You did it, you finally did it. You overcame fear, self doubt, and inertia and you took action. You googled "10th Planet Jiu Jitsu", "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu", or "Submission Grappling" you found our site you put your info into the website and I called you up. We talked briefly on the phone and you scheduled your first class and for that, my new friend, you deserve a pat on the back because taking that first step is the hardest part.
A journey of 10,000 miles begins with one step and you have taken that step. It takes courage and guts to step out of your comfort zone and take the first step towards changing your life and becoming the most dangerous, most present, and most mindful version of yourself. Now what? Well first off, lets cover the basics. Make sure you come to class clean and ready to learn. This means showing up with your nails trimmed, your body showered, and wearing clean clothes.
Okay, that sounds simple enough but what should I wear? Well, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is a "Nogi" school. That means that we don't wear the "gi" or traditional heavy cotton jacket or "kimono" worn in traditional martial arts. This is because we teach a functional martial art designed for real world interactions and mixed martial arts competition where your opponent isn't wearing an ancient Japanese jacket. But you probably knew that . . . So what should you wear to class?
Well, I like to roll in spats or long tights, board shorts, and a long sleeve rash guard. I like full coverage because it prevents mat burn and there are other reported athletic benefits of compression gear. Some people like to wear gi pants instead of tights. Some people just wear shorts and a t-shirt. The main thing is to make sure that you wear something comfortable that you can move in. Baggy clothes aren't great because fingers and toes can get caught and cause injury so if you are wearing shorts and a t-shirt make sure that they are close fitting.
Okay, so now you know what to wear. What else do you need to know before your first day? Thankfully, not too much. At 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Denver all of our classes are all levels. This means that you will be rolling with both very experienced practitioners as well as newbies. As coaches, we keep a close eye on everyone on the mats and make sure that you are paired up safely. All you need to do is show up in clean clothes you can move in and be ready to learn. We will take care of the rest. See you on the mats!
