Firas Zahabi is a legendary MMA coach and a BJJ black belt John Danaher, who has been training some of the best fighters on the planet at Tristar Gym. Zahabi recently sat down to discuss some of the most important aspects of training in a BJJ or MMA gym, and what anybody attending a class should be doing. It can be difficult to be a good training partner at times, but achieving that is absolutely vital for your own development and that of your peers.
Everyone makes mistakes of course, but the first thing that Zahabi brings up is something that every single person should be able to achieve; good hygiene:
“Well, number one, shower before practice, smell good. Put on deodorant, for God’s sake. I don’t understand how people go to practice without deodorant! Hygiene, guys. Brush your teeth, cut your nails. Cut your toenails, for God’s sake.”
Maintaining good hygiene is vital, and not just because it makes being in close proximity much nicer. The main reason that it’s important is because there are a number of issues that come into play with close-contact sports like ringworm, staph, and various other infections. Good hygiene is the first line of defense when it comes to these problems. While that’s done outside of the gym, Firas Zahabi says the other part of being a good training partner in BJJ or MMA comes down to your attitude on the mats:
“When you roll, be friendly. Compliment your partners after training. “You did this sweep well today, you did this position well… Show me that move you did.” Compliment your training partners. Be the guy everybody wants to roll with. Don’t worry about dominating everybody and feeding your ego. Go in and enjoy yourself. Have fun.”
Firas Zahabi shares his breakdown of the dos and don’ts of a BJJ or MMA gym in a recent video that was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Tristar Gym:
