What is Jiu Jitsu

Jiu Jitsu is a traditional martial art that offers both physical and psychological personal development; it is also an effective system of self-defence. With regular training you can improve your fitness, flexibility, co-ordination, posture and strength. Furthermore, you will find that your training will improve your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Advanced training levels can be highly challenging and encourage exceptional levels of physical and mental control. Jiu Jitsu training is also great fun and a fantastic way to meet and make new friends. Most clubs within our Foundation offer a friendly social life outside of club training, with events organised throughout the year.

Whilst training you will wear a traditional martial arts suit, no foot-wear is required, and we train on soft mats. Prior to any training plan we use a traditional Japanese way of greeting, a kneeling bow, we then undertake warm-up exercises to stretch and flex our muscles.

The warm-up

Taken by an experienced Black Belt instructor, the objective is to get muscles warmed and working efficiently, this will prevent strains and other types of injuries that can be caused by cold joints and muscles. The warm-up will combine aerobic/cardiovascular exercise designed to get the heart-rate up, and purposely used to stretch the muscles used in Jiu Jitsu. This warm up period will normally lasts about 10 mins. You can expect a degree of sweating for the first few weeks but as you train more frequently the warm-up period becomes easier and not so exhaustive.

Break-falls (Ukemi)

After the warm up period, we start our break-fall (Ukemi) training session; this is where you learn how to fall without hurting yourself. The sessions, as with all areas of training are tailored to meet your specific needs and ability. You will only ever be asked to do something which is within your ability and skill level, we do not undertake dangerous stunts. You’ll begin your break-fall training from a kneeling position and progress at your own pace. Leaping over small tables comes much later on in your career.

Lesson Structure

During the session you will be paired with students of similar size, age and ability, and the lesson will be structured around a variety of activities including:

• Syllabus work for gradings
• Tournament Work – Randori / Katamawaza, random attacks, kata work
• Self Defense Techniques
• Weapons Training

It is quite common to train in paired groups, or also collectively where students train together if the dynamics of the class allow this. The lower grades usually train separately from the higher grades so that techniques can be performed appropriately for individual skill levels.