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So you've been to a couple of sessions and think this Jitsu thing is pretty fun and you're going to give it a shot. Where from here?
After a couple of weeks, you will need to get a License from the Jitsu Foundation. The Foundation (TJF) is our Association and provides our syllabus, recognition and insurance. The first few sessions are covered under the Sensei's coaching insurance, but you will need to sign up if you wish to continue. Licenses cost £20 per year (£12 for juniors) and enable you to train at any TJF club* and at Regional and National events. In return you get a little book to record your successes in.
You should also get a gi. We use plain Judogi, which can be purchased from most sports shops, however the Club can supply you with a good quality one much cheaper, including a Foundation badge. These are sized according to height;
Size 000 : 110cm (£15)
Size 00 : 120cm (£15)
Size 0 : 130cm (£15)
Size 1 : 140cm (£15)
Size 2 : 150cm (£15)
Size 3 : 160cm (£20)
Size 4 : 170cm (£20)
Size 5 : 180cm (£20)
Size 6 : 200cm (£20)
At some point, a Regional course will be announced. This is usually held on a Saturday, and is a chance for all the London clubs to get together for the day. This is usually taken by a senior Sensei from a different part of the country, and gives you chance to see and do things from a different perspective. The days are really good; they let you train with new people and if you are really lucky, you'll see your Sensei receiving some pain for once!
After about 3 months of training, you should have covered most of the syllabus for your first grading. There is a Pre-grading course before the event itself that acts as a day of revision and will show up any areas you need to work on. Gradings are held every 3 months and Sensei will announce details of the next one and tell you when you are ready to take it. Each Grading is overseen by a Sandan, usually from outside the Region, to promote impartiality. Ignore horror stories about gradings; it's like fishermen talking about the one that got away.
The general requirements for grading are:
7th Kyu : Basic safety and breakfalling. Moving out the way of attacks. Some strikes, wrist and arm locks. Dealing with grabs. Defence from a bottle (plastic). Three throws from basic attacks.
6th Kyu : More complicated breakfalling. Five more throws. Groundholds. More armlocks and grabs. Defence from a cosh (small stick).
5th Kyu : Seven more throws. Ground restraints and more groundholds. More wristlocks, headlocks and counters to armlocks. Defences from broken bottle (plastic) and knife (rubber).
4th Kyu : Advanced breakfalling. Ten new throws. Groundfighting. Counters to wristlocks. Defence against chains, bokken (wooden sword) and multiple unarmed attackers. Candidate must have passed the Assistant Instructor qualification.
3rd Kyu : Very advanced breakfalling. Nine new throws. Nage No Kata Phase 1 (formalised throwing). Groundfighting, including strangles and full knowledge of groundholds. Defences on the ground. Defences from metal weapons and multiple armed attackers. Candidate must have held a Purple belt for at least 6 months and passed the Instructor qualification.
2nd Kyu : Nine new throws. Leglocks. Groundfighting with leglocks. Defences using a cosh. Defences from a baseball bat and multiple randomly armed attackers. Candidate must have held a Light Blue belt for at least 6 months and have a basic knowledge of First Aid.
1st Kyu : Extreme breakfalling. Seven additional throws. Advanced groundfighting and full knowledge of TJF Judo rules. Defence against any standard weapon, including knuckledusters, chairs and sharp knives. Defence against Boxer attacker. Students must have held a Dark Blue belt for at least 6 months, hold a valid First Aid certification and passed the Club Instructor qualification. Brown belts are fully qualified to teach their own Club, at which point they are an Acting Primary Trainer (Shodan-ho) and are entitled to wear Hakama.
Shodan (Primary Trainer) : By invitation only, otherwise as Brown belt, with additional style, control and presence. The Candidate must have held a Brown belt for at least 2 years. The Candidate must have taught a Club for at least 1 year. Anything else the Tertiary Board requires.
Further Progression : The Foundation has several distinctions for further awards of Black Belt, each having its own requirements and qualities. Briefly, they are:
Shodan (Senior Primary Trainer); Black badge with white text
Nidan (Acting Secondary Tutor); White badge with red text
Nidan (Secondary Tutor); Black mantle without sleeves, white badge with red text
Sandan (Acting Tertiary Fellow); Black mantle without sleeves, red badge with white text, no belt.
Sandan (Tertiary Fellow); Black mantle with sleeves, red badge with white text, no belt.
The Board of Tertiary Fellows are the Custodians of the Style and the final authority of the Jitsu Foundation.
* Some Clubs, particularly University ones, may have additional membership criteria such as membership of that University or the NUS. Top ^
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