Combat Ju-Jitsu
I hold a 3rd Dan in Combat Ju-Jitsu and a 1st Dan in Modern Street Combat.
I teach a structured and fairly formal syllabus (though the class is anything but formal), for the simple reason that you can only progress so far without a thorough grounding. However, grading is strictly optional. Everyone is taught the core techniques and much of the advanced syllabus, and can emphasise whichever aspects of the system they wish.
We do not use the so-called ‘traditional’ trappings of the martial arts. Many of those ‘ancient Japanese traditions’ in fact date from the 1970s, but that’s a separate issue… point is, we don’t insist on special titles for instructors or bowing on and off the mats. Simple day-to-day courtesy is fine. We’re Westerners, not Japanese, and it’s the 21st Century. We’re training here and now, so there’s little point in pretending to be people we’re not, nor to try to recreate an idealised version of there-and-then. I know that others think differently and that’s their right, but to me it makes sense just to be who we are.
For my money Ju-Jitsu has the most to offer of all martial arts when it comes to personal combat and self-protection, but only if it is taught and trained properly. We emphasise the applications of the system (for self-defence, competition or just because that’s how we judge if you’re any good or not) over the technicalities, but of course solid technical ability is one of the necessities to be able to use a martial art effectively.
That said, I have no objection to people just wanting to learn for learning’s sake, or to gain grades for whatever purpose. In fact (with obvious exceptions for illegal, immoral or obviously lunatic intentions) I don’t mind what the reasons someone has for training. So long as those reasons are good enough to come to the class and train properly, that’s fine with me. I’m all about self-defence, but that doesn’t mean my students have to be.
Classes vary depending on how many people we have, and who. We might use a seminar-style group teaching system one session, and a more individual setup the next. In any case the progression is much the same for any given technique. Students are shown a technique, walk through it a few times, then learn to ‘do’ it. Learning is a matter of drilling the technique using pads or set-piece drills until it can be performed effectively.
Once a technique can be ‘done’ then the next stage is to learn to apply it through freeform self-defence drills, rolling, sparring and Randori (in our context, that means both grappling and striking are permitted). If you just stop at being able to ‘do’ or ‘demonstrate in class’ any given technique, then it won’t work when you need it. It’s necessary to learn to apply what you know and to integrate it with the rest of your knowledge. That means ‘live’ self-defence drills, sparring, rolling and the like as well as more formal set-piece work.
For those that want to grade, the option is there, but that’s what it is – an option. Grades can be taken whenever the student is ready, or never. We do not charge for grades, but some students simply do not want to take them. I can empathise with that – I’ve never cared much about grading – so it’s left optional.
However, there are a few things in the class that are grade-dependent, mainly for insurance reasons. Not having a certain grade does not prevent students from sparring, rolling and the like, but having certain grades means that they can do so without close supervision. Thus we view grades as enabling students to have more freedom in class rather than lacking grades being an obstacle.
Higher grade equates to less supervision and more autonomy over what you train and when. This is mainly an insurance issue – if you’ve passed a grade that includes safe rolling, then we can reasonably trust you to roll safely. That means you can roll while the instructor is not directly supervising. However, it doesn’t mean you can roll whenever you please – there has to be some structure to a class or else chaos ensues. Chaos can be interesting, but it’s not always desirable.
For those who want them, we have four belts between white and black belt. We don’t actually wear a gi and belt in class, so the grades are titled, though the belt equivalent is useful when comparing grades with other arts.
Beginners have no grade. The equivalent would be white belt
Novice equates to yellow belt and covers the core techniques. A yellow belt is expected to be competent in breakfalls, basic takedowns, elementary striking and joint locks.
Intermediate students are equivalent to green belt. They are expected to be able to perform basic combat throws plus chokes and strangles, striking and kicking, and to be competent to engage in sparring.
Advanced students are equivalent to blue belts and are expected to show competence in advanced throwing and kicking techniques plus groundfighting and self-defence applications of their techniques.
Senior students are equivalent to brown belts and are expected to be highly competent in ‘standup’ and ground-fighting situations as well as applications of their techniques to armed and multiple assailants.
Black Belt 1st Dan is a culmination of all that has gone before. The candidate is expected to demonstrate the full range of techniques with a high degree of skill in all areas. Higher Dan grades build on this knowledge and are tested accordingly.
Instructors are separately qualified. A black belt denotes the ability to perform a martial art to a high level, not to teach it. Those that want to teach will be certified as instructors when they are ready, but students are not required to become instructors. They may choose to do so if they wish and meet our standards, but no-one is ever pushed into teaching or opening a class.
In short, the class is open and informal, and we try to accommodate the needs of anyone who wants to train. Nobody is forced into anything – a student who does not want to roll or spar does not have to. This does mean that there is a point you can’t progress beyond, but we find that if you give students enough time and proper preparation they will usually find that things that seemed scary are actually doable. Better that someone eventually passes an obstacle than leaves the class because they were pushed into tackling it before they were ready.
The overall syllabus includes:
· Striking and Kicking Techniques
· Joint Locks
· Chokes and Strangles
· Takedowns and Throws
· Groundfighting Positions
· Groundfighting Submissions
· Grab and Position Escapes
· Weapon Defences
· Tactics and Applications for Single and Multiple Attack Scenarios
· Self-Defence Applications
· Martial Sport Applications
Although the title is ‘Combat Ju-Jitsu’ we are influenced by a variety of sources including martial sports (MMA, submission grappling and the like), real-world self-defence and security/law enforcement experience as well as cross-training in other martial arts. Thus there are influences from Catch Wrestling and other Western martial arts, Muay Thai and Kickboxing, and the unarmed combat/officer safety/control & restraint systems used by military and law enforcement personnel.
The theory behind this is that if a given technique has been seen to work against a violent suspect or a trained athlete in a competitive martial arts context, then it’s probably valid. We do teach some techniques that would not normally be used in combat, but only as a teaching tool, usually to ensure a more complete understanding of the system. Often the underlying principles of a technique that is, at first glance, not all that effective will inform a number of other techniques.
Thus we try to balance immediately-useful material with a long-term development of knowledge and understanding. Quick-and-dirty will get you so far (and that’s a surprisingly long way!) but ultimately you have to fill in the gaps to reach a high level of understanding. You also (no matter how good you are) have to drill basics. Endlessly.
A few questions have come up repeatedly, so here’s something of an FAQ:
Is this an MMA school?
No. What we teach includes a lot of what you might call generic MMA technique, because we know it works under pressure and against a skilled, conditioned and violently resisting opponent. Most of what we teach could be used in an MMA match, but if you plan to compete then you need a proper fight school. That’s not quite the same as what we’re doing.
Is this a BJJ school?
No. Again, we teach a lot of stuff that’s also in BJJ (there’s only so many ways to arm bar someone, after all), but we’re not a BJJ class. We can teach you to take people down and fight them on the ground, and to be good at it. We can teach you things that aren’t done in BJJ as well. Many of them come from Catch Wrestling and other Western systems. But BJJ? No, not as such. I have no grades in BJJ and I don’t claim to teach it.
Who is the class/art suitable for?
Pretty much anyone, really. We’ve managed to accommodate a wide range of requirements and physical abilities over the years. That can be a challenge for the instructors but that’s our problem, not yours.
Is it any good for self-defence?
Yes. A lot of arts and schools claim that (truthfully and… otherwise) but our system has been pressure-tested and used effectively in the real world. I use CJJ as my personal combat system and passed an SDF Black Belt grading using it. The SDF grading was about the ability to deal with an attack, not to perform pretty techniques. To put that slightly differently I fought for that grade, against trained men, and my CJJ stood up to the test.
When can I spar/roll, and do I have to?
That depends entirely on the student. Most students start fairly quickly, but some need an indeterminate amount of time before they’re ready and that’s okay. Anyone who’s not safe doesn’t roll or spar at all.
How long does it take to get a black belt?
A better question might be: how long until I get really good at this? A given belt is just a signpost; what matters is what you can do. And for that reason, it depends greatly on the student. In theory, if someone came into the class who could do everything we require then we could run all the Kyu grades (coloured belts) together and do the 1st Dan test the next day. It’s an absolute standard and a measure of what you can do, not how much time you’ve put in.
More realistically, someone who’s not trained before could maybe do Novice and Intermediate (Yellow & Green) within the first year, Advanced & Senior (Blue to Brown) might take 18-24 months after that. 1st Dan… maybe another year. If you want a time frame, 3-4 years is reasonable, but it’s probably better to think about just getting good at what you do, and grades will just happen along the way.
Costs?
The class doesn’t run for profit. I pay for my own instructor insurance etc.; I take nothing out of the class, not even expenses. Grades cost nothing, though a 1st Dan grading might need a special booking so we’d have to cover the cost of the room. That’s pretty much the only cost – we have to cover the room booking. Some people choose to buy their own pads, gloves etc. – we don’t sell equipment so that’s your own business.
Instructor Qualifications?
I hold a 3rd Dan in Combat Ju-Jitsu. 1st Dans in Nihon Tai-Jitsu and Modern Street Combat, IL1 in Historical Swordplay and a Level 2 Olympic Fencing instructorship. I also hold a B.Ed degree.
Who Awarded These Grades?
My CJJ grades came directly from Dave Turton 9th Dan, head of ASMAA. My MSC 1st Dan was awarded by Stu Cutty under the banner of the SDF of which Dave Turton was the head. MY NTJ black belt was awarded by Dave Birdsall of Nihon Tai-Jitsu GB and ratified by Dave Turton. My fencing instructorship was awarded by Pat Pearson under the auspices of what is now British Fencing. My IL1 came from the BFHS under the auspices of Chris Stride and my B.Ed came from the University of Sunderland.
Do you have a childrens’ class?
No. It might be possible to accommodate relatively mature under-18s (say 14/15+) and I *might* run a self-defence course for under 18s if someone wanted one, but I certainly won’t ever be running a class for under 8s or anything like that. I don’t believe that the sort of martial arts I teach would be appropriate for young children.
What is the lineage of this system?
That’s a good one. In truth it doesn’t matter all that much – what’s important is what the students can do, not who developed the techniques. However, the best answer I can give is that the techniques mostly come from two parallel sources.
Much of the body of technique was taught to me by Dave Birdsall under the title of Nihon Tai-Jitsu. I don’t know who taught Dave, and his own website was rather cryptic on the subject, thanking his ‘NTJ teacher’ rather than a name. From comments made by others, I understand that NTJ bore a strong resemblance to Daito Ryu Aiki-Jutsu, so presumably Dave was influenced by someone who trained in that. I do know that he trained with Alan Tattersall for a time, and Alan was based in Liverpool. I’m told that’s where some of the original British practitioners of the Tai-Jitsu (i.e. unarmed) components of certain Ju-Jitsu systems taught, so perhaps there is a link. I’d like to get the chance to ask Dave Birdsall about this (never thought to ask while I was training with him) but for now, all I have is conjecture about that side of the family tree.
However, the other side is more concrete. I trained in SDF Modern Street Combat under Stu Cutty, and later directly under Dave Turton. MSC was largely derived from Goshinkwai Yawara as taught to Dave by the Warfield brothers. Their teacher was Kenshiro Abbe. MSC is heavily based in Ju-Jitsu (or more accurately, in the Yawara systems that predate the name change to Ju-Jitsu in the late 19th Century). Many of the techniques are near-identical to what I learned from Dave Birdsall as NTJ.
So the vast majority of CJJ comes from a fusion of these two parallel lineages, both of which derive from Japanese Ju-Jitsu of an era when it was a pure fighting system. To this I have added material from other sources, although in many cases these two paralleled what was already in the two main styles.
Much of the striking technique comes from what might be called ‘Muay Thai influenced JKD Kickboxing’ or something equally convoluted. Some comes from Pag, Boxe Francaise, Chausson, Savaux and Purring, which basically means that we like knees, elbows and low leg kicks. Some of the grappling was imported from Western systems including Catch Wrestling, and there is also some military combatives material incorporated.
There is also a fair amount of what can be described as ‘generic MMA technique’ and ‘things that have been found to work by doormen’ within the system.
I teach a structured and fairly formal syllabus (though the class is anything but formal), for the simple reason that you can only progress so far without a thorough grounding. However, grading is strictly optional. Everyone is taught the core techniques and much of the advanced syllabus, and can emphasise whichever aspects of the system they wish.
We do not use the so-called ‘traditional’ trappings of the martial arts. Many of those ‘ancient Japanese traditions’ in fact date from the 1970s, but that’s a separate issue… point is, we don’t insist on special titles for instructors or bowing on and off the mats. Simple day-to-day courtesy is fine. We’re Westerners, not Japanese, and it’s the 21st Century. We’re training here and now, so there’s little point in pretending to be people we’re not, nor to try to recreate an idealised version of there-and-then. I know that others think differently and that’s their right, but to me it makes sense just to be who we are.
For my money Ju-Jitsu has the most to offer of all martial arts when it comes to personal combat and self-protection, but only if it is taught and trained properly. We emphasise the applications of the system (for self-defence, competition or just because that’s how we judge if you’re any good or not) over the technicalities, but of course solid technical ability is one of the necessities to be able to use a martial art effectively.
That said, I have no objection to people just wanting to learn for learning’s sake, or to gain grades for whatever purpose. In fact (with obvious exceptions for illegal, immoral or obviously lunatic intentions) I don’t mind what the reasons someone has for training. So long as those reasons are good enough to come to the class and train properly, that’s fine with me. I’m all about self-defence, but that doesn’t mean my students have to be.
Classes vary depending on how many people we have, and who. We might use a seminar-style group teaching system one session, and a more individual setup the next. In any case the progression is much the same for any given technique. Students are shown a technique, walk through it a few times, then learn to ‘do’ it. Learning is a matter of drilling the technique using pads or set-piece drills until it can be performed effectively.
Once a technique can be ‘done’ then the next stage is to learn to apply it through freeform self-defence drills, rolling, sparring and Randori (in our context, that means both grappling and striking are permitted). If you just stop at being able to ‘do’ or ‘demonstrate in class’ any given technique, then it won’t work when you need it. It’s necessary to learn to apply what you know and to integrate it with the rest of your knowledge. That means ‘live’ self-defence drills, sparring, rolling and the like as well as more formal set-piece work.
For those that want to grade, the option is there, but that’s what it is – an option. Grades can be taken whenever the student is ready, or never. We do not charge for grades, but some students simply do not want to take them. I can empathise with that – I’ve never cared much about grading – so it’s left optional.
However, there are a few things in the class that are grade-dependent, mainly for insurance reasons. Not having a certain grade does not prevent students from sparring, rolling and the like, but having certain grades means that they can do so without close supervision. Thus we view grades as enabling students to have more freedom in class rather than lacking grades being an obstacle.
Higher grade equates to less supervision and more autonomy over what you train and when. This is mainly an insurance issue – if you’ve passed a grade that includes safe rolling, then we can reasonably trust you to roll safely. That means you can roll while the instructor is not directly supervising. However, it doesn’t mean you can roll whenever you please – there has to be some structure to a class or else chaos ensues. Chaos can be interesting, but it’s not always desirable.
For those who want them, we have four belts between white and black belt. We don’t actually wear a gi and belt in class, so the grades are titled, though the belt equivalent is useful when comparing grades with other arts.
Beginners have no grade. The equivalent would be white belt
Novice equates to yellow belt and covers the core techniques. A yellow belt is expected to be competent in breakfalls, basic takedowns, elementary striking and joint locks.
Intermediate students are equivalent to green belt. They are expected to be able to perform basic combat throws plus chokes and strangles, striking and kicking, and to be competent to engage in sparring.
Advanced students are equivalent to blue belts and are expected to show competence in advanced throwing and kicking techniques plus groundfighting and self-defence applications of their techniques.
Senior students are equivalent to brown belts and are expected to be highly competent in ‘standup’ and ground-fighting situations as well as applications of their techniques to armed and multiple assailants.
Black Belt 1st Dan is a culmination of all that has gone before. The candidate is expected to demonstrate the full range of techniques with a high degree of skill in all areas. Higher Dan grades build on this knowledge and are tested accordingly.
Instructors are separately qualified. A black belt denotes the ability to perform a martial art to a high level, not to teach it. Those that want to teach will be certified as instructors when they are ready, but students are not required to become instructors. They may choose to do so if they wish and meet our standards, but no-one is ever pushed into teaching or opening a class.
In short, the class is open and informal, and we try to accommodate the needs of anyone who wants to train. Nobody is forced into anything – a student who does not want to roll or spar does not have to. This does mean that there is a point you can’t progress beyond, but we find that if you give students enough time and proper preparation they will usually find that things that seemed scary are actually doable. Better that someone eventually passes an obstacle than leaves the class because they were pushed into tackling it before they were ready.
The overall syllabus includes:
· Striking and Kicking Techniques
· Joint Locks
· Chokes and Strangles
· Takedowns and Throws
· Groundfighting Positions
· Groundfighting Submissions
· Grab and Position Escapes
· Weapon Defences
· Tactics and Applications for Single and Multiple Attack Scenarios
· Self-Defence Applications
· Martial Sport Applications
Although the title is ‘Combat Ju-Jitsu’ we are influenced by a variety of sources including martial sports (MMA, submission grappling and the like), real-world self-defence and security/law enforcement experience as well as cross-training in other martial arts. Thus there are influences from Catch Wrestling and other Western martial arts, Muay Thai and Kickboxing, and the unarmed combat/officer safety/control & restraint systems used by military and law enforcement personnel.
The theory behind this is that if a given technique has been seen to work against a violent suspect or a trained athlete in a competitive martial arts context, then it’s probably valid. We do teach some techniques that would not normally be used in combat, but only as a teaching tool, usually to ensure a more complete understanding of the system. Often the underlying principles of a technique that is, at first glance, not all that effective will inform a number of other techniques.
Thus we try to balance immediately-useful material with a long-term development of knowledge and understanding. Quick-and-dirty will get you so far (and that’s a surprisingly long way!) but ultimately you have to fill in the gaps to reach a high level of understanding. You also (no matter how good you are) have to drill basics. Endlessly.
A few questions have come up repeatedly, so here’s something of an FAQ:
Is this an MMA school?
No. What we teach includes a lot of what you might call generic MMA technique, because we know it works under pressure and against a skilled, conditioned and violently resisting opponent. Most of what we teach could be used in an MMA match, but if you plan to compete then you need a proper fight school. That’s not quite the same as what we’re doing.
Is this a BJJ school?
No. Again, we teach a lot of stuff that’s also in BJJ (there’s only so many ways to arm bar someone, after all), but we’re not a BJJ class. We can teach you to take people down and fight them on the ground, and to be good at it. We can teach you things that aren’t done in BJJ as well. Many of them come from Catch Wrestling and other Western systems. But BJJ? No, not as such. I have no grades in BJJ and I don’t claim to teach it.
Who is the class/art suitable for?
Pretty much anyone, really. We’ve managed to accommodate a wide range of requirements and physical abilities over the years. That can be a challenge for the instructors but that’s our problem, not yours.
Is it any good for self-defence?
Yes. A lot of arts and schools claim that (truthfully and… otherwise) but our system has been pressure-tested and used effectively in the real world. I use CJJ as my personal combat system and passed an SDF Black Belt grading using it. The SDF grading was about the ability to deal with an attack, not to perform pretty techniques. To put that slightly differently I fought for that grade, against trained men, and my CJJ stood up to the test.
When can I spar/roll, and do I have to?
That depends entirely on the student. Most students start fairly quickly, but some need an indeterminate amount of time before they’re ready and that’s okay. Anyone who’s not safe doesn’t roll or spar at all.
How long does it take to get a black belt?
A better question might be: how long until I get really good at this? A given belt is just a signpost; what matters is what you can do. And for that reason, it depends greatly on the student. In theory, if someone came into the class who could do everything we require then we could run all the Kyu grades (coloured belts) together and do the 1st Dan test the next day. It’s an absolute standard and a measure of what you can do, not how much time you’ve put in.
More realistically, someone who’s not trained before could maybe do Novice and Intermediate (Yellow & Green) within the first year, Advanced & Senior (Blue to Brown) might take 18-24 months after that. 1st Dan… maybe another year. If you want a time frame, 3-4 years is reasonable, but it’s probably better to think about just getting good at what you do, and grades will just happen along the way.
Costs?
The class doesn’t run for profit. I pay for my own instructor insurance etc.; I take nothing out of the class, not even expenses. Grades cost nothing, though a 1st Dan grading might need a special booking so we’d have to cover the cost of the room. That’s pretty much the only cost – we have to cover the room booking. Some people choose to buy their own pads, gloves etc. – we don’t sell equipment so that’s your own business.
Instructor Qualifications?
I hold a 3rd Dan in Combat Ju-Jitsu. 1st Dans in Nihon Tai-Jitsu and Modern Street Combat, IL1 in Historical Swordplay and a Level 2 Olympic Fencing instructorship. I also hold a B.Ed degree.
Who Awarded These Grades?
My CJJ grades came directly from Dave Turton 9th Dan, head of ASMAA. My MSC 1st Dan was awarded by Stu Cutty under the banner of the SDF of which Dave Turton was the head. MY NTJ black belt was awarded by Dave Birdsall of Nihon Tai-Jitsu GB and ratified by Dave Turton. My fencing instructorship was awarded by Pat Pearson under the auspices of what is now British Fencing. My IL1 came from the BFHS under the auspices of Chris Stride and my B.Ed came from the University of Sunderland.
Do you have a childrens’ class?
No. It might be possible to accommodate relatively mature under-18s (say 14/15+) and I *might* run a self-defence course for under 18s if someone wanted one, but I certainly won’t ever be running a class for under 8s or anything like that. I don’t believe that the sort of martial arts I teach would be appropriate for young children.
What is the lineage of this system?
That’s a good one. In truth it doesn’t matter all that much – what’s important is what the students can do, not who developed the techniques. However, the best answer I can give is that the techniques mostly come from two parallel sources.
Much of the body of technique was taught to me by Dave Birdsall under the title of Nihon Tai-Jitsu. I don’t know who taught Dave, and his own website was rather cryptic on the subject, thanking his ‘NTJ teacher’ rather than a name. From comments made by others, I understand that NTJ bore a strong resemblance to Daito Ryu Aiki-Jutsu, so presumably Dave was influenced by someone who trained in that. I do know that he trained with Alan Tattersall for a time, and Alan was based in Liverpool. I’m told that’s where some of the original British practitioners of the Tai-Jitsu (i.e. unarmed) components of certain Ju-Jitsu systems taught, so perhaps there is a link. I’d like to get the chance to ask Dave Birdsall about this (never thought to ask while I was training with him) but for now, all I have is conjecture about that side of the family tree.
However, the other side is more concrete. I trained in SDF Modern Street Combat under Stu Cutty, and later directly under Dave Turton. MSC was largely derived from Goshinkwai Yawara as taught to Dave by the Warfield brothers. Their teacher was Kenshiro Abbe. MSC is heavily based in Ju-Jitsu (or more accurately, in the Yawara systems that predate the name change to Ju-Jitsu in the late 19th Century). Many of the techniques are near-identical to what I learned from Dave Birdsall as NTJ.
So the vast majority of CJJ comes from a fusion of these two parallel lineages, both of which derive from Japanese Ju-Jitsu of an era when it was a pure fighting system. To this I have added material from other sources, although in many cases these two paralleled what was already in the two main styles.
Much of the striking technique comes from what might be called ‘Muay Thai influenced JKD Kickboxing’ or something equally convoluted. Some comes from Pag, Boxe Francaise, Chausson, Savaux and Purring, which basically means that we like knees, elbows and low leg kicks. Some of the grappling was imported from Western systems including Catch Wrestling, and there is also some military combatives material incorporated.
There is also a fair amount of what can be described as ‘generic MMA technique’ and ‘things that have been found to work by doormen’ within the system.
