Short answer
Wear shorts with no pockets, zips or buttons, a fitted t-shirt or rash guard, and cut your fingernails and toenails short. Leave every piece of jewellery at home, including rings and watches. You do not need to buy a gi, because Iron Wolf in Thamesford lends one free for your first month.
This is the question we are asked by email more than any other, and the answer is shorter than most people expect. The detail still matters though, because the wrong clothing is uncomfortable at best and occasionally the cause of an avoidable injury.
What should I wear to my first class?
Shorts and a fitted top, with nothing hard, sharp or loose anywhere on them.
Board shorts or purpose-made grappling shorts are ideal, and ordinary athletic shorts are fine as long as they meet the rules below. A fitted t-shirt does the job for a first class. That combination works for every adult class on our timetable, gi or no-gi, because on your first month we lend you a gi to put on over the top when the class calls for one.
Why do pockets, zips and buttons matter so much?
Because fingers and toes go into them during a scramble, and that is how fingers get broken.
A pocket is a loop of fabric sitting on the outside of your leg while two people are moving quickly on the ground. Zips and metal buttons are worse in a different way: they scrape skin and they damage the mats. If the only shorts you own have pockets, turn them inside out or wear compression shorts over the top and you have solved the problem for free.
What should I wear on top?
A fitted t-shirt is fine, and a rash guard is better if you already own one.
Loose cotton t-shirts get stretched, torn and quite legitimately used as handles, which is unpleasant for you and expensive for your wardrobe. A rash guard sits tight to the body, dries faster and protects your skin from mat burn. Nobody expects you to buy one before a first class, and plenty of people train for months without one.
Do I need anything underneath?
Compression shorts or leggings under your shorts, if you would rather not think about anything riding up.
Most people train in them, and they are the single most useful thing to add once you have decided you are staying. Women often train in a sports bra and rash guard under their shorts or gi, which is standard and needs no explanation to anybody.
What should I leave at home?
Every piece of jewellery, anything on your wrists, and strong scent of any kind.
- Rings. The worst offender by a distance. A ringed finger caught in a gi sleeve can be badly degloved. Take rings off before you leave the house so you cannot forget.
- Necklaces, earrings and piercings. They catch, tear and get pulled during close contact.
- Watches and fitness trackers. Hard edges on a wrist that is going to end up against somebody’s face.
- Strong perfume or aftershave. You are about to be extremely close to other people for an hour.
Why is the nail rule taken so seriously?
Because long nails cut training partners, and it is the fastest way to earn a reputation you do not want.
Fingernails and toenails should be cut short and filed smooth before you arrive. Nails catch in fabric and open up skin during grip exchanges, and the scratches they leave take a fortnight to fade. Coaches do check, and if yours are long you will be sent to trim them before you step on the mat. Doing it at home takes two minutes.
Do I need to buy a gi before I start?
No. We lend you a gi free for your entire first month.
That gives you time to work out whether you are staying and, just as usefully, what size actually fits you. Gi sizing is not intuitive, the labels do not match ordinary clothing sizes, and a lot of beginners waste money on a first gi that never fits properly. When you do buy one, a mid-range A-series gi from any established brand is entirely adequate. Ignore anybody telling a white belt they need a competition-weight kimono.
Does the kit change between gi and no-gi classes?
Slightly, and only after your first month once you own your own gear.
| Item | Gi class | No-gi class |
|---|---|---|
| Main garment | Gi jacket, trousers and belt | Shorts and rash guard |
| Underneath | Rash guard or fitted t-shirt, compression shorts | Compression shorts or spats |
| Pockets and zips | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Jewellery | None | None |
| Off the mat | Sandals or flip-flops | Sandals or flip-flops |
Our timetable runs gi and no-gi in the same week, so most members end up owning both sets eventually. There is no rush. Have a look at the weekly schedule to see which nights are which before you decide what to buy.
What should be in your bag?
Very little, which is one of the quiet pleasures of the sport.
- Shorts and a fitted top
- Flip-flops or sandals for walking off the mat
- A water bottle
- A towel and a change of clothes
- Tape for fingers, once you have been training a while
People drive to us in Thamesford from Ingersoll, Woodstock, London and across Oxford County, so if you are coming straight from work it is worth keeping that short list packed in the car.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a mouthguard or ear guards?
Not for a first class. There is no striking in jiu-jitsu, so neither is required. Some people add a mouthguard once they are training regularly, and a few add ear guards, but both are personal choices rather than rules.
Can I train in glasses or contact lenses?
Glasses have to come off, since they will be knocked off and broken. Soft contact lenses are fine and most people wear them, though bring a spare set because a lens does occasionally get dislodged during a round.
What should I do with long hair?
Tie it back with a soft fabric tie, low on the head. Avoid metal clips, hard plastic pins and anything with a rigid edge, all of which hurt when a partner rolls over them and can scratch skin.
How do I look after my gear?
Wash everything after every session without exception, including your gi, and hang it to dry rather than tumbling it. Mats and skin stay healthy only if the clothing on them is clean, and a gi that is left damp in a bag will not recover.
What do kids wear to class?
The same principles apply. Wolf Cubs, ages 3 to 6, and Wolf Pups, ages 7 to 12, train in shorts and a t-shirt or a gi, with short nails and no jewellery. You can read more on our kids jiu-jitsu page.
Is there somewhere to change at the academy?
Yes, there are change rooms, and you are shown where they are when you arrive. Turning up fifteen minutes before class gives you time to change and meet the coach without rushing.
Train with us in Thamesford
Bring the shorts and we will bring the gi. Your first class at Iron Wolf Jiu-Jitsu Academy is free, we take no card details to book it, and there is no follow-up sales call. The loaner gi is yours for a month, so there is nothing at all to buy before you find out whether the sport suits you.
Pick a session on the weekly schedule, see how the adult classes are structured, or contact us if you would rather ask a question first.