Frequently Asked Questions
If possible, please try to arrive 15 minutes before class so that you can meet the staff and instructor, sign a waiver, and become familiar with our academy!
For footwear, flip-flops/ sandals is a good idea. No shoes are permitted on the mats. That’s why walking up to the mats with flip-flops is a great idea for a seamless transition.
If you have a gi of your own, bring it! If not, come in regular gym workout clothes (shorts and a t-shirt). We have rental gis available as well as gis for purchase.
For a no-gi class, a rashguard and shorts should be worn – a t-shirt is fine if you don’t own a rashguard.
And of course, a water bottle is highly recommended!
The word “jiu jitsu” derives from the Japanese “Jū” meaning “gentle” and “Jutsu” meaning “art”; literally, jiu jitsu is the “gentle art”.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a heavy ground-based martial art, using the principles of leverage, angles, technique, and timing, as well as knowledge of the human anatomy, in order to achieve a non-violent submission of one’s opponent. Unlike other martial arts that focus on strikes and kicks, jiu jitsu focuses on close-contact grappling holds and techniques, and the application of chokes and joint manipulations to control the fight.
A gi is a uniform worn during jiu-jitsu (as well as various other martial arts, including judo, karate, and sambo) training. The word “gi” comes from the Japanese term, “Keikogi.”
Keiko means practice; gi means dress or clothes. A gi consists of 3 pieces; the gi jacket, pants, and belt.
Different parts of a gi are strategically utilized for grips, chokes, guards, and other techniques during training. Typically, it is heavily stitched and usually made of cotton to withstand the rigors of daily practice.
The Gi is practical for replicating thick winter clothing (think winter jackets and pants), as we have seasonal weather in Boise!
Most definitely! In addition to being immensely FUN, training will increase your muscle tone, bodily coordination, cardiovascular capacity, muscular endurance, balance, and will (inevitably) reduce overall body fat. All that being said, please make sure you hydrate yourself properly before and after training.
