Jahci Joy
I visited Osiris for a trial today and can tell the owners and instructors put a lot into making this a welcoming environment where you can train at your pace, whether for leisure or competition. I’m not new to the sport and have been to multiple gyms, so I clock cultures quickly to avoid headaches and have good experiences. A good culture is the foundation of learning jiu jitsu safely and getting the most out of this sport, and I think they have one. I also think they have good teachers who are capable of adapting their instructions to fit your individual needs. During the warm up, Coach Stephanie noticed me struggling and took the time to show me fundamentals even though I was taking my sweet time getting across the mat cause I was rusty. So if you’re new or rusty or shy, I don’t think you’ll feel pressured to speed up and you won’t be left behind. You can ask questions and get the help you need. I’ve been in gyms where coaches weren’t as patient, so that means a lot to me as someone who asks a lot of questions and needs to see things a few times. That type of patience is something I think you should look for in a gym. The class I went to today went over technique styles that were new to me, but I didn’t feel left behind because Coach Robert was also patient with everyone and addressed the common pitfalls as he saw them to help us adjust and understand the flow. All the teammates were supportive of one another as we worked, which speaks to that culture the gym owners have created. Coach Robert was also mindful of his pairings which means he is familiar with his students and the class that day (such as whether a new person is there like me). Knowing when to pair and how to pair well is important for everyone’s safety, particularly women, children, and new people. Because of this, I think this is a good place for children to learn safely, and we did have pre-teens and teenagers in class today who worked with the adults and were fine. Pairing well is probably one of the most important things to me in a gym’s culture. This sport is very close contact, difficult on the body, and can get intense real quick. I’ve had instructors that simply told us to “find a pair”. Even though that can be fine (especially when the gym culture is good like this one so people are mindful of one another), that’s not typically my preference. Pairing is important to me because when you’re new to a gym, you don’t know everyone’s style yet and could pair with someone who goes a little faster or harder than is good for your level or size. If they lack body awareness that can be a safety issue, especially if you’re a fresh white belt or shy and don’t know how to communicate your needs yet such as “ouch, get off my knee.” When coaches pair, it also takes the pressure off for people to find someone if they’re new or shy. So I think fresh white belts and shy people would be at ease here. On a more positive note, when coaches take charge in pairing, I think it allows you to work with people at similar levels/sizes, challenge you when necessary with levels/sizes, and put you in “teaching” mode where you can let people work and reinforce your own skills at the same time. Typically when told to “find a pair” I’ve noticed people (myself included) will just gravitate towards others who are their size or their belt. But it’s beneficial to work from a variety of situations because the way you do a technique (or even if you can do that technique) changes and causes you to use those critical thinking skills and body awareness in a different way. Coach Stephanie also teaches an all-women’s class that I’ve been told has good attendance. A lot of gyms I’ve looked into haven’t had this so it’s a great addition and has set them apart from other gyms I’ve visited. Overall, the vibe was low pressure and non-judgmental, yet remained challenging and fun. Whether you’re new, returning, or looking for a new gym—and whether you just want to have fun/exercise or compete one day— they’re a good place to train. I’d definitely say give them a try.
