Frequent Questions

We welcome new members … both new to jujutsu or with experience and gradings from other jujutsu (jujitsu) schools … The following questions and answers will assist in gaining an understanding of the martial arts and of Australian Society of Ju-Jitsuans.

Today you have so many different disciplines, styles, systems of martial art to choose from, it can be confusing. While it may be an oversimplification, it is easier to understand if we group the different martial arts into just three categories: grappling, boxing and weapons. The grappling styles predominantly give way to an opponent’s force and include Jujutsu, Judo, Aikido, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The boxing styles predominantly meet the opponent’s force with force and include Karate, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai. The weapon styles practice with various weapons and include: Jojutsu, Kendo and Iaido. Many schools will cross over to include some aspects from other groups e.g., ASJJ jujutsu includes grappling and weapon practice.

This will vary between disciplines and with the number of training hours you can devote each week. In some schools it is not unrealistic that it could take around 5 years or longer.  We recommended you seek out a martial art school that provides students with a structured training curriculum or syllabus that clearly sets down what is required to progress through each of the grade levels towards attaining a black belt … this is the case in ASJJ, where students have their own copy of the training syllabus and are encouraged, together with their coach, to set down realistic goals.

Although receiving a black belt is a very high achievement, there are still many ranks above black belt which are commonly called “Dan” or “Degree” with black belt or Shodan being 1st Dan or 1st step. Regardless of the martial art you choose, look for a school that has the depth of knowledge within its Dan rank sensei and capacity to teach and grade you up into the higher Dan ranks … ASJJ with over 100 years of history has this ability.

Properly taught and practiced they are both art and science, although this will rely much on the knowledge and skill of the coach. With the education programs available to coaches of martial arts there are many opportunities for a better understanding of the sciences that underpin the techniques. Within ASJJ coaches are accredited, and appropriate sport sciences are incorporated within our curriculum.

When you consider that you could start training in the martial arts at a young age and still be involved in retirement then the answer is probably a definite yes. When properly taught, martial arts include discipline and a philosophy which is an ideal guide for a healthy mind and lifestyle.

The Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Sport Australia, provides recognition in Australia for around seventy National Sporting Organisation’s (NSOs). This includes the Australian Jujitsu Federation (AJF). Australian Society of Ju-Jitsuans is the foundation member of the AJF.

Absolutely! Obviously like any sport there needs to be rules and many aspects of what you will learn may not be permitted in competition … this however in no way prevents those who wish to do so aspiring to enter competition and competing at World Titles.  Learn More →.

This will depend on the syllabus of the jujutsu school … however when you study the depth and breadth of what is taught within Australian Society of Ju-Jitsuans you will appreciate we go far beyond what might be perceived or demonstrated as MMA.  Learn More →.

There are no universal criteria by which black belt ranks are awarded. Like any formal qualification, black belt ranks, Dan or Degree should be certified by an organisation that has a recognised national or international status to award such qualification. As a minimum, the issuing authority should be a member of a recognised national or international authority. To attain the qualification, the candidate should have trained and studied within the style and system of the awarding body, which in turn should have monitored and assessed the performance of the candidate.

Sadly, yes. They usually require you to pay a fee and sign-up as a member, then send a resume and photo, plus other certificates. Pay another fee, and they issue a grade certificate. All this takes place over the internet, without the issuing organisation ever seeing the person perform. No reputable organisation ever operates in that manner. With technology today it is not difficult to produce your own certificate which can look very authentic.

It is best to ask the sensei or coach to produce evidence of grade in what they are teaching. If they accept persons under the age of 18-years they should also have evidence of a working with children clearance.

As you may devote many years to your chosen martial art, you may wish to do some personal research to be sure any qualification you attain is recognised beyond the school that issued it … unfortunately this is not always the case.

This is a national program originally known as the NCAS and developed by the Australian Coaching Council (ACC) then transferred to the Australian Sports Commission and now with Sport Australia. In the late 1970s national sports were invited to develop coaching programs under the NCAS. The Australian Society of Ju-Jitsuans (ASJJ) was one of the first sporting associations to develop coach programs complying with the NCAS at all three-levels of accreditation.  These face-to-face courses were held for coaches both jujutsu and later related martial arts (Aikido, Aiki Jujitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Jujitsu, Jūjutsu, or Kenpo Jujitsu) throughout Australia from 1980 through to 2019. Today this program is administered under the Australian Jujitsu Federation,

Australian Society of Ju Jitsuans (ASJJ), holds a wealth of documents that clearly establish jujitsu was being taught in Australia as early as 1906 together with other evidence that dates earlier with the oldest records dating to visits of war training ships of the Japanese navy in the late 1800s. A small part of this information is shared on this website under “what is jujutsu?”  Learn More →.

Jujitsu can be very different between schools, styles, systems, and interpretation, almost to the point of being a different martial art. We welcome new members and an opportunity to recognise skills and competency developed within another school … Together with one of our sensei at the ASJJ branch school of your choice, you will be invited to sit down and review the ASJJ syllabus against your own training and experience.

This is very easy … simply look up the dojo locations and contact or visit the school of your choice, complete a participation agreement and you’re ready to go. The first lesson for you and a friend is free. If you have any questions do not hesitate to CONTACT us.       Click for our dojo locations →

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