What to Wear to Your First BJJ Class

The single most-asked question before a first class, and the answer is reassuringly boring: shorts and a t-shirt.

The short answer

• Shorts or leggings with no zips, pockets or metal (they scratch people and mats)
• A plain t-shirt or fitted rash guard
• A water bottle
• Flip-flops for walking off the mat

Do I need a gi?

No. The gi is the traditional jacket-and-trousers uniform you've probably seen in photos, and you don't need one for your first class or your first few weeks. For gi classes at MTHD we'll lend you one, washed and ready, so you can find out whether you enjoy gi training before spending anything.

If you join and decide to buy your own, expect to pay roughly £40 to £120. The £40 to £60 bracket is honestly all a beginner needs; expensive gis are lighter and prettier, not better for learning. Ask a coach before buying, because sizing is odd (gi sizes run A1, A2, A3 rather than S, M, L) and we can point you at brands that fit your build and survive frequent washing.

For no-gi classes the fitted rash guard is worth owning early. A loose cotton t-shirt works fine for day one, but it soaks up sweat and catches fingers; a £20 to £30 rash guard fixes both problems and lasts years.

What to leave at home

• Jewellery, watches and piercings. Rings and earrings catch on fabric and fingers. Take them off before class, or leave them at home entirely.
• Long nails. Fingernails and toenails short, please. It's the cheapest injury prevention in the whole sport.
• Strong fragrance. You'll be in close contact with training partners; nobody wants to roll inside a cloud of aftershave.
• A big meal or a coffee twenty minutes before class. Train comfortable, not sloshing. Eat properly a couple of hours before instead.
• Your ego. Genuinely the most important item on the list. Come to learn, tap early, and the room will look after you.

Etiquette basics nobody tells you

• Clean kit, every session. Whatever you wore last time goes in the wash before it comes back. This rule has no exceptions and your training partners will silently love you for it.
• Shoes never touch the mat, feet never touch the floor. Flip-flops to the edge of the mat, then bare feet on it. This keeps the surface you'll be rolling on genuinely clean.
• Shower the same day you train. Basic skin hygiene keeps the whole gym healthy.
• Tap early, tap often. Tapping isn't losing; it's how you finish a round and start the next one. The people who progress fastest are the ones who tap without drama and ask what they should have done differently.
• If in doubt, ask. Coaches would always rather answer a basic question than watch someone quietly struggle.

Ready to put the outfit to use? Your first class is free, and here's exactly what happens in it.