Ju-Jitsu

Wanted to do this for some time and finally got my finger out!  Having started Karate many many years ago, I was always fascinated with the "other" aspects of martial arts particularly close contact "grappling". 

Why?

I found that the usual karate class teaching was focused very much on a narrow aspect of the martial art.  This always puzzled me as the Kata's i was taught and watched all seemed to have movements and "actions" which we never practiced or were never taught.  This is particularly obvious for hand techniques.  Many kata have techniques for gripping, locking, twisting etc.  Check out the YouTube link of Frank Brennan performing Kata Nijishiho and watch the hand and arm movements and you can imagine the application of the techniques.  They certainly seem like grips, locks, twists etc.

However, they do not seem to be taught very much in the usual Karate session.  So I decide to go find a class where I could become more proficient.  Did the usual searches and it appeared that Ju-Jitsu was the way to go.  But then there was the usual myriad of Ju-Jitsu forms.

I settled for the traditional Japanese Ju-Jitsu and found the British Ju-Jitsu Association and slowly worked my way through their website to find a local class.   The site does look a little dated, perhaps it's just "traditional"  :)   Anyhow, tracked down the class and popped along to try my hand.

I have to admit the husband and wife instructor team was very good. They took time with each new joiner, going through the break-falls to ensure we knew that we will be hitting the mats regularly!  That was straightforward.

Then we moved onto the first few moves of learning how to get out of front attack strangulation!  My karate instinct was to punch even before the hands reached anywhere inside my personal space.  But, I resisted the urge and allowed the slow strangulation and worked my way through the moves..

Other big thing i had to keep a check on (and was told by the instructor) was to ensure I performed the technique slowly.  I kept wanted to do it quickly and get to the lock or part where I made an attack - this bit was more familiar and felt right due to all my years of "block and punch" or even the pre-emptive punch training!

For two hours I thoroughly enjoyed the session, it kept my braining whirring away as i worked out where my feet, body, hips, arms, head etc were supposed to go for each movement.  I feel i am now on the way to becoming a more "rounded" martial artist.  But that will be a few years yet!

Which Style should I practice?

Everytime someone finds out that I practice Karate and have done so for over 30 years, there is one question that sometime gets asked.

Which style style should i start practicing?  or usually the other question is "Which style is the best?"

How do you answer these questions? 

To be honest, when most people start a martial art, typically they find the nearest club and head down for a tester session and sign up.  Or perhaps a friends is already training somewhere and they go along for a session or two, get hooked and sign up after a few weeks.

My start in Karate was no different.  I was at university and decided to go along to the karate class that was being run on campus.  I had no idea what style it was.  It was there and i went along.  Would be interested to know what other peoples experience was when they started their particular martial art.

Every style has its own unique perspective but it also shares many aspects with other styles.  The history of all martial art styles is intertwined, so any particular martial art is not defined by its own methods and practices, but by the people who practice the style.

It really comes down to the individual and how he or she "implements" the style to make it work for them. 
When starting out in a martial art, it probably doesn't make any difference where you start training as long as you are committed and give it your 100%.....every time!

The one thing I would add is that once you get past the first few gradings then it may be worth asking the question about the instruction that you are getting.  Is the instructor giving you the best instructions that really draws out the best in you.

It is always worth training at another club and training with different instructors.  After a few more gradings and particular once you have received your Dan grade (black belt in karate) it really is worth to go try other styles.  You will find techniques that are made just for you, or techniques explained and executed in a slightly different way so that they again work for you.

The challenge then becomes in ensuring you perform techniques the way your style permits particularly for gradings if you wish to continue grading !

So, does it really matter what style you start training? 

Not really. 

Warming up before training

What is the best way to warm up before a Karate session?

This is particularly relevant as the weather draws in and gets colder here in the UK. The dojo or training hall will be cooler or even cold as the weeks take us into Winter. It always concerns me when i see students walking into the dojo and "hanging around" waiting for the class to start.  As they are told to line up, the adjust their gi and stand upright wating for the premlinary "Oss" and bow before being handed over to a senior grade who does the "warm up" and stretching.

It is at this point i get even more worried, as i watch the pained expressions on peoples faces as they streeeeetch their tendons, muscles and funny faces!  Is this really the best way to way up and stretch for a testing all body karate session?

No, i think not.  The first and foremost thing about stretching is that you really should not do this from a standing cold start.  The tendons and muscle are probably tight and most damage can be done by stretching them in this state.

The best thing to do is to arrive a good 30 minutes early and after a quick change, start with your own warm up.  A gentle warm up.  This could simply be walking around the dojo just to get the blood flowing, raising the pulse rate and getting the bigger body muscles (your thighs!) flexed - these are are at the heart of your body's heat generation. 

Walk at first and then start to speed up into a slow and gentle jog.  You should feel your legs and body warming up even if you haven't broken out in perspiration.

If room is limited and you cannot get into the dojo, then walking up and down the corridor or even in the changing room will help.  You need your body warm and ready for a fuller workout.  At this point you can start some arm movements., circling them gently forward and backward.  Only when you feel good and warm should the whole stretching part begin.

Everyone has their own routine of stretching, so do what you are comfortable with or what you feel you need.  One thing to watch for is that you do not over stretch at this point, just take it easy and work through your whole routine and body.  The big thing to avoid, which i see a lot, is the "bouncy" stretch particularly of the legs.  STOP.  Bouncing up and down simply pulls and "twangs" your tendons unnaturally like a guitar string - which also break!  It is better to stretch slowly and hold for a few seconds, move to the other side of the body and then come back and repeat.  Work your way through your own routine and get ready for the session warm up and stretch.

Below is siome suggested reading for a making sure your warm up is effective.




If you have your own recommendations for a good safe warm up, please comment.

Be Safe!