Frequently Asked Questions About Training at Deep Water BJJ

No.

You are not expected to know the terminology, movements, or how classes work before you start.

Deep Water has defined starting programs for complete beginners, and we will help you begin in the appropriate one.

No.

Training will challenge you, but you do not need to improve your fitness before attending a trial class.

Your first job is to learn. Fitness develops through consistent participation.

Complete our trial-request form by selecting Book Your Free Trial Class.

A member of our team will follow up, learn what type of training interests you, and give you appropriate available class options.

Trial classes are scheduled in advance.

A member of our team will contact you and may ask about who will be training, what interests you, previous experience, your goals, and general availability.

From there, we will help you find an appropriate first class and confirm the information you need before coming in.

Yes.

If you are not comfortable participating yet, you are welcome to observe an appropriate class first.

Contact us in advance so we can help arrange the right class to watch.

After your trial, we will talk through your goals, availability, the program we recommend, pricing, membership terms, any questions you still have, and what the next step would look like.

That conversation may happen while you are at the academy or through a later follow-up.

You will have the information you need before deciding whether to continue.

Wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows you to move freely and bring water.

Avoid clothing with exposed metal, zippers, or anything that could scratch a training partner.

Plan to arrive approximately 10–15 minutes early so you have time to complete the waiver and be ready when class begins.

No.

You do not need to purchase equipment before trying a class.

If you are coming for a Striking trial and already own Boxing gloves, bring them with you. They are not required for your first class.

No. Beginners are not simply thrown into all-out sparring.

Depending on the program and lesson, your class may include controlled partner practice with a specific goal.

Pressure and resistance are introduced in ways that make sense for the lesson and your experience level.

You may have controlled contact with a training partner depending on the lesson, but you will not be thrown into hard sparring.

Complete beginners first learn things like stance, movement, defense, mechanics, power control, and how to work responsibly with a partner.

More reactive and live training is introduced as your skill, control, and readiness develop.

Martial arts training involves physical contact and carries some risk.

The goal is not to pretend otherwise. It is to reduce unnecessary risk by teaching people how to train properly.

Classes are coached and supervised, beginners are not automatically thrown into all-out sparring, training intensity is controlled, and students are expected to work responsibly with their partners.

Complete beginners generally enter through one of three starting pathways:

Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Adults who are new to BJJ begin in Adult Intro.

Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

New children begin in Kids Fundamentals.

Striking

Complete beginners interested in stand-up martial arts, including Boxing and Muay Thai, begin in Striking Intro.

If you already have relevant martial arts experience, that may affect where we recommend you begin.

Deep Water offers Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for:

Ages 6–9
Ages 10–14

New children in both age groups begin in Kids Fundamentals.

Yes.

Parents are welcome to remain inside and watch during their child's trial class.

After enrollment, regular Kids classes are normally student-only so children can focus, participate independently, and become comfortable training with the coaching team.

Yes.

Boxing and Muay Thai are both legitimate disciplines trained and developed at Deep Water.

We do not currently operate separate standalone beginner Boxing or Muay Thai classes. Complete beginners interested in either discipline begin through Striking Intro and continue developing those skills as their foundation grows.

No.

No one begins directly in MMA at Deep Water.

But you can absolutely start from scratch with MMA as the goal.

We will help you begin with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Striking foundation that makes sense for your experience and what you want to work toward.

Yes.

Deep Water offers private lessons and small-group training for adults and kids, members and non-members, complete beginners and experienced students.

Private training can supplement regular classes or be your primary way of training if you prefer one-on-one or small-group instruction.

Deep Water runs classes Monday through Saturday, with several training options throughout the week.

Not every program runs at every time, and not every class is appropriate for a first-time student.

Your first visit is scheduled in advance so we can help you find an option that makes sense for what you want to train, your experience, and where you should begin.

Because seeing every class does not tell a first-time visitor which class they should actually attend.

Different classes are built for different programs, experience levels, and stages of training. We also schedule first-time visitors carefully so coaches can give them the attention they need without taking that attention away from the students already training.

Rather than asking you to sort through the entire member schedule and guess, we help you find a good option for your first class.

Yes.

Once you become a member, you receive access to the complete academy schedule.

The first-visit process is handled differently because we are helping you determine where you should begin. Once you know your program and how your training works, the full schedule becomes much more useful.

There is not one universal membership price that applies to every student.

Pricing may vary based on factors such as the program, level of access, membership term, adult or child enrollment, family participation, and multi-program access.

After your free trial class, we will explain the membership options that apply to you, the exact cost, the terms, and what is included before you decide whether to enroll.

Yes.

Deep Water memberships are term-based.

The available terms, pricing, access, and what your membership includes are explained before you enroll.

Family and multi-program membership options are also available when applicable.

The free first class is where everyone starts.

If you are interested in Deep Water but want more firsthand experience before making a longer-term decision, our optional 30-Day Trial gives you the opportunity to train with us for 30 days and experience the coaching, academy environment, and consistency of regular training.

We will explain the details after your free trial class.

The Deep Water Training Assistance Program (TAP) may provide limited membership-dues assistance for committed adults and older teenagers when cost would otherwise make consistent training difficult.

Participants take on agreed responsibilities that help support the academy. Those responsibilities are determined individually based on Deep Water’s current needs and how the person can best contribute.

Availability is limited, participation is not guaranteed, and the responsibilities, expectations, scheduling, and amount of membership assistance are discussed privately.