PROGRAM INFO
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING OR WEAR TO CLASS?
ALL GEAR MUST BE WASHED AND CLEAN BEFORE EACH CLASS, INCLUDING BELTS. We have a strict hygiene policy at this gym for everyone's health and safety.
Quick glossary:
- A gi is the specific kimono worn during jiu jitsu - comprised of pants, the jacket, and the belt. Note that gis for judo, karate, etc are different from jiu jitsu.
- No gi refers to training without a gi. See below for what you can wear to no gi classes.
Bring flip flops or slides for easy on-and-off access to the mat.
FOR GI: You can show up in any gi color you like, as long as it's clean! We don't care if it has other gym affiliation patches or branding on it (know that many competitions, especially those at the highest levels require black, royal blue, or white gis only, and may have restrictions on gi weight, material, and patch locations). We highly recommend Elite brand gis for their affordability and durability!
We strongly encourage wearing a rashguard or compression shirt under your gi jacket for training to help prevent skin infections across the gym. You may choose not to closer to your competition day, if you prefer to compete without a rashguard under the gi. Ladies, you can wear compression tights or shorts under gi pants; men often wear the same or briefs.
FOR NO-GI: No cotton t-shirts will be permitted for hygiene & safety reasons; please wear a clean rashguard or compression shirt. This is for hygiene reasons. Please wear a rashguard during training (there are some exceptions, which will be on a case-by-case basis). You can wear grappling or fight shorts (no basketball, leisure, etc shorts) which are made of light-weight, moisture-wicking material. These come in a variety of styles - like compression shorts or board shorts. Shorts must not have external drawstrings, pockets, or zippers for your training partners' safety. Athletic tights or spats are acceptable; men should wear shorts over spats.
Please don't hesitate to ask us anytime if you need help buying or sourcing gear. We sometimes have some extra gear on hand that we can give you, and we are always happy to help out if you're in a tight spot -- please let us know. Jiu jitsu should be for everyone and we want folks to have no unnecessary barriers to training.
For sparring, bring a mouthguard. A cup is optional and a matter of preference.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL CLASS LOOK LIKE?
Drew has spent years studying the pedagogy of jiu jitsu -- the approach to teaching, and the theory of practice & learning. He has structured the gym program with what he's learned, iterated upon, and battle-tested over classes he's taught over the past half decade, following a curriculum that he has developed.
Class structure: We begin with light warmups for mobility & key skills for jiu jitsu. You will pair up, or be paired, with someone roughly your own size for the drilling. The coach will demonstrate the technique with the uke (the demonstration partner). We make sure folks have time to ask questions, see the moves again, and feel comfortable before moving onto drilling the technique(s). We will drill and practice the technique with a partner. During this time, the coach will make sure your form is correct and safe, so you learn the right way and aren't getting false positives or developing poor habits. The coach will adjust the technique if you are having difficulty with it so you are not overwhelmed and can learn with the right building blocks, at your level and pace.
We focus on only a few techniques at a time so you can receive detailed instruction and the conceptual underpinnings. We reserve a few rounds for sparring at the end.
Kids Class begins with gymnastics style warmups to build athleticism. We teach jiu jitsu skills through games designed to make grappling fun and engaging for kids, and we end classes with grappling-focused games to leave the kids on a high note. This structure allows us to keep the kids engaged and learning the entire class.
We accept students ages 8-12. More advanced kids are welcome to stay for the adult class. If you're not sure whether your child is a better fit for kids' or adults' class based on their size or experience level, give us a call and we can help you decide.
YOUR COACHES
HEAD COACH
DREW RICE
If you've had the benefit of crossing paths with Drew in the grappling space, you already know -- his patience and his level of detail in instruction is second to none, as is his ability to meet students where they are.
An engineer by trade, he has an uncanny ability to deconstruct and understand grappling concepts with insightful problem-solving abilities. He grew up a multisport athlete, but his martial arts journey started by training Mixed Martial Arts while in college for Systems Engineering. Once he decided to focus on Jiu Jitsu, he began training under Bob Bass -- one of the 'Dirty Dozen', the first group of Americans to earn black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Training under Bob gave him a front-row seat to a style that blended wrestling into Jiu Jitsu that was ahead of its time.
He has spent the last decade as a student of the game, staying on top of the modern meta by training across the country and taking full advantage of getting to learn from world champions at Daisy Fresh. He has trained with and competed under coaches Derek Featherstun and Heath Pedigo. These experiences, combined with his athletic and technical background, have shaped his comprehensive approach to the sport.
To Drew, instructing and coaching are two distinct skill sets that must be combined to achieve competitive success. For him, being a coach is more than just a role: it is a long-standing passion. He has spent over five years teaching classes, building on his background as a coach and trainer for track, cross country, and weightlifting in the years prior.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to helping teammates reach the top of the podium at every level, from local competitions to international tournaments. He is prepared to support his athletes’ goals regardless of how far they aim to take their journey.
Drew rejects the "one-size-fits-all" approach to instruction. Instead, he focuses on an athlete's specific game, providing the tailored details necessary for rapid growth and the development of genuine self-confidence. He believes that traditional Jiu Jitsu instruction has much to learn from other athletic disciplines, and at Bear Trap, he refuses to settle for the status quo.
ASSISTANT COACH
NIKI RICE
Niki originally began her martial arts training in Muay Thai with the goal of training for fitness. When she decided to add grappling into the mix to complement a striking game, she picked up jiu jitsu. Alongside Drew, she's been fortunate to train at different gyms around the country, travel for major competitions. With a couple of local competitions under her belt and her eye on future competitions down the line, her goal is to continue her growth in the sport with a wrestle-judo-jitsu twist.
Niki’s professional background as a user experience designer involves solving problems from an array of perspectives to make information accessible to everyone, which aligns perfectly with her approach to inclusion in jiu jitsu. She believes that even complex information can be made accessible to anyone when communicated from various perspectives to meet people where they are, and brings this attitude to the mats.
She's a major advocate of participating in grappling & combat sports for mental & physical health - it's a big part of what has kept her going since a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2021. Grappling helps her continue to stay healthy, grounded, & active, with longevity as the goal. In addition to time spent on the mat, she fully believes in the growth that comes from pushing past perceived mental and physical limits to live life to the fullest - which once meant training for endurance runs to raise money for MS research, or sometimes looked like day-hiking 14,000’ mountains in the West. These days, she meets most of her challenges on the mats head-on with an intentional and cerebral approach to training to become a better athlete, grappler, and future coach. At Bear Trap AJJ, Niki is excited to have the opportunity to eventually cultivate a women's team at Bear Trap AJJ to bring greater visibility to women in the sport.