Highbury Jitsu

Highbury Jitsu Club was founded in 2005 after 4 years at the Roundhouse we have now relocated to Sotheby Mews Day Centre.

Most students at Highbury joined the club without martial arts experience, and come from a variety of different backgrounds. There is a good mixture of male and female students, and a wide age range from fifteen to forty something.

We are a not for profit and volunteer run club.

What is Jitsu?

Jitsu is derived from the feudal Japanese art of Jiu-Jitsu (also known as Ju Jutsu). It is a practical and modern self-defense based martial art, incorporating joint locks, strikes and throws to deal with almost any attack imaginable. With a heavy emphasis on using an opponent's size and momentum against them, Jitsu is suitable for anyone; irrespective of age, strength, weight or gender. A history of our style can be found here.

Jitsu teaches moderated responses. An unjustified and unwanted grab does not warrant the same response as a knife wielding mugger.

What are the Techniques?

Jiu-Jitsu incorporates many types of techniques. Techniques are taught at the level appropriate to the grade of the student.

Progression

As Students become more experienced they can progress to a higher belts by attending a grading. Gradings are held every 3 months and Sensei will announce details of the next one and tell you when you are ready to take it. Each Grading is overseen by a Sandan, usually from outside the Region, to promote impartiality.

The general requirements for grading are:

Lower Grades

7th Kyu yellow belt: Basic safety and breakfalling. Moving out the way of attacks. Some strikes, wrist and arm locks. Dealing with grabs. Defence from a bottle (plastic). Four throws from basic attacks.

6th Kyu orange belt: More complicated breakfalling. Four more throws. Groundholds. More armlocks and grabs. Defence from a cosh (small stick).

5th Kyu Green belt: Seven more throws. Ground restraints and more groundholds. More wristlocks, headlocks and counters to armlocks. Defences from broken bottle (plastic) and knife (rubber).

Upper Grades

4th Kyu Purple belt: Advanced breakfalling. Ten new throws. Groundfighting. Counters to wristlocks. Defence against chains, bokken (wooden sword) and multiple unarmed attackers. Candidate must have passed the Assistant Instructor qualification.

3rd Kyu Light Blue belt: Very advanced breakfalling. Nine new throws. Nage No Kata Phase 1 (formalised throwing). Groundfighting, including strangles and full knowledge of groundholds. Defences on the ground. Defences from metal weapons and multiple armed attackers. Candidate must have held a Purple belt for at least 6 months and passed the Instructor qualification.

2nd Kyu Dark Blue Belt: Nine new throws. Leglocks. Groundfighting with leglocks. Defences using a cosh. Defences from a baseball bat and multiple randomly armed attackers. Candidate must have held a Light Blue belt for at least 6 months and have a basic knowledge of First Aid.

Instructor Grades

1st Kyu Brown Belt: Extreme breakfalling. Seven additional throws. Advanced groundfighting and full knowledge of TJF Judo rules. Defence against any standard weapon, including knuckledusters, chairs and metal knives. Defence against Boxer attacker. Students must have held a Dark Blue belt for at least 6 months, hold a valid First Aid certification and passed the Club Instructor qualification. Brown belts are fully qualified to teach their own Club, at which point they are an Acting Primary Trainer (Shodan-ho) and are entitled to wear Hakama.

Black Belts are the next grades