Your responsibilities as a member, and our responsibilities to you
Safety and etiquette
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You do not have to drill or roll if you don’t want to. EVER. It doesn’t matter who’s asking - even if they are a black belt or a coach. A simple “no thanks”is enough. If someone says this to you, just find another partner. End of story.
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We welcome people of all ages, sizes and abilities. Talk to your partner before training and manage your intensity as such. Especially if you are larger or stronger than your opponent.
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Keep the gym and changing rooms inclusive and respectful. If a joke can be misinterpreted by someone that doesn’t know you, keep it for outside the gym.
Hygiene
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Never train if you suspect that you have a skin infection. Check with your pharmacist if you are in doubt.
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If you’re sick, do not train.
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Always train in clean, unworn gear.
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If you are bleeding or see blood on the mat, inform the coach immediately.
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Keep your fingernails and toenails short, and file them to make sure that they aren’t sharp.
Bullying, harassment and abuse
Keep in mind that bullying, harassment and abuse are not just about the facts of what is said and done, but how it makes the victim feel in that context. What might be fun and acceptable between a couple of very good friends might make your training partner feel terrible. So be on your best behaviour, please!
Please note:
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Bullying can be physical, psychological, verbal or emotional.
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Socialising with and dating gym members: We are all adults, and we respect your autonomy, so we wish we didn’t have to bring this up. However, recent high-profile cases in other gyms have forced us to make previously unwritten rules more concrete. Interaction/ socialising with someone from the gym must be by mutual consent.
If someone from the gym is bothering you, either online or offline, ask them politely to leave you alone. If they don’t, you can make a complaint via our complaints form. If we have good reason to believe that a member is harassing another member, this will lead to the offending member being banned, no matter who they are.
The same point applies to any visitors/ special guests/ seminar coaches. We don’t care who they are, what belt they are, how many medals they have, or how famous they may be- they all have to obey the same rules.
Power Imbalances, Leadership and Belt Hierarchy
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu naturally has a hierarchy based on experience and belt rank. While this hierarchy is important for learning and safety on the mats, it must never be used to intimidate, pressure or take advantage of another member.
Higher belts, coaches and committee members are expected to lead by example and are held to a higher standard of conduct than other members.
This means:
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Rank Does Not Equal Entitlement. Belt hierarchy exists for safety and learning, not for intimidation. A higher belt, coach, or committee member must never use their position to bully, exclude, or manipulate others.
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Club leaders and upper belts are held to a higher standard of conduct. Respect is earned, not demanded through rank. You always have the right to question inappropriate behavior without fear of retaliation.
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Coaches are here to teach Jiu-Jitsu. We do not own you, and you are not required to show "loyalty" by exclusively training with us. You owe no favors, outside time, or homage to distant "gurus."
Our club operates on the principle that everyone deserves the same dignity and respect, regardless of age, gender, belt rank, experience or competitive ability.
Trauma
Trauma may be caused by violence, abuse, war, an accident… it has many potential causes. It’s also individual - what’s traumatising for one person might not be for someone else. Keep in mind that someone might be fighting a battle that’s completely invisible to you, and that this might affect their approach to training.
Certain positions in jiu-jitsu might be very uncomfortable, or triggering, for certain individuals, and they may therefore wish to avoid them. That’s fine. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always have a break or skip an exercise. To give another example, an innocent comment like “you should drop a weight class” might barely register for you, but for a person with a history of weight-related struggles, it might trigger an old trauma.
Remember that there are people on our mats who have experienced terrible things you have never been through.
You are all free to take a break at any time, and it’s always OK to tap!
Language
We have no tolerance for language that is sexist, racist, homo- or transphobic, ableist (discriminatory against disabled people), anti-neurodivergent, ageist, targeted against a particular religion or culture, or otherwise discriminatory.
We also have a zero tolerance policy towards political hate speech.
In-House Matches and Competition
Throughout the year, we regularly hold friendly one-on-one matches between members. These are intended to be a fun way to test your skills, gain experience and enjoy the sport in a relaxed environment. They are not taken overly seriously, and the emphasis is always on learning, sportsmanship and having fun.
Participation is completely voluntary. If you do not want to take part, simply let a coach or committee member know. There is absolutely no pressure or expectation to compete, and choosing not to participate will never affect how you are treated.
Whether your goal is to compete at a high level or simply enjoy training recreationally, you are an equally valued member of the club.
Club Socials
Our socials are an opportunity for members to get to know one another outside of training in a relaxed, friendly and welcoming environment. Everyone should feel comfortable attending, regardless of their age, experience, background or whether they choose to drink alcohol.
We do not believe in "freshers' punishments," initiations or hazing of any kind. New members should be made to feel welcome, not embarrassed or pressured into doing anything they are uncomfortable with. Our socials are intended to build friendships and strengthen the club community and not to exclude, intimidate or single anyone out.