Joining the club
Starting anything new can be daunting, especially a Martial Art. You may never have been in a dojo before, and have no idea what to expect, this is perfectly natural.
When you first visit us you will receive a warm welcome from our Sensei, who will be happy to answer questions you may have. Before the class begins, we will talk you through basic dojo etiquette and explain some of the terminology you will hear as we begin.
You will then join the rest of the class for a brief warm up, which you can of course take at your own pace. After the warm up one of our senior instructors will take you aside and teach you some basic moves that will allow you to fall safely. You will also shown some basic stances and body positioning.
At no point will you be asked to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It is very important to us that you enjoy the experience and want to come back.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to drop in watch a class before you decide, you are more than welcome to do so.
Benefits of joining
The study of Martial Arts can be very rewarding, some of the many benefits include:
- Learning self defence
- Getting fit
- Boosting self-confidence
- Reduced stress
- Greater flexibility
- Improved mobility
- Making new friends
- Being part of a team
Frequently asked questions
To help you decide if our club is right for you, we’ve put together a list of common questions you might have. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered below, please feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to help.
Students are required to pay a £7 mat fee for every class they attend, which is payable at the start of each class. The mat fee helps the club cover rent, instructor insurance and to maintain equipment.
For all new members, your first session is free.
After your third session, if you decide that you would like to become an official member of the club you will need to apply for a licence with the Bushi Kempo Ju Jitsu Association to ensure that you are fully insured to train.
The cost of a licence is £25 per year and can be arranged on your behalf by our club Sensei.
Unfortunately we do not currently offer a Junior Class. However, anyone aged 15 years and older can train in the Senior Class (parental consent is required for any student under the age of 18 years). We do also accept students of secondary school age (11 years +) – as long as they are accompanied on the mat by a parent or older sibling.
When you first join, we recommend you wear something loose and comfortable. Tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt are ideal. Anything with zips or buttons should be avoided, as they can cause injury.
Eventually, if you decide that you would like to become a member you may wish to purchase a traditional Gi (Uniform). Our Sensei will be happy to advise.
Classes start with a formal line up and bow followed by a warm up session. Depending on numbers of students and ranges of ability, the class will either train as a single group or split up into smaller sub-groups. Students will then be led through a range of techniques and activities appropriate to their experience and ability. The session ends with a gentle warm down and formal line up and bow. In addition to this, we dedicate the last Tuesday of every month to weapons training.
The are typically 2 or 3 club gradings each year, which enable students to progress up through the various belts. As students move up the belts, the time and experience required to be gained between the belts increases. There is no pressure to grade – if you prefer just to train, that’s fine. However, we have found that students are usually keen to grade and get recognition of how they are progressing.
