Birmingham Martial Arts

Shoto Jissen Karate-dō – Adults Class Report for 29-10-2025

This session began with a light, consensual hand-striking sparring exercise designed to get the body warm and to encourage relaxed movement. The focus during this phase was on footwork maintaining mobility and managing distance, while keeping the exchanges under control.

From there, the group moved into two-versus-two drills, which introduced an extra layer of complexity and awareness. This exercise required students not only to manage their own movement and defensive positioning but also to remain responsible for a partner. The intent was to build communication, awareness of space, and the ability to adapt under pressure while maintaining a sense of teamwork.

The next phase involved a self-protection drill, where the objective was to protect a designated individual from one or more attackers. This exercise brought the awareness and teamwork elements together under a practical self-defence scenario.

Then students worked at close range, establishing and breaking grips while incorporating short, realistic attacks primarily elbows but others such as gouges, grabs, headbutts and knees,

Following this, we shifted focus to stance work through a series of controlled “bulling” or sumo-style bouts. These bouts were used to help students understand the use of stances dynamically, pushing, pulling, and resisting pressure, rather than simply performing stances in a static or formal way. This provided a practical understanding of how stances function to generate stability and power in real movement.

We then moved onto kihon, beginning from shizentai to reinforce control of one’s own body. Students recorded and repeated the close-range strikes they had been practising earlier in the grip drills. This was followed by travelling kihon “down the hall,” where we focused on reproducing the stances and transitions developed in the sumo drills, ensuring consistency between dynamic practice and traditional basics.

The final part of the class focused on kata and application, with particular attention given to the Jodan Age Uke sequence in being a solution to a lapel grab attack (which was a common problem faced during the grappling drills in the warm) .
• Junior grades approached the concept through Heian Shodan, exploring the movement as a simple but effective response to an incoming grip and follow up attack.
• Advanced grades examined the same idea through Jion, where the combination of gyaku-zuki (reverse punch) and a of the “stepping punch”provided a natural progression. This sequence was expanded to include an arm wrench and face gouge as a follow-up technique.

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Vladimir Zasimencko, Adrien Luigi Grilli, Charles Tamarra Castañares

Martial Arts Beginners Course
Starting Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Wednesdays -
6:30pm - 7:30pm - 5 years to 12 years
7:45pm - 8:45pm - 13+ Years Only

Main Hall at
Queen Elizabeth College
Oak Court Road
Harborne
B17 9AA

We offer an initial introductory class for free to see if you enjoy what we do!

Send us a Facebook Message NOW to book your space!
https://www.birmingham-martialarts.com/

Martial Arts Beginners Course
Starting Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Wednesdays -
6:30pm - 7:30pm - 5 years to 12 years
7:45pm - 8:45pm - 13+ Years Only

Main Hall at
Queen Elizabeth College
109 Oak Court Road
Harborne
B17 9AA

We offer an initial introductory class for free to see if you enjoy what we do!

Send us a Facebook Message NOW to book your space!

https://www.birmingham-martialarts.com/

🤝 AGREED vs IMPOSED VIOLENCE 🛑

Understand the difference — your training depends on it. There’s a lot to say on this topic but the bare bones are below!

AGREED VIOLENCE
✔️ Symmetrical
✔️ Consensual
✔️ Structured
This is sparring, competition, or scenario drills with mutual understanding. Both parties know the boundaries, timing, and intent.
🧠 It’s technical. It’s valuable. But it’s a closed environment.

IMPOSED VIOLENCE
❌ Asymmetrical
❌ Non-consensual
❌ Unpredictable
💢This is real-world violence. One (or more!) person initiates without consent, warning, or fairness. The other person didn’t agree to the rules — and doesn’t get a say.

🥋If you study classical karate kata - they are nearly always designed for use against Imposed Violence.

💡Inspired by the work of Jamie Clubb, Iain Abernethy, and John Titchen, who continue to sharpen the language and thinking around real-world violence and personal safety.

Today’s news report on school safety reflects the need to teach real violence prevention to our children. The key skills are personal decision-making; boundary setting; confident reporting; understanding their bodies and their rights.

If only there happened to be a brand new resource for this 🧐

(https://animalinstincts.ai/ )

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/apr/26/two-in-five-pupils-in-england-always-feel-safe-in-school-survey-behaviour?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other