Is Open Rolls appropriate for a brand-new white belt?

Yes, with the same expectation as any live round at VIA - tap early, communicate with your partner, and treat it as a chance to test what you've drilled, not to win. Coaches are on the mat during rounds, and higher belts are expected to give newer students a real but appropriately-paced look, not overwhelm them.

Do I need to bring a Gi, or is No-Gi fine?

Either - there's no separate track for Open Rolls. Wear whatever you normally train in and roll. Some sessions naturally skew more Gi or more No-Gi depending on who shows up, but you're never required to have both.

What's the actual round structure, and can I sit a round out?

6 to 7 rounds, 5 minutes each, back to back, with a short rest between. You're never required to go every single round - sitting one out to catch your breath or manage an old injury is normal and expected, not a problem.

How is this different from just showing up to a technique class and asking to roll after?

Technique classes end with a shorter live portion built around that day's lesson. Open Rolls is the whole session - no lecture, no new technique, just structured rounds against rotating partners, which is a different and necessary kind of training on its own.

Gi/Nogi Rolls | VIA Jiu Jitsu Academy

Gi/Nogi Rolls

Live rounds. Gi or no-gi.

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What You'll Train

Structured Live Rounds

Open Rolls isn't a technique class - it's structured live training, 6 to 7 rounds of 5 minutes each, back to back. There's no lecture portion and no new technique introduced; this is where everything drilled elsewhere in the week actually gets tested against a partner who isn't cooperating. Gi or no-gi, wear what you train in - there's no separate track. All belt levels are welcome, and rounds typically rotate partners so you're not working the same matchup all night.

6–7 Rounds5 Minutes Each

All belt levels welcome.

Why This Isn’t Just Open Mat

Rolling A Lot Isn’t The Same As Rolling Well

Two students can log the same number of hours live rolling over a year and improve at completely different rates - the actual determining factor isn't time on the mat, it's how deliberately that time gets used. Rolling with the same one or two training partners every session, avoiding positions you're bad at, or going 100% every round with no plan all cap how much a round can actually teach you. Structured rounds with regular partner rotation - the exact format this class runs - exist specifically to close that gap: fixed round length forces pacing instead of one all-out sprint, and rotating partners means you're tested against different body types, styles, and problems instead of getting good at beating one specific person. It's the same live training everyone needs, just run in the format that actually produces the improvement instead of just the fatigue.

Same hours on the mat, different results - the format of the live training is what actually decides the return.

What To Expect

What A Class Actually Looks Like

No surprises on day one. Every Gi/Nogi Rolls session follows the same real structure.

Rounds

6 to 7 live rounds, 5 minutes each, back to back - structured, not just an open mat free-for-all.

Partners

Rounds rotate, so you get real reps against different body types and styles instead of one long matchup.

Gi or No-Gi

No separate track - wear what you train in and roll. That's the whole format.

Coaches & Schedule

Who's Teaching, When

Multiple sessions per week - see the full schedule for exact days and times.

Kubi Demirhan

Co-Founder & Youth Program Director

Jessen Ramcharan

Head Coach (No-Gi) / Woman's Program Director

Matt Cavallo

Coach

Monday

11:45 AM

Kubi Demirhan

All Levels

7:15 PM

Jessen Ramcharan

All Levels

Tuesday

7:00 AM

Matt Cavallo

All Levels

7:15 PM

Coach TBD

All Levels

Wednesday

11:45 AM

Jessen Ramcharan

All Levels

6:45 PM

Coach TBD

All Levels

Thursday

7:00 AM

Matt Cavallo

All Levels

7:15 PM

Coach TBD

All Levels

Friday

11:45 AM

Coach TBD

All Levels

7:15 PM

Coach TBD

All Levels

Saturday

11:45 AM

Coach TBD

All Levels

Sunday

10:00 AM

Coach TBD

All Levels

See every class, every day. Gi/Nogi Rolls is part of the full weekly schedule.

View the Full Schedule

Six to seven rounds, five minutes each. Gi or no-gi. Show up ready to roll.
— VIA Jiu Jitsu Academy

Who It's For

Real Talk, No Gatekeeping

All belt levels welcome.

Common Questions About Gi/Nogi Rolls

Is Open Rolls appropriate for a brand-new white belt?: Yes, with the same expectation as any live round at VIA - tap early, communicate with your partner, and treat it as a chance to test what you've drilled, not to win. Coaches are on the mat during rounds, and higher belts are expected to give newer students a real but appropriately-paced look, not overwhelm them.
Do I need to bring a Gi, or is No-Gi fine?: Either - there's no separate track for Open Rolls. Wear whatever you normally train in and roll. Some sessions naturally skew more Gi or more No-Gi depending on who shows up, but you're never required to have both.
What's the actual round structure, and can I sit a round out?: 6 to 7 rounds, 5 minutes each, back to back, with a short rest between. You're never required to go every single round - sitting one out to catch your breath or manage an old injury is normal and expected, not a problem.
How is this different from just showing up to a technique class and asking to roll after?: Technique classes end with a shorter live portion built around that day's lesson. Open Rolls is the whole session - no lecture, no new technique, just structured rounds against rotating partners, which is a different and necessary kind of training on its own.

Ready to Feel the Difference?

Come try a real Gi/Nogi Rolls class at VIA - no experience required, every belt welcome.

Book a Free Trial Class ← All Classes