What are classes like?
Class sizes range between 15 and 30 people. People's ages range from 18 to 50+ and we have a mixture of men and women training with us.
We have a lot of beginners in class so it's always a good time to start.
There is very little formality, you do not have to bow at each other or address people in a particular way and there's no egotistical hierarchy to follow.
Each class is different and every one is equal regardless of grade. We change partners 4-5 times during the class. This gives you a chance to meet people, train with some of the more experienced students & essentially get personal tuition from one of the black belts if you want.
We train on a hard floor and you will be taught methods for falling safely onto it. Unlike many martial arts that are taught on padded floors, we believe that it is crucial for students to learn & practice how to survive in the real world of hard floors. However, this skill takes time to develop so you will not have to fall onto the floor until you feel you are ready for it.
You do not have to (unless you feel particularly compelled to):
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Strut about in lines
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Shout
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Learn Japanese
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Bow lots
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Accept everything you are told without questioning it
Most evenings end with a refreshing glass of beer in a nearby pub