Open mat: what it is, how it works and how to behave as a guest

An open mat is a free session: the gym opens up the mat, nobody is teaching, and whoever is there trains with whoever they like. It usually lasts an hour or two, often at the weekend, and at a great many academies it is open to people from outside as well.

How it runs

There is no imposed structure. In practice it almost always goes like this:

1. 1Everybody warms up on their own, or in small groups.
2. 2You ask each other for a roll, with a nod or a “fancy a round?”, and go five or six minutes at a time.
3. 3Between rounds you drink, you talk, and somebody often shows somebody else a technical detail.
4. 4It ends when it ends.

It is not a class: nobody will correct your technique unless you ask. And it is not a competition: nobody is keeping score.

What it is actually for

• Rolling with people who are not the usual four. Different bodies, different styles, new problems: it is the quickest way to find out which parts of your game only work because your regular partner lets them.
• Working on something without rushing. In class you do what the coach has just shown; at an open mat you can spend an hour on the one position that never comes off.
• Getting to know the other gyms nearby. Most of the relationships between academies start here, not at competitions.
• Training while you are travelling. It is the easiest way into a city you do not know.

Visiting: the unwritten rules

Turning up at a gym that is not your own is completely normal and almost always welcome. There are a few courtesies, though, that separate a guest from somebody who has crashed the session.

1. 1Message ahead. A note the day before, saying who you are, where you train and what rank you are, saves you a locked door and puts everybody at ease.
2. 2Ask whether there is a fee. Some gyms charge a small amount for the open mat, others do not. Asking beforehand is polite; finding out at the end is awkward.
3. 3Bring your own gi, and if the gym has a rule about colours or patches, respect it.
4. 4Introduce yourself to whoever is in charge as soon as you arrive, and say goodbye before you leave.
5. 5Do not be the tough guy. Somebody who comes in from outside and rolls as though it were a final leaves a terrible impression and does not get invited back. The first round with somebody you do not know is always taken down a notch.

Can you go as a beginner?

Yes, and you should, but at your own gym to begin with. At your home open mat nobody expects anything of you and your partners already know you. After a few months, once you can defend yourself and tap in good time, travelling around becomes the most enjoyable part of this sport.

If you have not had your first class yet, start here: Your first BJJ class.

Where to find them

On BJJ Square gyms publish their own events, open mats included, and every listing has the contact details you need in order to ask. If you cannot find anything on the calendar near you, it does not mean there is nothing: plenty of academies organise them in a WhatsApp group, and all you have to do is message to get invited.