, etc. And then you’re sorely disappointed in his performance. Don’t be all talk and no show. Just show what you’ve got on the mat in a constructive manner, and take in what you might need to work on.

8. Tap early, tap often, and leave them uncounted.

Reasons for being out of town: work or play. That’s it. So when you’re in a new gym, don’t hang onto that armbar before tapping, or throwing/soaking bombs (if you’re training MMA). Chances are, going back home to work, or showing up to Cousin X’s wedding with a fatty shiner or broken arm will not be in your best interests.  Use your time at a new gym to play, and take in different energy. Your ego should be left at the door; so counting taps shouldn’t even  be an issue. Again, just play and have a good time.

9. Refrain from coaching, unless specifically asked.

Okay, here’s where I’ll contradict myself from what I’m used to in my home gym. I’m all about criticism after a roll. When my training partner asks me how I kept taking back, I’ll let him know how. He’ll get better from that kind of advice. However, there are a lot of schools out there that have strict rules against coaching during open mat sessions. While I tend to shy away from such schools, sometimes my Jits Fix needs scratching and I have to make due. Personally, I think it’s an ego thing, but other times, some instructors are following a strict curriculum and would like their students to follow it to the letter. That’s cool, I guess, just not for me. A good thing to notice is how other people in the gym are finishing their games. If they’re chatting about the previous roll, then I think it’s cool to coach a bit. If everyone stands back up and looks to the instructor for “insight” then I suggest refraining from saying your piece unless asked and find some place else to train (IMHO).

10. Always thank the instructor.

In the end, it was they who let you train on their mat. So a sincere, friendly handshake is in order. If you liked their club/school/dojo/etc, then invite them to train in yours when they’re in your town. The surprising thing about fighters and grapplers is that while our community is huge and worldwide, it’s very personal. While many folks don’t remember the name of a visitor’s gym, they’ll remember that player and think “Hey! That guys was fun to roll with!” and seek you out if they’re ever in your area. Also, keep in touch with those instructors you meet along your journey. You’ll never know when you’re back in town to train, and it would be nice to have a friendly gym around.


[NOTE] It’s also very commonplace to go out for a few beers or grab a bite with some of the people you’ve rolled with. It’s a great way to make some new friends and to promote a friendly grappling community. Visitors from out of town visiting my home gym are usually offered that. Who knows? You might be rolling with a great tour guide.

Enjoy!

-Nowell Gata