BJJ Hygiene and
Mat Etiquette.
The short list of rules that keeps every training partner healthy, safe and respected on our mats.
Jiu-Jitsu is a close-contact sport. You share the mat, and your partner's skin, with everyone in the room. That is why BJJ hygiene at Gracie Barra Saint-Laurent is not a suggestion. It is the first rule of training, and it protects you as much as it protects your partners.
The hygiene checklist
Before every class, run through these six points. They take a few minutes and prevent almost every skin problem you hear about in grappling.
Wash your gi after every single session, no exceptions. If you train more than twice a week, owning two or three gis makes this easy.
Fingernails and toenails short, clean and filed smooth. Long or sharp nails cause scratches, and scratches are how infections get in.
Wash your hands before class and make sure your feet are clean before you step on the mat. After a long workday, shower at home first.
Shoes stay at the entrance. Wear sandals everywhere off the mat, especially in the bathroom, and take them off only at the mat edge.
Rings, earrings, necklaces and watches come off before class. This is a safety rule for you and your training partners.
Wear deodorant, brush your teeth, tie long hair back, and make sure your gi smells clean, with no food odours.
Should you wash your BJJ belt?
Yes. There is an old superstition that washing your belt washes away your knowledge. It doesn't. Your skills live in your training, not in the dirt on your belt.
Your belt touches the same mats, hands and sweat as your gi, so wash it with your gi. Head Instructor Demetrios Diavatopoulos washes his own belt, and we recommend every student does the same.
Keeping skin healthy: ringworm and staph
Skin infections like ringworm and staph are uncommon in a well-kept academy, and the habits above prevent almost all of them. When a case does show up, it usually doesn't start on a clean mat. It comes in from somewhere else: a gi worn at another gym and not washed, mats that aren't cleaned daily, or a scratch left uncovered.
That is one reason we encourage students to keep their training here, where we know exactly how the mats are cleaned. If you do train at another gym, shower and wash all of your gear before you come back to our mats, every time.
If you notice a red, circular or itchy patch, or a painful bump, have it checked by a medical professional and stay off the mats until you are fully cleared. With early treatment, most cases clear up quickly. Cover every open cut, even a paper cut, with a bandage and tape before training.
If you have a cold or a fever, stay off the mats until you are fully recovered, which can take one to two weeks depending on how sick you are. That is why we offer membership pauses in two-week blocks, so you can rest, recover fully and come back without worrying about your membership.
Mats are wiped down and disinfected after every class.
A full deep cleaning is done every day by our cleaning team and our mat-cleaning robot.
We have two showers on site, and we recommend showering as soon as possible after training, here or at home.
What to wear
Gi classes: the official Gracie Barra uniform is required, with a Gracie Barra rash guard underneath for adults.
No-Gi classes: a Gracie Barra rash guard and Gracie Barra shorts only. Spats (compression tights for the legs) are optional. A mouthguard is recommended for live rolling.
Your free trial class: we lend you a uniform for the day, so you don't need to buy anything before your first class. Under it, wear a t-shirt or other comfortable athletic clothing with no zippers or buttons. We will walk you through the official uniform if you decide to join.
Take your gi and gear home after every class. Never leave a wet gi in your bag or locker.
Mat etiquette
- 01Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. Change, use the bathroom and be ready before class starts.
- 02Bow before stepping on and off the mat. It is a sign of respect for the room and the people training in it.
- 03Line up by belt at the start and end of every class, with your gi properly worn and your belt properly tied.
- 04Late? Wait at the edge. Stay off the mat until the instructor waves you in.
- 05Address instructors properly. Black belts are "Professor", all other instructors are "Coach".
- 06Ask before leaving the mat, even for water or the bathroom.
- 07Sit cross-legged or kneeling during instruction, and never point your feet at the instructor.
- 08Clean language only. We have a no-swearing policy everywhere in the academy, on and off the mat.
- 09Phones and water bottles stay off the mat.
- 10White belts don't coach other white belts unless an instructor asks them to.
Training safety
- 01Tap early. There is no prize for waiting. Tapping is how you learn and stay healthy.
- 02Stop instantly when your partner taps or the instructor calls stop.
- 03Control your strength with smaller, younger or newer partners.
- 04Watch your space while rolling. If you get close to another pair, stop and reset.
What our instructors are responsible for: every live training session is supervised by a certified Gracie Barra instructor. Our instructors pair training partners with safety in mind, put technique ahead of intensity, and give specific safety tips with every technique they teach. Higher-risk techniques, such as certain takedowns, wrist locks and leg locks, are reserved for students who have developed the skill for them and are practised under close supervision.
For parents: please watch from the viewing area, do not step onto the mat, and leave the coaching to our instructors. It helps your child focus and keeps every child safe.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you wash your BJJ gi?
After every class, with no exceptions. Students who train more than twice a week should own two or three gis so they always have a clean one ready.
Should you wash your BJJ belt?
Yes. The idea that washing your belt removes your skill is a superstition. At Gracie Barra Saint-Laurent we recommend washing your belt with your gi to keep bacteria off the mats.
What should I wear to my first BJJ class?
For a free trial class at Gracie Barra Saint-Laurent, we lend you a uniform for the day. Wear a t-shirt or other comfortable athletic clothing underneath, with no zippers or buttons. Members train in the official Gracie Barra uniform for gi classes and a Gracie Barra rash guard and shorts for no-gi.
Can I train BJJ with a cold or a skin infection?
No. With a cold or fever, stay off the mats until you are fully recovered, often one to two weeks. Members can pause their membership in two-week blocks while they recover. With signs of ringworm or staph, see a medical professional right away and stay off the mats until you are fully cleared.
How do you prevent ringworm and staph in BJJ?
Wash your gi and belt after every class, keep nails trimmed and filed, wash hands and feet, wear sandals off the mat, cover every cut, shower soon after training, and wash all your gear after training at any other gym. Our mats are disinfected after every class and deep cleaned every day.
Explore more at Gracie Barra Saint-Laurent
Clean mats, clear rules and a team that looks after each other. Come see for yourself.
Book Your Free Class Or call us directly at 514-243-5455