General Martial Arts Training Lessons

Each lesson starts with a warm-up, this lasts for about 15 minutes. The warm-up includes exercises which are designed to stretch and warm-up all the muscle groups with the body.
Following this, Ukemi-Waza is practiced; this is the art of falling and rolling without hurting yourself. This is a key part of the training.
As a beginner, you will be taken through the basics of this by the nominated senior student or instructor. There are many different rolls and break falls, and you will not be expected to learn them all at once as many of them are only required for senior grades.
The rei is usually performed after the ukemi-waza. 

Following the rei the class begins. Usually the senior instructor will demonstrate one or several techniques for the students to practice and sometimes there will be variations on the same technique, one for junior grades and beginners and the other for senior grades and other instructors.

Gradings & Assessments

After 3- 4 months of training or at the end of your course, you may be invited to take a grading or assessment.
These are usually held 3 to 4 times a year.
For each grade there is a standard which each student is expect to achieve; students will only be invited to grade if the sensei believes the student is ready. Self-defence courses work in a similar way. At the end of your course you will be assessed on what you have learned and have the opportunity to put into practice the techniques you have leaned by the way of a grading-style assessment.

Your First Lesson

On your first lesson, the instructor/sensei will first talk you through the process of how lessons work and the rules and etiquette of the Dojo.
Generally most Dojo's will follow a similar etiquette and rules, but you will find some clubs more formal than others.
The main points you will need to know are listed here:

You must rei (bow) to the senior sensei/student/kamiza each time you come onto or leave the tatami (matted training area).

If you need to leave the mat during a training session for any reason you must tell the instructor or senior student. This is purely from a safety point of view.

At the beginning and end of each lesson you must rei (bow) once to the kamiza (scroll) and once to the sensei.
This is done by the class as a whole.

You must address the instructor/ sensei in the appropriate manner. Some instructors will permit you to call them by their first name, others will be formal and must be addressed as sensei. If you are unsure then use sensei and they will correct you if necessary.

Martial Arts

The majority or martial arts which are taught within Masters, are Japanese.
These include Aikido, Ju Jutsu, Judo, Karate, Aiki Ju Jutsu and Budo.

What is Aikido & Ju Jutsu?

Ju Jutsu (Ju Jitsu), Aikido and Aiki Ju Jutsu (Aiki-Jitsu), these arts are the fore fathers of many of the modern Japanese arts including Judo and Karate.
The basis of the training and techniques used involve using the aggressor's strength and movement against themselves to ward off their attack, disarm or control them.

While all three arts use identical and similar techniques, it i is in the application of the techniques which defines each art.  Aikido will blend with an aggressors attack, while Ju Jutsu will blend but with a more offensive/defensive posture involving disabling counter strikes.

Self Defence Training

The self-defence training and courses, run take the basic and most practical techniques from Aikido and Ju Jutsu to form an effective self-defence system.

Based upon 1.5 - 2 hour weekly lessons, most will benefit from around a 12 week program. This would be equivalent to achieving your first grade in either Aikido or Ju Jutsu. After this time the majority of people will have a confident grasp of the basic techniques.

The techniques will cover a ranch of possible attacks by an aggressor including -

- Grabs to the wrists, hair and throat
- Strikes in the form of punches, kicks and combinations
- Defence against multiple attackers both armed and unarmed.

Corporate & Workplace Training

We believe that everyone should have a basic knowledge of self-defence. As part of the training, we are offering companies, organizations and groups the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge we have to offer.
We are very much aware of the growing number of incidents in the workplace which involve aggressive, violence and even attacks on staff, customers and members of the general public.
Our training techniques beneficial to both public and private sector workers, including:

- Nurses / Paramedics
- Teachers
- Doctors
- Police Officers
- Security Staff

The training can be undertaken in a number of ways, from a series of lessons over several weeks,
or a single or multiple days.
The techniques that are taught cover and are designed to deal with, some of the following issues:

- Aggressive behaviour
- Controlling your attacker
- Defending against multiple attackers

We can also design courses to suit specific needs for you or your staff.

Based upon 1.5 - 2 hour weekly lesson, most people will benefit from a 12 week program.
After this time, the majority will have a confident grasp of the basic techniques taught.

Please find below a number of common questions that are often asked by new students. If we have not covered a topic or you have more question please ask us via our contact page.

Q. Do I need to be super fit to practice martial arts?
A. No, just have a willingness to learn and a certain amount of physical flexibility.

Q. Can I start martial arts when I am over 40?
A. No problem as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to train regularly.

Q. What about insurance cover?
A. All Masters clubs have both member to member cover and full cover for registered instructors.

Q. How long does it take to get a black belt?
A. The theoretical minimum time is four and one half years, in reality this is likely to be nearer to six years.

Q. Can I learn if I am disabled?
A. This depends upon the type of disability that you have, people in wheel chairs and amputees do not normally have too many problems although techniques will probably need to be modified for them to work effectively. Those who have impaired vision can undertake most techniques, but normally only from grabs, strangles, etc.
However any condition that affects fine motor control skills such as cerebral palsy will probably mean that the practitioner would be unable to master the subtle nuance of movement or the speed and physical coordination that characterise martial arts.

Q. Will mastering any martial art make me safe from attack?
A. NO!! However it will give you the ability to deal with an attack more effectively. Also once reasonably competent, martial artist carry themselves differently and have more physical confidence. We find that students who have come to us with body language that cries out "victim" and studied hard for three or so months emerge as far more confident people and loose the "victim" look.
Martial arts only give you an edge, they do not give you THE edge, there is always someone who is faster, nastier, and generally more skillful and aggressive than you.