Conduct · Sparring · Safety

How We Train

The club’s own standards, taken out of the PDFs and put where you can read them. Conduct, sparring etiquette, safety and hygiene.

Community standards & policies

Follow all safety & hygiene rules. Clean up after yourself. Act with safety in mind.
Do your best to be punctual, show up prepared, and minimize disruptions during class.
Set & uphold boundaries to enforce your bodily autonomy and protect your emotional well-being.
Respect the boundaries of others. Their consent — or lack thereof — is non-negotiable.
Reflect on your behavior as equally and as critically as you reflect on others’ behavior.
Resolve conflict with reflection, honesty, and communication. Proceed with a willingness to compromise, adjust, forgive, or let be.
Manhattan Grapple Club enforces a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual harassment, assault, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of abuse and discrimination.
Manhattan Grapple Club reserves the right to deny service to anyone in violation of these standards and policies.

Sparring: tips & etiquette

Ask people to spar

You can ask anyone to spar, no matter their rank. Just know that everyone has the right to refuse.

Go slow if you’re new

You’re likely to injure yourself and others when you train hard without the experience to support it. You’ll learn faster if you go slow.

Tap before it hurts

Avoid injury and reduce your body’s wear and tear by tapping early. Don’t endure a submission until the last second — save that intensity for competition.

Tap clearly & loudly

You can tap your hand, stomp your foot, or shout “TAP!” You must tap clearly so your partner knows to stop.

Mind your space

The mats can get crowded. If you invade another group’s space, stop and reset in your own.

Don’t

Feel obligated to spar

You can refuse to spar with anyone for any reason, or stop mid-spar if you don’t want to continue. Your consent matters.

Coach unless asked

Don’t coach unless you’re a coach, or you’ve been asked.

Strongarm smaller people

It’s not productive to strongarm smaller teammates during practice. If you always injure your training partners, no one will want to train with you. Use rolls with smaller teammates to focus on fluidity and technical details.

Slam or twist out of positions

Don’t twist or muscle out of tight positions — you can get hurt. Relax and try to work your way out. Tap if it feels uncomfortable. Slamming is not allowed. It’s dangerous, and illegal in most rulesets.

Lay down on the mats

If you’re not alert on an active mat, you can get hurt — people can crash into you or land on you. Sit on the sidelines to rest.

Safety & hygiene rules

Before training

Remove your shoes and store them neatly. Wear indoor sandals around the facility, especially the restrooms.
Barefoot only on the mats. Wrestling shoes are allowed.
Trim your finger- and toenails short.
Your body and gear must be clean.
Remove all jewelry. If it can’t be removed, cover it with athletic tape.
Sanitize & bandage open cuts. Sanitize again after training.
No food or gum on the mats. It’s a choking and cleanliness hazard.

Gear maintenance

Clean your gear and clothing after every practice.
If you or your gear are dirty or smelly, you can’t train.
Hang dry your gi to prevent shrinkage and reduce wear.

Stay home if…

You have or suspect a skin infection, such as ringworm.
You are sick or feverish.
You have an infected or badly bleeding wound.

Safety & first aid

Call 911 in an emergency. Our address is 511 Richards Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Inform an instructor if there’s blood on the mats.
Help yourself to the first-aid kits throughout the facility.

Come train Tuesday.

Introduction to Grappling, 7:00pm. Wear something you can move in. That is the whole list.

Start my free 2 weeks