Your First Jiu-Jitsu Class: What to Wear, Bring, and Expect

Walking into your first jiu-jitsu class can feel like a big step, whether you’re an adult who has wanted to try it for years or a parent bringing your child for the first time. The good news is that nobody expects you to know anything on day one. Everyone on the mat was a beginner once.

This guide covers what to wear, what to bring, and what a first class usually looks like, so you can walk in relaxed.

Key takeaways

• Arrive 10–15 minutes early so you have time to sign a waiver, meet the coach and get changed.
• For a gi class, you don’t need to buy anything. Checkmat Murrieta has a loaner gi for your first class.
• For a no-gi class, wear a fitted athletic shirt or rash guard and shorts or leggings without zippers or pockets.
• Bring water and flip-flops. Trim your fingernails and toenails, and leave jewelry at home.
• Your first class at Checkmat Murrieta is free, and no long-term contract is required.

Before you arrive

Book your free class

At Checkmat Murrieta, the first class is free. Book it through our contact page or call (951) 704-3312, and pick a time from the class schedule. The schedule can change, so check it before you come.

Pick the right class

Adults: Our adult classes are all levels unless they’re marked Fundamentals. If you’re brand new, the Adult Gi Fundamentals class on Monday and Wednesday evenings (7:20–8:20 PM) is built for beginners. Learn more on our Beginners / Fundamentals page. There are also early 6:00 AM classes on weekdays if mornings work better, and a dedicated Women’s Class.

Kids: Children train in age groups: 3–5, 4–8 and 9–13, plus combined 4–13 classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. See the Kids BJJ program for details.

Arrive 10–15 minutes early

Plan to get there 10–15 minutes before class starts. That gives you time to:

• Sign a waiver (parents sign for kids)
• Meet the coach and mention any injuries or health concerns
• Get changed and find your way around
• Settle in, so you’re not rushing onto the mat

There’s ample parking on site at 40932 California Oaks Road in Murrieta, near the California Oaks Road exit off I-15.

What to wear

Gi classes

A gi is the traditional jiu-jitsu uniform: a heavy cotton jacket, pants and a belt. Gi classes use grips on the jacket and pants, so regular clothes don’t work well.

You don’t need to buy one to start. Checkmat Murrieta has a loaner gi for your first class. Under the gi, most people wear a fitted T-shirt or rash guard (women usually wear a sports bra and rash guard). Wear light athletic shorts or compression shorts underneath the pants.

If you decide to keep training, you’ll want your own gi. Coaches will advise you on sizing and options; white, blue or black gis are standard.

No-gi classes

No-gi means training without the uniform. Wear:

• A fitted athletic shirt or rash guard (loose T-shirts get tangled)
• Athletic shorts or leggings with no zippers, pockets or belt loops, which can catch fingers and toes
• Spats or leggings under shorts if you prefer extra coverage

Kids no-gi classes follow the same idea: fitted athletic clothes, nothing with zippers or hard parts.

What not to wear

• No jewelry. Rings, earrings, necklaces, watches and bracelets can catch and cause injuries. Leave them at home or in the car.
• No shoes on the mat. Jiu-jitsu is trained barefoot.
• Nothing with hard parts, like zippers, buttons or buckles.

What to bring

• Water bottle. You’ll need it.
• Flip-flops or slides for walking between the mat and the bathroom. Shoes stay off the mat, and bare feet stay off the bathroom floor.
• A hair tie if you have long hair.
• A change of clothes and a small towel for the drive home.

Hygiene basics

Jiu-jitsu is a close-contact sport, so a few simple habits keep everyone healthy:

• Trim your fingernails and toenails before class. Long nails scratch partners.
• Come in clean clothes, and wash your training gear after every class.
• Stay home if you’re sick or have any skin issue that could spread.
• Cover small cuts with tape or a bandage.

What happens in class

Every academy runs classes a little differently, but most jiu-jitsu classes follow a similar pattern:

1. Warm-up. Light movement, stretching and jiu-jitsu-specific drills like shrimping (a hip escape movement) and rolling forward and backward.
2. Technique. The coach demonstrates a technique, often a position, escape or submission. Then you practice it with a partner.
3. Drilling. You repeat the technique with a partner who gives light resistance. This is where most of the learning happens.
4. Live training (sparring, or “rolling”). Students practice against a resisting partner. For beginners, this is often limited or done at a slower pace.

The tap

The most important rule in jiu-jitsu: when your partner taps (on you, on the mat, or says “tap”), you let go immediately. When you’re caught in something uncomfortable, tap early. There’s no shame in tapping. It’s how everyone learns safely.

Tips for parents

• Talk about it beforehand. Tell your child they’ll play games and learn new moves with other kids.
• Watch from the viewing area. Parents can watch kids classes at Checkmat Murrieta, which helps younger kids feel comfortable.
• Let them warm up to it. Some kids jump right in, and others watch for a few minutes first. Both are normal.
• Keep it positive afterward. Ask what was fun rather than how they did.

Tips for adults

• Leave your ego at the door. Checkmat Murrieta is a no-ego room. Nobody expects you to be good yet.
• Go at your own pace. It’s fine to sit out a round and catch your breath.
• Ask questions. Coaches and training partners are there to help.
• Plan to come back. Jiu-jitsu clicks with repetition. A few classes in, things start to make sense.

For more on adult training, see our Teens & Adults program.

Book your free first class

Your first class at Checkmat Murrieta is free, we’ll lend you a gi, and there are no long-term contracts. Classes are led by Professor Ricardo Feliciano Pereira, a 4th-degree black belt in the Checkmat lineage, and the Checkmat Murrieta coaching team.

Book your free class or call (951) 704-3312. We’re at 40932 California Oaks Road in Murrieta, about 15 minutes from Old Town Temecula.