Hygiene Policy
Version 1.0 | Effective date: 17 March 2026
Gracie Barra Bakersfield is operated by Gracie Barra Bakersfield Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales, company number 13453244.
Registered address: 7 Oakdale Road, Nottingham, NG3 7EF
Trading address: 7 Oakdale Road, Nottingham, NG3 7EF
General contact: info@gbbakersfield.com
Martial arts training means close, physical contact with other people. What one person brings to the mat affects everyone they train with. This policy sets out the hygiene standards we expect from everyone who trains here, and the standards we hold ourselves to as an academy.
None of this is about singling people out. It is about making sure the training environment is clean and safe for everyone, every session.
1. About This Policy
1.1 This policy sets out the hygiene standards that apply at Gracie Barra Bakersfield (the “Academy”). It covers personal hygiene, clothing and equipment, illness, and the Academy’s own responsibilities for keeping the training environment clean.
1.2 This policy applies to all students, trial participants, coaches, staff, volunteers, and visitors. By attending any session at the Academy, you agree to follow it.
1.3 If you are under 18, a parent or guardian is responsible for making sure you meet the standards in this policy before each session.
1.4 This policy sits alongside our Code of Conduct and our other policies, all of which are available on our policies page. Where another policy covers a topic in more detail, the more specific document applies.
2. Why This Policy Exists
2.1 In a contact sport, hygiene is not a personal matter. When you train with someone, you share skin-to-skin contact, you share the mat surface, and you share the air in the room. Good hygiene protects the people around you, not just yourself.
2.2 When someone picks up an infection or illness from training, they lose time on the mat while they recover. If it spreads before it is caught, others lose training time too. The standards in this policy exist to stop that from happening.
2.3 The Academy takes its own responsibilities seriously. We do not ask students to meet a standard we are not prepared to match ourselves. Section 8 of this policy sets out what we commit to.
3. Before You Train
3.1 Most of what follows in this section will already be second nature to you. We are not trying to teach anyone the basics of personal hygiene. But because martial arts involves closer physical contact than almost any other sport, it is worth being clear about the standard we all agree to when we step onto the mat. Writing it down means nobody has to guess, and everyone is held to the same expectation.
3.2 Every person who steps onto the mat is expected to meet the following standard before every session:
- Shower or bathe on the same day, before training.
- Use deodorant or antiperspirant.
- Brush your teeth or use mouthwash before the session. In a close-contact sport, this matters more than you might think.
- Fingernails and toenails trimmed short and smooth. Long or jagged nails cause scratches that can become infected.
- Long hair tied back securely so it does not get in your training partner’s face or caught during a technique.
- Remove all jewellery, watches, and piercings before stepping onto the mat. These can scratch, cut, or catch during training.
3.3 Please do not attend a session smelling of cigarette smoke or alcohol. Even if you are not under the influence, strong odours from smoking or drinking carry into every close-contact exchange on the mat. Your training partner should not have to deal with that. If you smoke, please allow enough time to freshen up before the session. If you have been drinking the night before, consider whether the smell has fully cleared before you train.
3.4 These are minimum standards, not suggestions. If a coach or member of staff asks you to address something before training, please do so without taking it personally. They are looking after the group.
4. Clothing and Kit
4.1 All training clothing must be freshly washed before every session. This includes your gi, rash guard, shorts, spats, and any other clothing worn on the mat. Wearing the same kit for two sessions without washing it is not acceptable.
4.2 Wash training clothing as soon as possible after each session. Bacteria multiply fast in damp, sweaty fabric. Leaving kit in a bag overnight and washing it the next day is a common cause of persistent odour and bacterial growth.
4.3 Where the fabric care label allows it, wash training clothing at 60°C. This is the temperature at which most bacteria are killed in a standard wash cycle. For items that cannot be washed at 60°C without risk of shrinking or damage, wash at 40°C and use a laundry sanitiser alongside your detergent to make up the difference.
4.4 Inspect your kit regularly for damage, persistent odour, or staining that does not come out in the wash. If it cannot be cleaned properly, replace it.
4.5 Mouthguards, headgear, shin pads, and any other protective equipment must be cleaned after every use according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not share personal protective equipment with other students unless it has been fully cleaned between uses.
4.6 A rash guard or similar close-fitting top must be worn during all no-gi sessions. Training without a top is not permitted. This reduces skin-to-skin contact and lowers the risk of spreading infections.
5. Illness and Skin Conditions
General illness
5.1 If you are feeling unwell, do not train. This includes common colds, coughs, sore throats, flu, stomach bugs, and anything else that could be passed on to the people around you. A runny nose or a cough might feel minor to you, but in a room full of people training in close contact, it spreads fast.
5.2 Taking a few days off to recover is better than pushing through and putting your training partners at risk. The mat will still be there when you are well. Your training partners will thank you for staying home.
5.3 As a guide, please wait at least 48 hours after vomiting or diarrhoea has stopped before returning to training. For colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses, wait until your symptoms have fully cleared and you are no longer coughing or sneezing. If you have had a fever, wait until your temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours without the use of medication before you come back.
Skin conditions
5.4 Skin infections can spread through close contact and shared surfaces. As an academy, we take steps to reduce this risk through regular cleaning and the standards in this policy. In return, we ask that you play your part too.
5.5 If you notice any unusual mark, rash, sore, or patch of skin that was not there before, please do not train until you have had it checked by a medical professional. Most things turn out to be nothing, but it is always better to check first and train with peace of mind.
5.6 If you are diagnosed with a contagious condition, please let the Academy know by contacting info@gbbakersfield.com. You do not need to share detailed medical information. We simply need to know so we can take any cleaning measures needed. This will be treated in confidence.
5.7 You may return to training when you have received clearance from a medical professional confirming you are no longer contagious. The Academy may ask to see written confirmation before allowing you back on the mat.
6. Open Wounds and Injuries
6.1 Any open wound, cut, graze, or blister must be thoroughly cleaned and covered with a waterproof dressing before you step onto the mat. The dressing must stay in place throughout the session. If it comes loose during training, stop and replace it before continuing.
6.2 If a wound is too large, too deep, or in a location that makes it impossible to cover securely, do not train until it has healed enough to be properly dressed.
6.3 If you bleed during a session, stop training immediately, move off the mat, and clean and dress the wound. Any blood on the mat, on clothing, or on a training partner must be cleaned up before the session continues. A coach or member of staff will manage this.
6.4 The Academy keeps a first aid kit and cleaning supplies on the premises for exactly this purpose. If you need supplies, ask a member of staff.
7. Footwear and the Mat
7.1 The mat is a shared training surface. Keeping it clean starts with how we move between the mat and the rest of the building.
7.2 Shoes off before stepping onto the mat. No exceptions. Outdoor shoes carry dirt, bacteria, and moisture onto the training surface.
7.3 Wear sandals or flip-flops whenever you are off the mat but still inside the building. This includes walking to and from the changing areas, the toilets, and any communal space. Walking barefoot to the toilet and then back onto the mat is one of the fastest ways to bring bacteria onto the training surface.
7.4 If you forget your sandals, please put your outdoor shoes on when leaving the mat and take them off again before stepping back on. Do not walk barefoot off the mat.
8. The Academy’s Responsibilities
8.1 We ask our students to meet a high standard of personal hygiene. In return, we commit to keeping the training environment clean, safe, and properly maintained. This section sets out what the Academy is responsible for.
Mat cleaning
8.2 All mat surfaces will be cleaned with an appropriate antibacterial and antifungal cleaning solution a minimum of twice daily.
8.3 The cleaning products used on the mats will be effective against common infections found in contact sports. The Academy will review its cleaning products regularly to make sure they remain fit for purpose.
Facility standards
8.4 Changing areas, toilets, and showers (where provided) will be cleaned on a regular schedule and kept in a hygienic condition. Cleaning supplies and hand sanitiser will be available in communal areas.
8.5 Bins will be emptied regularly. Used dressings, wipes, and similar waste will be disposed of safely.
8.6 The Academy will maintain adequate ventilation in the training area. Proper airflow reduces the build-up of moisture and bacteria, particularly during busy sessions.
8.7 The Academy will monitor the training area, including walls, ceilings, and corners, for signs of condensation, damp, and mould. Any build-up will be treated promptly. Walls and surfaces around the mat area will be kept clean and dry, and ventilation will be managed to reduce moisture in the room.
8.8 Any shared equipment such as pads, shields, and bags will be cleaned on a regular schedule using appropriate products. The Academy will set and communicate this schedule to coaching staff.
Monitoring and response
8.9 Coaches and staff are expected to be aware of these standards and to act on them. If a coach notices a hygiene issue during a session, they have the authority and the responsibility to address it.
8.10 If a contagious skin infection is reported, the Academy will carry out an additional deep clean of all mat surfaces and shared equipment as soon as reasonably possible. Where appropriate, the Academy will notify students who may have been exposed, without identifying the affected individual by name.
8.11 The Academy will review this policy and its cleaning procedures at least once a year, or sooner if a significant hygiene incident occurs.
9. Children and Young People
9.1 The same hygiene standards apply to all students regardless of age. Children and young people are expected to arrive clean, in freshly washed kit, with nails trimmed and hair tied back.
9.2 Parents and guardians are responsible for making sure their child meets these standards before every session. This includes checking for any new skin marks, rashes, or sores and keeping the child at home if anything looks unusual until it has been checked by a doctor.
9.3 If a coach notices a hygiene concern with a child during a session, they will speak with the parent or guardian directly and, where necessary, ask that the child sit out until the issue is resolved. This will always be handled with care and discretion.
10. What Happens If the Standard Is Not Met
During a session
10.1 If a coach or member of staff identifies a hygiene concern during a session, they may ask the person to leave the mat and address the issue before continuing. This is not a punishment. It is the right call for the group.
10.2 If the issue cannot be resolved on the spot, the person will be asked to sit out for the remainder of the session. They are welcome to watch from the viewing area.
Repeated issues
10.3 If the same concern arises more than once, a member of staff will have a private conversation with the person (or, for a child, with their parent or guardian) to understand whether there is an underlying issue and to offer support where possible.
10.4 Continued failure to meet the standards in this policy may be treated as a breach of the Code of Conduct. The process set out in Section 11 of the Code of Conduct applies.
Coaches and staff
10.5 Coaches and staff are held to the same personal hygiene standards as students. They are also responsible for carrying out or overseeing the Academy’s cleaning duties as set out in Section 8. Failure to meet either standard will be addressed through the appropriate management process.
11. Changes to This Policy
11.1 We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the version number and effective date at the top of this document. The current version will always be available on our policies page.
11.2 If we make a significant change that affects your responsibilities, we will let current students know before the change takes effect.