Gym Rules
Learn about Lionheart's gym rules for hygiene and sparring.
Lionheart Jiu Jitsu Rules
Lionheart Hygiene Rules
Clean Gi and No Gi Gear: Wash your gi (uniform) and other training gear after every training session to remove sweat, bacteria and other contaminants.
No Bare Feet in the Bathroom: We have bathroom “slippers” next to the bathroom door for your use.
Shower Before Training and After Training: Take a shower before attending BJJ class to remove dirt, sweat, and any potential germs from your body. Always try to shower within 2 hours of finishing your training session. Using shampoo containing pyrithione zinc all over your body will help reduce the chances of any infections.
Trim Nails: Keep your fingernails and toenails short and clean to avoid scratching your training partners.
Wear Clean, Dry Gear: Ensure your gi, rash guards, spats, and other training gear are clean, dry and odor-free before each session.
No Shoes on the Mat: Keep the training area clean by removing your shoes before stepping onto the mat. Dirt and contaminants from shoes can spread on the mat.
Personal Hygiene: Maintain good personal hygiene by brushing your teeth, using deodorant, and washing your hands before training and after bathroom use. Your training partners will appreciate it. A rash guard or shirt must be worn under the gi jacket.
No Illness on the Mat: If you are feeling unwell, particularly if you have a contagious illness like a cold or flu, avoid training until you have fully recovered to prevent the spreading of germs to your training partners.
Help us Disinfect: After training, wipe down any shared equipment, such as mats and pads, with disinfectant to kill bacteria and viruses. The Coaches and Professor always genuinely appreciate those who are willing to help clean up the gym after a training session.
Keep Long Hair Tied Back: If you have long hair, tie it back securely to prevent it from getting in your face or your training partner's face during rolls.
Avoid Open Wounds: If you have any cuts, scrapes, or open wounds, cover them with clean bandages or tape before training to prevent the spread of blood-borne pathogens and skin infections. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A SKIN ISSUE PLEASE ASK A COACH TO GIVE YOU THE OK TO BE ON THE MAT. The Coaches cannot stop an outbreak if people are not honest and forthcoming with areas of concern.
Communicate: If you notice a hygiene issue with a training partner, communicate with them discreetly and respectfully. If you are not comfortable talking to them, let a coach know and we will talk with the person. Everyone needs to uphold hygiene standards for the safety and well-being of the entire community here at Lionheart.
Lionheart Rolling Rules
No Means No: If someone declines a roll, accept their decision gracefully without questioning or attempting to change their mind. Respecting their boundaries fosters a positive and inclusive training environment.
No Pressure: Avoid pressuring or guilting someone into rolling if they decline. Everyone has the right to refuse without feeling obligated.
Non-Verbal Cues: Pay attention to non-verbal cues that indicate whether someone is willing to roll.
Verbalize Comfort Levels: Encourage open communication about comfort levels and physical boundaries. If someone expresses discomfort with a certain technique or level of intensity, respect their wishes.
Leg Locks: At Lionheart, we believe we should train our students to the most liberal tournament ruleset for their belt level. In doing so, we will learn to use and defend the following leg locks at all levels outside of the beginner curriculum. These restrictions are for the safety of our students.
Under 14 years old: No leg locks allowed.
Teen grapplers 14yrs+: Straight Foot Locks and Straight Knee Bars.
Adult grapplers 18yrs+: Straight Foot Locks, Straight Knee Bars, Toe Holds, and Calf Crunches in intermediate classes. Heel Hooks, Reaping, Z-Locks, Cloverleafs, Sankaku, and everything else not mentioned is in advanced and competition classes.
Teens and adults are allowed to learn all leg locks but may only use the tournament legal attacks at their respective levels during rolls. Adults, please be mindful of the age of your partners and use the proper level of leg lock restriction. If you find yourself with an opponent under 14 yrs. old, NO LEG LOCKING IS ACCEPTABLE!
If someone is uncomfortable with leg locks, they can communicate this to their partner, and leg locks are off the table for that interaction. It is your responsibility to voice your level of leg lock comfort!
It is mandatory that all leg locks are catch and release only. Do not finish a leg lock on a teammate in sparring. Stop the match and reset.
Submissions and Moves (other than Leg Locks): All tournament legal submissions and moves are allowable in sparring other than the aforementioned. The only exceptions are can openers and slams (they're legal in ADCC but not in the gym). As always, take care of your partners. Be aware of what is tournament legal and what isn't. If you don't know then ask. We will not hesitate to remove a student who makes themselves a hazard to other students.
Mindful Approach: Approach potential training partners respectfully and avoid invading their personal space without invitation. Wait for them to signal readiness before engaging in a roll.
Mutual Respect: Treat your training partners with respect and dignity. Respect their personal space both on and off the mat.
Diversity: Recognize that everyone has different preferences, comfort levels, and reasons for training. Do not assume you know why someone is here.
Tapping Out: If your partner taps out either physically or verbally, this means STOP IMMEDIATELY! Even if you do not understand why they are tapping. You do not need to understand; you just need to stop, period! Please tap on your partner's body and verbally tap to ensure they receive the message.