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What does a typical session involve?
We get a number of enquiries as to what is involved in a Jitsu session so we've compiled a brief summary to give you an idea of what to expect.
The session starts at 7.30, and students will arrive about 10 minutes
before this to help to get the mats out and to get changed. We train in the
white pyjama suits (gis) because they give better support, and are cheaper
and tougher than tracksuits and t-shirts. T-shirts can tear quite easily
when you've got the hang of some of the more practiced techniques!
As a novice you can generally wear what you like providing that you can
move freely in it, there's no metal or other sharp edges and it is not too hot! If you already have a gi you are
free to wear this and a white belt. If you want a gi we can get one for you
for about £20, or you can get one yourself. We'd recommend judo or jiu
jitsu gis, available from most sports shops that sell martial arts
equipment. Karate or Tae Kwon Do or similar gis are not generally tough
enough to survive the training. Feel free to ask us for advice if you want
to get one.
All times are approximate and subject to the whim of the instructor. The
wonderful thing about aiuchi jiu jitsu is that no two sessions are alike.
The following is therefore only a rough idea.
7.30 - 7.45
Warm up
The first 15 minutes of the session will be spent warming up and
stretching, getting the body ready to train. This could be a bit of
jogging, star jumps, stretches, sit ups, press-ups etc. It is not cardio
work - the body does not learn very well when very tired. The purpose
is just to get the blood flowing and to reduce the likelihood of injuries,
such as pulled muscles or strains.
7.45 - 8 ish
Ukemi practice, or falling.
In order to train safely we spend some time learning how to fall over - and
be thrown - safely. These are also good self defence skills - you are much
more likely to fall over or trip than be attacked by a knife-wielding
maniac, and practicing falling helps students learn safe ways to fall.
We will normally practice kneeling falling and standing, and students also
learn some of the more acrobatic falling, for example dive forward rolls or
falling over objects.
Falling practice is fairly vital to ensure that training is safe, and it
can also be a fairly intense workout, but only if you want it to be.
8 ish
The meat of the session, we will practice striking, locks, throws,
immobilisations, or weapons defences. This part of the session varies
wildly, we may learn ground holds one week, and defences against a broken
bottle or knife the next. We could rattle through a dozen different throws,
or focus on one. We may look at themes, or maybe just one weapon and the
different ways that it could be used against you. We don't have many katas
in our style of Jiu Jitsu, but we could look at these during this part of
the session. Training in normally in pairs or small groups.
It is true that no two sessions are alike, and this is why students don't
need to attend every session, there is no lesson plan that is followed and
each technique has many different levels. We are continually revisiting
techniques to learn the next level or application and it is surprising how
many times you learn something new about a technique you thought you
already knew. If you miss one week you can easily catch up the next time we
look at that technique.
Although we have a published syllabus (available from www.aiuchi.net) the
techniques we teach are designed to demonstrate the principles of Aiuchi
Jiu Jitsu, they are not the be all and end all of the style. We don't
insist on students just learning all the syllabus for the next grade. One
week we may look at techniques from the yellow belt syllabus, the next from
the blue belt. There is no rigid structure because we focus on teaching the
principles of Aiuchi.
9 ish
This is when the session generally finishes but here we give students the
opportunity to practice randori, or "free practice".
Learning Aiuchi has three parts, learning the actual technique,
understanding how it works, and then applying the technique.
This last part of the session is voluntary but it is where students get the
opportunity to practice what they have learnt in a less compliant
environment. We'd recommend everyone stay, even if only to watch (and then
help with the mats later and come to the pub!).
This part of the session could involve groundwork (essentially wrestling)
weapons defences, work with pads and gloves (in some respects similar to
sparring you may get in karate or kickboxing, but with a distinct Aiuchi
Jiu Jitsu flavour) or judo-esque stand up randori.
It is in this part of the session that we will also do the pressure testing
type of training; two man attacks, ground defences, v's, circles and
gauntlets etc. If you are not sure what any of those entail, feel free to
email us for more info, or turn up and have a go!
9.20 ish
Warm down, mats away, and get changed.
9.35
Head to the pub.
Martial arts training is all about balance, and if you have exercised and
trained your body (and mind) then you must also train the stomach and taste
buds in the pub. It's only correct.
You don't need to come to the pub with us, but we'd like you to!
We are a very social style, and have regular inter-club training events and
socials. We've been known to go airsofting, paintballing, to the Rocky
Horror Show...and anything else that takes our fancy.
Back to "More information"
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