Table of Contents
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What Is 'American' Jiu-Jitsu? Is It The Same As Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
It is a popular misconception that American Jiu-Jitsu was named “American” solely to represent a “new” style of jiu jitsu. While it is true that the founder of Legion, Keenan Cornelius, has been recognized for his unique style of fighting – AJJ was branded as such to represent a different approach to the sport’s culture.
American Jiu-Jitsu is not limited to just “Brazilian” or “Japanese” Jiu-Jitsu. Instead, it embodies and draws from many grappling and martial arts forms; wrestling, judo, catch wrestling – to name a few.
American Jiu-Jitsu will continue teaching and honoring traditional martial arts principles of discipline, respect, and responsibility – but will not subscribe to hero-worshiping or strict hierarchies within schools that leave students feeling lesser than their instructors (or lead to cult-like organizations). Instead, we provide high-quality instruction while embracing team camaraderie, support, and fun.
Regardless of gym affiliation, nationality, background, experience, or belt rank – Legion is a school where anyone can walk in and will find American Jiu-Jitsu approachable and easy to integrate into.
TL:DR On the mat, our jiu jitsu is very similar to BJJ, but culturally there’s a big difference.
Is AJJ Good Exercise?
Most definitely! In addition to being immensely FUN, training will increase your muscle tone, bodily coordination, cardiovascular capacity, muscular endurance, balance, and will (inevitably) reduce overall body fat. All that being said, please make sure you hydrate and fuel yourself properly before and after training.
What Is The Difference Between Gi and No-gi?
In short – and perhaps the most obvious point – the uniform! In Gi Classes, you wear a gi. In No-Gi, you don’t!
Gi jiu-jitsu, the uniform is a fundamental piece of most techniques and movements. No-gi jiu jitsu, on the other hand, more closely resembles wrestling as it is often faster paced and places emphasis on speed rather than leverage.
In no-gi classes, you can wear rash guards and board shorts or leggings. While each style has advantages and disadvantages (technically speaking), they share a remarkably similar conceptual foundation and are absolutely complementary to one another in training jiu-jitsu overall.
I'm A Woman: Is AJJ Right For Me?
YES! American Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent choice for women, especially for how it contributes to one’s self-defensive ability, sense of community and belonging, and of course, mental and physical fitness.
Regarding self-defense, it is a fantastic skillset to have (and practice) because, when an “opponent’s” physical size exceeds our own, jiu-jitsu trains us to utilize leverage and specific techniques that work to fill that gap.
Unlike other popularized martial arts, jiu-jitsu does not include over-aggressive attacks, punches, or kicks that leave people unconscious. Rather, jiu-jitsu is quite the opposite. It is a more fluid, almost graceful-looking martial art that will challenge you both physically (get ready to increase your cardiovascular endurance!) and mentally, as you think logically to apply learned techniques and movements during training.
Is There An Age Limit For AJJ Classes?
No! We have members here who range from 4 years old to over 70! We offer both adult and children’s classes. As a sport, jiu-jitsu should be and at Legion is, truly for everyone.
What Happens In An Average AJJ Class?
At Legion, we skip the generic gym-style warm-ups—you can get those at a CrossFit gym. In the beginner and fundamentals classes, we warm up with movement-based warm-ups rooted in jiu jitsu itself, like shrimping, bridging, technical stand-ups, and guard retention drills. In the intermediate and advanced classes, we warm up with drills that are designed to get our heart rate up while also learning useful jiu-jitsu skills.
From there, we dive into technique—breaking down positions, transitions, and submissions with an emphasis on detail and efficiency. After that, we typically transition into specific sparring or task-based games. We finish with live sparring, or “rolling,” where students apply what they’ve learned in real-time against resisting partners.
After the class, our coaches often stick around for Q&A sessions to help students improve even more.
I Am Complete Beginner To Jiu Jitsu, How Does My Journey Start?
Our 5-week Beginner Course is designed specifically for those brand new to jiu jitsu—no experience needed! Taught by experienced black belts, this program offers hands-on, personalized instruction in a supportive environment. You’ll learn essential movements, positions, and techniques step-by-step, all while building the confidence and skill set needed to smoothly transition into our more advanced classes. It’s the perfect way to start your journey as a grappler!
UNIFORM QUESTIONS
What Is A Gi? Is That The Same As The Kimono?
A gi is a uniform worn during jiu-jitsu (as well as various other martial arts, including judo, karate, and sambo) training. The word “gi” comes from the Japanese term, “Keikogi” or “Judogi”.
Keiko means practice; gi means dress or clothes. A gi consists of 3 pieces; the gi jacket, pants, and belt.
Different parts of a gi are strategically utilized for grips, chokes, guards, and other techniques during training. Typically, it is heavily stitched and usually made of cotton to withstand the rigors of daily practice.
What If I Have My Own Gi, But It Has Another Academy's Logo On It?
Believe it or not, we do NOT care! At all. Please wear whatever gi you have. The Legion gi policy is “clean”. We do not make people buy or rent our gis if theirs are a different color or have team patches. This makes training more accessible for everyone, so just come train!
What Do I Bring To My First Class?
As far as footwear goes bringing some flip flops/ sandals is a good idea. No shoes are permitted on the mats. That’s why walking up to the mats with flip-flops is a great idea for a seamless transition.
If you have a gi of your own, bring it! We add a free uniform to our patented 5-Week Beginner Course, along with a belt. Definitely make sure to bring those. If you’re coming for a different class and you don’t have a gi… worry not, we have rental gis available as well as gis for purchase.
For a no-gi class, a rashguard and shorts should be worn.
And of course, a water bottle is highly recommended. We have a filtered water station you can refill as needed.
KIDS CLASSES (EAGLET PROGRAM)
What Is The Youngest Age For Legion's Kids Classes?
The youngest age for our programs is 4. Sometimes we will let kids join at 3.5 provided that they are big and mature enough to participate in the classes. The primary thing we are looking for in the youngest group is the ability to pay attention for the duration of the class, which is roughly 45 minutes.
What Are The Age Groups For The Program?
Little Eaglets: 4-6 years old.
Junior Eaglets: 7-9 years old.
Senior Eaglets: 10-14 years old.
Will My Child Have Kids Their Age To Train With?
Yes, the program has over 130 kids, so your child is guaranteed to find appropriate training partners.
What Can I Expect In A Kids AJJ Class?
Here at Legion, our classes go beyond typical martial arts training—we use dynamic, jiu jitsu-based warm-ups to build coordination, balance, and body awareness from day one. Through fun, structured technique lessons and safe, controlled sparring, your child will not only learn how to defend themselves, but also develop focus, respect, and resilience.
We believe the values taught on the mat—like discipline, perseverance, and teamwork—should be carried into everyday life. That’s why we make it a priority to help kids grow into confident, respectful leaders both in and out of the academy.
VISITING LEGION
Does Legion Allow Visitors?
This question is one we get a lot, and it’s almost funny. Not only do we allow visitors, we love to welcome people from around the world. We get visitors practically every day!
Which Classes Are Visitors Allowed To Take?
Visitors are allowed to take classes appropriate for their level. Intermediate-advanced classes are typically reserved for blue belts and above. You can always call the academy or email us and our staff will be happy to help you find the best classes for your visit. Visitors are not allowed to participate in individual classes of the beginner courses.
Do I Have To Fill Out Anything Online Or Can I Drop In?
We prefer if visitors send us an email or call to let us know they’re coming, but we’re perfectly fine with drop ins. You can take care of the waiver and drop-in fees in person.
What Are The Drop In Prices?
Class Pass: $50 Day Pass: $60 (unlimited classes in a day) Week Pass: $195 (unlimited classes for a 7 days) Month Pass: $350 (unlimited classes for a month). Open mat: Free.
Is It True That Legion Has A World-Famous Open Mat?
Yes, the Sunday open mat is a San Diego staple, with the average attendance at over 100 people (max capacity for our mats is 175-200). It has always been free and a lot of fun. Find more info here.
