In a recent appearance on Andre Galvao’s podcast, ADCC champion Adele Fornarino shared valuable insights about proper etiquette when men and women train together in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Fornarino highlighted three key points that men should avoid during training sessions with female practitioners. The first issue she addressed was the tendency of some male partners to frequently interrupt rolls to give explanations.
“Shouldn’t stop the roll every three seconds to explain something… just roll,” Fornarino stated, particularly emphasizing situations where female practitioners are successfully executing techniques. She suggested saving technical feedback for after the training session.
The second point focused on strength management. Fornarino advised male practitioners to be mindful of strength differences and prioritize technical exchanges, especially when training with technically proficient female partners. “Be aware of the strength discrepancy, try and be technical, don’t just try and be bigger and stronger,” she explained.
Lastly, Fornarino cautioned against making assumptions about intensity levels when training with women. She emphasized that men shouldn’t automatically assume a lighter pace is required and should instead match their training partner’s level of intensity.
The champion also touched on the importance of acknowledging successful techniques during rolls without interrupting the flow of training. She suggested saving compliments and discussions for after the round concludes, maintaining the training session’s momentum.
