When training Jiu Jitsu, you will find that you sweat a lot. Most likely, your entire Gi will be soaked after class. Your sweaty Gi will also have picked up any dirt or dust that was on the mat. This is why it is very important to wash your gear after each training session, not only to remove the smells but also to protect your skin. The same goes for any braces, belt, rash guards or shorts you wear. If you can’t get the smell out of these items after multiple attempts, throw them out and purchase new ones. Don’t be known as the smelly person that everybody avoids training with! Keeping these items clean and ready for every training session is ensuring that you will protect yourself and training partners from Ringworm, Staph and other skin rashes.
You can further protect yourself and training partners by trimming your nails before stepping on the mats. This will help to prevent cuts that happen from reaching inside the collar or making grips on the sleeves. It’s highly probable that most people spend the day at work before coming to the gym. If you have time, try to jump in the shower to clean your body to remove any hair products or make-up. If you don’t have the opportunity to do this then as soon as you get home from training, do so.
It is very important that when you step off the mats to wear shoes or sandals at all times. Never go into the restroom or outside without shoes and then return to the mats. When you walk around with no shoes on, you pick up bacteria from the debris on the ground. This “bacteria” can lead to infections in the stomach, eyes, lungs or even on the skin. This is why it is so important that we keep the mats as clean as possible. At the end of every training session, help clean the mats if you have the time. This will ensure your gym will remain free of bacteria that can cause you to lose time training.
Last but not least; please do NOT come to train if you are sick! Due to the close proximity of Jiu Jitsu, training with others while you are sick is disrespectful to your fellow training partners. While your dedication is admirable, getting everybody else sick is not.
