Thatcham Club
Aiuchi Jiu Jitsu, is a self defence martial art. It shows you how your body's movement can be used to give power to techniques which can be applied against an attacker. In Jiu Jitsu speed and power do not arise from physical strength, but are generated by the body's own natural movement, relaxed attitude and focused mind.
Jiu Jitsu is a physical and mental discipline that provides effective self defence and self development. It is a traditional Japanese martial art that has been tried and tested over many hundreds of years, with a wide variety of techniques which rely on the principles of softness, compliance and flexibility. Today it is found in many self-defence and restraint techniques used by police and armed forces the world over, and is the basis of the physical skills taught in most self-defence courses. It takes a rational approach to the way the body works and how to make the best use of your size and strength when dealing with an attacker.
Jiu Jitsu means literally the 'Gentle Art', as it relies on the application of technique rather than strength. In the same way that a willow tree bends with the wind, so too should a practitioner of Jiu Jitsu adapt to the force of the attack and turn it to his or her advantage. Jiu Jitsu consists of a wide range of techniques which include joint locks, throws, immobilisations and strikes to nerve points and vulnerable parts. Practice of Jiu Jitsu encourages awareness, confidence and adaptability to circumstances. These are crucial elements in personal safety.
Our style is adapted as a modern form of self-defence in both how the style is applied and in how we train.
Aiuchi can be translated literally as "Inner Harmony". This means that it is the combination of body, technique, and mind that is essential to the successful performance of the art. Whilst it is an advantage to have a fit and healthy body, physical strength is of little importance in the mastery of jiu jitsu. Aiuchi doesn't just teach techniques which can be applied against an attacker, but also how your body's movement can be used to give power to those techniques. In Aiuchi Jiu Jitsu speed and power do not arise from physical strength, but are generated by your body's own natural movement, combined with a relaxed attitude and a focused mind.
Although there are many techniques to learn and mastery takes time, there is much which can be learned simply and used quickly if the need arises. The purpose of Aiuchi Jiu Jitsu is to give greater confidence to the user, and to stimulate mental and physical development.
Training takes place in a controlled and friendly environment. Students train on soft foam mats, and safe imitation weapons are used. Safety is always important, and students are encouraged to train with care and control, and with respect for training partners. Training should always be taken seriously as in any physical art, but it should also be fun. We learn better if we are relaxed and enjoying ourselves, so our instructors aim to get a good balance between serious training and serious fun. Training should be enjoyable, stimulating, and also very rewarding.