Here at Yanagi-No-Ki Jiu-Jitsu, we have over 45 years’ experience in the arts of Jiu-Jitsu, Kyūjutsu and much more. Our main instructor also prides themselves as being one of only three qualified Yamabushi-Ryu Kyūjutsu instructors in the whole of the UK.
All of our instructors are CRB checked, first response trained, and fully insured, and our club is a member of Jiu-Jitsu International.
Jiu-Jitsu (or Jujutsu - 柔術) is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat, used by the Samurai of feudal Japan for defeating an armed and armoured opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon.
Initially there was limited striking in Jiu-Jitsu, as it was more often used against an armoured opponent and practitioners discovered the most efficient methods for neutralising an enemy came through the application of pins, joint locks, and throws.
Jiu-Jitsu (in its more familiar forms as seen today) first began to be documented during the Sengoku era of the Muromachi period where various Japanese martial arts (from small weapon based methods to and including hand-to-hand forms) were combined and used on the battlefield mainly in situations where weapons were lost or less effective.
Our Jiu-Jitsu classes include a whole range of combined techniques such as trips, strikes, escapes, defences, sweeps, joint locks and take downs. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him and/or adding their own rather than directly opposing the attacker. This makes Jiu-Jitsu applicable to many and all, so to that end, Traditional Jiu-Jitsu is not a sport but a true martial art and has become a “mother” form to many off-spring styles you will find around.
Kyūjutsu is the Japanese form of archery, but more specifically it is the method / technique of fighting with the bow. It has been around for many centuries in Japan and during the Edo/Heian period it was the primary weapon of the samurai caste. The Japanese bow, known as the “yumi”, was used as a key weapon in battles amongst the various clans in feudal Japans turbulent warring history.
The bow has a long history with uses for war, hunting, ceremonial, and court games. Its design and physical makeup tends to vary depending on the country and culture of its origin. The Japanese yumi is asymmetrical in shape with the grip located at the top of the bottom third portion of the bow. The yumi is shot from the right-hand side, using the thumb to draw the string while the arrow is held against the outside of the bow.
During practice, the archer will shoot at different points located on the target (O-mato), and perform synchronised shooting in formation under command. The archer will also shoot from different positions, such as standing, kneeling, and firing from behind cover. We also aim for moving targets, thus allowing the student to understand and practice the drills used by the military archers in Japan.
Fast paced movement is an integral part of training, and the use of Japanese commands throughout the class gives the students a greater knowledge of the terminology associated with Kyūjutsu and helps maintain a sense of tradition. They are also designed to keep everyone safe as everyone is required to follow the commands without question.
Throughout the Kyūjutsu journey the students are graded and attend seminars with trained instructors from other clubs in Europe, all under the tutelage of the Yamabushi Ryu in Herne, Germany.
We have the unique opportunity to demonstrate and offer access to this very rare martial art, especially for the United Kingdom, that you also have the opportunity to learn from them.
There are several interpretations of the word "budo"; the Japanese character "bu" is constructed from the characters meaning "arms of war" or "violence", and "to stop, prohibit, or bring to an end" and "do" meaning loosely "way of". Therefore, budo can be translated as "way of stopping violence, by means of arms" or perhaps "way to bring about peace".
The warriors of Japan saw their skills as tools for maintaining the peace (and therefore protection of the nation) rather than an indulgence.
And although warfare was sometimes necessary to restore peace, it was always peace that was the ultimate goal.
With this in mind, we choose to follow the meaning of budo as in the path of small arms and practise in several forms of weapons specific to those used by the Samurai i.e. Ken, Jo, Jitte, Kyu, hanbo, and shakken.
We also run a self-defence class/course so come back later to see what is currently on offer. These classes will be run Thursday evenings, so if you are looking for something but not necessarily the full martial route or need a taster, then this is a recommended route for you with plenty to offer and has a structured programme that builds up to give a practical understanding that will give you plenty of confidence and maybe light the fuse to learn more. Just select the the link Get in Touch below to find out more.
To find out more about any of our classes or to book a place, get in touch with our friendly team today.
Yanagi-No-Ki Jiujitsu
Banstead Youth Centre, The Horseshoe, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2BQ
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