1. Compliments are appreciated - patronizing is not.
Please don’t compliment your partner’s technique and then undermine it by telling them you were really/actually trying to escape or maintain the position.
While the sentiment can be appreciated, I know personally that I will always try my best in class and hope my partners will do the same. Please follow the instructor’s directions where intensity and resistance are concerned within a specific drill. If he or she tells you the goal is to maintain the mount, please give it your all and assume your partner expects that of you. While there may be some exceptions, you typically won’t need to tell them. The favor will be returned when you switch top and bottom.
2. Please do not comment about anyone’s fight/feistiness to them or anyone else.
I hate overhearing one training partner telling the other that they “have alot of fight” in them during a roll. It’s a pet peeve of mine that might come second only to hearing someone warn the class to “watch out - she’s/he’s a feisty one!”
Always assume that your partner’s skill has more to do with their focus, execution, and consistency in training than their feisty personality. Your partner might have successfully landed that sweep only after weeks or even months of practice and failed attempts. Don’t take away from their moment of success by belittling their hard work.
3. Let the instructor be the instructor.
I know it can be hard, and it almost always comes from the best of intentions, but try to avoid coaching or teaching your training partner - especially during sparring/rolling. When your working technique with someone, it’s natural to point out a tip you use to make something smoother or share something someone told you that helped you remember which side your blocks start on or which hand goes on top in a Palm Up - Palm Down choke, but don’t overdo it.
Don’t spend the majority of your practice time breaking the technique down for your partner, and try not to ruin their enjoyment by pointing out too many mistakes they’re making in the technique they just learned five minutes earlier.
Avoid slowing down the flow of a roll or the momentum of a sparring session by stopping to point out something to your partner. Instead, try to remember the details to discuss after the training session is done so you can both get the most out of your randori.
Something that goes hand in hand with this is focusing on your own training. Don’t play down your partner’s recent improvements by saying things like, “looks like someone’s been getting some extra training” or “you must have learned that in a private lesson.”
Instead of making excuses for why someone’s forms might be looking sharper or why someone is suddenly having success completing all of their arm bar attempts, try taking advantage of the training opportunities that are available to you. Try maximizing your repetitions in class as an alternative to worrying about how much mat time other people are receiving.
Let the instructor worry about teaching and keeping track of everyone’s material while you simply enjoy the class.
