What is Open Mat in BJJ and How Does It Work

If you are new to training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then you may be overwhelmed with the amount of new things you have to learn. Looking at your gym’s class schedule or talking with your coach you may have heard about open mats, and wondered what it is. 

What is Open Mat in BJJ and How Does it Work?

In BJJ open mat is exactly what it sounds like. The mat is free to use for those of all ages, and skill levels to practice their grappling. In an open mat you can work on whatever you wish. Some who attend open mat may use this time to spar, while others will use the session to sharpen and drill various techniques.

Can anyone go to a BJJ open mat?

Open mat is great for all skill levels, and genders, as it allows you to train at your own pace. 

In most BJJ schools new students, and even members from other gyms are welcome to train at their open mat. 

If you are a very new white belt some BJJ schools may require you to attend some classes and gain experience before going to open mat, but each gym varies. 

Some schools may also charge a daily mat fee if you are not a member, and make you sign a waiver. It can be very beneficial to talk to a BJJ gym owner to see if there are any requirements for their open mat, and what time it starts.

4 Benefits of BJJ Open Mat

Open mat in BJJ has several benefits even. It is common for open mat sessions to be held after a BJJ class, which makes it the perfect time to continue training and drilling some of the things you learned during the day. Training BJJ overall is a great way to stay healthy, and exercising has even been shown to improve your brian health. 

1. Freedom to Train How You Like

If you want more time to roll, or want to go over drills that were not covered in the day class than open mats is the best place to do it. Each person learns best in their own way, and open mats allow you to explore the various methods used to train grappling. 

2. Open Mats are Great to Train Cardio

Open mats are some of the best places to train cardio since you can roll consecutively. You can rest at your own pace in open mats, but also push yourself to build strength and endurance. 

In BJJ and other martial arts cardio is essential for improving. The more cardio you have the longer you can train. Having good cardio not only helps you with outworking your opponents, but it also allows you to maintain good technique even when tired.

3. You Can Visit Open Mat at Other Gyms

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most popular sports in America, and there are thousands of gyms across the country. Open mats occur in almost every BJJ gym, and no matter where you are there will always be a place to train.

Many people travel, and enjoy training at different open mats, seeing what each place has to offer. The large number of BJJ gyms, and their open arms make the sport easily accessible to everyone.

4. Make New Friends

BJJ is a social sport, and going to open mats is a great place to socialize with some of your classmates. Compared to a regular BJJ class, open mats are more leisurely, and you will have more opportunities to chat.

Many people who go to open mats regularly love to help others improve. Making friends at open mats can give you a friendly rival to help push your limits, or a teacher that can show you the small details you miss while training.

4 Tips How to prepare for a visit to an open mat in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Going to an open mat in BJJ can be very exciting, but there are a few things you should do to prepare yourself. Preparing for open mat will make your time training more enjoyable, and is easy to do.

1. Groom Yourself Before Attending BJJ Open Mat

Before even stepping onto the mat you should make sure you are clean, and properly groomed. Staying hygienic is important when training since it can help keep a pleasurable experience for everyone. Skin infections are the most common injury in BJJ, and being hygienic is essential to prevent the spread of illnesses.

You should trim your hand, and toe nails so you do not cut others while grappling. If you have any open wounds be sure to cover them up. Before training you should make sure to put on deodorant and if you have long hair you should tie it up.

2. Get the Right Clothes and Gear

When training at an open mat you will want to have the right clothes.  At an open mat you will find people wanting to train both gi, and no gi. A rash guard, and grappling shorts is all you need to grapple but you may want to have a gi ready in your training bag. 

You should pack your training bag with things you may need like a fitted mouth guard, hand tape, and water. While you may see other grapplers at open mats without a mouth guard, wearing one can help prevent a trauma induced mouth injury. 

3. Take Care of Yourself Outside The Gym

One of the best ways to prepare for an open mat is to take care of yourself outside of the gym. You should fuel your body with a variety of healthy foods during the day of training, as nutrition is one of the most important aspects in overall health, and recovery. If you do not take care of yourself outside of the gym then your performances will suffer when in it. 

4. Know Why You are Training

You should know why you are attending an open mat to get the best out of your training. Some attend open mats to prepare themselves for an upcoming tournament, while others go to casually train. Going to an open mat does not have to be serious, but you should have an idea why you are training. If you know why you are training you can prepare your mindset before getting to the gym. 

How to participate in BJJ Open Mat and Make the Most of Your Training: 3 Top Tips

Participating in open mats is easy, as you just have to show up. Many attending open mats just go to spar, but there are also several opportunities to learn new things, or sharpen skills you already know.

1. Sparring

Many attend open mats to spar, and spend their entire time rolling with as many people as they can. Since people of all skill levels attend open mats you can typically find someone of your skill level, or higher if you are looking for a challenge. 

When sparring in open mats you can choose how long you want to roll, whether that be until someone is submitted, or until a set timer runs out. You may want to roll with as many people who are willing to accept a challenge, or find someone to work with for the entire session.

2. Drilling 

Improving your jiu jitsu takes practice, and drilling is the best way to focus on certain aspects of your game. Before going to open mat you should learn some drills that you want to train. You can practice drills that will help you improve your submissions or drill escapes to improve your defenses. 

Open mats is a great place to drill since you can choose what you want to practice, and how long. You can even work on solo drills to work on your movement if there is nobody to roll with.

3. Watch and Learn

Like all sports there are several ways to learn, and if you are a visual learner you may benefit from watching others train. Looking at other students from afar may make it easier for you to understand some of the complex aspects of a submission, or escape. You can also watch if you need to take a rest but still want to learn.

5 Mistakes to avoid During Open Mat Sessions

If you make any mistakes the best way to improve is to learn from them. As you continue to participate in open mats you will become more familiar with how it works, and make less mistakes overtime. 

1. Avoid Coming Late to Open Mat

Open mats typically start at a set time, and if you want to get the most out of your experiences you should avoid coming late. It is best to show up a little early before the open mat starts to prepare for your training. Showing up early allows you to see who is coming to train, and warm up.

2. Not Resting Enough

Many who first go to open mats may overwork themselves, as they may not take a rest when needed. Jiu jitsu is a very taxing sport, and if you do not rest enough when training it may make it harder for you to improve. 

Not only should you take some rest time when training, but you should make sure your body is rested with enough sleep. There have been several studies showcasing the negative effects of being fatigued. If you train when your body is exhausted you are putting yourself at a higher risk for an injury that may stop your training for months.

3. Sparring Too Hard in Open Mat

You may think jiu jitsu is about overpowering your opponents, but learning good technique is what really matters. If you are new to grappling you can easily injure yourself, or others by relying on strength, and forgoing all technique. 

If you are someone who goes too hard in sparring you may get a bad reputation, and increase the chances of injury. When rolling at an open mat some people may want a more casual roll. High intensity rolls are good for training for a competition, but it is hard to improve your technique when you are going all out.

4. Having an ego at Open Mat

In all martial arts ego should be left at the door. If you have an ego at open mat it will be obvious, and you may even find others going out of their way to humble you. Ego will only set you back.

As you go along your jiu jitsu journey you will come across many that are better than you, and you should not take your losses personally. You should respect everyone you train with. Win or lose you can always find opportunities to learn, and better yourself. 

5. Not Taking Open Mat Serious Enough

Some people coming to open mat may be preparing for an event coming up, and may need serious training partners to help them. It may be easy to slack off, but you should always aim for a good training session if you are spending time going to the gym. When new at BJJ it may seem like you are little help to others, but slacking will only make it harder for you, and others to get good work in.

Frequently Asked Questions About BJJ Open Mat

Does Open Mat Count as a BJJ Class?

Open mat is not considered a BJJ class since there is no master leading the class, and no set lesson plan. You can still learn alot from attending open mat as it is the perfect time to work on fundamentals, and practice something new.

Should I go to the open mat?

If you are looking to improve your grappling, or are new to the sport and are looking to get a feel of BJJ then you should definitely go to an open mat session. Open mats are a great way to train for all and are always worth attending.

Is Open Mat BJJ free?

Brazilian jiu jitsu gyms require a monthly fee to take the classes at their facility, and if you are a student of the gym, open mat is free to attend. If you are not a student of a gym and want to attend an open mat session you may be charged a mat fee. Mat fees are cheaper than a monthly membership, and are typically around $20 to $40, allowing you to train for the day at the gym. 

BJJ Open Mats is For Everyone

Open mats is one of the various types of ways people train their BJJ, is for everyone whether a beginner or seasoned grappler. Before attending open mats you want to make sure your body is well rested, and you bring the right gear to train.

What’s great about open mats is even when resting, you can still learn by watching others, and seeing how they train. If you are still wondering – what does open mat mean in BJJ, one of the best ways to find out is to attend a gym near you. 

BJJ is one of the most complex, but exciting sports, and there will always be something new for you to learn. Everyone needs to stay healthy, and BJJ is a fun experience that will keep you fit.. If you have any other questions about BJJ be sure to ask, as we are ready to help.

References:

• Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills // Harvard Health Publishing (HHP): https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110
• Prevalence of Injuries during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training // PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29910398/
• Injuries to the Stomatognathic System in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes// NLM: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6546730/
• Integrated Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health// NLM: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6682932/
• Young athletes’ ACL injury risk increases with fatigue// ScienceDaily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180705084237.htm