Grapplers Guide Academy FAQ
Class and Training Questions:
Do I need to have prior experience in order to start in a grappling sport?
Not at all. Experience is not necessary. Most students start off on the same foot and that’s from scratch. You will work at your own pace and the instructors along with your fellow peers will help you progress along the way.
What equipment is needed?
During the gi class you will need to have a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu uniform (you can purchase this later after you sign up and take your trial classes). During the no-gi classes it is recommended that you wear shorts with a t-shirts, loose fit shirt, or rashguard. We recommend that you wear either grappling boardshorts or surfing boardshorts as they are much stronger in material. A mouth guard is not required but is recommended.
Should I be in shape before I start training in a grappling sport?
You are not required to be in shape before beginning your training. The best way to get in shape for grappling is by grappling. However it never hurts do conditioning outside of class.
What is a typical class like?
In the beginning of class we will warm-up using different methods. We will use joint mobility movements, agility movements, bodyweight exercises, and grappling specific drills. Then after, you will learn techniques, concepts, and principles related to grappling. Once the technique portion is over we will then transition into the live training portion of the class. During this time you will have the ability to practice what you learned in a live manner with a resisting partner. The live portion of the class will include situational rolling, and match up rolling.
What is “rolling”?
Rolling is where you will be able to practice and test what you have learned in class and in previous classes against a resisting partner.
How does belt ranking work in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? How long does it take to receive each rank?
In BJJ there are 5 ranks: white, blue, purple, brown, and black. It can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years to progress in each level.
Is there striking involved in BJJ and No-Gi Grappling?
No there isn’t any striking (e.g. punching and kicking) involved in the training of these grappling sports. However many students supplement their training by taking additional classes in boxing, muay thai, or karate. This is where you get into Mixed Martial Arts.
Tuition Questions:
Will my tuition rates ever go up?
Simple answer is no. As long as you are training consecutively without any major break due to reasons that are not acceptable your rates will never increase. We will honor that rate that you pay for as long as you are a student.
Is there a registration fee?
No, there is not a registration fee. There is a readmission fee if you choose to leave the academy and then return (Please read further below for details)
Do you I have to sign a contract?
No. We do not make any of our students commit to training for any length of time. You will never be locked into a 1 year term or anything similar.
Am I required to sign up for automatic billing?
Yes. All students are required to use the automatic billing system. This is to ensure on time payment and that the school is run smoothing. It also gives the instructor the opportunity to focus more on teaching the students and less on the accounting side. There is no extra free for automatic billing. If for some reason you cannot do the automatic billing and need to pay monthly manually, you will be charged a $15 surcharge each month for manual payments.
For the automatic billing can I cancel at any time?
Yes. You can cancel your billing at anytime. There is no cancellation period and we do not require that you move or have any other excuse to cancel. We feel that a student should not be forced to pay for a service that they cannot do or do not enjoy.
If I cancel and decide I would like to rejoin, is that a possibility? – Yes, however there is a readmission fee of $75 to rejoin the academy. If you choose to not train with The Grapplers Guide Academy and then return after a couple of months you will be required to pay the readmission fee to rejoin. This readmission fee DOES NOT APPLY to students who:
- Had a death in the family
- Were extremely ill
- Went away to college
- Sustained a serious injury that could prevent them from coming in even to just drill.
- Could not train due to military activity
- Any other extremely important reason
The readmission fee WILL APPLY to those who:
- Stopped training because they were lazy for a while
- Stopped training due to lack of motivation
- Stopped training for any similar reason above.
If you choose to leave the academy but you may return in the future, just make sure you speak with me about it and we can always work something out. Communication is very important.
Can I freeze my account if I need to take time off but know I will be returning?
Yes you can freeze your account at anytime, just make sure you speak to me about the situation and I will be more than happy to work with you. To freeze your account you must freeze it for a minimum of 1 month (or 30 days). We cannot freeze an account for a week or two.