Rodrigo Gracie Academy Rules & Etiquette | Code of Conduct
Kids & Parents Code of Conduct
Focus • Community • Growth
Welcome to the official Rodrigo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Code of Conduct, Rules & Etiquette directory. Our martial arts academy is deeply rooted in the historic traditions, respect, and elite training principles of the Gracie family. To foster a premium, safe, and focused training environment for all practitioner levels—ranging from our youth future champions to our dedicated adult competitive athletes—we maintain strict standards of discipline on and off the mats. Below, you will find our comprehensive guidelines for mat etiquette, hygiene standards, visitor code of conduct, and academy operational policies designed to optimize your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle journey at our Torrance, California headquarters.
Future Champions Mat Rules
- Listen & Learn: Give full respect and attention to the Professors and Coaches. When techniques are being demonstrated, sit cross-legged on the line, maintaining full focus on the instructor.
- Mat Etiquette: Always bow when entering or leaving the mat. If you need to tie your belt or fix your Gi pants, turn around and face the wall mats out of respect.
- Teamwork & Safety: Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself unless drilling or sparring. Treat all your training partners with care and respect—no aggressive behavior or talking back.
- Asking Permission: If you need to drink water, use the restroom, or leave the mat for any reason, raise your hand and wait for permission from the instructor.
- Class Dismissal: When class concludes, all students must immediately line up in rank order and wait for the formal final bow with the instructors.
Parents & Spectators Standards
- Let the Coaches Coach: To maximize focus and respect on the training floor, parents are requested to refrain from shouting instructions or coaching from the sidelines.
- Punctuality matters: Set your children up for success by ensuring they arrive 5 minutes prior to class assembly so they can prepare for class.
- Lobby Supervision: For their safety, siblings and visiting children must remain seated with a parent in the lobby. Running around or playing on unassigned mat surfaces is strictly prohibited.
- Downstairs Playroom Safety: For maximum safety, children under the age of 5 must be accompanied by an adult at all times when using the downstairs playroom. Siblings and visiting children aged 6 and up must obtain permission from an instructor before going downstairs. Shouting and loud play are strictly prohibited to ensure ongoing classes are not disrupted.
- Hygiene Alliance: Parents, please ensure your child’s Gi and gear are washed fresh before class, and their nails are neatly trimmed.
- Profile Status: Signed insurance liability waivers and a complete database setup configuration profile must be settled before children step onto active training sessions.
Account changes, status holds, or youth membership freezes require an official form submission. All accounts carry a mandatory 30-day notice obligation before the next scheduled billing transaction settles.
Teen & Adult Practitioner Code of Conduct
Respect • Discipline • Honor
Respect & Culture
- The Bow: Bow to the mat space when entering or leaving the training floor out of honor for the environment.
- Addressing Rankings: Always address Black Belts as Professor and all active floor coaches as Coach.
- Mat Welcomes: Shake hands with your professors, instructors, and training partners when entering the mat.
- Ego Control: Training rooms are for skill refinement, not personal victories. Protect your partners and tap early.
Hygiene & Uniforms
- Clean Gear: Kimonos, rash guards, and apparel must be completely clean, fresh, and bone dry before stepping on line.
- Nail Care: Keep your finger and toe nails closely trimmed and filed smooth to prevent injury to your partners.
- Skin Safety: Any suspicious or unmapped skin conditions bar entry immediately. Completely bandage and seal minimal cuts.
- Footwear Boundary: Absolute zero tolerance for outside shoes on the mat surfaces.
Mat Conduct
- Punctuality: Try to Arrive always ahead of assembly.
- Zero Distractions: Side discussions and casual chatter cross lines when technical explanations are underway.
- Focus on Instruction: Please remain standing attentively in an upright posture whenever techniques are being demonstrated.
- Uniform Adjustments: If you need to tie your belt or adjust your uniform/Gi pants during class, always turn away from the center of the mat and face the academy’s wall mats out of respect.
- Early Departures: If you must exit the training floor before class concludes, please notify the instructor prior to stepping off the mat.
- Class Dismissal: When class concludes, all students must immediately line up in rank order and wait for the formal final bow with the instructors.
Academy Policies
- Spectator Seating: Shouting or Coaching from the sidelines is not permitted.
- Profile Status: Insurance waivers and full database setup profiles must be settled before participating in active sessions.
Account changes, status holds, or membership freezes require an official form submission. All accounts carry a mandatory 30-day notice obligation before the next schedule billing transaction settles.