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Nicola
I started Jiu Jitsu in 1992 at Wolverhampton with my first instructors: Daryl Cooper, supp ...
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I started Jiu Jitsu in 1992 at Wolverhampton with my first instructors: Daryl Cooper, supp [...]
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NICOLA, 21ST MAR
I started Jiu Jitsu in 1992 at Wolverhampton with my first instructors: Daryl Cooper, supported by Ady Treadwell. My first session was an exchange for some of the Jiu Jitsu women to try out at the rugby club where I trained. Straight away I loved how physical Jiu Jitsu is and it reminded me of the Judo I had done in the RAF as a child. I stayed and became an instructor because I love helping people to improve and because of a determination to prove some people wrong. It’s fair to say that I have faced a fair amount of discrimination from a minority of male grades over the years, but it is improving, and I’d like to think that I’m a part of that work. I left Wolverhampton in 1994 as a green belt and moved to Oxford Brookes where Chris Cooke was the instructor. When Nigel turned up in 1995 and took over the club, I was a purple belt. After spending a year at green belt, I eventually took my blue belt with Pete Farrar and my Brown belt with Dave Walker running the grading in March 1997 - the same year that we moved to London. I continued to support the Oxford Brookes club through the next year or so. I started my first club, Imperial College London, in October 1997 after a long campaign of writing and meeting with the union. They agreed that I could run a stall at freshers’ fayre but would not agree to give me any session times until I had over 30 people committed to training. Eventually with 35 signed up I demanded session times a month into the start of term. 5 weeks later, I had to firmly ask another martial arts club to vacate the room on my first session in order to start Imperial’s journey. Imagine being a female brown belt with 30 new novices trying to face down a whole established martial arts club just to get started. I received my hakama almost immediately afterwards at a very large session at Crystal Palace when Brian Graham received his 6^th dan from Matthew Komp. From then, we referred to him as Shihan Graham. Matthew Komp went down the line of instructors demanding to know how long each had been doing Jiu Jitsu. At the time the maximum being about 25 years. Imperial was not an easy club to start. We were given Thursday 7-9pm followed by Sunday 2-4pm. Every Saturday night the dojo was used as a bar so we had to clean it up before we could start to train, so it always smelled like stale beer. However, the students were keen and so I took 26 students to the first nationals in Nov 1997. It was one of my proudest moments after such a hard battle to get the club opened. The club was a super-tight group of wonderful people, and we got up to a few shenanigans; running breakfalling in a secret location and in the foyer of the local tube station to a crowd. Several students from that time include Robb Kerr, Alexander A’Air, Paul “Bungle” Beckett, Kostas, Elena – many of them achieving brown in time there or in my follow up teaching at Kings. Up until about 2003 I was teaching at Imperial twice per week as well as training and teaching at Kings three times per week. Saddened but proud, in 2003 I handed the Imperial Club onto my most senior student and decided to focus my main teaching interest at Kings, sharing the club with Nigel. This truly was a great time and place to teach Jitsu – a moment that to me, cannot be beaten. We had so many male and female senior grades; many of them blue, browns and dans. Throughout this time and for about a decade, I was attending the monthly national brown and dan courses which often entailed driving all over the country each month. I carried on teaching at the brown belt courses after Nigel handed them on to Colin Mortimore for some years afterwards. I began leading breakfalling courses to meet a need in London and further afield and I was part of the team that helped established NNK within the syllabus after Richard initiated these courses as the technical direction after 2005. I was also organising and teaching at the annual Lakes Summer school, taking over from John Hamer in 1997 through to 2009, when I handed them over to Eric. Our various clubs were always present in great numbers at these events. I also attended every nationals, which I believe is the key to making a really strong club identity. I’ve attended every adult nationals (except one misplaced holiday booking clash) since 2003. My increasing involvement persuaded people that I would make a good London Regional Coordinator at some point around about 2005. I believed it would be better organised as a committee as the job was really too big for one person to do well. This worked well at that time as London was quickly expanding the number of clubs and needed larger training facilities. Somehow, I also managed to squeeze in teaching the London Nautical Junior Club from 2004-2006 after Tony Gill left London. I was supported by a blue belt, David Palmer, who took over after he achieved Brown belt. Awkwardly the club was on a Wednesday 3-5pm which meant sneaking out of my City Lit ceramics course and then training/teaching later the same evening at Kings. This was my first junior club. After moving to Cornwall and becoming a teacher, I opened and taught a couple of junior clubs in my schools from 2012 until covid shut it down in 2020 and I’m planning to restart a new club as soon as it is feasible. Taking my Cornish juniors to the junior nationals in Wolverhampton is a highlight of that time. After achieving Sandan (now Yondan) in 2008, I soon became involved in the work of the promotions board (PB) which is where I now give most of my teaching service. In my day job I’m an assistant head teacher with responsibility for maintaining teaching standards within a school context so it made good sense for me to be involved in improving the standards of coaching within the TJJF. Ian Lambert handed responsibility for leading this board to me in 2012/13 since which the team has gone from strength to strength. This work requires us to ensure candidates meet the criteria for promotion to every grade from hakama through to Yondan. We also form the assessment panel that makes judgement on and coaches the senior instructors through the significant black top process. This work is really fulfilling although it does require pretty much all my time at each nationals event. I feel that the process has become far more rigorous as a test and a really progressive experience for the black top. Currently, I am awaiting surgery for a missing knee ligament after which I hope to return to more actively teaching on the national mat and junior jitsu, so watch this space. In the meantime, the promotions board keeps me busy. It is because of this work that I was finally recognised with a promotion to the tertiary board, being the first woman to achieve the rank of godan in the TJJF.
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Eric's
Eric Lau (started in 1996) Since the first moment I ...
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Eric Lau (started in 1996) Since the first moment I walked onto a tatami in 1996, I knew [...]
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ERIC'S, 16TH MAR
Eric Lau (started in 1996) Since the first moment I walked onto a tatami in 1996, I knew I wanted to be an instructor. I lie. It was about 20 minutes in when a mountain of man rei’ed onto the mat and took over from a Green Belt who had been trying his hardest to teach our group ukemi. I didn’t know at the time, but this instructor was actually going to be my Sensei. For 90 minutes, he blew my mind with his enthusiasm, his attention to detail, the story telling and the way he got us to manipulate our partners into throws and locks. From that moment I was hooked. Fast forward three years later, I graded to 1^st Kyu or Brown Belt and the West Midlands Region gave me the opportunity to teach and lead Aston University Jiu Jitsu Club. Something I jumped at and grabbed with both hands. I couldn’t wait for that first taster session and it couldn’t come fast enough. The moment came, my session plan prepped and it dawned on me that I hadn’t actually taught a full session from start to finish. GULP… So, I stalked around the dojo whilst the 30+ students were putting out the mats, I was psyching myself up and trying to control the butterflies in my stomach (something I still do to this day, no matter if it’s a club session, a Regional or a National session). Must be the excitement. The session went OK. The students seem to learn something, they enjoyed and best of all, they came back. From that day on, my passion for teaching and leading a club grew stronger and stronger. I couldn’t get enough, I went from two club sessions a week to four. I introduced the Regional Saturday (Green+) Session and to squeeze more in, I opened the Birmingham City Juniors Club as well. On average, I was up to 6 sessions per week. With me touring around the UK visiting Regions and clubs having a brilliant time meeting all these amazing Jitsukas, I relunctantly handed over the Birmingham Junior Club. Proud to say, it’s still going strong and has over 30 kids training every week. For the last 21 years, I’ve been teaching at Aston at least twice a week while I continue to lead the Region, the Tech Board, the TJJF Summer School and being part of the Promotions Board and Tertiary Board. During this time, my Jiu Jitsu knowledge, experience, communication skills and people management skills have improved immeasurably. Transferable skills that I use in my personal and professional life. For example, I use the coaching skills with my instructors and with my clients. Helping them with their goal setting and plans to achieve them. I’ve been fortunate to teach, coach, lead and support over 40 instructors to get their Brown Belt, haks and Black Belt and above. These have been my proudest moments as an instructor. I can’t describe how I feel when I see them perform in the Grading / Assessment and then when they receive their new belt, haks or badge. So proud. It far exceeds any emotion when I received any individual promotion or award. As an Instructor / Club Lead, I’ve made many sacrifices however it has given me so much back. With the biggest being friendship. 100’s if not 1000’s of students have come through the Aston doors, some have stayed and some have gone. Again, during club visits, delivering Regional, Summer School, National and even International sessions, I have met lots of people that have become my friends, best friends and one very special person, my wife. If you have any aspirations to become an instructor or to open a club, without hesitation I would say DO IT. It’s the most rewarding thing ever.
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Raj
Raj Soren (started 1984) My family and I had faced regular racial abuse while growing u ...
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Raj Soren (started 1984) My family and I had faced regular racial abuse while growing up i [...]
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RAJ, 21ST MAR
Raj Soren (started 1984) My family and I had faced regular racial abuse while growing up in North Wales and Liverpool in the early 70s. Ever since then I had been keen to take up martial arts as a self-defence. I remember watching the Kung Fu TV series with David Carradine, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan movies as well as Hong Kong Phooey cartoons. My parents wanted me to focus on my studies so I waited until university before looking for a martial art club. In 1984 I was looking to join Karate or Kung Fu club at Freshers fair at Manchester Polytechnic (Manchester Metropolitan University). However, before I could sign up for these other martial arts I met a very enthusiastic George Nicola, a dark blue belt at the time, who talked about how effective and versatile Jiu Jitsu was and he talked me into joining. Ever since my first session with sensei Jeff Thompson a first dan I was hooked on Jiu Jitsu. Jeff Thompson was a direct student of Shihan Brian Graham who brought our style to the UK. The organisation was called the National Samurai Jiu Jitsu Association (NSJJA) at the time and we had around 10 clubs in the UK. Gradings only took place once a year with Shihan Graham and Sensei Peter Farrar. I was impressed by how you could take control someone with a simple but effective technique like a wrist lock or arm clock and then take them to the ground with a throw. A year later George Nicola took over the club as a brown belt when Sensei Jeff went to study at another university for a post graduate degree. George was excellent at both judo and Jiu Jitsu and with his help I quickly got the hang of randori and groundwork. I went on to win numerous golds for several years in my weight category. I also went on to win gold in atemis in my early years. I trained three times a week and remember cycling 12 miles round trip to get to one of the weekly session in Didsbury. The club also became the national champions during my time there. In 1988, I gained my brown belt and started a new club at Manchester University at the Armitage sports centre with the help of Sensei George Nicola who later left to pursue his career. One of my fellow brown belts, Steve Allison, took over from George at the Polytechnic. I was also joined by Lee Baker, who was a talented young brown belt and we taught together for a few years. We had students including Richard Goulding and Gareth Horgan in our club at the time (both Tertiary Board members now). As a brown belt I became the NW regional chair and in 1990 I set up Salford University Jiu Jitsu club and later helped set up the YMCA club in Manchester. In 1991 I gained my black belt and moved to Sheffield for a new job. I continued to travelled to Nottingham University club to help teach there and later become the club instructor for several years. While in the East Midlands I also a taught at Nottingham Trent University and Loughborough University and I was also the regional chair. I passed the Nottingham clubs over to Gary Grimsby and Ian Goodfellow. In 2001 I moved to Bradford with 3 children all under 6 years old. In 2002 I set up Baildon Jiu Jitsu club which became very successful and grew from 1 club to a point where we had 10 venues in schools and community centres under the Bradford Jiu Jitsu club banner. We had 10 sessions a week which included 4 after school clubs and we grew to 150 students. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the following instructors Gavin Naughton, Rob and Emma Ashcroft, Rachel Smith, Graham Williams, Will Meehan , Jon Edward, Rebecca Flynn, Nick Francisco, Sean Higgins. A number of these no longer teach or train due to work or family commitments. The Bradford club went on to win over 15 junior randori and atemi shields, as well as a number of international competitions. At the Bradford club I successfully taught over 20 juniors and seniors to become brown belts and dans including Suraj, Chandni and Lukhi Soren, who I am very proud of. Other students include, Lewis day, Danel Netherwood ,Haris Sultan, Ayhsah Ahmed, Aaron Fiaz, Tom Deacon, Tom Claridge, Zayn and Hassan Ahmed, Abass Jhangir, Alexander Zakowski, Amy Spence many more. In 2018 I set up Meanwood Town club in Leeds with Rebecca Flynn and now it’s a thriving club under Rebecca. During that time, I would teach 2 classes Monday to Thursday and 5 classes from Friday to Sunday all at different venues. This was on top of my full time career as a sale manager and father. I was also the regional chair of the Yorkshire region for a year and I ran national blue belt courses. In 2003 Shihan Brian Graham passed on the running of junior Jiu Jitsu to me which was an honour. For 17 years I was the director of junior Jiu Jitsu with the support of many instructors such as David Walker, Ady Tredwell ,Nigel and Nicola Price, Tony Gill, Colin Mortimore, John Hanrahan, Adam MacQueen, Rob and Emma Ashcroft, Martin Shaw, Jyoti Soren, Natalie Lockyer, Charlie Miranda, John Harquail, Will Meehan and many more. A massive thank you to all junior instructors for the marvellous job they do. We managed to grow numbers of junior jitsuka from 125 to over 600 juniors at its peak. I have also been an active member of the promotions board for 15 years the tertiary board for 8 years as well as coaching and teaching at international Jiu Jitsu events. Over the last 12 years I have continued my journey in martial arts and gained my second dan in Aikido and I also teach an aikido club. I have also started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and HEMA - Historical European Martial arts, which I also compete in. In the last few years I have published books on Coping with Stress, Confidence building and a Children’s anti-bullying martial art book which I co-wrote with my wife Jyoti. Since being made redundant in November 2022 my teaching skills have enabled me to I set up a training and coaching company working with organisations improve performance and well-being. I have still managed to do all this on top of my Jiu Jitsu and aikido commitments. It’s amazing what you can fit into a week if you have the passion, drive and commitment to pursue the things that are important to you in life. Some of the many proud moments include seeing my children grow in confidence and gain their black belts, helping numerous clubs win at national competitions, being junior TJJF director, being actively involved with the promotions board, gaining each of my dan grades and joining the Tertiary board and most recently my Rokudan promotion. My future goals include a desire to become the first non-white chairperson of the Tertiary Board in order to champion diversity and equality, older and junior Jiu Jitsu. To champion well-being and mental health, as well accelerate the growth of Jiu Jitsu through more town and international clubs, social media, children’s martial art self-help books and celebrity advocacy. I plan to continue share my love for teaching and training Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts while I still have my physical capability. I encourage you to join me in this exciting journey and help us to open up more clubs in the next chapter of TJJF.
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Dave Walker (started c1981) on the pleasure, perils and pitfalls of opening your own club ...
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Dave Walker (started c1981) on the pleasure, perils and pitfalls of opening your own club [...]
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, 22ND MAR
Dave Walker (started c1981) on the pleasure, perils and pitfalls of opening your own club and why it’s the best and most frustrating thing ever. Clubs I have run Plymouth Polytechnic (now Plymouth University) Clubs I have set up and run Bristol Town Club Bristol University Bristol Polytechnic (now University of the West of England) Vale Jiu Jitsu Club Clubs I helped set up Birmingham Polytechnic (now University of Central England) Birmingham University Glamorgan Polytechnic (now University of South Wales) Cardiff University BUT THAT’S ONLY PART OF IT Back in 1982 I didn’t have much choice – Sensei Peter Farrar was leaving Plymouth to move back to Leeds and there was only one person able to take the club over – me. It would fold if I didn’t keep it going. Truth be told I was really up for the challenge, besides which we had a great committee (you have to have one) and by that time the Poly had really started to take notice of the club. So different from when we started, training on concrete and carpet for the first 18 months. I’ve still got the scars to prove it. I loved the banter and competition with the other martial arts clubs (Judo, Karate, Taekwando) and the way we’d constantly try and outdo each other. Hats off to the Karate club they were really supportive, while Judo and Taekwando just thought we were young upstarts. We had some points to prove. I’m really pleased that 43 years later the club is still the longest running martial arts club at the University. Fast forward to 1984 and my time to move on from Plymouth. By this time, I was really keen on setting up and running my own club. I’d set my sights on Bristol – why Bristol? I’d gone to see The Clash play there and thought it looked a pretty cool place. Besides which I was young, enthusiastic and didn’t have anything better to do (apart from working but that’s another story). There was no other Jiu Jitsu clubs in Bristol and I wanted to be the first to open up a club before anyone else did. But there was another motive which still drives me today – I always wanted the TJJF or National Samurai Jiu Jitsu Association as we were then to be taken seriously. Back in the 1980’s our biggest problem was the WJJF. We were members but it seemed that all they wanted to do was take our money and sell badges to us. To be noticed we had to bigger than what was happening in Plymouth, Keighley, Bradford and Leeds and having clubs in Bristol meant we got noticed. Setting up the college clubs was easy and teaching Jiu Jitsu in Plymouth had given me the confidence to go and talk to College Sports Administrators. All I needed then was students to support clubs opening and that was solved by spending a few hours in the Student’s Unions asking students to sign a petition to take back to the student’s union sports reps. The freshers fayres were a lot of fun – I remember really going for it with posters and getting a lot of help from my girlfriend (now wife of many years). I couldn’t have done it without her. Selling Jiu Jitsu was basically a question of saying yes we do that to anyone who asked what we did. If we got students into the dojo, I knew that Jiu Jitsu itself would do the rest of the talking for me. The students’ unions and athletics unions were really helpful and the Judo club at Bristol University were brilliant (I got my 1st Kyu with them). In the second year both clubs really took off with over 100 people on the mat at Bristol University and over 60 at Bristol Polytechnic. Speaking to people later on it appeared that the main recruitment ad was actually me seeming normal and approachable – pint in one hand, cigarette in the other (not a good look nowadays and I hasten to add I don’t smoke and hardly drink anymore). As Mark Newall said ‘if a guy like that (me) can do a martial art then anyone can.’ I was always big on being inclusive and diverse making Jiu Jitsu as welcoming as possible for everyone which leads me on nicely to the trials and tribulations of opening a town club. One night whilst teaching at Bristol University I was approached by a group of non-students – all very friendly I hasten to add (punks, anarchists, different cultures) asking me about the possibility of teaching them skills that might come in handy in the poll tax riots. Now I’m a man of peace so I told them that teaching people to beat up the police wasn’t my thing and Jiu Jitsu was a self-defence anyway. We got talking more and they told me about the anarchist community and drop in centre they were setting up in a derelict car show room in St Pauls. They called it the Demolition Diner – easy to understand why when you saw the place. Eventually I agreed that I’d teach some free Jiu Jitsu sessions to anyone who happened to ‘drop in’ as part of their attempt to get the ‘misfits, oppressed and unemployed of Bristol’ a bit of fitness and self-esteem. We didn’t have mats, we trained on mattresses, and I loved it. I’ll go as far as saying it has probably been my best, most humbling and most thought-provoking experience ever in Jiu Jitsu. I loved being a club leader, I loved being in control, I loved the competitions my clubs had with other clubs but most of all I realised what Jiu Jitsu gave to other people was a self-belief and that what I had in Jiu Jitsu was a gift to pass on to others in the hope that they would get better than me and pass it on in turn to others. From the Demolition Diner I moved onto opening the Bristol Town Club (I never understood why I called it a town club as Bristol’s a big city) for adults and children. It’s true if you can teach children, you can teach anyone. First Easton Community Centre (lots of arguments over mats), then the Trinity Centre (very cool night club venue nowadays) and finally what became our permanent home for many years St Werburghs Community Centre. It’s much harder running a town club than a college club. There’s no financial support, you’ve got no control over who joins (although several of the Demolition Diner crew did and two became black belt instructors) and you need lots of help. Trying to integrate the university and town clubs was a struggle and getting them to train together was a real muddle but we got through it. The town club bonus though is that your students stay with you for a long time and not just the 3 years most students have at university. A question I’m often asked is - do you prefer teaching college or town clubs? and I’d almost always answer town clubs – yes there are more fitness issues, yes you get really challenged in trying to make what your teaching accessible to the whole club and not just those who are very fit, yes you have to deal with a real range of people and yes you still have to put out the mats But the bonuses far outweigh the problems. Lots of respect to Sensei Richard Brennan for ensuring that the Bristol Town Club is now one of the longest running town clubs in the TJJF (38 years and counting). In 2005 I decided to take a step back from running a club. I had brilliant instructors to hand the clubs over to and my club teaching time was done (or so I thought…). I moved to tiny village in rural South Wales in 2006. There were no other martial arts clubs and my plan was to keep going to national and international events but nothing else. Fortunately, two of my children didn’t see it that way. Jake (now Brighton University Instructor) and Toby (previous Plymouth University Instructor, now Vale Jiu Jitsu Club Instructor and Wales Syllabus Co-Lead) were both still in primary school. They’d both taken up Jiu Jitsu at the Bristol Town Club with amongst others Colin Mortimore, Marcus Valentine, Roger Ball and George Franks as their instructors. From the moment we arrived in Wales, they continually nagged me into starting a club just for them and the school friends they said they’d recruit. It was fruitless trying to resist and when my wife Ingrid weighed in I gave up and contacted my sons primary school to ask if I could start another Jiu Jitsu club. That was the easy part, we had no mats, no storage, and no money. It was like starting all over again but somehow, we got there. The junior and senior club are now going strong. A major help was a grant from the TJJF for mats and that unlocked grants from some other local funders. The Vale Jiu Jitsu club has now been running for over 15 years in which time we’ve travelled to countless regionals, nationals and internationals and had juniors who became seniors who then went on to train as adults in clubs in other parts of the UK. There is one simple truth though – I couldn’t have done this alone (the days of being able to run a club as a one person band are long gone). My family have been there for me throughout and parents and senior members have put more than their fare share into keeping the club going. The icing on the cake has been Sensei Adam Jenkins (St Athan) and Sensei Simon Kendrick (Bridgend - Laleston) opening clubs close by and the way in which we have helped support each other by covering sessions when work, illness or holidays have got in the way. We train together regularly and despite our ever-increasing age still manage some fairly decent sessions. Being an instructor can be an incredibly lonely place to be in but with support around you from like-minded people the sky is the limit. Would I recommend setting up and running a club to others? Absolutely, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. But don’t do it alone, being a lonely instructor is a terrible place to be in – you’ve got fellow Jiu Jitsuka around you so make sure you get their help as well. Final thought and this is a rough calculation. Since 1979 I estimate I have put out a mat at least 6,450 times. Tonight will be my 6,451. That’s an awful lot of mats. See you all at the Nationals. Sensei David Walker
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Jaimin
I came to Leeds thinking this time I HAVE to take up a martial art but with so many on off ...
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I came to Leeds thinking this time I HAVE to take up a martial art but with so many on off [...]
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JAIMIN, 19TH JUL
I came to Leeds thinking this time I HAVE to take up a martial art but with so many on offer which do i choose? At the Jitsu Give It A Go session, the friendly welcoming faces, helpful and encouraging members and the interesting techniques made this decision easy for me. 2 and half years later I now have a light blue belt which I thought would be impossible to achieve. BUT with the help and commitment of everyone in the club, I did it. I've met some lovely people through Leeds/Regional/National Jitsu events and at Leeds we're almost like a little family - I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of it all. The positive atmosphere, enthusiastic instructors and the general vibe at Jitsu really makes you want to succeed and develop, not only as a jitsuka, but also as a person. For anyone contemplating giving Jitsu a go, I can't stress enough why you should try it out!
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Anna's
I started Jitsu at Leeds University because I wanted to learn something that might be usef ...
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I started Jitsu at Leeds University because I wanted to learn something that might be usef [...]
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ANNA'S, 19TH JUL
I started Jitsu at Leeds University because I wanted to learn something that might be useful at the moment and in the future. I was not a big fan of Martial Arts before but after a couple of sessions I was already in love with it. The great thing is that I met new friends and training with them helps me to enjoy practices even more. Thanks to Jitsu my confidence and self-discipline have improved as well. Lastly, Jitsu takes people out of their comfort zone and forces to deal with problems, and consequently helps character to grow.
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Som's
Hi I’m Som. I study Business and management in Aston University. I first found out ab ...
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Hi I’m Som. I study Business and management in Aston University. I first found out about [...]
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SOM'S, 19TH JUL
Hi I’m Som. I study Business and management in Aston University. I first found out about jitsu club from students’ fair. I was determined to join a sports club so that I could keep my self fit. So when I found out about Aston Jitsu, it was like hitting two birds with a single stone. I could keep my self fit as well as learn self defence at the same time. The very first day I went Jitsu, I was nervous and curious but everyone in the dojo was so friendly and generous that I even forgot it was my first time meeting all these new people. After the first session, Jitsu completely hooked me in and I was suddenly a jitsuka. The club is blessed with two great Senseis, Eric and Paul who never leave anyone behind and teaches us with great enthusiasm as well as Grades(seniors) who are always there to help. Its not just kicks and punches that you learn here, you learn how to defend your self in real life situations which is very handy as well as easy to learn. Jitsu has definitely been a huge confidence booster for me and after 10 weeks of hard training here I am with a ‘Yellow III’ belt. And then there are the weekly after session socials which everyone loves. Between all these cool features what I love the most about this club is how it has grown to be a second family for me rather than just a club with friends. Now I plan to be with this club for rest of my time in Aston university.
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Chandni
I started Jitsu at the age of 4 and am currently a Junior Senior Primary. I love Jitsu bec ...
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I started Jitsu at the age of 4 and am currently a Junior Senior Primary. I love Jitsu bec [...]
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CHANDNI, 26TH FEB
I started Jitsu at the age of 4 and am currently a Junior Senior Primary. I love Jitsu because of the friends I have made from all over the world, and our club feels like a family. I love the fitness and competitive side of Jitsu as it has helped me to excel as an individual in other aspects of my life such as school and other sports. I also really enjoy the teaching side of Jitsu as it has enabled me to gain confidence in myself and earn the respect of others, due to this I find leadership rolls easy in school and be able to confidently communicate in front of a group. Two years ago I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, this has not affected my performance in Jitsu at all. In fact it is due to this I am now more determined than ever to prove to myself and others that I am still fully capable of defending the grade I wear. My proudest moment was the last atemi competition where I won a gold in the black belt category! My first ever gold in that competition and showed everyone and myself that I can still do it, and come back fighting harder than ever. Everyone has been so supportive with my diabetes, from the club and the instructors are very understanding. My passion for Jiu Jitsu just grows every time I'm on the mat and I can't wait to travel and visit all the clubs round the world to learn more.
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Jyoti's
As a parent, watching my children learn Jiu Jitsu and seeing them develop into young able ...
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"As a parent, watching my children learn Jiu Jitsu and seeing them develop into young able [...]
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JYOTI'S, 25TH FEB
As a parent, watching my children learn Jiu Jitsu and seeing them develop into young able adults has been a joy in my life. The friendships they have made, the communication skills they have learnt and the confidence they have gained is priceless. And to top it all, they have good self defence skills! My Jiu Jitsu world is an extended family to me, the children, the parents, the instructors and the whole ethos of the Jitsu culture is second to none. Joyti, Parent
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