Why do Martial Arts?

Martial Arts: Is it really for me?

by Sensei Lynne Myerscough-Newton

No matter your age or ability Martial Arts really can offer you something but you should really understand the reasons behind you joining a club. Before you begin training.

·      Are you looking for competition?

·      Do you want to learn new skills?

·      Are you looking to improve your health and fitness?

·      Do you need a confidence boost?

·      Do you want to learn to protect yourself?

This list goes on and on…

Your first job is to find a club that best matches your needs and suits you.  Don’t feel pressured into choosing the first club you visit and don’t be pressured into signing a membership and buying a gi and insurance on the first lesson.  Shop around clubs offer many different options, talk to instructors and watch a session to see if it fits in with your expectations.  

Also check club credentials because there are no restrictions on who can open a club, do your homework and find out:

·      What qualifications do the coaches have?

·      What Policies and Procedures are in place?

·      Are the instructors DBS checked and how often are they renewed?

·      What Risk Assessments are in place?

·      What measures are taken to ensure your safety?

If they say  ‘no’ to anything, you cannot see evidence or if you don’t feel completely happy then walk away.  Don’t forget a simple google search on the instructor can reveal an awful lot.  Although people can request that certain information be removed, if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page it will tell you information has been removed.

Am I too old?

Again, I would suggest you have a clear idea of why you want to do a Martial Art and think carefully about your choice of club.

Mostly, I would say ‘no you are not too old’.  Just make sure that you are not overdoing it.  The fact is you will not be able to keep up with younger students, but by building it up slowly and will be able to give them a run for their money.  Above all be sensible, know your limits and stick to them, don’t be tempted to over do it because you will regret it later.

I have a health condition!

Always check with a healthcare professional before starting any new Martial Art.  Once you have been given the all clear and found a suitable club I would be honest and upfront with your coach, share the information you have and the medical advice you have been given.

As a sufferer of Multiple Sclerosis I have never had a problem doing Martial Arts as long as I stuck to my limits and didn’t over do it.  So STOP when you need to and see the session as a positive – look at what you have achieved and not what you haven’t done.  I try not to measure my progress against other students but against myself (I am not always successful, but I do try!)

Remember it’s your lesson and you control it

Overall Martial Arts can really enrich your life building on your fitness levels, confidence, concentration, flexibility, coordination, friendship, self discipline and this is just the start.  However, to be successful you need to be dedicated, have courage, be optimistic, honest and open minded only then can you really progress after all ‘a black belt is a white belt that never quit’

So if you are new to Martial Arts or fancy a change fill out a free lesson coupon and get yourself to an IJJA dojo – You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

The Shocking Truth About Sexual Offences...

1 in 5 Women are Victims of Sexual Offences

written by Lynne Myerscough-Newton

Shouting, crying, swearing, laughing, discussing the weather or sitting calmly all are perfectly normal reactions experienced by victims in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault, then the rebuilding of your life starts and can last several years.  Looking at the national statistics for sexual offences more victims are suffering than you would have imagined

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Whether it involves unwanted touching, indecent exposure or rape. 473,000 adult victims have reported sexual offences being committed against them in the past year, according to national figures released recently.

The study shows that of the 473,000 victims 4000,000 are women aged between 16-59.  These figures are concerning however, look deeper into these statics and they becoming truly alarming.

69,000 females and 9000 makes are the victims of rape while only 1070 people were convicted of the crime.

These figures remain estimates and many sexual offences go unreported, people feel they cannot contact the police due to embarrassment, many don’t feel the police can or will help, it wasn’t worth reporting or it was a family matter.

The fact remains that in 90% of the cases the victim knows the perpetrator and the system in place in today’s society do not sufficiently protect the victim of sexual crime.  The victims feel neglected by the system and receive ‘shocking treatment’ according to campaigners such as “Women Against Rape’.

Victims of sexual offences feel disempowered and long after the assault is over they relive, blame and punish themselves often suffering in silence.

Sexual violence affects lives.  Don’t allow this to continue. Protect your family and loved one and ACT NOW: Click Here!

Why Most Martial Arts Don't Work

They ignore Violence, Awareness and Prevention

It is rare to find a martial art that even looks at why, where, who and how violence happens.  Many systems rely on teaching one-size fits all philosophy, which fails to take into account the individual and their training needs.  It takes little time to prepare the student and get them thinking about the first steps that lead towards violence, whether it is an individual under attack, sexual assault, and domestic violence or at the other end of the spectrum war.  The individual needs to learn to prepare themselves and learn how to effectively handle a situation and prevent a situation from escalating.  Prevention strategies should account for most self defence yet they are non-existent in martial arts.

They Are Not Made For Self-Defence

Most martial arts were never made to work in a self-defence situation, they can look impressive but in reality would never work against an opponent who means you harm.

Judo and Tae Kwon Do are sports and have strict rules about how a ‘fight’ can proceed.   Still others such as Karate, Kung Fu and Kick Boxing use a primary training method, which is flawed.  Prearranged moves performed in thin air, the likes of which no attacker would use cannot help in a self-defence situation.  Still more clubs have an out-dated and stale syllabus that has not changed for years and bears no resemblance to close quarter combat needed for self defence.

I cannot stress enough that poor quality training and focus will not give you the skills needed to defend yourself.  You must train using completely uncooperative, fully resisting opponents, spend time striking, grappling, getting hit and avoiding these things.  If not no matter how hard you train, you will not be prepared for a real life attack. 

Why We Are Different

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The Benefits of Skill-Based Learning to You

In 2015 the IJJA will be introducing Skill-Based Learning (SBL) into all our lessons.  Most students may have heard me say this term but parents may not be aware of what this is.

In the years I have studied Jiu-Jitsu the emphasis by other Federations was always on demonstrating the correct technique.  But is there such a thing?

I have always said that outside you are more likely to protect yourself using basic blocking and strikes than you are doing techniques and locks.  Did you know you have to practice something 27 times repeatedly without error for your brain to subconsciously recall the move.  SBL is all about muscle memory.

Students on each belt will now be expected to perform SBL techniques which are directly linked to the techniques they are currently studying.  By doing this, you will become more proficient in what you are learning and will build up your Jiu-Jitsu knowledge to that next level.

SBL is all about you having the confidence to protect yourself and others outside from danger.  After all no-one will ask what belt you are outside in Jiu-Jitsu.

We hope that you will benefit from SBL and we look forward to seeing your progress in class.

Shihan Phil Newton
(President of the IJJA)