- What should I wear?
- Do I need to be fit/flexible?
- What fees are involved?
- Will I require any equipment (ie uniform, gloves, mouthguard)?
- Do you train Gi and NoGi?
- How do gradings/belts work, how are they awarded?
- Is competition compulsory for team members?
- Do I have options to compete if it’s something that interests me?
- Can I train my fitness/strength and conditioning (S&C) at ISOHEALTH and if so what are the fees involved?
- Does it cost money to get graded?
- How long does it take to progress through the belts of BJJ?
- Do you have gradings for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and or Standup (striking)?
- Am I too old/too young to train at ISOHEALTH? What are the age ranges of those training at ISOHEALTH?
- What sort of people train at ISOHEALTH?
- Do I wear shoes or train barefoot?
What should I wear?
For your first sessions we suggest you wear track pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. If your clothes have pockets or zippers, we place cloth tape over them as a safety precaution to avoid fingers getting caught and to stop abrasions from the zippers.
Do I need to be fit/flexible?
No you don’t need to be fit and/or flexible in order to train with us (and to be honest nothing really gets you fit for BJJ like BJJ). The fitness that you get from BJJ is quite specific so it’s best to just get in and start slow then gradually ramp up the pace as your fitness and flexibility naturally progresses. If you do have any existing health issues/concerns we recommend that you consult a doctor prior to starting any new exercise program.
What fees are involved?
There are a few different options for training such as memberships (for accessing all of our classes), casual visits or private lessons. Please click here for further information on our pricing.
Will I require any equipment (ie uniform, gloves, mouthguard)?
For BJJ classes you will eventually need a rashguard (long sleeve rashie) and a Gi. The Gi worn in BJJ is similar to a Karate uniform but made thicker and more heavily stitched in order to last through the strain that grappling places upon the uniform. Grappling arts such as BJJ, Judo and Sambo place a lot more wear and tear on the uniform than do striking arts because in grappling the uniform can be used as a tool to perform certain techniques. A mouth guard can also be a good idea for BJJ training. Many people like to buy a Gi right away but we always give people some time to purchase a Gi, we usually like to see people in a Gi within about 4 weeks of commencing training. You can purchase Gi’s from ISOHEALTH but if you prefer to wear a Gi that you get from elsewhere then that’s fine too.
For striking and MMA style training you will eventually need a mouthguard, 12oz (or higher) boxing gloves, sparring MMA gloves, shin pads and a groin guard. We have gloves and shin pads that you can borrow when you first start but before you can commence sparring you must have your own mouthguard as minimum safety requirement.
Do you train Gi and NoGi?
Yes we train our BJJ and grappling in both Gi and NoGi. Our philosophy is to work diligently on both areas as we believe both areas Gi & NoGi training have their benefits. We have been really pleased with the results of our team members in both Gi and NoGi (as well as MMA) so we feel our mix of Gi & NoGi is working well.
How do gradings/belts work, how are they awarded?
At ISOHEALTH gradings only apply to BJJ. Although our Head Coach holds instructor ranks in other arts, BJJ is the only art which is awarded grades at ISOHEALTH. In depth information on our BJJ grading process and philosophy can be found here.
Is competition compulsory for team members?
No, competition is by no means compulsory for our members. Our stance is neither for nor against competition, we believe in supporting the goals of each of our members whatever those may be. If your goals have nothing to do with competition then that’s great and we fully support them, if on the other hand your goals are all about competition then that’s great and we fully support them too. We have some very good martial artists in our team who have no interest in competition as their interest lies in other areas (i.e. self defence, training for enjoyment etc) so just because you work hard and become a skilled grappler doesn’t mean you have to compete.
Do I have options to compete if it’s something that interests me?
Yes, definitely. If you are interested in competing ISOHEALTH can certainly cater to your needs. ISOHEALTH team members have accrued a lot of great results in BJJ competition with numerous State, National and Pan-Pacific Champions. Our team members have also had some very solid wins in full-contact MMA, Muay Thai and San-Shou including “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” wins. For more information on our competition results please visit our News, Events & Competition Results page.
Can I train my fitness/strength and conditioning at ISOHEALTH and if so what are the fees involved?
Yes you can. At ISOHEALTH we have what is arguably one of the more well equipped Strength & Conditioning gyms in Adelaide. It is thoroughly fitted out with everything from Olympic Bars, to Trap Bars, to Kettlebells to Power Racks and more. The ISOHEALTH Strength & Conditioning area is open during class time to all members who hold an Unlimited Membership provided they have undertaken a thorough orientation and period of posture/technique instruction. Use of the Strength & Conditioning area is at no extra charge to Unlimited Members but please note that the orientation, technique and program design session/s will require a few private lessons. Our insistence on the orientation and instructional session/s is not just to optimise your safety but also to optimise your progress by ensuring you are performing a well structured program with optimal lifting technique. ISOHEALTH Head Coach Matt Jones has served as the Strength & Conditioning Coach to numerous elite athletes since the 1990’s so you will be getting a level of advice that is far from common. Matt has performed Strength & Conditioning coaching for Olympians, Australian team members from numerous sports, professional golfers and elite amateur athletes from countless sports. Matt was also one of the “Ask an Expert” columnists for Blitz Magazine where his fitness and martial arts advice is read by and benefits thousands of readers from Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Does it cost money to get graded?
No it does not. ISOHEALTH does not charge for grades/belts. In depth information on our BJJ grading process and philosophy can be found here.
How long does it take to progress through the belts of BJJ?
Progression through the belts of BJJ can take quite some time. In depth information on our BJJ grading process and philosophy can be found here.
Do you have gradings for your MMA Stand Up classes?
No, at ISOHEALTH we only have the belt/grading structure of BJJ for BJJ, we do not have grades or belts for striking or mixed martial arts. There is of course nothing wrong with MMA gradings and some extremely good teams use them, we just choose to stick with the grades being only applied to BJJ.
Am I too old/too young to train at ISOHEALTH? What are the age ranges of those training at ISOHEALTH?
Our youngest team members are approximately 8 years old in the kids class while our oldest team members are in their early 60’s. Health and emotional maturity are the biggest factors in a person’s suitability for training so age is very subjective part of the equation.
What sort of people train at ISOHEALTH?
Our team members are made up of so many different people from so many different demographics that it would be easier to try and think about who doesn’t train at ISOHEALTH. Our team members include university students, surgeons, sales reps, tradies, doctors, police officers, pilots, engineers and pretty much every other profession that you could think of. The one thing we all have in common is a love for our training and the desire to support each other in achieving our goals (you can’t get good by yourself)!
Do I wear shoes or train barefoot?
We train barefoot on wrestling mats of the highest quality. We wear shoes anytime we are off the mat in order to maintain the hygiene of the mat area (our mats are cleaned and disinfected daily). The one time we train in shoes is if we are doing Reality-Based Self Defence training with scenario training outside in our carpark.