Family policies
What parents and new students ask before a first class.
Photos of your child
We ask your written permission before we share any photo of your child, on this site, in newsletters or on social media, and you can change your answer at any time. We never put a child's name with a photo, and the photos on this site are examples until we replace them with our own.
Watching class
Parents are welcome on the bench by the mat and can watch any kids' class. Adults who are not training are welcome too. We ask everyone to stay off the mat and out of the coaches' way, and to keep the noise down during rounds.
What to wear and bring
A plain t-shirt or rash guard and shorts without pockets or zippers are enough for a first class. Take off jewelry, tie hair back, keep nails short and leave shoes at the door. A Gi to borrow is at the front desk. Please come with clean skin and a clean uniform, and rinse off sand first.
When to stay home
If you or your child has a fever, a cough, a rash, a skin infection or anything that could spread on a shared mat, stay home and message us. A missed class can be made up. Please don't send health details through the website.
Kids' pickup
Kids sign in at the front desk. A child waits inside until a parent or a named adult arrives, and we ask for ID from anyone we don't know.
Closures for weather and holidays
We close for holidays and for high surf or storm warnings that close the roads. We text everyone on the class list that morning.
Leaving the academy
Tell us in writing and give 30 days' notice. Billing stops when the notice ends.
Screens and phones
Phones stay on silent in the mat room. Filming in class needs the coach's say-so, and never during a round.
How we run class
Checks and routines
What our coaches have completed, and the routines every class follows.
Staff checks and training
- Background checks
- CPR and first aid
- Mandated reporter training
Safety routines
Sign-in and pickup
Everyone signs in at the front desk. Kids stay in the building until a parent or a named adult collects them.
Tapping
A tap, with a hand or a voice, ends a round at once, and your partner lets go. A coach calls the rounds and can stop any of them.
Kids' classes
Kids train in their own classes. There are no submission holds in kids' classes, and a coach is in every drill.
Mat hygiene
Clean uniforms, short nails and no shoes on the mat. We clean the mat every day and ask anyone with a rash or a cut that cannot be covered to sit out.
Class size
Adult classes have up to 24 students. Kids' classes have up to 10.
Parents on the bench
Parents and visitors watch from the bench at the edge of the mat and stay off the mat while a class is on.
Sample details.
Questions before you come?
Send a message and the front desk will reply, or come in for a class.