Everyone starts as a beginner. Here is what to bring, what happens in class and which classes suit you best.
Tomsagervej 2, Aarhus C
Comfortable sports clothes without zips or pockets (a rash guard and shorts or leggings is perfect), a water bottle, flip-flops for walking off the mat, and a towel.
If the class is in the gi and you don’t have one, ask the club: most have one to borrow.
Come with short, clean finger- and toenails and freshly washed training clothes.
Take jewellery off. Never walk barefoot off the mat and then back on it. If you have a cold or a skin rash, stay home this time.
Tap your partner (or the mat) clearly two or three times, or say “tap”, as soon as a hold gets uncomfortable.
Tap early: there is no prize for waiting. When your partner taps, let go straight away.
Most classes start with a warm-up, then the coach shows a technique and you practise it with a partner.
Many classes end with sparring (“rolling”). As a beginner you can always sit out the rolling or ask for a light round.
Ask before you roll and go at your partner’s pace.
Bigger and more experienced people take care of smaller and newer ones. Keep your ego at the door, keep the space around you clear, and thank your partner after every round.
Everyone feels lost in the first weeks.
Nobody expects you to remember every step. Pick one thing from each class to remember, ask the coach or a partner when you are unsure, and come back next week. That is how everyone learns.