Doing anything Oct. 5? It’s just two weeks away … and that’s our soft re-opening.
We’ve been holding outdoor classes and online classes for the past few months. As you know, we’ve committed to getting back to regular classes indoors the way we were before Covid ONLY when Whatcom County hits Phase 3. We’ve been able to do outdoor classes in summer, and we’ll continue to do this whenever weather permits, but we need a plan for fall and winter, too.
Here’s that plan. Most of the upgrades to the academy and changes in procedure for health and safety we’ve covered in previous emails, so I’ll get to those later. Let’s lead off with what’s changing.
We’re opening up again for indoor classes on Oct. 5. This is exciting, but group classes indoors have strict limits — it’s neither legal nor safe during a pandemic to have large group classes inside, and we can only have three monogamous pairs of training partners inside at a given time. So to make sure we’re serving as many folks as possible as safely as possibly, we’re offering more classes at more times of day, and classes seven days a week.
Three things we’re asking:
- We’re requiring folks to register online for the classes through our ZenPlanner system, which you can do via this link or through the ZenPlanner app on your phone. Reserving classes like this will make sure we don’t overfill classes.
- Please consider getting a flu shot (I have) before you come back to train. Health experts are worried about a “twindemic” this winter, and inoculating yourself from flu will help prevent that.
- Bear with us! We’re going to be adapting to the new reality and are going to be reacting in real time, so let’s all keep calm and carry on. Keep in touch and let us know if adding a class or moving times around would help you out.
That said, we’re happy to get back to training!
Let’s start with our Intro to BJJ folks — those of you who have been training with us, and those who are incoming.
In September, we’ve been running an outdoor Intro to BJJ session. Those folks are about to “graduate,” so if you’ve been taking those classes, you’re welcome to now sign up for regular membership and take whatever classes you want. (You can also continue with the Intro classes as well — what I’m saying is, now you can attend both types of classes).
VIRTUAL INTRO IN OCTOBER (NOW WITH GRAPPLING DUMMIES)
In October, we’ll run an online virtual Intro to BJJ, and have purchased grappling dummies that students may use to train at home (although if you have a home training partner, that’s great, too).
You’ve been super-patient, and we have a waiting list almost 50 folks long. To get everyone going, Jeff will teach this class from the academy, and it will be live-streamed directly to you. You can sign up for that RIGHT HERE. We have a new, dedicated live-stream setup that will make this virtual training the best it can be.
If you’re in for the Virtual Intro classes, you’ll have another choice: You can take the class with a drilling partner within your quarantine bubble — a spouse, sibling, child or roommate — or we will issue you a custom Bellingham BJJ grappling dummy to use for free and return after Intro. (This will be in addition to the free gi and belt you get for the class). Jeff will show the moves both on a training partner and on a dummy for ease of practice. You’ll be able to train along with us at home via Zoom and YouTube.
We’ll be offering two sessions per week on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-7 p.m. There are eight total classes during this series, so we will do the curriculum for four weeks and then repeat it. Classes will be streamed and archived on YouTube, but that way if you miss a live class (and the chance to ask questions as they come up!), you can catch it the next time around. Your Intro to BJJ membership gets you two months with us, plus a free gi with no contracts or hidden fees.
If you’ve signed up and paid, you’re almost all set! Just let us know whether you would prefer to train with a quarantine partner or a loaner grappling dummy.
Bear in mind: THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL BE OFFERING INTRO TO BJJ FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. Our academy was basically full before coronavirus, and with it being unclear when we’ll hit Phase 3, we’re going to hit pause after this one. So if you want in … this is the way to get in. We’re not sure when we’ll offer it again.
If you’d like to participate and need to register and pay, please sign up at this link in our ZenPlanner system. If you have any questions, please reach out to eric@bellinghambjj.com and he’ll help set you up.
If you’d prefer to wait until we’re able to open the physical location, no problem. We’ll hold your spot on the waitlist for you.
REGULAR CLASSES IN THE ACADEMY, PLUS NEW, ONLINE-ONLY MEMBERSHIPS
While we’ve been closed, we’ve been doing regular online classes. We will have a new class schedule beginning Monday, Oct. 5. It’s down below in this email. Every class will be livestreamed on YouTube (and maybe Zoom, too) and archived for members moving forward.
Plus, we will be able to respond to YouTube comments — meaning you can interact with us and ask questions to be sure you get what you need from the classes. That’s why we’re offering online-only memberships now at $50/month, so that if you’re not comfortable coming in just yet, you can follow along on these classes and get the same instructor support you would otherwise. If you have a regular membership, you can join our online classes, too!
We plan to experiment with having Zoom and YouTube going at the same time, so we can see drilling pairs at home and help y’all solve technical problems. It’s all about being responsive to student needs. Bear with us! We’ll get any and all glitches worked out.
OUTDOOR CLASSES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON WEEKENDS, WEATHER PERMITTING
We will continue to host outdoor classes on Saturdays at Holly Street Plaza as long as the weather holds out. We’re also adding Sundays. You can volunteer to participate in these! We’ve been rolling out our new mats in the Holly Street Plaza, and that’ll stay open through Halloween.
Now, the new state guidance for outdoor fitness limits these classes to 12 people, plus instructor. So up to 12 students can participate in these classes. We have also added a demonstration portion prior to these classes, starting at 11 a.m. For the hour before the class starts, I’ll be demonstrating techniques from the curriculum with a single uke — but answering questions from folks who come out. It’s like a virtual private lesson. Even if you’re not comfortable getting on the mat and TRAINING at these classes, you can come watch me demonstrate and ask questions.
But let’s talk about the classes. You will be able to register online for these outdoor classes through ZenPlanner, too. Note: The same conditions apply (you’ve got to either have a dedicated monogamous training partner, or use a grappling dummy).
If the weather won’t let us play outside, we’ll do an online class that day.
What we’re going for here is making sure as many people get to train as possible, while ensuring we keep everyone safe.
Some of y’all have training partners within your quarantine bubble already. If you don’t have a home training partner and for some reason don’t have anyone at home you can train with, let me know, and I’ll get you one of our custom grappling dummies to drill on. We’re selling these at cost ($50) and that way you can participate in the online classes with this additional resource.
OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: VIDEO-CRITIQUED ROLLS AND “JIU-JITSU OFFICE HOURS” — OPEN ACADEMY TIME FOR QUARANTINE PARTNERS
Many of you already have people in your bubble that you are training with. That’s great! This way, you can drill at home with someone and — if you like — attend the outdoor classes.
Even if you’re not into the outdoor classes, having a home drilling partner can be great: That way, the online classes will enable you to drill along with the online instruction.
This isn’t ideal, of course: One of the things that gives me the greatest joy is watching someone roll (and/or rolling with them) and giving them one or two tips for the future. Of course I’ll still be watching and giving advice for people who are able to make it into the academy … but fewer people will be doing so. How are we going to adapt?
Two new solutions.
First, HOME FOOTAGE VIDEO CRITIQUES: If you’re doing drilling or rolling at home, you can send me video of yourself either demonstrating the techniques from that week’s class, or doing a sparring round. I will commit to doing a full critique of one of these videos for enrolled students every month — and, with your permission, I may post the critique to the internal Facebook group, the way I do the fight breakdowns.
This will be a way to get your questions answered while you get your remote training in.
Second, we will be opening TIME BLOCKS TO TRAIN AT THE ACADEMY for folks who have dedicated training partners. Not everyone has mats at home (although I’ve loaned out a bunch of mats, and if you let me know you need some, I might have recommendations for how to get them).
What if you have a partner but no mats?
We will be opening time blocks for open training that I call “BJJ Office Hours” that can accommodate three different pairs at a time — one for each mat room. There will be no instruction during this time, just someone sitting at the desk to let you in. You’ll be responsible for cleaning, mopping and sanitizing the mats after you train, but other than that, you and your partner can use the space to your heart’s content. We will provide a clear set of cleaning protocol instructions, and our staff will do a re-clean at the end of every day.
You’ll be able to sign up in ZenPlanner for these slots. Sometimes, it will be me sitting at the desk, and sometimes it will be another academy key holder — and hey, if you’re a student who doesn’t mind sitting at the desk, checking temperatures, and using the WiFi, hit me up and we can work something out.
You can see the time we have allocated for this on the schedule below.
NEW VIDEO RESOURCES
We’ve expanded our video resources for members, and will continue to do so. I’m very excited about the materials we’ve put together during the down time.
Our whole fundamentals curriculum is now online. We filmed ALL of our Fundamentals curriculum, from white to blue belt.
You can see our updated 36-class fundamentals curriculum here (we update it quarterly to keep it fresh). As we change it, we’ll update the videos. Feel free to make video suggestions!
Also, as part of your membership, you’ll get video for each lesson — not just of me teaching the technique, but examples of the techniques being used in MMA fights, jiu-jitsu matches and self defense situations. Here’s an example.
Finally, remember that we’ll be archiving all of our classes on YouTube, and you’ll have access to that too.
WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF ALL THIS?
We are determined to keep the academy open in whatever ways assure public safety, and thanks to a number of folks who contributed during our closure, we were able to keep the downtown space, which we love. We stopped charging cards Aug. 1, and won’t charge cards again until Oct. 1. I’m confident that the plan we have put together for a Phase 2 soft opening will give y’all a great value for your hard-earned cash. If you’d like to join us, we’ll be re-starting memberships at the regular rate — $125 a month regular members, $99 discounted rate for students, teachers, veterans and first responders — then.
Details: We will not be doing contracts, so strictly month to month. And if you’re not comfortable being back in the space then, we will also have an online-only membership option at $50 per month — that will get you access to the online classes and the video options.
If for whatever reason you’re unable to train right now — due to health concerns, or financial concerns, or anything, really — don’t worry. The mats will be here. Come back when you’re ready. We’ll be here when you’re ready to be here.
Of course once we beat this pandemic, we’ll return to our regular training schedule, which you can see here (this is what we’ll do once the pandemic is over). That’s Plan A … and we WILL get back to that, eventually. It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: We have to be prepared for this to change based on new health department guidance as well.
We’ll never compromise health and safety, though. We’ll get through this pandemic, and we’ll do it together. Best,
Jeff
P.S. Here’s the full Phase 2 Re-Opening Schedule as of Oct. 5! I welcome your comments and feedback on this. Please let me know what would work best for you.
PHASE TWO RE-OPENING SCHEDULE AS OF OCT. 5
MONDAY
6 a.m-7:00 a.m.: Dawn Patrol Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Time blocks: Jiu-Jitsu Office Hours
6-7: Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
7-8 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
TUESDAY
Noon-1 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
1 p.m-2 p.m.: Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
6-7: Intro to BJJ
7-8 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (NoGi)
8-9 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (NoGi)
WEDNESDAY
6 a.m-7:00 a.m.: Dawn Patrol Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (No-Gi)
11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Time blocks: Jiu-Jitsu Office Hours
6-7 p.m.: Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
7-8 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
THURSDAY
Noon-1 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
1 p.m-2 p.m.: Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
6-7: Intro to BJJ Jeff
7-8 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
8-9 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (Gi)
FRIDAY
6 a.m-7:00 a.m.: Dawn Patrol Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals (No-Gi)
11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Time blocks: Jiu-Jitsu Office Hours
6-7 p.m.:Advanced Jiu-Jitsu (Gi)
7-8 p.m. Advanced Jiu-Jitsu Technique (No-Gi)
SATURDAY
11-noon: Outdoor demonstration, blue belt requirements (by invite)
Noon: Outdoor Fundamentals (Gi)
1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Outdoor Fundamentals (Gi)
IF WEATHER PREVENTS OUTDOOR TRAINING
11-noon: Online demonstration
SUNDAY
Noon: Outdoor Intro to BJJ OR Outdoor Fundamentals (Nogi)
1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Outdoor Fundamentals
IF WEATHER PREVENTS OUTDOOR TRAINING
11-noon: Online demonstration