Before you roll
This tutorial covers what you need before your first roll. A roll is free sparring, with both people resisting. You learn how to tap, how a class works, and how to keep yourself and your partner safe.
The tap: the signal to stop
The tap is the signal that says stop. You tap, and your partner lets go at once. It is the most important thing you learn in your first class.
- Tap your partner's body or the mat with your hand.
- Tap clearly, and more than once.
- If your hands are trapped, tap with your foot.
- You can also say the word tap out loud.
You have a kimura on your partner. They tap twice on your leg. You let go right away, even if you think the lock was not tight. They know their own shoulder better than you do.
Your partner has an armbar on you. One arm is in the lock, and the other is trapped under their leg. How do you tap?
Chokes and joint locks
A submission is a hold that makes the other person tap. There are two main kinds: chokes and joint locks.
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A blood choke: the arm squeezes the sides of the neck, so tap early. Rear Naked Choke in the library ›
| Kind | What it does | How it feels |
|---|---|---|
| Blood choke | Presses the sides of the neck | Little pain, works in seconds |
| Air choke | Presses the windpipe at the front of the throat | It hurts and works more slowly |
| Joint lock | Bends a joint past its normal range | Damage can come before pain |
A neck crank bends or twists the neck or spine. It is not a choke, and it is not taught here. If it happens in training, tap and tell your partner.
What a class looks like
Most classes follow the same order. Each part adds a little more resistance than the part before.
- Warm-up: solo movements like the shrimp, the bridge and rolls.
- Technique: the coach shows a move.
- Drilling: you repeat the move with a partner who does not resist.
- Positional sparring: you start in one position with one goal, then reset.
- Rolling: live sparring in timed rounds, with both people resisting.
If your partner asks to go light, they mean slow and soft, with little strength. Use technique, not strength.
The coach calls five-minute rounds. You have never rolled before. You pick one simple goal: stay calm. You go light, breathe, and tap early.
Mat rules
- Shoes off on the mat. Shoes on when you step off it.
- Keep your nails short and wear a clean gi (the training uniform) every class.
- Never bend fingers to break a grip. Grab the whole hand or the wrist instead.
- Never lift someone and drop them. That is a slam, and it is illegal at every belt.
- If you bump into another pair, stop. The pair who was there first keeps the space.
- If someone says they are hurt, everything stops.
A tap means stop for both people. The person who tapped does not use the release to attack. Save any coaching for after the round.
What a white belt may do
Some submissions are not allowed at white belt. Many gyms follow the same list in training as in competition.
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This ankle lock is legal at white belt: the foot is held straight, with no twist. Straight Ankle Lock in the library ›
| Legal for white belts | Illegal for white belts |
|---|---|
| Common chokes, like the rear naked choke | Spinal locks without a choke |
| Armbar, kimura and americana | Wrist locks (legal from blue belt) |
| Straight ankle lock, with no twist | Kneebars, toe holds and heel hooks |
You are rolling with another white belt. Which of these may you finish, slowly?
Train it on the Path
Reading is the first step. The Before you roll unit has 5 short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.