1. Can non-students join the club?
2. What is Jiu Jitsu?
3. What's the difference between Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts?
4. What are the different styles of Jiu Jitsu?
5. What happens during a Jiu Jitsu session?
6. What should I wear to a Jiu Jitsu training session?
7. When and where does the University of Surrey club train?
8. How many people are there in the club?
9. Is there any etiquette I should know?
10. What costs are involved in learning Jiu Jitsu?
11. What do the different coloured belts and black trousers signify?
12. How do people progress through the grades?
13. What other Jiu Jitsu events are organised?
14. What is The Jitsu Foundation?
15. What social activities does the club organise?

1. Can non-students join the club?

Yes!! You will need to buy associate membership for UniSport, where we train. This costs about £50/ year and the form is available from the sports' centre reception. It's that or they charge you every time you come along!

2. What is Jiu Jitsu?

Simply put, Jiu Jitsu is a self-defense martial art. For further information, see "what is jitsu?".

3. What's the difference between Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts?

In most other martial arts, the students spar with each other - sort of like a toned down kickboxing match. We do not do this since many of the techniques we employ (i.e. wrist locks) are too dangerous to be used in this way. Also as jitsuka we tend to use throws and locks more instead of strikes (kicks and punches). Judo probably has the most similarities to Jiu Jitsu, but the emphasis is different - Judo is primarily competitive matches, Jiu Jitsu is primarily self defence.

4. What are the different styles of Jiu Jitsu?

There are many different styles of Jiu Jitsu, each with their own culture, way of teaching and techniques. The style we do is mainly based at universities (but not exclusively), and emphasises throws, weapon and multiple attacker defences among other things. Another style may have an increased emphasis on locking techniques and a different teaching style (for example).

5. What happens during a Jiu Jitsu session?

Obviously, each session varies, depending on who's teaching and so forth. For some idea, this page describes a "typical" session.

6. What should I wear to a Jiu Jitsu training session?

Eventually you'll need a gi, but jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt are fine to start with. If you have a gi from doing another martial art, that's fine too. Shoes/socks aren't worn and you shouldn't wear any jewelry, or a watch, for safety reasons. This page has more detail.

7. When and where does the University of Surrey club train?

Mondays 20:00 - 22:00 and Wednesdays 19:30 - 21:30 at the UniSport Centre. For more details, check out the training times page.

8. How many people are there in the club?

Numbers do vary over the year as many people join in September and drop off around exam time! There can be about 50 people at the start of term and this drops to about 25 people “on the mat”. We carry on over the holidays and these sessions tend to be quieter.

9. Is there any etiquette I should know?

Most of the etiquette in Jitsu is important for safety reasons, so it's better if everyone follows the rules. Don't worry, you'll pick it up in no time but here's some basics:

• To come on to the training mat, you should rei (bow) to the highest grade on the mat as they are responsible for keeping it safe.
• If you need to leave the mat, ask the highest grade and they will rei you off. This helps keeps the mat clean as well ensuring everyone's safety.
• When training with someone, you always rei before you start. This signifies the start of training so you'll try and kill each other now and still be friends later!!
• If it's your birthday, you should be bounced. No reason other than it's fun!!

10. What costs are involved in learning Jiu Jitsu?

• Sessions cost £1.50-2 at our club and other clubs are comparable.
• A license costs £19.50 and £17.50 for renewals. You buy this after about a month.
• A gi costs about £30.
• Gradings cost £12 and regional courses £10.
• Drinks can cost a lot as you need a few to recover each week.

You get some of the money for gradings, regional courses etc. back from club funds.

11. What do the different coloured belts and black trousers signify?

Jitsuka progress through the grades, gaining a different colour belt, by passing gradings (see below). The colours in order are: white (novice), yellow, orange, green, purple, light blue, dark blue, brown, black. Everyone progresses at different rates but it's possible to get to black in 4 years. The majority of people take longer!

Instructors wear black trousers called hakama (袴). They train for years to become an instructor and then complain about how awkward the hakama are.

For more information on the grading system, see York’s website.

12. How do people progress through the grades?

By going to gradings, which are basically one long, tiring session where you try to impress a really high-up Dan (black belt).

13. What other Jiu Jitsu events are organised?

Regional courses where all the clubs from the region get together. National courses where clubs from the whole country meet for a great session (oh, and a bit of Jitsu). First aid and instructor courses, gradings, competitions and lots of socialising!!

14. What is The Jitsu Foundation?

Click for TJF's website.

15. What social activities does the club organise?

We go to the bar after every session and also hold parties, go bowling etc. It's basically up to the club members to decide what they'd like to do! See the events section for more information.