Start here
You don't have to read any of this to turn up — we'll teach you on the night. It's here if you'd rather walk in already knowing what the words mean.
A self-defence system built entirely around grappling. No punching, no kicking. You control another person using leverage, body position, joint locks and chokeholds.
Because it relies on structure rather than power, a smaller person can genuinely control a larger one — which is why it's called the gentle art, and why people are still improving at it in their fifties.
Take it to the ground, work up the hierarchy of positions until you're in a dominant one, and only then look for a submission.
The order matters. Position first, submission second. Chase submissions from bad positions and you lose them; hold a good position and the submissions turn up on their own.
The map
Not all positions are equal, and knowing which ones are good is most of what a first month is about. Roughly best to hardest, from the top player's point of view.
Sitting on their chest, knees on the mat. Heavy, hard to escape, full of attacks.
Chest to their back, heels hooked inside their thighs. The strongest position in jiu-jitsu.
Chest across chest, perpendicular. The first position most beginners hold successfully.
One knee across their stomach, posture up. Mobile, uncomfortable to be under, passed through rather than held.
You're underneath, legs between you and them. Jiu-jitsu's signature idea: being on the bottom is not losing.
Ankles crossed behind their back. The safest place for a beginner to be underneath.
The language
Eight words that will be used in your first class as though you already know them. Now you will.
The traditional jacket, trousers and belt. Gripping the fabric makes the game slower and more positional. Pronounced "ghee".
Training in a rash guard and shorts instead. Nothing to grip, so it's faster, slipperier and leans more on wrestling and body control.
Live sparring. Called rolling rather than fighting for a reason — it's practice, not a contest.
Two or three firm taps, or say "tap" out loud. They release immediately. Tap early and often — it's the safety mechanism, not an admission of anything.
Repeating a technique with a cooperative partner, no resistance. Most of your improvement happens here.
Reversing from the bottom — putting yourself on top instead. Toshi's classes are known for these.
A joint lock or choke applied with enough control that your partner taps. Always applied slowly.
The most repeated phrase in jiu-jitsu. Secure the position first, hunt the finish second.
Unwritten rules
Nobody will be annoyed if you get these wrong on night one. But knowing them makes walking in much easier.
Practicalities
