Our Syllabus

With a focus on self-defence skills that can be applied quickly and easily in real life situations, we have a varied syllabus which incorporates the best techniques from a number of disciplines.

The basic syllabus consists of the following;

  • Dojo etiquette and use of Japanese terminology
  • How to fall and roll correctly (break falls) to minimise personal injury
  • Atemi strikes and understanding key pressure points (Kyusho)
  • Various fighting stances for different situations and the importance of footwork drills
  • Different types of punches and strikes as well as the blocks and parry’s used to defend against them
  • Different types of kicks and knee strikes as well as the techniques than can be applied to defend against them
  • Various sweeps and throws to take an attacker to the ground
  • Techniques to escape wrist grabs, lapel grabs, strangle holds and head locks
  • Back-to-back wrestling techniques (ground work) to defend against attacks which end up on the ground

Students will learn self-defence techniques (including blocks, parry’s, counter strikes, sweeps, throws, joint locks and submissions holds) which will prepare them to deal with real-life threats such as;

  • Defences from a straight head punch
  • Defences from wide right and wide left punches
  • Defences from single and double wrist grabs and single and double lapel grabs
  • Defences from front and rear strangles
  • Defences from rear and front bear hugs
  • Defences from shoves, chest pushes and hair grabs
  • Defences from kicks

Seniors students are also offered instruction in;

  • Knife defences and drills
  • Basic Nunchaku and Escrima techniques
  • Multiple person attacks
  • Light sparring (basic boxing techniques)
  • Basic MMA and Kick Boking techniques

All students are encouraged to attend outside seminars to improve their all-round learning and these seminars are often provided at heavily discounted rates to the club.

How you progress

Grading’s are held twice a year (usually in March and October) and present an opportunity for students to demonstrate their developing skills and understanding of the syllabus.

Progression is measured by a series of coloured belts starting at white and finishing at black.

Junior grades are called ‘Mon’ grades; seniors ‘Kyu’ grades and for the most experienced, the coveted ‘Dan’ grades.

White                                       Novice

Yellow                                      8th Mon / Kyu

Orange                                    7th Mon / Kyu

Green                                      6th Mon / Kyu

Blue                                          5th Mon/ Kyu

Purple                                     4th Mon / Kyu

Purple stripe                       3rd Mon / Kyu

Brown                                     2rd Mon / Kyu

Brown stripe                       1st Mon / Kyu

Black                                        1st Dan

The club is developing a ‘Senpai’ or Mentor scheme to encourage those with a Dan grading to take their first steps into teaching. Typically this includes;

  • Taking a more active role within the club
  • Helping the Chief Instructor to teach
  • Mentoring juniors from the first three Mon grades (yellow to green) to achieve their next grade
  • Conducting the class warm-up and warm-down sessions (explaining the effect on basic muscle groups)
  • Developing and delivering simple lesson plans