COMBAT JU JITSU WALES
About Us
When starting a martial art, most people hope not to find themselves in a situation where they need to engage in conflict, but, if they do they would like to be better prepared than if they had done no training at all. At Combat Ju-Jitsu, we combine a number of skills and constantly evolve our techniques to adapt to the world around us. We use various kicking and punching methods to help aide an escape from a scenario and also numerous methods on how to contain a situation by more subtle techniques such as throws and restraints. Confidence comes from learning and applying these techniques, both in pressure testing in class and at our Grading sessions. That confidence often allows for de-escalation from conflict and a safe exit from a situation.
Whether starting as a young child or an adult, if someone chooses a martial art they are beginning a journey, hopefully to a Black Belt. It is not an easy path, and it requires determination and effort. Help and support is provided all along the way by club members
Some people join to improve their physical or mental fitness, others join to explore their own capabilities or to equip themselves with life skills. Whatever your reason, our classes are structured to cater for all; when you start you can work at your own rate, but over time your fitness will improve along with your skills and we’ll push you to become a better version of yourself. Everyone looks out for one another, and we try to make sure that everyone gets the most possible out of each lesson.
Our aim is to equip you physically and mentally to give you the confidence of coping with what comes your way.
One thing everyone tells us is how friendly and welcoming our Combat Ju-Jjitsu classes are. This above everything is of paramount importance, we train in a serious way with techniques that are meant to incapacitate an attacker, however, learning should be fun and in a room where egos have no place.
We have been running classes for 30+ years now and have a solid reputation for quality and standards, in partnership with our Governing Body NAKMAS. Across our classes, we have around 140 students a week training in personal protection and improving their health and fitness
When Kancho Ray Wonnacott started Combat Ju-Jitsu in the 1980’s, the club was a small venture and sought to be progressive, taking the traditional and moving with the times. Even then, the training was a very social activity and members bonded quickly and made firm friends, many of whom still train together today.
We continue to evolve our club, retaining the spirt of the original Wonnacott system and making every lesson both fun and a valuable learning experience for all our students.
Our main pillars are:
Be Respectful
This is a basic tenant of all martial arts and, all learning. At its heart, this is about respect for those around you, listening when being instructed, considering your training partners during the session and looking after each other. When combined with our Dojo Etiquette and the Equality In Sport framework, this pillar allows us to cater for all needs and abilities without judgement.
Be there
The best way to learn is to turn up! The more you train, the better you become and the more of a bond you create with those around you. You are there to learn so allow yourself to explore the different techniques.
Be Present
This is a little different to Being There. This is more about being present in the moment and getting the most out of every session. Some days it might be more difficult to train than others, you might have something going on at work, at home or be lacking in confidence about what you are learning. By focussing on the training, it can help to frame other issues and provide you a release from the everyday stresses of life.
Be Honest
If you have an injury, please let an instructor know. When we push you to increase your fitness and skills, we need to know if you have an injury, we don’t want to make it worse! If you aren’t feeling great in yourself, let us know. Physical training can be great for your mental health - we’d rather you turned up blue and left on a high than didn’t turn up at all.
If you are finding a technique difficult, say so – one of our instructors will help you through and get you on the path to mastering the method.
Have Fun
As well as the obvious benefits from learning Ju-Jitsu like fitness, confidence and self-defence, it’s a lot of fun! We try to make every class as varied and engaging as possible for both our junior students and adults.
Our Ethos
New video coming soon
FAQ
-
I am 31 years old, am I too old to start martial arts?"No, you are not too old to begin martial arts training. Our members range from 6 to 60 (some of them may not admit it!). Our training can be tailored to accomodate your fitness level and personal goals.
-
How long does it take to get a black belt?That all depends on your committment and ability. We run mutiple classes - the more you turn up, the more you learn, the faster you progress. We find that students tend to focus more on their growth and confidence, rather than a belt colour - progression then tends to come naturally, usually in about 5 years to a first black belt with regular attendance and comittment.
-
What sort of things should I consider when choosing a school?My instructor Master Professor Bill Grossman has a great write up about choosing a martial arts school on his website here: http://grossmanskenpo.com/choose_school.php
-
Do I need anything special for my first lesson?No, we’d recommend you wear loose sports clothing such as a T-Shirt and track suit bottoms (preferably without zips so they don’t catch or scratch).
-
Do I need any previous experience?No, our lessons cater for all abilities. All our members are friendly and approachable. Everyone started out as a beginner and has worked hard to progress to where they are now!
-
Do I need to book?No, just come along and join in, your first lesson is free. Just approach one of the Instructors and let them know you want to try it out! We’ll ask you to complete a simple Pre-Training Questionnaire to make sure we know what you want out of training and if there are any medical issues we need to adjust for.
-
Why pick Ju Jitsu over other martial arts?We believe Ju Jitsu offers a complete approach to Self Defence with throws and restraints as well as punching, kicking and wrestling skills. Traditional Japanese Ju Jitsu will allow you exploit the natural movement of your opponents body, our Combat techniques will give you confidence in proper striking methods should you need them and we pressure test our street defence techniques to provide our students with workable, realistic methods of Self Defence. Several of our members bring additional techniques along to showcase, ranging from Judo and Aikido to Kick Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
-
Do I need to be fit to start Ju Jitsu?No, because by training you gradually increase your fitness and you can work at your own pace to begin with. The group will support you regardless and we cater to every level of fitness. We will help you to push yourself to new goals however and you will quickly notice your fitness level improving.
-
Do I have to register my hands when I become a black belt?No, that is an urban myth. Martial Artists are not required to register their hands (or feet). You will however be entered onto the NAKMAS register of qualified black belts.
Testimonials
What do people say ?
