Everybody from every discipline: what’s considered "bad" etiquette in your gym?

**Ashkuff** · Posted On: 2/22/2012 2:22pm

Hiro Protagonist, glad we're cool.

That said, I'm still not sure what "teh deadly" is supposed to be.
Is it that the hypothetical "real fight" that we martial artists love to argue about?

Like,

"You can't grapple in a real fight, because you might get stabbed."

"Yeah, but in a real fight, people with knives get shot."

"Tru dat! Of course, my gun is a pretty high caliber, and I visit the shooting range sometimes. So I should be prepared, so long as I only get attacked in my house, the only place I'm allowed to keep my gun nowadays."

"Psh. I would Ninjitsu that gun right out of your hand."

"And I would Krav Maga my gun right back."

"You'd have to roll AT LEAST d18 agility to pull that off, because I'm a level 10 Kung Fu master. That, and I stole the cloak of invisibility on our last raid, so you'll also have to find me first. So take that, nerd."

--- Ashkuff | www.ashkuff.com | How to venture out of “armchair” scholarship and into action? One anthropologist tackles business, occultism and violence! He gets spooked and roughed up a lot.

**judojeff** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 6:23pm

Knuckle grinds and forcing throws are frowned upon. As is springing leg locks on people, however if you have come to an agreement before rolling that leg locks are cool then go for it.

That and not adhering to the "tap early tap often" saying in newaza.

**V8Eater** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 6:36pm

Originally Posted by jnp

Where I train, the rule is that everyone goes home with working parts. As long as no one loses sight of that, people can spar at close to full speed on the ground.

Likewise, The biggest faux pas at my school is not allowing someone the opportunity to tap. Failing to allow someone a chance to tap is met by a stern talking to from the instructor and painful, humiliating, but not injurious punishment meted out by the upper belts.

**animlmthr** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 10:23pm

we have two or three basic rules that address bad etiquette at our school:

rule #1: The Coach/Sifu is always right.

rule #2: Refer to rule #1.

There's a third rule I think but I just go with rule 1 and 2.

For me (and I speak only for myself now), bad etiquette is characterized by the following behaviors:

1. Being a total spaz/fight-for-your-life neophyte when free-rolling.

2. Cornering people when a. you're new to the school (your first few classes there) and/or b. you have no idea wtf you're saying.

3. This has already been mentioned: going for leg-locks when you have not OK'd it with your rolling partner. It's rude and dangerous. Especially don't do this if you're new at the school. I don't know you. Stop trying to break my ankle.

4. Routinely being late to class and/or purposely bitching out on warm-ups. Not cool.

5. Showing up to class without the proper uniform, especially a student who is not new to the school.

6. Questioning a instructor's technique or anything else the instructor is showing or saying. Wait till after class and please refer to Rule #1 and Rule #2 if you have further questions.

I have no idea if other people at my school care about one or any of these things. They are pet-peeves of mine and as I such I consider them "bad-etiquette".

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 10:45pm

Originally Posted by animlmthr

we have two or three basic rules that address bad etiquette at our school:

rule #1: The Coach/Sifu is always right.

rule #2: Refer to rule #1.

There's a third rule I think but I just go with rule 1 and 2.

For me (and I speak only for myself now), bad etiquette is characterized by the following behaviors:

1. Being a total spaz/fight-for-your-life neophyte when free-rolling.

2. Cornering people when a. you're new to the school (your first few classes there) and/or b. you have no idea wtf you're saying.

3. This has already been mentioned: going for leg-locks when you have not OK'd it with your rolling partner. It's rude and dangerous. Especially don't do this if you're new at the school. I don't know you. Stop trying to break my ankle.

4. Routinely being late to class and/or purposely bitching out on warm-ups. Not cool.

5. Showing up to class without the proper uniform, especially a student who is not new to the school.

6. Questioning a instructor's technique or anything else the instructor is showing or saying. Wait till after class and please refer to Rule #1 and Rule #2 if you have further questions.

I have no idea if other people at my school care about one or any of these things. They are pet-peeves of mine and as I such I consider them "bad-etiquette".

Rule 1: I'm right
Rule 2: I'm right
Rule 3: Don't argue with me; I'm right.

**lionknight** · Posted On: 2/24/2012 12:32am

Originally Posted by Omega Supreme

Rule 1: I'm right
Rule 2: I'm right
Rule 3: Don't argue with me; I'm right.

New students tend to follow these rules whether they realizeit it or not, students that have been around for a while usually skip #2 and #3.

Rule 1: I’m right.

Rule 2: Don’t argue with me I’m right.

Rule 3: Ok I’ll smack you around the mat and prove I’m right.

Rule 4: I’m right.

**Boneless** · Posted On: 2/24/2012 1:05am

being a bad sport,smelling badly,unclean gi's or shorts

and upholding the class when the coach talks is an absolute no go

**jedtex88** · Posted On: 2/25/2012 3:25am

Good oral hygiene is always appreciated, but not as much as short clean nails. Only Sabuhmnim is allowed to suspend face contact rules in the heat of the moment.

**Nefron** · Posted On: 2/25/2012 1:05pm

Originally Posted by animlmthr

3. This has already been mentioned: going for leg-locks when you have not OK'd it with your rolling partner. It's rude and dangerous. Especially don't do this if you're new at the school. I don't know you. Stop trying to break my ankle.

Assuming that the technique they are trying to do is legal in competitions, why would that be rude?

**animlmthr** · Posted On: 2/25/2012 8:51pm

Originally Posted by Nefron

Assuming that the technique they are trying to do is legal in competitions, why would that be rude?

I don't really care about whether they're legal techniques or not per se. I just like it to be established that we are going for leg locks before we start rolling. Not everyone knows how to apply them in a safe manner while grappling and I don't want to get hurt. Those students that I know are cool, then its all good. We for 'em and it's a lot of fun.

If a new person has just joined the school or is visiting I don't think you should start going for leglocks, kneebars, heel hooks, whatever. You're still a guest in my eyes and, frankly, I don't know you. For me its a trust thing, thats all.