Members from all walks of life train at Teragi, from recreational practitioners to ambitious competitors, kids to parents, and free-spirited creatives to working professionals. While everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and values, we expect all members to respect differences, respect anyone who trains Jiu Jitsu, and make Jiu Jitsu and self-improvement the focus and conversation on the mats. We pride ourselves on being a highly inclusive and welcoming academy.

No, you don’t need to be in great physical shape, you can start at any fitness level. Regular Jiu Jitsu training will naturally get you in shape and many practitioners have transformed their body and conditioning within their first 6 to 9 months of training. Moreover, our beginner-oriented classes focus on flexibility, conditioning, and mobility, designed to improve your overall fitness for the Jiu Jitsu journey and beyond.

Your first class at the academy will focus on a basic introduction to Jiu Jitsu and our academy etiquette. In this class, you will be learning how to execute proper warmups, Jiu Jitsu movements, and fundamental techniques in the drilling format. You will not participate in “sparring,” which will come later in your training. If you already have Jiu Jitsu experience, you are welcome to join a more advanced class and participate in full training on your first visit.

If you are new to Jiu Jitsu, you only need to bring a training shirt, a pair of slippers, a hand towel, and a positive attitude. We will provide you with a loaner gi (uniform). If you already own a gi in any of the standard IBJJF colors (white, royal blue, and black), you are welcome to bring it with you.

No. There are absolutely no striking, kicking, or punching in Jiu Jitsu. And we strive to never hurt one another in training. Our philosophy is to progress and grow as a team, which means we take care of each other on the mat. The beauty of Jiu Jitsu is that you can train near 100% without sustaining physical damage or injury. We do not tolerate members who do not observe our code of conduct in the academy.

Yes! Jiu Jitsu is already considered the best martial art for women because of its foundational premise to enable a smaller person to control and submit a larger and stronger person. On top of that, Teragi Academy was founded with the commitment to providing the safest and best training environment for female members. We encourage our female members to train with both men and women, but also offer women’s only classes for added level of safety and comfort while members are building their fundamental skills set.

With regular training, you will make progress. At times, progress will seem elusive because Jiu Jitsu is demanding, but with regular training, you will experience substantial growth and improvement in your first 6 months. Your belt promotions will depend on how much time you spend on the mat and how smart you train. It is also important to note that a Jiu Jitsu practitioner, at the blue belt level (just after white) can be highly effective and “dangerous” compared to an untrained person. Many say that a Jiu Jitsu purple belt (the level after blue), is equivalent to a black belt in other martial arts. Most Jiu Jitsu black belts obtain the coveted rank in 7 to 12 years. But at the end of the day, as with anything meaningful, it is about enjoying the journey.