Philosophy of Spirit Combat

Spirit Combat is a term which signifies the idea that the body and the spirit are in constant combat. To bring harmony to this situation: train the body to be accustomed to hard work and train the spirit to respect and accept the limitations of every day life. The methods taught in Spirit Combat strive to achieve this harmony in the experience of each student, in an atmosphere of disciplined enjoyment at whatever level or style of training. Spirit Combat holds true to the principle of tradition in the martial arts - passing on what is useful to the next generation of students - without becoming a slave to any one particular school of thought or practice. In this way it is able to fuse tradition with the needs and new developments of our modern world. Hence our logo represents the synthesis of the two aspects of the world - spirit and matter - and our maxim speaks to the right of freedom in thought and action:

Adult Syllabus

The Ju-jitsu syllabus for adults consists of ten exercises, (techniques,) practised from eight different attack postures. Thus there are eight forms increasing with skill level and difficulty from red to black belt status, but based on the same ten exercises. As the student progresses these exercises do become techniques and higher grades also begin to learn defence from random attacks and more sophisticated techniques not specifically in the form syllabus. This makes it a freestyle.

As the student becomes more adept in basic posture, attack and defence methods so his ability to effectively apply the techniques learned also increases and the student becomes more skilful and practised in the art of self defence. Students learn how to fall without injury from many different types of take-down and throw. They learn how to apply take-downs and throws. They learn how to block strikes, and how to deliver them, from hands, elbows, knees and feet as well as the application of pressure to certain weak points on the body. They learn how to lock partners limbs and how to immobilise the body on the ground. At the higher end of the grade scale students can learn the responsible use of wooden and metallic weapons

Attention is paid to proper warm-up and cool down procedures during junior and adult training sessions as well as to the individual capacity of each student. Learning about the movement of ones own and ones opponents energy is part of the black belt training system and leads into training influenced by Soke's experiences.

Students are graded according to their own development in a program designed to balance achievement with challenge. If students show promise in their teaching skills the opportunities are there for them to become qualified instructors if they wish.

Combat Ju-jitsu/Sport also available through the association, though not necessarily at each registered club This is a way of testing the form work achieved by students in a competition setting, where they and their opponents are attempting to avoid being struck, locked or thrown, while attempting to break the defensive capabilities of the opponent.