You're thinking about training at Lolakana and have questions. These are the ones we actually get asked, answered properly.
If yours isn't here, email us and we'll answer it.
Table of Contents
ABOUT LOLAKANA
What is Lolakana Martial Arts?
Lolakana is a martial arts gym in downtown Victoria BC. We teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu (gi and no-gi), kickboxing, boxing and MMA, with separate programs for kids, teens and adults.
Where is Lolakana located?
Lolakana is at 1855 Blanshard Street, downtown Victoria BC.
The lot around the building is ours. Free parking, any open spot.
Where does the name Lolakana come from?
The Lolakana name started as a personal music playlist project in 2020. The gym opened in Victoria BC under that name in August 2025.
When did Lolakana open?
Lolakana Martial Arts opened in Victoria BC in August 2025.
Is Lolakana Indigenous-owned?
Yes. Lolakana Martial Arts is an Indigenous-owned martial arts gym in Victoria BC.
Who owns Lolakana?
Lolakana is owned by Nolan Sinclair, who has been playing jiu-jitsu since 1999.
Is Lolakana part of a chain or franchise?
No. Lolakana is independently owned with one location, in downtown Victoria BC.
What makes Lolakana different from other martial arts gyms in Victoria?
Every Brazilian jiu-jitsu class at Lolakana is black belt instructed.
Lolakana Martial Arts is a chartered club with Boxing BC, the provincial governing body for amateur boxing in British Columbia. Our instructors have completed NCCP Safe Sport Training.
Past that, we're built for hobbyists. Train as often as you like, get better, go home. No pressure to compete and no belt-chasing culture.
If you're looking for a hardcore fight team, this isn't it.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS
What martial arts can you train at Lolakana?
Lolakana teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu (gi and no-gi), kickboxing, boxing and MMA at our gym in downtown Victoria BC.
There are separate programs for adults, teens and kids, plus a women's only kickboxing class and a beginner jiu-jitsu class for people who have never trained.
What is Brazilian jiu-jitsu?
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling art. No striking. You learn to control someone on the ground using position and leverage, and to finish with joint locks and chokes.
It was built so that a smaller person can handle a bigger one. That's the whole idea and it's why technique beats size in it.
What's the difference between gi and no-gi?
Gi jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is trained in a traditional uniform (a heavy cotton jacket and pants). Grips on the clothing are part of the technique, so the pace is slower and more controlled.
No-gi is trained in a rash guard and shorts. No clothing grips, so it relies more on body control. Faster, more scrambling.
Lolakana runs both. Plenty of people train both. If you're not sure which to start with, email us.
Do you have a beginner jiu-jitsu class?
Yes. Lolakana runs a Beginner BJJ class built for the complete beginner, twice a week in the evening. No experience needed.
A loaner uniform is included, laundered between classes, so you don't buy anything and you don't take anything home.
More on the Beginner BJJ page.
Do you teach kickboxing?
Yes. Lolakana runs co-ed kickboxing twice a week in the evening at our Victoria BC gym.
The classes are a lot of working combos on Thai pads with partners and footwork drills. Combination of skills and conditioning.
More on the Kickboxing page.
Do you teach boxing?
Yes. Lolakana runs a co-ed boxing class once a week in the evening.
Do you teach MMA?
Yes. Lolakana runs an adult MMA class once a week, and a kids MMA class twice a week.
Do you have a women's only class?
Yes. Lolakana runs women's only kickboxing twice a week at our Victoria BC gym, Thursday evening and Sunday midday.
Two different slots so it works around a work week or weekend.
More on the Women's Only Kickboxing page.
Do you have martial arts classes for kids?
Yes. Lolakana runs kids classes in Victoria BC from age 2.
Parents & Tots Jiu-Jitsu runs every Sunday at 10:30am for 30 minutes, and is built for families that want to have fun with their kids at the same time. It's for ages 2 to 4. Space is extremely limited for this class. Please email us with any questions or to book your spot.
The 3 to 5 year olds have their own jiu-jitsu class on Saturday mornings. It runs 30 minutes. Kids 6 and up have jiu-jitsu on Saturdays and after school through the week, plus a kids MMA class twice a week.
Our instructors have completed NCCP Safe Sport Training.
More on the Kids Classes page.
Do you have classes for teens?
Yes. Lolakana runs a teen class twice a week. It's no-gi with a focus on MMA, so a mix of kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu.
Some of the teens stay after and join the adult kickboxing class.
What is open mat?
Open mat is unstructured training time. No instruction and no set curriculum. You come in and play jiu-jitsu with whoever is there, at whatever pace you agree on.
Lolakana runs open mat several times a week.
Do I have to pick one thing to train?
No. A Lolakana membership isn't tied to one discipline. Plenty of people play jiu-jitsu and do kickboxing in the same week.
GETTING STARTED
How much does it cost to train at Lolakana?
Memberships are priced by how often you train, so there's a rate for training once or twice a week and a rate for unlimited classes.
There's a family discount when more than one person from the same household joins.
Email us and we'll send you the current rates.
Do you offer a free trial?
Yes. Lolakana offers a free week to everyone. Any of our regularly scheduled classes, as many as you want to try, no gear required. We have loaners.
Our Beginner BJJ, Women's Only Kickboxing and Parents and Tots classes run separately and aren't part of the free week.
Email us and we'll get you started.
How do I sign up for a class?
Email us and we'll put you on the list.
When you come in, arrive about ten minutes early. There's a waiver to sign and we'll get you into loaner gear if you need it.
Is there parking at Lolakana?
Yes. The lot around the building is ours. Free parking, any open spot.
How do I get in touch?
The contact page. We answer everything ourselves.
BEFORE YOU START
Am I too old to start training?
No. People start at 30, 40, 50, and beyond.
The person next to you might be 22 or 52. Age shows up as recovery time, not capability. A 45-year-old who trains consistently will progress steadily. They'll need more attention to warm-up and recovery than a 25-year-old, but the techniques work the same way.
We have members who started in their 40s and earned their blue belts. We have members in their 50s who train multiple times per week. The constraint isn't age, it's consistency.
What changes with age: you learn to train smarter. You tap earlier. You manage intensity better. You focus on technique over athleticism. These are advantages, not limitations.
If you can move, you can train.
Do I need to get in shape first?
No. This is backwards sequencing.
Training IS the conditioning. You're essentially saying "I need to practice before I practice." A marathon runner would be exhausted in their first BJJ class. A powerlifter would gas out in five minutes. The conditioning required is sport-specific and only comes from the sport itself.
The warm-up scales to your current level. Drilling is technique-focused, not strength-dependent. Rolling pace is controlled by experience level, not fitness level. Your training partners adjust to you.
What you think is "being in shape" doesn't exist as a prerequisite. The training builds the conditioning the training requires. You need exactly the shape you're in right now.
You wouldn't say "I need to learn guitar before I take guitar lessons." Show up as you are.
I'm not flexible at all. Will that be a problem?
Training will improve your flexibility more effectively than stretching alone.
Players often call BJJ "involuntary yoga" because you'll be moved through ranges of motion repeatedly. After six months of regular training, you'll notice improvements you never got from stretching routines. The difference: resistance and repetition under load create adaptation that static stretching doesn't.
Lack of flexibility means some positions feel uncomfortable initially. It doesn't mean you can't train. Members have trained for 10+ years without exceptional flexibility. You adapt your game to your body. BJJ has hundreds of techniques, you choose the ones that work for your build and mobility.
If specific limitations exist (injury, medical condition), mention them to the instructor before class. We'll show you modifications.
I've never played sports. Can I still do this?
Yes. Many members were band kids, math nerds, theater students, people who avoided athletics their entire lives.
Not having a sports background means you don't have built-in conditioning or movement patterns. This makes the first few months harder than for someone with athletic experience. You'll learn body awareness, balance, and coordination alongside technique. It takes longer.
But "longer" is relative. After a year of consistent training, the person who started with zero athletic background and the person who played college sports are closer in skill than you'd expect. Technique is learned, not inherited.
One advantage: you have no bad habits to unlearn. You'll take instruction literally and build correct movement patterns from the start. Athletes often fight their instincts. You won't have that problem.
What matters is consistency, not background. Members without sports experience have progressed to blue belt and beyond.
I'm not strong. Will I get hurt or destroyed?
BJJ is designed for smaller, weaker people to defend against larger, stronger opponents. The entire art is built on leverage over strength.
In your first classes, you'll drill with partners who control intensity. Nobody is trying to hurt you. Experienced training partners know how to work with beginners. They'll move slowly, give you time to try techniques, and keep you safe while you learn.
Rolling (sparring) is optional until you're ready. When you do roll, you choose partners. You can tap (submit) at any time for any reason. Feeling uncomfortable? Tap. Joint pressure? Tap. Need a break? Tap. This is how everyone trains.
Members who are 125 pounds train successfully with people who are 200+ pounds. The techniques work when applied correctly. Strength matters less than timing, positioning, and leverage. This takes time to internalize, but it's the foundation of the art.
I'm completely uncoordinated. Will I be able to learn the techniques?
Everyone is uncoordinated when they start. The techniques are hard to learn regardless of your natural coordination.
The difference between "coordinated" and "uncoordinated" people in the first month is minimal. Both groups struggle. Both groups forget techniques immediately after learning them. Both groups feel clumsy.
Coordination is trainable. Your body learns movement patterns through repetition. After weeks of drilling an arm bar, your body starts to remember. After months, it becomes reflexive. This process works for everyone, it just takes time and consistent practice.
What helps: asking questions when confused, drilling slowly until movement makes sense, accepting that confusion is part of the process. Instructors expect beginners to be confused. That's why we teach progressively and drill repeatedly.
Members who avoided physical activities their entire lives are now blue belts and purple belts. The path is longer for some people than others, but everyone who stays makes progress.
I'm scared. Is that normal?
Completely normal. Most people are terrified before their first class.
The fear usually centers on: looking stupid, getting hurt, being the worst person there, not knowing what to do. These are rational concerns about an unfamiliar situation involving physical contact and submission.
Here's what actually happens: You're nervous when you arrive. Someone greets you and shows you where to go. The warm-up is challenging but manageable. The instruction makes sense even if you can't execute it well. Drilling with a partner is awkward but not painful. By the end of class, you're exhausted but not injured.
The fear doesn't disappear, it becomes familiar. After your third class, you know what to expect. After a month, walking into the gym feels routine. The anxiety transforms from "terrified" to "normal pre-activity nervousness."
Many members describe their first class as the most terrifying thing they've done, and also the best decision they've made.
I'm too busy. How much time does this require?
Training twice per week produces steady progress. Three times per week is excellent. More than that is optional.
A typical class is 60-90 minutes. If you can commit two hours per week consistently, you'll see results. This isn't a sport that requires daily training to be worthwhile. Members with demanding jobs, families, and other commitments train successfully on limited schedules.
What matters more than frequency is consistency. Two classes per week for a year beats four classes per week for three months. Your body adapts to regular training. Your technique builds through repetition. Sporadic attendance disrupts both.
If you miss classes, you miss classes. Life happens. Training doesn't require perfect attendance, it requires showing up when you can and being present when you're there.
Your First Class
What actually happens in a first class?
Warm up, instruction, drilling with a partner, optional rolling/sparring
You'll participate in a standard class with clear phases:
Warm-up: Group movement exercises. These might include jogging, forward rolls, backward rolls, shrimping (a ground movement) and basic calisthenics. You follow along with the group. Go at your own pace, nobody is timing you
Instruction: The coach demonstrates a technique, usually 2-4 related moves. You watch, then practice with a partner. The coach demonstrates multiple times and walks around to correct mistakes and answer questions
Drilling: You practice the techniques with a partner repeatedly. This is controlled, no resistance. You take turns being the person executing the technique. The goal is repetition, not speed or power
Rolling/Sparring (optional for beginners): Live practice where both people are actively trying to execute techniques. As a beginner, you can watch this portion or participate with experienced partners who will control intensity and keep you safe. Sitting out is completely acceptable
Where do I go when I arrive? What's the protocol?
Arrive 15 minutes early. (If we're expecting you someone will usually meet you at the door.) We'll get you signed in, show you where to change and store belongings, then how to step onto the mat. We'll introduce you to the coach and let them know it's your first class
15 minutes before class starts:
Arrive early your first time. They lot around the building is ours, so park in any open spot. Enter through the main entrance, which is the side entrance next to the food trucks. We're probably expecting you and will meet you at the door, but if we're not there (because we're teaching class or something) just walk up to the desk directly ahead and we'll see you and come over.
We'll check that you've completed the waiver and get you signed in, then show you where the washrooms and change rooms are and where to store your belongings
Changing and preparation:
Change into workout clothes in the change room or bathroom. Store shoes, wallet, keys in the designated area (cubby or your bag). Wear shoes or sandals when walking to from the mats and while in the washrooms, but remove them before stepping onto the mats
On the mats:
We'll get you onto the mats and introduce you to the coach. You'll get positioned for the warm-up
After class:
Say thanks to your training partners. Change if needed. Leave when you're ready. There's no obligation to socialize after class, but people often hang around talking. Do whatever feels comfortable.
What should I wear?
For the first class: Athletic clothing with no pockets, zippers, buttons, or hard fasteners.
Good options:
- T-shirt or athletic shirt (rashguard if you have one)
- Athletic shorts, leggings or compression shorts
- Nothing with belt loops or cargo pockets
Bad options:
- Jeans or pants with zippers
- Shirts with buttons or metal pieces
- Baggy clothing that will tangle
- Clothing with pockets that can catch fingers
Long-term:
For gi (traditional uniform) classes, you'll need a gi. For no-gi classes, you'll need a rash guard and shorts or spats. We can discuss this after your first class. Don't buy anything before trying training.
What should I bring?
Essential:
- Water bottle (you will sweat heavily and need hydration)
- Sandals or flip-flops (to wear off the mat, especially to bathrooms)
⠀Recommended:
- Small towel
- Change of clothes for after class
- Mouthguard if you have one (not required for first class)
⠀Not needed:
- Notebook or phone (leave these in your bag)
- Equipment or gear (provided when necessary)
What about hygiene? I've heard people are strict about this
Training involves close physical contact. Hygiene standards exist for everyone's safety and comfort.
Before every class:
- Shower or at minimum wash your body
- Brush your teeth
- Trim fingernails and toenails short (no sharp edges)
- Tie long hair back
- Remove all jewelry (rings, necklaces, earrings)
⠀During class:
- If you need to adjust your gi or clothing, step off the mat
- If you need to blow your nose or wipe sweat excessively, step off the mat
- If you have any cut or skin issue, cover it completely or don't train
⠀After class:
- Shower as soon as practical
- Wash training clothes before wearing them again
- Never wear the same unwashed gi or rashguard twice
This isn't personal, everyone follows these rules. Skin infections spread through contact. Clean training partners keep everyone safe.
How do I find a partner during drilling?
If you're standing alone, someone will approach you or the coach will assign partners.
As the new person, you don't need to find a partner, a partner will find you. Experienced students know to work with beginners. Just make eye contact and wait. Someone will say "want to work together?" or "you need a partner?"
If you're substantially larger or smaller than available partners, don't worry about it. Training partners of different sizes is normal. The techniques scale.
What if I need to take a break or leave early?
You can stop at any time for any reason.
If you need water, step off the mat and grab your bottle. If you feel dizzy, sit down at the edge of the mat. If you need a bathroom break, go. If you need to leave class early, tell the coach "I need to leave early today" either before class or when you're leaving, no explanation required.
Training is voluntary. If your body says stop, stop. If your schedule requires you to leave, leave. Nobody will pressure you to continue if you're not feeling it.
Many people feel overwhelmed in their first class. That's normal. Sitting out and watching is completely acceptable. You can participate in warm-up and instruction, then watch the rolling portion. This is what many beginners do.
Will I get hurt?
Minor discomfort is common. Injury is rare.
Common (not serious):
- Muscle soreness (like after any new physical activity)
- Minor mat burn on elbows, knees, or toes
- Light bruising on shins or forearms
- Feeling exhausted or slightly nauseous from exertion
Uncommon but possible:
- Sprained fingers or toes (usually from getting caught in clothing)
- Minor joint tweaks from not tapping early enough
- Cuts or scrapes from accidental contact
Rare:
- Significant injuries requiring medical attention
The injury rate in BJJ is lower than in many recreational sports. Most injuries come from not tapping early enough or training too intensely too soon. Both are preventable.
When you feel pressure on a joint or a choke affecting your breathing, tap. Tap early, tap often. Your training partners will release immediately. This is how everyone trains safely.
