Respect and Etiquette

• Address black belt instructors as "Coach” or “Sensei,” especially to our visiting instructors - this is a sign of respect.

• Bow when entering and leaving the mat as a gesture of respect and gratitude for our dojo, instructors and teammates. 

• If you arrive late to class, enter quietly to minimize disruption and wait to be welcomed on the mat by the instructor.

• PARENTS - Do Not Coach from the Sidelines! It is distracting to both the coach and students. One warning will be issued and if there is a second offense, we’ll kindly suggest you grab a coffee or take a walk while your student learns. There will be no exceptions.

Uniform Guidelines

• White gis only for beginner students. Blue gi’s are earned through competition.

• White and blue gis only - black gis look cool, but not allowed at our dojo.

• All uniforms should be clean, washed, dry, and free of rips, tears and stains.

• All uniforms must fit properly. It is unfair to your teammates to work around a gi that is out of regs.  If your sleeves are close to your elbows, sleeves so tight you can’t grip, see us about purchasing a new gi at a discount rate ASAP.

Class Conduct

• Keep walkways clear; please use the bench or corners of the dojo to store your belongings.

• Keep cell phones off.

• When the instructors call “mate” or stop the class, huddle up to the coach on the mat and await further instruction. Do not keep drilling, training or talking.

• Only drill what is instructed - we learn together as a team.

• Do not experiement with things you’ve seen on YouTube - this can be dangerous and will not be tolerated. Zero room.

• ASK QUESTIONS! We love questions! Getting answers means you’re learning and are applying proper technique and keeping your teammates safe. Don’t be shy!

Health and Safety

• Trimmed nails. If you see the white part of the nail growing, it needs to be trimmed for the safety of students (see photo of what happens when you don’t cut your nails).

• Females and Males: wear your hair up so it is off the collar (ponytail or bun). If your hair sticks out further than 4 inches, tie your hair back or wear a cloth only headband to make training easy, especially newaza. When hair is thick, it gets in the way of drilling - be fair and sanitary to your teammates. NO METAL PINS.

• We require students to refrain from training when sick or infectious, including colds, fevers, flu, and skin infections. This is to ensure the safety of everyone. 

• If you still show up sick: coughing and sneezing, we will politely ask you to return when you are better. No masks. No exceptions.

Facility Use

• For the love of God, wear shoes or sandals when changing in the bathroom. We don’t need to explain why.

• Please use the bathrooms to change.

• Mandatory rash guard or t-shirt for all students when training. The only exception is for males during competition training and that will be at the direction of the coaches.

• Wear shoes or sandals throughout the academy, do not walk around on the floors and then place your feet on the mat. Ensure your feet are clean before stepping onto the mats - no dirty or black feet!

• No jewelry or accessories may be worn while training. This includes silicone wedding rings. This is for your safety and the safety of your teammates.

Photography and Food

• Photos are permitted inside the academy, however please check with the coaches if filming longer than 30 seconds. 

• NO sugar drinks and NO food in the dojo. Water only.

Final Note

We are proud to welcome everyone to Valkyrie Judo Academy. We appreciate your commitment to maintaining a respectful environment. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.