When arriving for your first class, an instructor or staff member will greet you at the front desk and help you check in for your trial. It's a good idea to come 10-15 minutes early so there is time to sign the waiver, change into a trial uniform if needed, and for us to answer any questions you may have.

If you have booked a 1:1 trial - at Hammer these take place on Thursdays from 6:00-6:30pm - you will remain in the clothes you arrive in. So be sure to dress in something that allows free and comfortable movement! Comfortable gym attire, such as a t-shirt and shorts/leggings, works perfectly fine. If you have a trial during class times - 7am or 6:30pm - you will be given a uniform to borrow for your class. Bring flip flops (or other easy on/off shoes such as crocs), a water bottle, and towel/change of clothing if you'd like to use the showers after your trial.

We completely understand that life happens! If you know ahead of time your trial spot no longer works, send us a message and we are more than happy to move your trial to another day/time. If you arrive late we can help you reschedule for another day/time in person at the desk. You are welcome to stay and observe class for as long, or as short, as you'd like. In order to continue forward with a booked trial class you must be inside and fully checked in no later than 5 minutes before class/trial start time, as heading in to a class/trial after class has begun will cause you to miss necessary information and often creates class disruption.

Yes! Most academies follow a set of guidelines to ensure a safe and respectful training environment: + Be on time for class. + Greet the Instructor when stepping onto the mats. + No shoes on the mats. No bare feet on the floors. Always step onto shoes when leaving the mats. Our entire body makes contact with the mat surface, this keeps the transfer of germs and debris to a minimum. + Nails must be short, and neatly trimmed. Untrimmed nails pose a serious safety risk. + Practice good hygiene, including clean hands and feet. + Wash the uniform after *every class*. + No jewelry on the mats. + Notify the instructor if you need to leave the mats during instruction (bathroom break, need to leave early, etc). Jiu jitsu is a partnered sport, knowing you are stepping away makes sure no one is left hanging. + Respect your training partners. Keep your ego off the mats. + Do not eat or chew gum on the mats. Many academies, including here at Hammer, emphasize these practices to maintain structure and discipline, which are two important pillars in Jiu Jitsu.

If you have booked a 1:1 Intro - at Hammer these take place on Thursdays from 6:00pm - 6:30pm - you will be in your own clothing, solo or in a small group up to 4 people, working directly with an instructor before the evening class. The instructor will go over basic safety, fundamentals of warm up movements and their application to jiu jitsu, examples of real world self-defense for you to practice, and is available to answer any questions you have. Once the Intro has concluded, you are welcome to stay and observe the Fundamentals class. A staff member will be available at the desk to discuss next steps before you leave. If you are attending a class for your first trial you will enter a Fundamentals class, geared towards beginners, in uniform and follow along with students. The Instructor will introduce you to students, help guide you through the warm up, and make sure you have extra assistance when it's time to work on technique with a partner. You are encouraged to communicate your comfort level with Instructors/your partner, and are not expected to participate in sparring.

The standard All Level or Fundamentals class follows a predictable structure - there may be variations to this structure from time to time, but generally you can expect: + Lining up according to belt rank. Each row is it's own belt. From least experienced to most experienced: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black. Newest members are at the back of this line, making it easier to watch and follow students ahead of them. + Bowing in, beginning warming up, warm up drills. Expect a light mix of jogging, shuffling, front/back rolls, hip escapes, penetration steps, breakfalls, technical stand ups, etc. These are fundamental movements used in Jiu Jitsu and may feel awkward at first - but don’t worry! - everyone starts here, often a little confused by what feels like unnatural movement in the beginning, and with consistent practice they’ll become second nature. + Technical instruction and partnered drilling. The Instructor will demonstrate a specific technique, showing it more than once and explaining the mechanics behind the movements, before students pair off to practice together. You are welcome to ask clarifying questions during demonstration (simply raise your hand) as well as ask for help during drilling. Since this is your first class, more experienced teammates or your instructor will guide you through each step. + Situational sparring. Different than full sparring starting from the feet, often at the end of Fundamentals, the class will be given an objective/goal related to the technique that was drilled and cycle through a few 1 minute rounds. Trial students are not expected, and often directed not, to participate in situational sparring.

Stepping onto the mats for the first time is a big moment. Jiu Jitsu is an art that rewards patience, consistency, and an open mind. For any reason you are here, from the love of the sport to getting more fit, your first class is just the beginning! Embrace the process, accept a bit of feeling lost at the start (every single one of us has been there), enjoy the learning experience, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you’re ready to give it a try, we’d love to welcome you to your first class. Your first trial class is always FREE and ON US! Experience firsthand what makes Jiu Jitsu such a transformative experience. We look forward to training with you!