In this episode of Tapped In, David Figueroa Martinez breaks down the essential "unwritten rules" of being a respectful and mindful guest at a new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. Moving away from the "old school" mentality of intentional submission for rapport, David offers a modern, professional framework for contacting gyms, managing intensity, and representing your home association with class.

3 Key Takeaways

• Prioritize Communication: Always contact a gym at least a week in advance via social media or phone to discuss their specific uniform policies, drop-in fees, and schedule.
• The "Guest" Mindset: Approach every roll with a defensive, observant, and controlled intensity. Your goal is to learn and be a great training partner, not to "prove" your rank or dominate the mat.
• Professionalism is Your Uniform: Beyond just a clean Gi, being a good guest means showing up early, paying fees without being asked, and refraining from "side-coaching" or correcting the local instructors.

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction and the "Old School" vs. Modern Approach
• 01:54 – Pre-Visit Checklist: Contacting the Gym & Uniform Policy
• 04:09 – Logistics: Arrival Times, Waivers, and Drop-in Fees
• 06:21 – Researching the School's Style (Gi vs. No-Gi focus)
• 07:44 – Being a Representative of Your Home Academy
• 09:25 – Calibrating Intensity: The Guest Mentality
• 11:51 – Rolling Etiquette: Why Defense is Your Best Friend
• 13:58 – The Golden Rule: Do Not Coach the Locals
• 16:21 – Post-Session Gratitude: Reviews and Follow-ups
• 18:18 – The Value of Diverse Perspectives

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Full Episode Transcript

00:00 Welcome to Tapped In. My name is David Figuero Martinez of DFM Coaching and today we're going to be discussing how to visit a gym the correct way. I recently came across this video and it was of an old school gentleman...

01:00 I want you to play. I want you to do the things that you're supposed to be doing but be a good host or be a good guest and allow for things to happen and understand that our culture might be different than your culture...

02:30 Contact the gym... I had an issue where I was going up to out of town and I had contacted two gyms and neither one of them got back to me. So I didn't go.

04:00 Generally speaking most places will... they like having someone in. It's a different pace, it's a different type of training partner... When that happens I also ask what is your uniform policy?

06:00 Always get that feedback. Ask if you need to show up or how early you should show up. You're going to probably more than likely... have to sign a waiver and fill out paperwork...

08:00 Make sure that you find out what the drop-in fee is... I've seen some places ridiculously high. And if you're not ready you show up... you're kind of asked out.

10:00 I'm a Gracie Humaita black belt... I've been a black belt for X amount of years. I'll be in town for business... that way all the information is there.

12:00 Show up 10, 15 minutes early. Show up clean. Nice clean Gi. You are making an introduction... you are now a representative of that association.

14:00 Set your mindset correctly... When you go as a guest you need to go with a guest mentality. You need to understand that you're going there to learn, have a little bit of fun, you're not looking to dominate or prove anything.

16:00 Anytime I'm rolling with anyone new in general, I play very defensive... I play simply to not get hurt and then not get submitted.

18:00 Do not coach. It's different if someone asks you something... Don't step on any toes. Don't correct the other students around you, it's not your job.

20:00 After, send a thank you. A short message of appreciation... Write a review... I mention "Hey I was in town visiting and they were gracious with me, they were hospitable..."

22:00 Take notes. You're going to be learning something that's a little different than what you're learning at home... Getting these different feedbacks is a big plus.

23:25 If you have any questions on this or anything else just related, please hit me up. DFM.209. Until next time, thank you so much.