In a candid discussion on the Jits and Giggles Podcast, Jasmine Rocha, daughter of renowned BJJ practitioner Vagner Rocha, called out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors who shame students for arriving late to class.
“Don’t tell me to get down and do push-ups for you, I don’t care who you are,”
Jasmine stated firmly, addressing a common practice in some BJJ academies where students are punished for tardiness.
Jasmine emphasized that paying members deserve more understanding, particularly considering their various life commitments.
“These people pay memberships, come to your gym, and they are coming off of work or maybe they just took a nap at home and they got here late. You should be happy that they’re at your class at all,”
she explained.
Drawing from lessons learned from her father, Jasmine shared how her perspective on late arrivals has evolved. While admitting it once bothered her, she now recognizes the importance of being more accommodating.
“That’s their time and that’s their money… you don’t know what’s going on in their life,”
she said.
She particularly criticized practices such as mandatory push-ups or refusing entry after certain times, suggesting these policies could discourage participation.
“If you’re that way, you’re gonna deter people from coming out,”
she warned.
The discussion also touched on the treatment of young students, with Jasmine pointing out the unfairness of penalizing children for tardiness.
“How you gonna blame a child?”
she questioned, sharing a recent experience with a young student who arrived without proper attire due to parental oversight.
Her message to instructors was clear: adopt a more welcoming approach with the mindset of
“don’t worry about it, you’re late, I’m just glad you’re here.”
