RGA Bucks · FAQ
Questions
Answered.
Everything you want to know before you walk through the door.
Getting Started
I've never trained before. Can I just turn up?
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Yes. Your first class is free and no experience is needed. Just show up in comfortable clothing — a t-shirt and shorts or joggers — and the coaches will take it from there. You do not need to call ahead or bring anything specific. Turn up, get on the mat, see how it feels.
What actually happens in the trial class?
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Every class follows the same structure:
- Warm up — get the body moving, nothing extreme
- Jiu Jitsu technique — a specific move or position taught and drilled with a partner
- Positional sparring — practising what you've learned in a controlled live setting
- Cool down — stretch, breathe, shake hands
Am I too old to start?
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No. Jiu Jitsu is not a young person's sport — it is a personal journey of self discovery and growth that rewards patience and technique over athleticism. We have students who started in their 40s and 50s who are now among the most technically capable people in the room. The mat does not care how old you are. It cares how often you show up.
Do I need to be fit before I start?
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No. Jiu Jitsu will get you fit. People arrive at every level of physical condition and the training meets you where you are. The first few sessions will be physically unfamiliar regardless of how fit you are — you are using your body in ways it has not been used before. That passes quickly. Just show up.
What do I wear?
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For your first session — comfortable clothes. T-shirt and shorts or joggers. No shoes on the mat. Once you decide to train regularly, you will need a gi (the traditional Jiu Jitsu uniform). When you join, a gi is provided by the academy at no extra cost. We will advise you on fit and style when the time comes.
Membership & Cost
£90/mo
Full Membership
Unlimited classes across all disciplines.
Includes sauna and cold plunge access.
Includes sauna and cold plunge access.
£80/mo
Full Membership
Unlimited classes across all disciplines.
Sauna and cold plunge not included.
Sauna and cold plunge not included.
£40/mo
Under 18s & Ladies
Full access to all relevant classes.
Discounted rate for juniors and women.
Discounted rate for juniors and women.
Is there a contract or joining fee?
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Membership is a recurring monthly payment through Stripe. There is no long-term contract and no joining fee. You manage your membership yourself through the RGA Bucks app.
How do I sign up after my trial?
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If you want to continue after your trial class, download the RGA Bucks app, select the membership option that suits you, and book in to classes as and when you want to train. No forms, no phone calls, no admin. You are in control of your schedule from day one.
Do I need to book classes in advance?
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Classes are booked through the app. Once you are a member you can see the full timetable and reserve your spot. It takes thirty seconds and means the coaches know to expect you.
What does membership include?
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Full membership gives you unlimited access to every class on the timetable — BJJ, NoGi, MMA, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Kids classes, Open Mat, Competition training. The £90 tier also includes access to the sauna and cold plunge. Your gi is provided when you join at no additional cost.
The Academy
Where are you based?
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RGA Bucks is in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire — two minutes walk from Aylesbury train station. Easy to reach by train or car. Full address and directions are on the Contact page.
Who teaches the classes?
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Head coach Kev Capel holds a 4th Degree Black Belt awarded directly under Roger Gracie, is an IBJJF European Black Belt Champion and a King's Commendation recipient. The wider coaching team covers BJJ, NoGi, MMA, wrestling, boxing and kickboxing — all coaches have competed or trained at a high level in their discipline. Full profiles are on the Coaches page.
What is the culture like?
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Hard work is expected. Ego is not welcome. Those two things together make for a room where people get genuinely good, genuinely fast. New students are looked after. The standard is high because the coaches know what that standard produces — not because anyone is trying to prove something.
Do you have a sauna and cold plunge?
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Yes. Access is included with the £90 full membership. If you take the £80 membership and decide later you want access, you can upgrade through the app at any time.
Kids & Families
What age can children start?
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The youngest age we take is 4. Classes are split by age group — 4 to 8 years and 9 to 16 years — with beginner and advanced levels within each group. Children are always trained with peers at a similar stage.
Is it safe for young children?
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The kids classes are structured, closely supervised, and the intensity of sparring is carefully controlled by the coaches. Children are paired appropriately. As with any contact sport there is an element of physical risk — but serious injuries are rare and the environment is deliberately managed to minimise them. Most parents are surprised by how disciplined and calm the sessions are.
My child is nervous. What should I tell them?
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Tell them they don't need to know anything. Nobody in that room knew anything on their first day — including the coaches. The only thing expected of them in the first session is that they try. The coaches will handle everything else. Most children leave their first class wanting to come back.
Is the kids membership £40?
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Yes. Under 18s train for £40 per month with full access to all age-appropriate classes. The same recurring monthly payment through the app — no contracts, no joining fee, gi provided when they join.
Still Have
A Question?
The easiest way to get an answer is to come in. Your first class is free.
Book Your Free ClassBEGIN HERE
ONE FULL WEEK.
ON US.
This is not a taster session. One full week of training -
every class, no cost, no obligation. Come and see what this academy produces.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED · NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED · NO COMMITMENT
ROGER GRACIE ACADEMY · AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE · TWO MINUTES FROM THE TRAIN STATION
ROGER GRACIE BUCKS - AYLESBURY