GROUNDWORK // Project Fellas x Jack Becker, Costa Academy BJJ

Never stepped on a mat in your life? Perfect. This one's built for you.

GROUNDWORK is an afternoon of grappling for complete beginners. It's for blokes who've always been a bit curious about jiu jitsu or wrestling but never knew where to start, or felt too intimidated to walk into a gym. You need absolutely no experience, and you don't need to be fit, flexible or tough. You just need to turn up.

We're teaming up with Jack Becker, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt at Costa Academy and professional MMA fighter. Jack will take it right back to basics with simple, game-based drills, the kind of thing you'd learn in your very first class. Everything's taught step by step, and you go at your own pace the whole way through.

This isn't about learning to win a fight. Wrestling is one of the oldest ways we learn to read each other: when to push, when to ease off, and how to be strong while looking after the bloke across from you. Most of us haven't been in that kind of contact with another man since we were kids. There's something in it worth getting back.

Nervous system regulation is woven through the entire afternoon. Between the breathwork, the games and the time on the mats, you'll be learning how to stay calm and grounded when things get intense, and how to bring yourself back down afterwards. It's a skill that's just as useful off the mats as on them.

THE AFTERNOON

• A quick intro and a game to break the ice

• Some simple breathing mechanics to help you on the mats

• Grappling fundamentals and games with Jack

• A good stretch, because you'll be using muscles you forgot you had

• A wind-down breath and body scan to finish

FIRST TIMER? YOU'RE EXACTLY WHO THIS IS FOR.

You won't be the odd one out. The whole afternoon is designed for people who've never done this before. Strong looks different here. Come on your own or bring a mate.

WHAT TO BRING

Comfy clothes you can move in (no zips or buttons), a water bottle and a towel.

WHEN AND WHERE

Saturday 21 November, 12pm to 3pm
Costa Academy BJJ, 1 Hayden Ct, Myaree

TICKETS

$39 early bird until 14 November, then $45.

Project Fellas is a men's health initiative of Cold Nips, a registered health promotion charity.