Frequently asked questions

A martial art and self-defence system based on grappling rather than striking. There is no punching or kicking. You learn to control an opponent using leverage, body position, joint locks and chokeholds — which is why a smaller, weaker person can control a larger one.

It's often called "the Gentle Art" because technique and leverage do the work instead of strength or aggression.

None at all. You build the fitness through training, not before it. Waiting until you're "fit enough" is the most common reason people never start, and it's backwards.

Comfortable athletic clothing — a t-shirt and gym shorts or trackpants is plenty for a trial session. Shorts should have no pockets, zips or drawstring toggles, because fingers and toes catch in them.

Bring a drink bottle, a towel, and thongs or slides for walking off the mat.

Not for your trial. Let us know you're coming, ideally the day before, and we'll have a gi ready in your size. Decide whether you're staying before spending money on your own. Once you commit, you'll want your own gi for the Monday and Thursday classes.

Tell us your age, height and weight when you book and we'll pick the closest gi we have. It won't fit perfectly, and that's completely normal for a first class.

Yes. Classes finish with live rolling and you'll take part from your first night. You'll be paired with someone experienced whose job that round is to look after you, and you can tap at any time for any reason.

Twice a week is the sweet spot for your first few months — enough for the techniques to stick, little enough that your body and your calendar can absorb it. Monday and Thursday at Carlingford is exactly that. Once you've settled in, the Seven Hills nights are there if you want more.

Two venues, one membership. Carlingford — 372 Pennant Hills Road — runs All Levels Gi on Monday and Thursday, 7:00–8:30 pm.

If you sign up, you can also train free at INRG myBJJ Seven Hills (Unit 19, 36 Abbott Road), which runs no-gi, gi and open mat on Tuesday and Friday from 6:30 pm. No second membership, no drop-in fee. That's up to four training nights a week on one fee.

The gi is the traditional jacket, trousers and belt. Because you can grip the fabric, the game is slower and more positional — which makes it the easier place to learn. No-gi is a rash guard and shorts, so it's faster, slipperier, and leans more on wrestling.

Most people end up doing both. There's a longer explanation in this post.

Safety comes from three things here: controlled training partners, structured instruction, and tapping. When someone catches you in a submission you tap two or three times and they release immediately — that convention is what lets a grappling art be practised at speed without people getting hurt.

You'll pick up bruises and sore fingers; that's ordinary. Serious injury is uncommon and almost always comes from tapping too late or treating practice like a fight. Neither is tolerated in this room.

Usually yes — tell Toshi before class. Dodgy knees, shoulders and backs are extremely common in adult classes, and he'll give you alternatives for anything that aggravates it. Get clearance from your doctor or physio if you're unsure.

No. Competing is entirely optional and most members never do. If you want to, say so and you'll be coached towards it — Toshi was the 2014 NSW light-weight state champion and knows what preparation looks like.

Visitors are welcome. Message us first so we know to expect you, and bring proof of your current rank if you have it. Open mat at Seven Hills is the easiest session to drop into. Ask about the drop-in fee when you message.

Yes — a kids and youth program focused on discipline, confidence, physical literacy and basic self-defence. There's no striking, so it's a contact sport without anyone getting hit.

Children train in the same All Levels class as the adults — Monday and Thursday, 7:00–8:30 pm at Carlingford. The Tuesday 6:30 pm class at Seven Hills is also all ages. There is no separate kids-only session.

Your first class is free. We go through membership fees in person rather than listing them — see the pricing page for everything a membership covers, and what it doesn't, like your own gi.

No. There is no lock-in contract and no minimum term. To stop, you just tell Toshi. See the pricing page.

Yes — plenty of it. There is underground and outdoor parking right outside at Carlingford Village.

The network this academy belongs to, founded and led by Professor Mario Sergio Yokoyama, a 5th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Toshi has trained under Professor Yokoyama since 2008.

Affiliation matters in jiu-jitsu because it tells you where the instruction comes from and who stands behind a rank. More on the instructors page.

Yes, any time. Message us first so someone's expecting you. Watching a class is a good way to see that it's a calmer, more ordinary room than people imagine.