How fit will I have to be?
Will it hurt?
Am I strong enough?
Do I need experience in martial arts?
How much does it cost?
Are there any age restrictions?
Will I be the only female?
Will I be the only beginner?
What kind of techniques will I learn?
Is sparring part of Jitsu?
Are there any competitions?
How often are the gradings?
Do I have to break any boards or bricks?
Is it a good form of self-defence?
I thought Martial Art Instructors had to be a black belt?
How long will it take me to get my black belt?

How fit will I have to be?
Not very, at least to start with. As time goes by, your body will adjust and get used to using muscles that you didn't even know you had! It's a gradual process that's difficult to chart until you stand back and remember what you were like to begin with. Committed Jitsuka can become very fit.

Will it hurt?
Not much. Severe injuries are rare in Jitsu. We take the safety and well being of our students very seriously. Every Instructor is a First-Aider (it's a requirement for the Brown belt qualification) and will only ask you to do things they feel you can achieve. The syllabus is geared to progressing your skills in a regulated manner, teaching you the skills you need to keep yourself safe before you need to use them. Having said that, Jitsu is a strenuous, full-contact martial art. You will get bruises and you may feel sore after the first few sessions, as your body may not be accustomed the demand you are placing on it. Minor injuries, such as sprains and strains, are uncommon but not unheard of.

Am I strong enough?
Yes. One of Jitsu's biggest advantages is that it uses the opponent’s strength against them. The vast majority of Jitsu relies on proper technique, rather than muscle power. As you train, your strength, flexibility and general physical condition will improve anyway, usually without your even noticing it.

Do I need experience in martial arts?
No. We will make sure that you learn everything you need step by step at your own pace. Different people learn at different rates, and it isn't a race.

How much does it cost?
Your first session is free. After that each session costs £5 for adults. If you wish to pay on a monthly basis, then please ask. Junior sessions are charged at £15 per month.
You will also need to become a member of the Jitsu Foundation, which means you are insured when on the mat, can train in other clubs and attend Regional and National events (which usually cost £10 - £15 each). The licence costs £20 annually for adults and £12 if you are under 18. Our insurance covers you for two weeks, so you have a couple of sessions to make up your mind.
You will also need to get yourself a gi (judo uniform, a.k.a. angry white pyjamas). The Club can source these for around £20 and they last for many years. Jitsu Foundation courses and gradings range from £10 - £25, depending on the event.

Are there any age restrictions?
Anybody can do Jitsu, if they wish to. In our style we have people regularly training from about 6 to over 60. Children aged 8 to 18 should come to the Junior session, starting at 6.30pm. Anybody under the age of 18 will need a parent or a guardian to sign the membership form before they can take their first session. Juniors come under the oversight of the Junior Jitsu Foundation, a special division of the main Association. Unfortunately we do not cater for under 8s.

Will I be the only female?
Generally about half of all beginners are female. This ratio drops slightly as you progress up the grade structure. There will be sessions when you may be the only female on the mat but that shouldn't stop you from coming. It is very valuable to practice on larger opponents; when you can get a technique to work on someone larger than you, then it will work on almost anyone.

Will I be the only beginner?
Highbury Jitsu Club is a Town club so most of the time there is a steady stream of new starters. Jitsu welcomes newcomers - everyone was a novice at one stage.

What kind of techniques will I learn?
Jiu-Jitsu teaches a broad range of techniques including strikes, locks, throws, grappling, and break-falling. You will learn to defend yourself against single or multiple armed and unarmed attackers, and learn to defend yourself both standing up or on the ground. You will also learn to control a situation without resorting to violence.

Is sparring a part of Jitsu?
We do not spar in same manner as some Karate or Thai Kwon Do styles do. You usually work in pairs or small groups to practice a particular technique. Everybody takes turns in attacking so the other person can defend themselves using the technique that was just demonstrated. We do a limited amount of groundfighting and grappling, which is similar to Judo. On occasion we will practice "center work", giving one person opportunity to show off, which is the closest that we come to a competition style.

Are there any competitions?
The Jitsu Foundation holds two National competitions annually, one in the autumn and one in the spring. One is based on Judo grappling, and the other is based on self-defense Jitsu. These are an excellent way to meet people from all over the country and be taught by some of the top Sensei in the Foundation. The London Region also runs their own Judo-style submission Groundfighting league. Juniors (under 18 years) can attend events run by the Junior Jitsu Foundation.

How often are the gradings?
Gradings are held every 3 months. Each Region of the country holds their own grading, so if you miss the London one, you may be able to travel to another region to take it instead. Gradings are taken by one of the Senior Instructors of the Foundation, usually someone from a different Region, so they can be impartial.

Do I have to break any boards or bricks?
No. Jitsu is a self-defence martial art against armed or unarmed attackers and boards or bricks do not tend to attack by themselves. Or hit back if you make a mistake.

Is it an effective form of self-defence?
Jiu Jitsu is what the SAS, Royal Marines and US Special Forces learn and it’s really popular with bodyguards and doormen. Our style was formulated by an instructor in unarmed combat at the Tokyo police academy, and several of our Sensei are members of HM Constabulary. There's even a Lancashire Constabulary Club. So, probably yes.

I thought Martial Art Instructors had to be a black belt?
In many martial arts this is true. But it is also true that there are MAs that can award a black belt after as little as 18 months training. A Jitsu Foundation brown belt candidate has been training regularly for at least 3 years, probably longer. They have attended numerous courses and seminars. They have had their teaching scrutinised and critiqued by several Sensei, before they are even nominated for their Brown grading. Lastly, the Jitsu Foundation only has 3 black belt grades; Shodan, Nidan and Sandan, and they will not award a Shodan to a Jitsuka who has not been proven to understand Jitsu well enough to teach it. The Foundation insists that a Shodan candidate teach for at least 1 year.

How long will it take me to get my black belt?
That depends on your background, your ability and the time you spent training. If you train regularly you can get your 7th Kyu (yellow belt) after three months. The dedicated can progress through the grades to their 1st Kyu (brown belt) in roughly 3 years of training. You will need to be a brown belt for 2 years, including teaching a club for one year, before you can apply for your Dan grading (black belt). So at least 5 years in total. That may seem long when compared to other martial arts, but those are our rules. A Shodan in the Jitsu Foundation requires commitment, skill, knowledge and spirit.