Frequently Asked Questions

General

How can I contact you?
Visit our contact us page to learn how to get in touch with us today.
Where are you located?
Pacific Wave Jiu-Jitsu
140 - 12811 Clarke Place
Richmond, BC
Canada
V6H 2H9
It's south of Ikea, close to the Knight bridge and the 99/91 highway connector. It's the last building on the right of the cul-de-sac on Clarke Place. An interactive map can be found here.
What age groups do you teach?
Adult memberships are available to students 15 and up with full training privileges in all the classes on our schedule for those with unlimited memberships. We also offer our Ready-Set-Kiai class for 3 to 4 year-olds, Jiu-jitsu Tykes class for 5-7 year-olds and our Junior Jiu-jitsu class for ages 8-10.
Am I too old to start?
There is a common misconception that you have to have started as a child to train in the martial arts. It's simply not true. We’ve had adult men and women from all walks of life and age come through our doors to train. We are always careful to have our students work at their own pace, no matter what their age or physical condition. Plus, we recently installed a sprung floor under our mats to provide extra cushion, comfort and safety when falling. If this is something you really want to learn, there is nothing stopping you but you. We even had someone who was 63 when started training with us. Rick recently turned 65, having lost nearly 50 lbs and become more fit than he had been in over a decade. If he can do it, you can too! Read Rick's story.
Does your dojo go to competitions?
Never. Our dojo teaches our martial art for self-defense purposes. Competition-oriented training develops bad habits for self-defense. There are no rules on the street and if you train yourself to abide by rules, you put yourself at a disadvantage.

Classes

What martial art do you teach?
We teach the martial arts self-defense system of Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu.
What's the difference between Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu?
There are many differences between Can-ryu and Brazilian because the styles are taught with different purposes in mind. In general, BJJ is taught with a strong emphasis on ground-based competition fighting (a.k.a. submission grappling). Can-ryu is taught for self-defense purposes as well as law enforcement purposes, and does not emphasize competition. While ground defense is a component of what we teach, ultimately our goal is to stay off the ground (or get back to our feet if we go down) and escape as quickly and efficiently as possible. Read about the tactical disadvantages of fighting from the ground.
What is a typical class like?
We offer several types of classes, with our main class being the Adult Jiu-jitsu class. We also offer a 2.5-hour women's self-defense class, as well as a foundational Junior Jiu-jitsu class aimed at 8 to 10 year olds. And our Jiu-jitsu Tykes class for children aged 5-7. Click the links to read the class descriptions.
What kind of training atmosphere can I expect?
We have a lot of fun on the mats, yet take our training seriously. Our instructors are approachable, easy to talk to and are here to help our students get the most out of your training. Students never feel like just another number and we don't hold anything back from our members. While our classes are taught in a group setting, students always get the time and attention you need with our low instructor to student ratios. We always ensure that students are taught at the level they need each and every class. Read 'Why Train Here?' for a more details.
Do you have beginner classes?
Beginners are welcome to train in any class we offer in our training schedule. They can easily train with students from a variety of different levels, gaining the advantages of being able to focus on the same goals with students who are also beginners, as well as being able to benefit from training with students with more experience who can help guide them in their learning.
Are your classes safe?
We take every precaution to help ensure the safety of our students. Everything is taught step-by-step in a controlled environment. We do not tolerate heavy-handed students, bad attitudes or oversized egos. We have also gone to great effort and expense to install a sprung floor to provide an extra layer of cushion under our mats, which serves to take out a significant amount of impact when you do breakfalls. Most dojos don't go this far to provide a safer training environment.
What is your class schedule?
Visit our training schedule page for a complete list of the classes we offer. We also offer our Self-Defense for Busy Women class every 1-2 months, and can book private lessons outside our regular schedule.
Do I need to be fit, coordinated or flexible to participate?
No, these things students can all develop over time and are not required to get started.
What are the benefits of taking your martial arts classes?
Most of our students began taking martial arts to either get into shape or to learn effective self-defense. However, there are a lot more benefits that bring great value to our classes including:
  • Increased confidence and discipline.
  • Improved coordination, agility, endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance.
  • Increased personal awareness, mental clarity and focus.
  • Reduced stress and anxiety.
  • Ability to face adversity with a greater sense of calm.
And more!

Costs

How much does it cost?
We have a wide range of options for different needs. Check out our Training Fees page for more details.
Does you require contracts?
No. We give you the freedom to train here without any long-term contract and offer month-to-month training options. All we ask is 30-days notice if you can no longer train here for whatever reason.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, we do. We offer a 3-month unlimited training packaged for new students at a 15% discount off our usual monthly fees. We also offer student and family discounts that can save you up to 25%.

Getting Started

Who is your ideal member?
We’re looking for the right fit and aren’t looking to jam as many people into our classes as possible. That’s why we offer 2 free trial classes to make sure both the students and instructors feel it’s a good fit, first, before accepting anyone into our limited student roster. Ultimately, we’re looking for good-natured people who have positive attitudes, can train regularly, will give it their best effort, and are always ready to learn with an open mind.
Do you have any openings?
Because we limit our student roster to keep our instructor-to-student ratios low, we sometimes have a waiting list. We currently have openings in all our class types.
Do you offer free trial classes?
Yes, if you want to try out our classes, you are entitled to 2 free trial classes as a new prospective member. All you need to for these trial classes is a t-shirt and a pair of comfortable pants. For your 1st trial class, we ask that you arrive about 30 minutes early so you'll have time to fill out our waiver and learn a few basic breakfalls and stances that you'll need to participate in class. Contact us to schedule your trial classes.
What equipment is required for new students?
For adults, if you decide to sign up with us after your trial classes, you'll need a uniform, either a medium weight Karate-style uniform or single weave Judo uniform is fine. It must be a plain, white uniform with no patches or logos from other schools. A dojo crest will be provided free. You also need a groin protector, whether you're a man or woman. If you don't already have a uniform and groin protector, you can purchase one through us at discounted prices.

For children, the required uniforms are provided free of charge as part of the one-time admin fee you pay when you sign up.