Many people come to Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy to learn self defense, others may have different fitness, technical or spiritual goals. We will help you to strive to reach them, though they will all require effort, hard work and commitment. We pride ourselves in providing a friendly and inspiring place to train . New participants, whether experienced martial artists or complete beginners, ar
e always welcome. Please feel free to stop by at any class, any time of year, to see if classes in Judo or Ju Jitsu are what you are looking for. Beginners are welcome all year round, and your first couple of sessions are free. As the sessions are practical, it's best to wear something loose and comfortable like a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, a belt and gi jacket can be borrowed from the changing room. Judo is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano from his studies in classical ju jitsu (mostly Tenji-shinyo ryu and Kito ryu schools). Judo teaches the principle of flexibility in the application of technique. This is the flexible or efficient use of balance, leverage, and movement in the performance of Judo throws and other skills. Skill, technique and timing, rather than the use of brute strength, are the essential ingredients for success in Judo. For example, in Judo classes you may learn how to give way, rather than use force, to overcome a stronger opponent. Judo is mostly recognised for its competitive element (shiai), where the object is to either throw or takedown one’s opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one’s opponent with a grappling manoeuvre, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking or by executing a strangle hold or choke. However the study of formalised technique (kata) and the application of technique in free-practice (randori) are far more important to developing good Judo for application to shiai. The founding principles of Judo; "Maximum Efficiency” (Seiryoku Zenyo), and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit" (Jita Kyoei) can also be used in our dealings with others in life. The ultimate goal in Judo is to develop oneself to the maximum extent possible, always striving for perfection, so that you can contribute something of value to the world. The style of ju jitsu taught at Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy is from two schools - Shorinji kan ju jitsu and Olivecrona ju jitsu. We are primarily a close quarters, grappling martial art, with an emphasis on self-defence situations. We do some vital point striking, defensive movement, a lot of joint locking, falling, and a lot more throwing. We learn defences from punches, kicks, headbutts, a variety of grabs, armed attackers, and multiple attackers, both armed and unarmed. At Mudansha grades Ju Jitsu is taught via pre-arranged kata like movements with a partner whilst the techniques or tools of the art are learnt. At Yudansha level Ju Jitsu is experienced in a more free format. The syllabus is that of the Shorinji Kan ju jitsu school, taught via the principles within Olivecrona ju jitsu.
