Jitsu FAQ

What is a typical training session like?

Sessions begin with a warm-up and stretch, to get your body ready for Jitsu and also to improve your general fitness and flexibility. We then do quite a bit of ukemi, or falling practice. Because throwing is a large part of what we do, considerable time is spent teaching students how to fall safely. Falling also teaches you a great deal about moving and controlling your body in novel ways, and it does something to improve self-confidence, among many other things. You will start with kneeling-falling, working your way gradually up to standing-falling. Like everything else in Jitsu, instruction is gradual, and students are not asked to move on until it is safe for them to do so.

Next, the instructor demonstrates a technique and the class pairs up to practice it. From the beginning, you will train with other people and get a feel for moving and responding to simulated attacks. This kind of practical training is part of the essence of Jitsu: we try to make training as realistic as possible. Again, training is gradual. You will probably start by learning to defend yourself from a wrist-grab. As you improve you will work your way up to defending yourself against more difficult attacks, like punches and kicks, then weapons, then multiple attackers.

The session continues with demonstrations and practice, possibly culminating in the opportunity to see whether or not the technique or techniques you have learned can be applied under pressure. We then repair to the pub, for some well-earned frosty beverages.