The unknown is the most intimidating part. So let's remove it entirely.
Here is exactly what your first beginner class at Marangoni BJJ looks like — step by step, minute by minute.
Before Class: Arriving
Come a few minutes early. Introduce yourself at the front desk and mention it's your first class. We'll get you set up with a loaner gi (the traditional uniform) so you don't need to bring anything. You'll change, leave your shoes at the edge of the mat, and we'll walk you through the rest.
The atmosphere isn't intense or intimidating. People are chatting, stretching, reviewing technique with each other. It feels more like a community than a performance space.
The Warm-Up (~10–15 Minutes)
BJJ warm-ups are unlike anything in a standard gym. You'll learn movement patterns that are fundamental to the art itself:
- Hip escapes (shrimping) — the core defensive movement in BJJ, done by pushing off one foot while turning your hips
- Forward and backward rolls — safe falling and transitional movement
- Breakfalls — how to land safely when taken down
- Solo drills — sit-outs, granby rolls, technical stand-ups
These movements will feel awkward at first. That's exactly right. Your brain is building new motor patterns, and the discomfort you feel is learning. By week three, these will feel natural.
Technique (~30 Minutes)
Professor Gabriel demonstrates one or two techniques. He'll show it slowly, explain the mechanics, demonstrate on a student, and then break it down step by step. You'll then drill it with a partner.
A typical beginner technique might be an escape from the bottom position, a basic takedown entry, or a fundamental submission from a dominant position. The curriculum is sequenced — each class builds on the last.
Drilling with a partner is cooperative at this stage. Your partner isn't trying to stop you — they're helping you feel the technique correctly. Think of it less like sparring and more like rehearsal.
Positional Drilling (~10 Minutes)
This is the bridge between pure drilling and live sparring. You start from a specific position — say, one person in guard, one trying to pass — and practice the technique with light, controlled resistance. This is where the technique starts to feel real. You're applying it against a real body that moves, which is different from a static drill.
Beginners are never put in positions they aren't ready for. The resistance is dialed to match your experience.
Cool Down and Debrief (~5–10 Minutes)
Stretching, breathing, and a brief debrief from Professor Gabriel covering what you worked on and what to think about before next class. This is also when questions get asked and answered — and there are always good questions.
What About Sparring?
Full sparring — "rolling" — is introduced gradually. In your first few weeks, you won't be thrown into open rolls. As you build comfort with the fundamentals and develop an understanding of positions, you'll be paired with experienced training partners who will guide the experience rather than crush it.
When you do roll for the first time, it will be awkward, humbling, and — almost universally — more fun than you expected.
After Class
People hang around. Ask questions. Review technique. This informal time after class is where a lot of learning happens, and it's also where the community forms. Don't be in a rush to leave after your first class.