FAQ1

We have a lot of commonly asked questions; so we gathered some of them together for you:

• What is Jiu Jitsu?

Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that originated in feudal Japan. Literally, Jiu Jitsu means "Compliant Art". When attacked, a practitioner of Jiu Jitsu will apply techniques using minimum strength to take advantage of their opponent's momentum. It is suitable for anyone to lean whether they are: small or big, strong or weak, male or female, young or old. Jiu Jitsu consists of a range of techniques which includes joint locks, throws, immobilisations and strikes to nerve points and vulnerable parts!

• Is it effective Self-Defence?

The techniques learned in Jiu Jitsu can be applied to many different situations. They allow you to deal with punches, grabs, kicks and many weapon attacks. Jiu Jitsu enables you to adjust your response to suit your needs. We teach a variety of techniques from distracting your attacker long enough to make your escape to more drastic measures when life is in danger. Jiu Jitsu encourages awareness and confidence, which are crucial elements in avoiding an encounter in the first place!

• Do you take beginners?

Yes! Beginners are always welcome to attend any of our regular sessions. Training takes place in a controlled and friendly environment. Safety is of paramount importance so everyone is required to show care and respect for their training partners.

• How often should I train?

You do not need to come to every session. Missing lessons will not prevent you from participating in subsequent classes. The more often you attend the faster you will progress. Our regular sessions are on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 6pm-8pm in Talybont Sports Centre during term-time.

• Do I have to be fit?

Not very, but the training will increase your general fitness! We do not do hundreds of sit-ups and push-ups but Jiu Jitsu is a physical activity. It is important that everyone works at their own pace.

• What is the difference between you and other martial arts?

The core of Jiu Jitsu techniques are intended to be effective and practical when used in realistic situations. As a result Jiu Jitsu is not a competitive martial art, points cannot be scored because training is focused on defending yourself. Jiu Jitsu is not a deeply philosophical martial art; however, there is always respect our training partners and when potentially dangerous techniques are taught the possible consequences are discussed.

• What does a regular session entail?

A session begins with a gentle warm-up to ensure our bodies are ready for the rest of the session. A warm-up normally consists of aerobic exercises such as: running, jumping and sit-ups and stretching exercises.

After the warm-up an exercise called 'breakfalling' begins. The purpose of breakfalling is safety. Jiu Jitsu often involves techniques that take your opponent to the floor, so being able to fall safely is of crucial importance.

After breakfalling, the knowledgeable instructors will begin to teach more techniques to the class. A technique will be clearly demonstrated and discussed before you are encouraged to practice it with your partner. Often you will be mixed with grades who will have some prior knowledge of what is required. Sometimes you will be asked to practice a technique with people with the same ability, in which case you will be supervised by an instructor.

Often an instructor will ask the students what sort of attack or technique they want to practice. In which case the instructor will be able to share their knowledge with the class.

• How long does it take to get a black-belt?

The simple answer is: it depends how much you train! The reward of a black-belt takes a huge commitment; not just to your regular training and increase ability, but to the teaching of techniques to others. With continual training and assessment it can take as many as 5-6 years to be awarded a black-belt. To help students recognize their personal achievements, regular assessments take place during the year called gradings. A grading allows students and instructors to record how their skills have improved. Successfully completing a grading means that a student has successfully met the criteria for that grade and a step closer to the black-belt.