THE TRUTH ABOUT OPEN MATS: A TOOL OR A TRAP FOR YOUR JIU-JITSU ACADEMY?

Open mats are a staple in many Jiu-Jitsu academies. They offer students a chance to roll freely, test techniques, and build community outside of regular class structure. But while open mats can be a great tool for growth, they can also become a trap if not handled with purpose and leadership.

Let’s be clear: a free-for-all atmosphere may look fun on the surface, but without structure, supervision, and intention, open mats can create more harm than good.

What Can Go Wrong?

• Lack of Guidance
  Beginners get paired up with advanced students and end up overwhelmed—or worse, hurt. Without instructors leading the way, students might fall into bad habits, use unsafe techniques, or roll with a mindset that’s more about ego than learning.
• Recruitment Games
  Some academies open their doors just to poach students from other schools. That’s not community building—that’s short-sighted marketing. True growth happens when we build our own students up, not when we chase numbers by inviting visitors we hope to convert.
• No Value for New Students
  New students often attend open mats expecting to learn or get better. If they walk into chaos with no warm-up, no guidance, and no partner, they may never come back. We risk losing future dedicated students by throwing them into the deep end without support.

So, How Do We Do It Right?

If you’re going to offer open mats, make them count. Here’s how:

• Set the Tone
  A coach or senior instructor should always be present and active—not just sitting on the sidelines. Greet students, pair people up, monitor intensity, and offer feedback. Be the leader.
• Create Structure
  Open mat doesn’t have to mean “anything goes.” Start with a quick group warm-up. Offer a few positional sparring rounds before letting people roll freely. Structure encourages safety and gives students more value.
• Protect the Culture
  Make it clear: your open mat is for your students. Visitors are welcome, but the goal isn’t to impress or recruit. It’s to train, connect, and help each other grow.
• Communicate Expectations
  Teach your students how to treat open mat. No ego. No coaching without being asked. No hard rolls with new white belts. Everyone contributes to the vibe—make sure they know what that should look like..

When used intentionally, open mats can strengthen your academy and give your students a powerful space to grow. But without direction, they can create more problems than benefits. Let’s raise the standard and remember: just because it’s “open” doesn’t mean it has to be unstructured.