BJJ section rules

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu · Cercle Tissier

BJJ section rules

A few simple rules to ensure enjoyable, effective and respectful training for everyone in the section.

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The Cercle’s rules

They help everyone practise in good conditions while respecting others.

Clothing & hygiene

• Your nails must always be trimmed and general hygiene must be impeccable.
• Your gi must be washed after every training session, clean and dry.
• Wearing a rashguard under your gi is mandatory.
• You must never walk barefoot outside the mat area. Sandals or shoes are mandatory.

Arrival & mats

• Lateness is tolerated: we prefer a late student to an absent one.
• If you are late, wait beside the mats until the teacher sees you and allows you onto the mats.
• Attendance is only validated if the student is present for the bow.
• On arriving on the mats, students must take out their attendance card.

Sparring

• Everyone is free to invite a partner of their choice to spar.
• Everyone is also free to accept or decline an invitation to spar, regardless of the rank of the person asking.
• A black belt may therefore invite any practitioner to spar, but their rank gives them no priority in choosing partners and does not oblige the person asked to accept.
• Partner choices should take into account size, level, training goals and desired intensity for each person.
• Differences in weight or level can have educational value, but a practitioner must not routinely use a much lighter or less experienced partner simply as a warm-up when the round provides no real benefit to both partners.
• This consideration is especially important when preparing competitors, who must be able to prioritise rounds suited to their goals.
• When several pairs are sparring close together, the lower-ranked pair moves and everyone must anticipate possible collisions.
• Teachers may at any time form or change sparring pairs themselves when they consider it useful for learning.

Section & competition

• Teachers may decide which sessions students should attend.
• Additional training at another club is permitted.
• However, section students must represent the Cercle in competition.
• Belt promotions must also take place at Cercle Tissier.

Behaviour on the mats

• The mats are a shared training space: behaviour and language must always remain respectful.
• Your insults, swearing and vulgar remarks are not accepted on the mats, including when said jokingly or between partners who know each other well.
• Everyone must help maintain a pleasant, supportive atmosphere conducive to training for all practitioners present.

!

Remember

Rashguard required It must be worn under the gi. Sandals off the mats Never walk barefoot outside the mat area. Respect on the mats No insults or vulgar language, even as a joke. Free choice of partner Everyone may accept or decline a round, regardless of rank. Training tracking

Managing attendance cards

The system is simple: remember your card at every training session.

1

I collect my card

At the start of class, collect your card from the designated box, usually at reception or beside the mats.

2

I train

Keep your card with you during the session and remember to give it to the coach at the end of class.

3

I hand it in at the bow

Coaches must collect cards at the bow for attendance to be counted.

4

My attendance is validated

Only Cercle coaches may validate attendance on the card.

1 Group class = 1 attendance credit 3 Private lesson = 3 attendance credits 6 Seminar = 6 attendance credits

How are stripes awarded?

Tracking is based on training actually completed at the Cercle.

One complete line

After a full line of validated classes, coaches award a stripe.

Validation by coaches

Attendance recorded on the card may only be validated by a Cercle coach.

Card handed in at the bow

Only cards collected at the bow are counted.

Progression

Stripes & belt promotions

Attendance helps track progress, but promotion always remains the teacher’s decision.

White › Blue › Purple › Brown › Black

Each belt, except the black belt, has a maximum of four stripes. After receiving the fourth stripe, a student must still reach the equivalent of a theoretical fifth stripe before becoming eligible for the next belt.

Coaches then review whether the student is ready for the test for the next rank.

A particularly strong student, or one who regularly attends open mat sessions, may be promoted without completing the full required number of classes. In all cases, this decision remains at the teacher’s initiative.

The minimum time at each belt recommended by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) remains the limiting rule in all cases.

Read the private lesson rules → The section’s video platform

Keep progressing off the mats

Find Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques and the Cercle’s teaching system on our BJJ System video platform.

Discover BJJ System →