FAQ
At thinkTANK BJJ, our classes always start with a few minutes of joking around and making sure everyone feels comfortable and is in a good mood. According to famed FBI negotiator Chris Voss, our brains will work up to 31% more effectively when in a positive start of mind, so starting off a training session with a laugh will actually make it easier to learn the material.
Next we'll warm-up with basic movements that replicate the building blocks to techniques such as escapes, sweeps, and reversals.
Once we're done warming up, a basic sequence will be explained and demonstrated. The positioning will be explained noting such details as where your hands should be, where your feet/knees should be, where your head should be, the way your weight should be distributed, and your intention/expectation while in this position.
After showing the technique several times, the entire process will be broken down into small chunks and taught as pieces that interlock. We'll drill the first chunk of the sequence and then begin adding in the next parts, one by one, until we've rebuilt the entire sequence from the beginning to the end.
Then we'll all grab something to drink and those who choose to can participate in some positional drills/sparring where we start from the position that the class had focused on. If we work an escape or an attack from mount, then that's how you and your training partner will start.
At the end of class, we'll generally open up to doing regular sparring rounds (as opposed to starting from a specific/required position). This is optional, but always encouraged.
Next we'll warm-up with basic movements that replicate the building blocks to techniques such as escapes, sweeps, and reversals.
Once we're done warming up, a basic sequence will be explained and demonstrated. The positioning will be explained noting such details as where your hands should be, where your feet/knees should be, where your head should be, the way your weight should be distributed, and your intention/expectation while in this position.
After showing the technique several times, the entire process will be broken down into small chunks and taught as pieces that interlock. We'll drill the first chunk of the sequence and then begin adding in the next parts, one by one, until we've rebuilt the entire sequence from the beginning to the end.
Then we'll all grab something to drink and those who choose to can participate in some positional drills/sparring where we start from the position that the class had focused on. If we work an escape or an attack from mount, then that's how you and your training partner will start.
At the end of class, we'll generally open up to doing regular sparring rounds (as opposed to starting from a specific/required position). This is optional, but always encouraged.
Different gyms have different class lengths, but 60 minutes is a typical length for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class.
At thinkTANK BJJ, our adult BJJ classes are 60 minutes but generally people stay after to do some open rolling/sparring.
At thinkTANK BJJ, our adult BJJ classes are 60 minutes but generally people stay after to do some open rolling/sparring.
When attending your first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, your obvious first choice would be to wear a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style Gi. These are a reinforced style kimono jacket and top that generally have a more slim cut than a Judo Gi.
If you don't have an adequate Gi yet (a TaeKwonDo or Karate Gi will NOT work... or at least not work for long), you can wear a T-shirt and shorts or even an old hooded sweatshirt that you don't mind getting potentially torn. However, at some point, you'll want to purchase a Gi to receive the full benefit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.
If you don't have an adequate Gi yet (a TaeKwonDo or Karate Gi will NOT work... or at least not work for long), you can wear a T-shirt and shorts or even an old hooded sweatshirt that you don't mind getting potentially torn. However, at some point, you'll want to purchase a Gi to receive the full benefit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: While you can potentially get away with not having a mouth guard, it is best to wear one. Even in light drilling sessions, it's not unthinkable to catch an accidental knee, elbow, or head to the face. When you step it up to intense drilling or actual rounds of rolling/sparring, then the likelihood goes up exponentially that you will need a mouth guard.
Longer answer: While you can potentially get away with not having a mouth guard, it is best to wear one. Even in light drilling sessions, it's not unthinkable to catch an accidental knee, elbow, or head to the face. When you step it up to intense drilling or actual rounds of rolling/sparring, then the likelihood goes up exponentially that you will need a mouth guard.
Everyone progresses at a different pace, but after about 25 classes (this is approx. 2 months, coming 3 times per week or 3 months coming twice per week), you will notice a major difference in how well you do rolling/sparring compared to similar sized folks who are still in their first couple weeks.
Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an activity that you get better at the more you do it, you can generally bank on your pace of improvement being directly proportional to the number of times you train per week.
When it comes to seeing your first belt promotion (blue), the timing can vary widely, but a typical timeframe is between 1 and 3 years of "consistent training".
Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an activity that you get better at the more you do it, you can generally bank on your pace of improvement being directly proportional to the number of times you train per week.
When it comes to seeing your first belt promotion (blue), the timing can vary widely, but a typical timeframe is between 1 and 3 years of "consistent training".
Some gyms run kickboxing classes that are as short as 30 minutes while other facilities' classes are over an hour. At thinkTANK, a typical kickboxing class is 45 minutes long and includes a warm up, bag work, pad work, partner drills, and a cool down.
The most important aspect about your attire is that you feel comfortable in it and can move around unimpeded. Kickboxing classes don't necessarily require any special uniform like Karate or Kung Fu might, so you can typically wear shorts or sweat pants and a t-shirt. Basically, if you'd wear it to the gym to workout in, it's more than likely ok to wear for a kickboxing class.
There are some specific timeframes laid out by IBJJF and other organizations in regards to minimum amounts of time training before a grappler is eligible for a black belt. Some people have been promoted as quickly as 3 years, like BJ Penn while others may be on the mats for over 2 decades before they reach black belt.
A typical answer for "how long does it take to get a black belt" would be: 6-10 years.
A typical answer for "how long does it take to get a black belt" would be: 6-10 years.