Parent Commitments

What GJJ expects from parents, in one place. We're asking a lot. Every item on this list exists because families who follow it have kids who love grappling longer, develop faster, and make the room better for everyone.

These aren't suggestions. They're the standards that make our program work for every family.

Each commitment below links to a page with the full explanation. This page is the reference. The linked pages are the reasoning.

Hygiene

I will keep my child home if they have a contagious skin infection. Ringworm, staph, impetigo, or anything I'm unsure about. GJJ has a no-exceptions policy on this because one infected student can affect the entire class in a matter of days.

I will make sure my child arrives to every class with trimmed fingernails and toenails. Long or jagged nails scratch training partners and can tear during grappling. If nails are untrimmed when we arrive, my child will sit out until they're trimmed.

I will send my child to class clean, in clean gear. No mud on their feet, no food on their clothes. Gear gets washed after every single use. A damp rash guard in a closed bag is how skin infections spread.

These habits protect my child, and they protect every other child on the mats.

Full details: Hygiene for Kids

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Sideline Behavior

I will not coach my child from the sideline. No calling out instructions, techniques, or corrections during rounds. Sideline coaching increases pressure, pulls my child's attention out of the game, and prevents them from learning to problem-solve on their own. If this becomes a pattern, a coach will talk to me about it directly.

I will not intervene when my child is frustrated. Getting pinned or losing a game can bring big feelings. The coach has it. Every time my child works through frustration on their own, they get more resilient. Every time an adult rushes in, that opportunity disappears.

I will not manage my child's behavior from the sideline. If the coach isn't worried about it, I probably shouldn't be either. If there's a behavior issue that needs addressing, the coach will handle it.

Full details: It's Just a Game and Your Role at the Gym

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Communication

I will call the gym when I have a concern. Not a note through my child, not a text to a coach, not a conversation pulled from a coach after class. I'll call the gym and ask for the head coach. That's the right channel for any question, frustration, or concern.

I will not approach coaches after class to discuss concerns. Not because my concerns don't matter, but because that conversation goes better with the right person, the right context, and dedicated time.

Full details: Working with Us

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At Home

I will treat grappling as a game. After class, I'll ask "did you have fun?" and "what games did you play?" not "did you win?" or "how did you do?" The questions I ask shape what my child thinks matters.

I will never use grappling as punishment or leverage. No "if you don't work hard, you'll have to drill these later." Grappling is a game. Framing it as punishment turns something they're supposed to love into something they dread.

I understand that progress is measured by effort, attitude, and movement quality, not by winning. A child who loses a lot but stays playful, tries new things, and treats their partners well is exactly where we want them to be.

Full details: Your Role at the Gym and Progress and Promotions

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The Big Picture

These commitments exist because they work. Families who follow them have kids who love grappling longer, develop faster, and contribute to a training environment that's good for everyone.

When we enforce these standards, it's not personal. It's the same ask we make of every family, including the families of coaches' own kids.

If you have questions about any of this, call the gym. We're happy to talk it through.