What to wear (and what not to) for a first class

You do not need a $200 fight-brand outfit. You also shouldn't turn up in loose cotton and gold chains. Here's what actually works for your first class at any Perth combat gym, with the discipline-specific notes the directory gyms actually care about.

Universal kit (applies to every discipline)

• Deodorant. Applied after a shower, before the class. Not body spray over day-old gym clothes.
• Clean, fitted top. Loose cotton gets in the way, soaks through in 10 minutes and weighs 2kg wet.
• No jewellery. Rings, watches, earrings, chains - all off. Studs can be taped with athletic tape if you can't remove them.
• Hair tied back. For long hair, a low bun or a double braid. Ponytails get yanked in clinch and grappling.
• Clipped nails. Finger and toe. Long nails tear skin, especially in BJJ. Perth gyms will refuse to roll with you if your nails are visibly unclipped.
• Water bottle. 1L minimum. Most Perth gyms have fountains but fill-and-go saves dehydration in 90-minute sessions.

Boxing

• Shorts or leggings. Any athletic bottoms without zippers or pockets. No denim, no cargo.
• Fitted t-shirt or singlet. Something that won't ride up during pivots.
• Barefoot on the mat or boxing shoes if you own them. Regular gym shoes are fine for your first class.
• Wraps + gloves - the gym will loan both on trial. If you commit, buy 180-inch cotton wraps ($15-25) and 14oz or 16oz training gloves ($80-150).
• Skipping rope optional - most boxing gyms keep a rack of them.

Muay Thai and kickboxing

• Proper Muay Thai shorts if you can (wider-cut for kicks), or any flexible athletic shorts. Long tights are fine but can restrict high kicks.
• Fitted top. No loose singlets - they get tangled in clinch.
• Barefoot on mats. Socks are slippery and trip hazards. Nothing on your feet past the mat edge.
• Shin guards - gym will loan on trial. If you continue, buy cloth or foam Thai-style shin guards ($60-120) rather than bulky kickboxing pads.
• Shorter fingernails are critical for clinch - long nails catch on your partner's neck or head.

BJJ (gi)

• Gi - the gym will loan one for your first class. If you commit, a starter gi costs $120-180. White or blue. IBJJF colour rules matter only if you compete.
• Rash guard underneath (women: sports bra + rash guard). No loose cotton under the gi - it catches chokes and makes you lose easily.
• Compression shorts under gi pants. Keeps things where they should be, and hygiene is better than bare.
• Barefoot on mats, shoes to the edge. Some schools enforce flip-flops to and from the bathroom so feet stay clean.
• Mouthguard optional for most classes, mandatory when rolling hard. $20-40 boil-and-bite.

BJJ (no-gi) + wrestling + MMA

• Rash guard top (long or short sleeve). Functional grips and anti-bacterial fabric matter - this is where cheap cotton fails.
• Grappling shorts or compression shorts. No pockets, no zippers, no drawstrings with metal tips - anything sharp gets banned at most rooms.
• Mouthguard. Compulsory at most MMA rooms. Not optional.
• Light fingerless MMA gloves - gym will loan on trial. Full-size boxing gloves don't work for MMA sparring.
• Ear guards optional (BJJ/wrestling only) - prevents cauliflower ear if you're rolling hard 4+ times a week. Most hobbyists never bother.

Hygiene

Shower before class, not after. Deodorant. Clean kit every session - don't rewear yesterday's rashguard. No one cares how fit you are if you smell, and in BJJ especially, your partners will remember. Trim your beard if it catches sweat (it does). Wash your gi within 24 hours of rolling - bacteria hit rashguards faster than most people think.

What to never wear

• Running shoes on the mat.
• Jeans or cargo shorts (zippers + rivets cut your partner).
• Loose flowing cotton singlets (ride up, get grabbed, lose you rounds).
• Any top with prominent buttons or metal detailing.
• Necklaces under a rashguard - they snap in sparring and hit someone in the eye.
• Any jewellery you'd mind losing.
• Cologne or heavy body spray - the gym will smell like it, and your partners won't forgive you.

Where to train

Directory has every Perth combat gym by discipline. Filter the boxing hub, MMA hub, BJJ hub or Muay Thai hub and pick one close to you. Price comparison covers casual and intro offers for testing before committing to gear.