Here is the short version. Your first class is a beginner class, most of the room is other beginners, you will not spar, and a coach walks you through everything. You wear athletic clothes, we lend you the gi, and you can tap out or rest any time. Most people leave their first class less nervous than they arrived and already planning the next one.
The nerves before a first class are normal, and they almost always come from one thing: not knowing what happens. So here it is, start to finish, so nothing catches you off guard.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear athletic clothes you can move in: shorts or leggings and a t-shirt. We provide a loaner gi, the jacket-and-trousers uniform, so you do not need to buy anything to try. Bring a water bottle and come with bare feet, since jiu-jitsu is trained barefoot on the mats.
- Athletic clothes to wear under the loaner gi
- A water bottle
- Bare feet, and clean feet please, it is a shared mat
- Adults: photo ID. Kids: nothing but themselves
Leave watches, rings and other jewellery at home or in your bag. They protect you and the people you train with.
What happens in the first ten minutes?
Arrive about ten minutes early. A coach meets you at the door, gets you into a loaner gi, and shows you around, where the change rooms are, where to line up, and how a class runs. You are not thrown in. By the time class starts you already know where to stand and who to ask.
Will I have to spar on day one?
No. There is no live sparring on your first day. A first class is a gentle warm-up, then one or two techniques taught slowly with a friendly partner, then light drilling at your own pace. Sparring comes later, once you have the basics and you feel ready for it. You decide the pace.
The single most common thing beginners say after class one: that was far less intense than I built it up to be in my head.
What if I am not fit or flexible?
That is who the beginner class is built for. You do not need to be in shape to start, you get in shape by training. There are no burpees-until-you-drop and no test to pass at the door. You move at your own pace, you tap or rest whenever you want, and the fitness follows naturally over the first few weeks.
How do I not embarrass myself?
You will not, because everyone in that room started exactly where you are, coaches included. Nobody expects a first-timer to know anything. Tapping, which means gently signalling that you want to stop, is not losing, it is how everyone trains safely, every day, at every level. The only wrong move on day one is not showing up.
The honest bottom line
A first class is a low-pressure hour with friendly people who want you to come back. For adult beginners it is thirty days free, no card and no obligation, so you can try before you decide anything. Come see the room, meet the coaches, learn one technique. Then decide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a class?
About an hour. Arrive ten minutes early for your first one so a coach can show you around.
Do I need to book my first class?
Yes, so a coach is ready for you and a loaner gi is waiting. You can book online, by phone at (416) 744-6868, or in person.
What is the free trial?
Thirty days free for adult beginners. Seven days free for kids, teens, and adults with prior BJJ rank. No card on file and no obligation.
I am really out of shape. Is that a problem?
No. Most beginners start unfit and get in shape by training. You set the pace and rest whenever you need to.
