Training | Equipment | Syllabus | Beginners FAQ | Articles

What should I wear?
We train on mats, in our bear feet. It's best to wear loose fitting clothes (tracksuit bottoms and T-shirt). If you have a white gi already, feel free to wear that if you want. Also, we ask that jewellery (rings, necklaces, pierced bits) be removed or taped up during the class (just in case it catches on something).

What happens in a typical class?
Well, we start off by putting the mats out! Then we start doing a Warm Up and some Stretches (how hard or easy this is depends on who's coaching!) Then we'll do some Breakfalls, followed by some Syllabus Work and maybe some Interest Work. At the end, we do some Cool down stretches (oh, and put the mats away again).

What about insurance?
The first time you come along to the club you'll need to complete a 'come and try' form. This allows you to train twice and be fully insured. This gives you the opportunity to see if you like JJ and want to join. After your second session you them must decide if you want to join or wander aimlessly in the martial arts wilderness...The Aberdeen University club is affiliated to the World Ju-Jitsu Federation.

How much does it cost?
We have a voluntary mat fee of £1 per session. If your change is too heavy in you pocket you can contribute more - likewise, if you're a bit short of cash you don't have to pay (aaah, so that's what voluntary means...) The money is used for buying equipment and subsidising grading fees, training during exam time and coaching fees. 1 year's membership and insurance costs £20.

The Techniques of Ju Jitsu
Ju Jitsu has a vast cannon of techniques, even in comparison with other martial arts. The different styles and systems that use the name ju-jitsu emphasise different areas of combat skills and focus in on different groups of techniques for their basics. However, most ju-jitsu styles have in common the fact that a huge array of different movements can be found in their syllabuses. The techniques can be broken down into the following (not necessarily always accurate, but nevertheless useful) categories:

Breakfalls
Blocks
Kicks
Throws
Punches
Strikes
Take-downs
Escapes
Counters and Defences
Locks
Groundholds
Strangles and Chokes

Some of these descriptions are rather vague (e.g. defences), and some of them are used to cover techniques which are not, strictly speaking, appropriate: for instance, some of the techniques we practise as breakfalls; are actually evasions or simply exercises which we use to develop spatial awareness, confidence and coordination. Then again, there are other intrinsic and quite vital ju-jitsu movements which are not listed as techniques here, such as evasions (tai sabaki) and upsetting the opponent's posture (kuzushi). These are often thought of as components rather than as separate techniques in their own right, but this may be an arbitrary division with no basis in the reality of our activity.

1. Always help with laying and lifting of the mats -- even if you are not strong enough to lift a mat by yourself, you can team up with someone else.
2. Try not to be late, as it is disrespectful to the sensei if you arrive when the class (including the warm-up) has already started. If the class has started when you arrive, wait quietly off the edge of the mat until the sensei notices you and invites you on. Normally, you should then walk quickly and quietly along the side of the mat to the rear of the class and carry out a complete warm-up in your own time, but the sensei may give you other instructions.
3. Let the sensei know if you think you will be arriving late at the next class. You would expect him/her to extend the same courtesy to you.
4. Bow when you enter and leave the dojo (training hall), to show respect to the art and to the people you train with.
5. Whenever the sensei gives you an instruction, carry it out immediately and enthusiastically -- slouching and lethargy are highly disrespectful.
6. Allow higher grades to enter or leave the dojo before you.
7. Wear socks or zori slippers when walking from the changing room to the mats; otherwise, you will carry dirt onto a mat you will probably be rolling around on later.
8. Call the teacher ‘sensei’ and always thank him or her for any teaching
9. Avoid raising your voice, excessive chatter, excessive laughter, etc.
10. Never eat during a class unless there is a medical reason for you to do so. Taking water or other non-alcoholic drinks is acceptable, but be respectful and ask the sensei for permission before you leave the mat.
11. Avoid dressing in a manner that could cause offence to the sensei or your fellow students.
12. Bow to the sensei whenever he/she gives you instruction or advice. Bow to other students whenever you start to practice, finish practice and take your lead from senior students and sensei for other occasions where bowing is appropriate.
13. Treat the sensei and other students with respect at all times. You must always put safety before any other considerations: e.g. look before you throw, to make sure you are not going to throw someone into a wall, off the mat, or on top of another student.
14. Do not fold your arms; do not put your hands in pockets; do not lean against walls and never ever step off the mats without permission (the only time it is acceptable to set foot is if you need to realign mats that have separated).

We do not use much Japanese, mainly because we have found, to our surprise, that most of our students do not understand the language.
Here are a few terms that you will encounter, some more so than others. Here are most of them:

shomen ni rei
used at the start and end of class, this means, more or less, "bow to the front". It is a class bow indicating respect for the conventions of ju jitsu, for honoured guests and for the masters of the art who have passed it on to us.
sensei ni rei
"bow to the teacher". A bow from students to teacher and from teacher to students, this bow is like a contract stating that each will treat the other with respect.
rei
often used in isolation, the word rei is generally interpreted as "bow".
seiza
a seated posture where the practitioner is kneeling: relaxed but attentive.
gi
a cotton training uniform. In the SJJS, students wear a white tunic and white trousers. Whoever is coaching the class normally wears a blue jacket in order to be instantly visible.
obi
the belt worn around the tunic. Students must sit and pass a grading exam before wearing their first (white) belt.
dan
a level of black belt. There are theoretically about nine levels of grade within the black belt system. A first dan (shodan) is perhaps expected to know all the basics of the system, but is certainly not a master. Some people refer to the black belt grades as shodan, nidan, sandan, yondan, godan, etc.
kyu
a level of coloured belt. The coloured belts work in reverse order, so a 1st kyu (brown belt) is the highest kyu grade. mon = a stage in the juniors' grading system. The coloured belts are broken into smaller, more manageable pieces for juniors, so there are many more mons than kyus.
zori
flipflop-type shoes worn when not on the mat. Students should try not to bring dirt or dust onto the mat via uncovered feet. Zoris or some other footwear should be worn whenever students go off the mat.
sensei
the teacher or any black belt. Try to remember to use this term. It indicates respect and a courteous manner.
sempai
a senior student, such as an occasional assistant coach or a junior black belt.
shihan
a master, usually of around 5th or 6th Dan or so.
renshi
a junior mat master, generally around 4th Dan.
dojo
the area where training takes place. Students are expected to behave with dignity when in the dojo.
tatami
mat
kuzushi
breaking the balance of the opponent, often as preparation for a throw.
iaido
a martial art which involves drawing the sword and cutting in the same motion. Very stylised, and often practised by the senior grades in the SJJA for the benefits in posture and form which can be gained from it.
bokken
a wooden sword used in kenjutsu or iaido.
embu
a training format in ju jitsu which allows exponents to use their knowledge of techniques creatively in an environment of continuous activity.
tori
the person who performs the technique.
uke
the person who "receives" the technique.