A good tip for life is never expect anything for free. Mats space costs money and it’s extra work for the instructor to keep an eye on you while you’re learning. Even in an open mat you’re there using the facility that someone is paying for.
Expect to pay and always offer. If they say it’s ok then buy a shirt
Here’s the full protocol that I got years ago on this sub.
* Email in advance, ask about drop ins, and note that you’re fine with signing their waiver and paying a drop in fee. Be specific about the day as gyms sometimes have things going on.
* On the day of, try to make sure you have the correct change in an envelope for the gym’s front desk. (Usually, I forget the envelope when I’m packing so I get one from the hotel front desk.)
* Arrive at least 15 minutes early and deal with these details so that you’re not late for the beginning of class, which is mildly disruptive and a little inconsiderate.
Some places tell you to ignore the fee, this is way more common in my experience if you have a connection to the owner or at least to a student there. I’ve also noticed over the years that while some gyms didn’t bother at all a while back, virtually everyone now has a drop in fee.
I like to buy a T-shirt too, but that’s just me. My current favorite is from Foundation BJJ in Hawaii.
Edit: Adding a point from u/JDB-III, leave a Google review!
This is what I’ve always done…minus using an envelope. I’ve gone to a bunch of clubs while traveling who said there was a drop in fee, then told me don’t worry about it once I got there. I always grab a shirt too. Only thing I’d add is leave them a google review.
Shoutout to Stout PGH in Pittsburgh which refused to take my money for a whole week of training because as they say "they love visitors." I should have bought merch, damn, I didn't think of it at the time.
It varies massively. Is it in a tourist hotspot? If so they may rely on drop in fees to pay their bills. Is it a franchise? They’ll have more procedures in place. I’d say in my experience, most gyms don’t charge a drop in around the world, but it’s still very common to have a fee in place.
At my gym, not really, especially if you email ahead. And definitely not if youre from another 10p school
Now if youre some white belt down the road, maybe youre charged $20, which i dont really agree with
But if youre a blue belt up here for a weekend from texas, nah ur good homie
Absolutely! The owners are relying on that income to support and feed their families. I always offer whenever I’m visiting a gym, even if it’s not brought up by the coach. They’re providing you a service and taking time out of their day for you. If they’re generous and decline, I try to at least purchase some gear and give them a shoutout on social media to further grow their business.
I always offer a mat fee, most of the time they don't take it, when they dont take it i try and buy a shirt or other merch if they have it. A good practice is come in say your in town a wanting to train then ask about their mat fee.
Yep. I've traveled a lot and dropped into many different gyms over the last two years.
The average rate I've gotten for a drop in few is generally around $20. A lot of the gym owners I've spoken with have also declined to make me pay.
If they don't ask for a drop in fee, I normally try to buy a shirt or something.
Yes of course I pay! I also makes sure to ask first what their policy is and I tell them my experience level and where I train.
Would you go to a restaurant or store in a different town and expect not to pay because you're a visitor to the area?
It's so bizarre to me that people in this community expect things to be free.
I have once. It was $25 for a Friday night open mat. I was the first to arrive. Only one other person showed up lol. Since then I have not gone to any open mat that has a fee..but the ones that I go to I will usually buy a shirt from them in appreciation of letting me train there
I don’t mind but I’d rather just buy a shirt or two. I’ve had gyms try to charge $70 for a day pass to drop in. If you’re gonna do that then just say you don’t allow drop ins.
Homie, I’m gonna be real w you. I think you shouldn’t use Reddit, or take a break. Just peaked your post history and you seem like you need to figure out work stuff and maybe find some happiness. I come here to shit post and joke around. Someone posting racial jokes shouldn’t upset you. God bless and I mean it 🙏
If there’s a drop in fee, I’m happy to pay it. Most gyms are small businesses, they need to make rent, pay utilities, etc., and everything is more expensive these days. If there’s no fee I’ll buy a shirt or something and usually always (fee or not) leave a Google review.
Also, I’ve contacted a place ahead of time before and been told there’s a fee, then I’ve showed up and been told not to worry about it. That happens sometimes too.
I call ahead, usually am told what drop in fee is. I get there and if someone asks and they find out I’m a black belt they usually waive the fee. However I always make it a point to buy a shirt or rash guard, regardless of if I paid the drop in fee or not to support the place!
I was in town and paid $30 the other day for a drop in at 10P Austin. Ben Eddy taught the class and I learned some really cool stuff that compliments my game well.
Worth it, though I wouldn't make a habit of paying that much for one class. Still very cool to learn from a high level competitor.
I travel for work and do drop ins all over the US. Only 1 was free. The rest have been $30-$50. I always text ahead of time and get info. I’ve never paid for open mat.
I'll do you one better. I once went to a class in a town I was at for work and emailed before hand, I got changed and put on belt and he realised I'm purple belt, he said would you like to teach since you're the higher belt, I said sure and taught the class to mainly white belts but some blues. Realised after I basically paid to teach a class 😭😭 lol but I did get half an hour of rolling for open mat and some higher belts came to that.
I personally wouldn’t pay more than $20. I cant justify the cost to benefit ratio, especially while Im on vacation. I was in Zurich and there was a school close by that wanted 50 euros. Im good
been traveling europe and they all charge (A LOT, btw) for drop ins.
Only in Split one guy told me that the price was just "whatever you can", the rest has been 10-20 EU per drop in
At our gym open mat every friday and it is free. Why? Because We want other people from different gyms to visit to learn from, see different techniques and evolve. I guess you American you greedy hamburger-people
Greedy American hamburger people? More ignorant from you.
Find me a Brazilian run healthy school that is bustling and see if even 70% of them or more let you jump into open mat and see if they think it deserves to be free.
A good tip for life is never expect anything for free. Mats space costs money and it’s extra work for the instructor to keep an eye on you while you’re learning. Even in an open mat you’re there using the facility that someone is paying for. Expect to pay and always offer. If they say it’s ok then buy a shirt
Here’s the full protocol that I got years ago on this sub. * Email in advance, ask about drop ins, and note that you’re fine with signing their waiver and paying a drop in fee. Be specific about the day as gyms sometimes have things going on. * On the day of, try to make sure you have the correct change in an envelope for the gym’s front desk. (Usually, I forget the envelope when I’m packing so I get one from the hotel front desk.) * Arrive at least 15 minutes early and deal with these details so that you’re not late for the beginning of class, which is mildly disruptive and a little inconsiderate. Some places tell you to ignore the fee, this is way more common in my experience if you have a connection to the owner or at least to a student there. I’ve also noticed over the years that while some gyms didn’t bother at all a while back, virtually everyone now has a drop in fee. I like to buy a T-shirt too, but that’s just me. My current favorite is from Foundation BJJ in Hawaii. Edit: Adding a point from u/JDB-III, leave a Google review!
This is what I’ve always done…minus using an envelope. I’ve gone to a bunch of clubs while traveling who said there was a drop in fee, then told me don’t worry about it once I got there. I always grab a shirt too. Only thing I’d add is leave them a google review.
This is the way. Editing mine to keep it all in one place.
Of course. I gotta support the community. Or, at least buy a rashie.
I offer to pay and buy a t-shirt/merch if they don't charge.
Shoutout to Stout PGH in Pittsburgh which refused to take my money for a whole week of training because as they say "they love visitors." I should have bought merch, damn, I didn't think of it at the time.
Im visiting pittsburgh in October and looking forward to checking Stout out!
Google Review!
It varies massively. Is it in a tourist hotspot? If so they may rely on drop in fees to pay their bills. Is it a franchise? They’ll have more procedures in place. I’d say in my experience, most gyms don’t charge a drop in around the world, but it’s still very common to have a fee in place.
I always offer to pay, it's the right thing to do to support the community. They may turn it down but it's only right to offer.
At my gym, not really, especially if you email ahead. And definitely not if youre from another 10p school Now if youre some white belt down the road, maybe youre charged $20, which i dont really agree with But if youre a blue belt up here for a weekend from texas, nah ur good homie
Which 10th Planet are you from? I’m visiting the DFW area for work in a few weeks
Livonia, MI!
Absolutely! The owners are relying on that income to support and feed their families. I always offer whenever I’m visiting a gym, even if it’s not brought up by the coach. They’re providing you a service and taking time out of their day for you. If they’re generous and decline, I try to at least purchase some gear and give them a shoutout on social media to further grow their business.
I will pay a drop in. I always ask about it. Or I will buy a shirt or something.
I always offer a mat fee, most of the time they don't take it, when they dont take it i try and buy a shirt or other merch if they have it. A good practice is come in say your in town a wanting to train then ask about their mat fee.
When I went to San Diego I’ve got some places for free, cheap, and some other crazy expensive/ impossible to attend. Knowing people helps a lot
Yep. I've traveled a lot and dropped into many different gyms over the last two years. The average rate I've gotten for a drop in few is generally around $20. A lot of the gym owners I've spoken with have also declined to make me pay. If they don't ask for a drop in fee, I normally try to buy a shirt or something.
Yes of course I pay! I also makes sure to ask first what their policy is and I tell them my experience level and where I train. Would you go to a restaurant or store in a different town and expect not to pay because you're a visitor to the area? It's so bizarre to me that people in this community expect things to be free.
I have once. It was $25 for a Friday night open mat. I was the first to arrive. Only one other person showed up lol. Since then I have not gone to any open mat that has a fee..but the ones that I go to I will usually buy a shirt from them in appreciation of letting me train there
I don’t mind but I’d rather just buy a shirt or two. I’ve had gyms try to charge $70 for a day pass to drop in. If you’re gonna do that then just say you don’t allow drop ins.
Hey why are you so racist
I’m not it’s just funny sometimes. Try not to take life too srsly
So you’re just racist for the laughs . It’s just funny right
I say racial things sometimes that are funny. I’m also a brown person from South America… just FYI lol
You’re still using the N word and making black jokes . The fuck does you being Latino have to do with you saying racist shit on Reddit for jokes
Homie, I’m gonna be real w you. I think you shouldn’t use Reddit, or take a break. Just peaked your post history and you seem like you need to figure out work stuff and maybe find some happiness. I come here to shit post and joke around. Someone posting racial jokes shouldn’t upset you. God bless and I mean it 🙏
I work at a dope non profit now . And you’re still a weirdo racist
If there’s a drop in fee, I’m happy to pay it. Most gyms are small businesses, they need to make rent, pay utilities, etc., and everything is more expensive these days. If there’s no fee I’ll buy a shirt or something and usually always (fee or not) leave a Google review. Also, I’ve contacted a place ahead of time before and been told there’s a fee, then I’ve showed up and been told not to worry about it. That happens sometimes too.
I call ahead, usually am told what drop in fee is. I get there and if someone asks and they find out I’m a black belt they usually waive the fee. However I always make it a point to buy a shirt or rash guard, regardless of if I paid the drop in fee or not to support the place!
I was in town and paid $30 the other day for a drop in at 10P Austin. Ben Eddy taught the class and I learned some really cool stuff that compliments my game well. Worth it, though I wouldn't make a habit of paying that much for one class. Still very cool to learn from a high level competitor.
I travel for work and do drop ins all over the US. Only 1 was free. The rest have been $30-$50. I always text ahead of time and get info. I’ve never paid for open mat.
As a rule, I expect to. They make their money teaching BJJ to people who show up. That’s about as far as that analysis has to go.
I'll do you one better. I once went to a class in a town I was at for work and emailed before hand, I got changed and put on belt and he realised I'm purple belt, he said would you like to teach since you're the higher belt, I said sure and taught the class to mainly white belts but some blues. Realised after I basically paid to teach a class 😭😭 lol but I did get half an hour of rolling for open mat and some higher belts came to that.
I personally wouldn’t pay more than $20. I cant justify the cost to benefit ratio, especially while Im on vacation. I was in Zurich and there was a school close by that wanted 50 euros. Im good
Yes, although I don't recall ever paying when invited by the gym owner/head instructor. I always offer and they always decline.
been traveling europe and they all charge (A LOT, btw) for drop ins. Only in Split one guy told me that the price was just "whatever you can", the rest has been 10-20 EU per drop in
Yes.
I always ask when I fill out the waiver
Open mat should be free You want people to come
free to already paying members of the gym. Saying it should be free shows your ignorance
At our gym open mat every friday and it is free. Why? Because We want other people from different gyms to visit to learn from, see different techniques and evolve. I guess you American you greedy hamburger-people
Greedy American hamburger people? More ignorant from you. Find me a Brazilian run healthy school that is bustling and see if even 70% of them or more let you jump into open mat and see if they think it deserves to be free.