What to Wear (and Bring) to Your First Jiu Jitsu or MMA Class
4 min read · Updated Jul 3, 2026
Wear comfortable workout clothes and bring water. That is the honest, whole answer for your first class at Team 515. Think a t-shirt and athletic shorts or leggings, the kind of thing you would wear to go for a run or lift weights. No uniform, no gloves, no special gear of any kind is required on day one. Show up about 15 minutes early so you have time to find the door, say hello, and get your bearings. Then a coach walks you and the other newcomers through the fundamentals at your pace. You will not look lost, because on your first day nobody expects you to know anything yet.
What to actually wear
A lot of a first jiu jitsu or MMA class happens on the ground, and in grappling your clothes get grabbed, pulled, and stepped on. So fitted beats baggy. A snug t-shirt or a rashguard, which is a tight athletic shirt made for training, stays out of the way better than a loose cotton tee. Athletic shorts or leggings without pockets, zippers, or buttons are ideal, because fingers and toes catch on hardware and it hurts. Leave the jewelry at home. Trim your fingernails and toenails short so you do not scratch a training partner. If your hair is long, tie it back. And you train barefoot on the mat, so you can leave your shoes at the edge.
What to bring
Not much. A bottle of water is the one thing you truly need, so bring enough to get you through an hour of moving. A small towel is nice if you sweat a lot. A pair of sandals or flip flops is handy for stepping off the mat to the restroom and keeping your feet clean for when you come back. That is the whole packing list. You do not need to buy anything to try a class.
The gear comes later
Once you decide to keep training, you will start to hear about gear, and it helps to know the words before someone says them to you. In jiu jitsu, a gi is the traditional uniform, a heavy cotton jacket and pants worn with a belt. Training without it, in just shorts and a rashguard, is called no-gi. Team 515 teaches both, and no-gi jiu jitsu runs on the adult schedule during the week. For MMA and Muay Thai, which is the striking art that uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins, you will eventually want gloves, hand wraps, shin guards, and a mouthguard. None of that is needed to start. Ask a coach what to buy once you know you are staying. Memberships are month to month with no contracts, so there is no rush and no pressure to gear up before you are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I eat before my first class?
Have a light meal a couple of hours beforehand rather than training on a full stomach or a completely empty one. You want steady energy while you are learning to move, not a heavy gut. That is really all your body needs on day one.
I wear glasses. What do I do?
Glasses come off for any close, grappling based work, so they are not practical on the mat. If you wear contact lenses, those are the easier option for training. If you only have glasses, come anyway and just let your coach know, and you can work around it.
Where is Team 515 and how do I confirm class times?
The gym is at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview, Texas, serving the greater East Texas and ArkLaTex area. Class times shift a little by season, so if you want to confirm before you drive in, call ahead at (903) 930-4599.
Here is the plain truth. Nobody at Team 515 is checking whether you own the right shorts. They are checking whether you showed up. Wear what you have, bring a bottle of water, and walk in as you are. Your first class is free, so the only thing you stand to lose is the nerves you walked in with. When you are ready, come train or see the schedule and pick the night that fits your week.