Individual Club Member Responsibility

Every Club member has a responsibility to ensure the safety of themselves and of others. Jitsu is a contact martial art and its study does involve the acceptance of certain risks. Simulating both armed and unarmed attack situations can be physically demanding for both attackers and defenders. Occasional injuries such as bruises and sprains are to be expected. However, it is the aim of any Club and the Jitsu Foundation to ensure that so far as is reasonably practicable that training is carried out in a safe environment and in a safe manner. Suitable control and supervision must be exercised at all times. People who have attained any grade in Jitsu, purples and above in particular, have the special duty of helping new members along, making them aware of their responsibilities on the mat.

Every member shall ensure that he or she will:

 Disclose to their Club Instructor any new medical condition, change in health status or injury that may affect or restrict his or her training.

 Keep toe and finger nails as short as possible and not wear jewelry, watches, bracelets, hair pins (etc.) while training.

 Not eat (including chewing gum), drink or swear in the dojo and not smoke while wearing a gi.

 Not use full power strikes whilst carrying out finishing off or weakening strikes.

 Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.

 Keep his or her gi clean and in a good state of repair.

 Use only appropriate force when training and exercise restraint where required, especially during locks and strangles. A tap means stop.

 Do not drink alcohol when planning to train that day.

 Follow the instructions of the Club Instructor or his nominee, and in particular observe the command 'yame' which means stop.

 Follow the advice of other more experienced members where that advice relates to safety.

 Draw to the attention of the Club Instructor anything that may affect the safety of people training.

 Not engage in free practice without the presence of an Instructor and, in general, avoid the practice of Jitsu for amusement off the mat.

 Not attempt techniques which he or she has not been instructed to do.

 Not leave the mat or the dojo during training sessions without notifying the Club Instructor.

 Not carry illegal or sharp weapons in his or her training bag. Carry all weapons, particularly bokken, bo, jo, and katanna in suitable cases and avoid the attention of people in the street.

 Maintain any personal training equipment or weapons in a safe condition.

 Prior to commencing training or an attack ensure that the defender is ready and observe Dojo etiquette.

 Leave a suitable period between eating and the start of training.

 Be aware of his or her training space and function safely within it, e.g., do not throw someone off of the mat, on to another person, onto weapons, into the walls or other obstructions, make sure he or she runs along the sides of the mat during breakfalling, not through the middle, etc.

 Report dwindling supplies of items used in the first-aid box to the Club Instructor.

 Wear footwear or sock to and from the matted area.