Who is eligible to train at Kizen Bujinkan Dojo?
Keep reading all rules to find out
Anyone who can abide by the rules (see bottom of the page) should be okay to train. Considering it is a martial art, we have a lot more rules and more strongly worded than many leisure activities. That only makes sense when you consider what we are doing and who might be learning these things. Work with us to make everybody safer.
Your health
Normal fit adult
Any adults who are fit enough will enjoy these classes – but by fit enough we do not mean “can run a marathon” or “must be able to do backflips and lift 100 kg” but you should be in generally sound health. You will have to be able to fall down. That is a non-negotiable part of training. We train you how to do it. But if you must not fall due to doctors orders, sorry but this isn’t for you. If you’ve had any major operations, or you have to take medications, or any other concerns you should check with your doctor. Things that would require a doctors note include pins, bone grafts, old fractures, joints that dislocate or have hyper flexibility, bad backs, or other dodgy joints, arthritis, brittle bones and any other degenerative diseases. If you have a condition that would prevent you from doing any other sport, apply it here as also preventing you. Just some common sense should be applied. Everyone will have to go through a basic fitness test, but this will be easy for most (i.e. can you sit down on the floor and stand up again? Touch your toes? Walk up a flight of stairs? Raise your arms above your head? Etc..) You don’t have to be superhuman. Just standard will do.
Is it painful, will I get injured?
Some pain, small risk of injury
The likelihood of injury is actually quite low. We train fairly soft, compared to some martial arts. You will probably get some bruises or aches. And you should be ok with that. We don’t hit beginners hard, and we try to not make it 2 hours of constant agony as that’s not enjoyable. You will experience and learn how to control your reactions to some pain, so you can build it up slowly and get used to the training and then you can settle at a level you’re comfortable with. Pain is very different to injury and we try to prevent the latter as much as possible. Of course you must accept that accidents can occur and so can injury and if you are not prepared to face these possibilities, then don’t start a martial arts class.
What should I bring / wear?
Tracksuit to start, water bottle
Loose, comfortable clothing is ok for the first few lessons. Most people choose tracksuit bottoms and an old tshirt with some sort of hoody if it’s cold. You can wear an old martial arts uniform from another art, like a karate, aikido, or judo uniform. Shorts are not generally advised but if you have nothing else… And socks on the feet. This is compulsory, bare feet will not be allowed on the mats, or shoes, even indoor training ones. You can buy a uniform and equipment once you decide you want to go further. We really want to stress – don’t buy anything before you get advice from the instructor on what to buy. People have been left red-faced and out of pocket when they have made assumptions about what to get.
Bring a water bottle and anything else you think you might need as it will not be provided.
What format will the classes take?
Unarmed / armed techniques, guidance from higher grades
You’ll be given a mixture of physical movement, techniques and information to learn. You’ll be learning how to punch and kick, put on an armlock, throw someone, how to breakfall and roll out of a technique to prevent injury, and ways to use Japanese weapons. We learn with wooden or foam padded weapons for safety and no live weapons are allowed in the dojo (i.e. our club hall). Blunted metal weapons are only allowed to experienced students and then only with the instructor’s explicit permission and supervision.
Here’s a list of (some of) what we train:
- punches, kicks
- blocks, arm and joint locks
- throws
- rolling and breakfalls
- staff weapons (bo, jo, hanbo)
- blades and swords (long and short swords, knives)
- rope, chained weapons (nawa, kusari fundo, etc)
- battlefield weapons (naginata, yari, etc)
- specialised ninja weapons
There is much more, but this gives you a quick rundown of some basics.
You’ll be training with partners most times. Solo training can only teach you so much. We don’t segregate age, gender or size, so your partners may be almost anyone. This is a great way to show that the techniques will work regardless of size and strength, and a great way of meeting new folk.
Training is gentle to start with, and shouldn’t be too sore except maybe some aches where you’re not used to it. Each week you’ll build a little more and you will start to get used to the ideas and the movement. Warmth and humour will be there throughout the classes and you will hopefully find it one of the best things you have ever tried in your life. You should not be completely intimidated and you won’t find yourself being shouted at, belittled and hit in the head for an hour by a blackbelt before you’ve even learned how to block. Other clubs might offer that, feel free to apply to them if that’s what you’re looking for!
Why should I train the Bujinkan art?
The Bujinkan is a very complete art, you are always learning something new and it becomes more part of your life than just a hobby. For yourself you will gain confidence, personal security, knowledge, as well as the technical physical aspects that go with any martial art. The Bujinkan is also considered philosophical and in our club it is taught with a sound, practical view on the spiritual aspects of the way of the warrior. Overall it can help bring serenity and fitness, comradeship and a feeling of accomplishment which is great for personal wellbeing.
Rules for all participants at Kizen Bujinkan Dojo
Please read these thoroughly as they all are important to your eligibility to train.
- Participants must be over 16. Proof of identification including date of birth required at first lesson.
- Participants must not have been convicted of a criminal offence.
- Participants must be psychologically fit for participation in a martial art. They must recognise and agree with British societal views on right and wrong and have never been diagnosed with a mental health condition regarding impulse control, psychosis or other such issues.
- Participants must have no drug or alcohol addiction or problems.
- Participants must have no contagious disease which may pose a risk to other students’ health.
- Students must make an effort to be clean, not smell of strong stale body odour (okay, we all sweat during a good training, but you shouldn’t smell like that before we start!) and generally show a level of respect to their colleagues and surroundings in this regard. Anyone who does not meet this will be kindly asked to leave the mats until it is sorted out.
- Participants must be aware there may be pain and a risk of injury in partaking of these classes, and that they undertake to train at their own risk. They further indemnify Kizen Bujinkan Dojo, and the Bujinkan organisation of any damages, up to and including death.
- Participants must have no physical condition which requires a doctor’s evaluation before participating; they must not be claiming any disability benefits.
- Participants will only ever use the techniques and knowledge gained from this course for self-defence or the defence of the innocent. They understand that legal views of self-defence may differ from their own and that judicial punishment may follow their actions if they do use these techniques or knowledge, whether or not they feel they were in the right.
- Participants must never deliberately injure a training partner and agree to undertake all care to prevent accidents.
- Participants must use appropriate language and actions – they will not use any defamatory, racist, sexual, homophobic or other abusive language. They will not continue any inappropriate action after being asked to stop.
- Participants must pay the appropriate fees in a timely fashion.
- Participants must have read these rules provided by Kizen Bujinkan Dojo and agree to abide by them. They understand that failure to comply with the instructor’s direction may result in being excluded from any classes and that refunds on monies submitted will not be provided under these circumstances. They agree to sign a form that will cover the above conditions before their first lesson.
Still interested? Then get in touch
Fill in the form to get us to call you, or call Bryan the martial arts instructor directly on 07392 299904. Or check class locations and times here.
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