Choosing A Dojo

A journey into the sometimes devastating and powerful art of JuJitsu will be that of a thousand mile one. It is going to be filled with amazing techniques that are very simple and many that are very complex. A old saying tells that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The start of your JuJitsu journey or first step will point the direction for your training. Getting started in your JuJitsu training can seem very difficult at first. As a beginner, you may not know what to look for or what questions to ask.

First of all getting started in JuJitsu means choosing a Dojo (school), buying your first Gi (uniform), and showing up for your first class.

The Sensei

A major consideration for being successful in your JuJitsu training is qualified and competent Sensei. Being a good Sensei (teacher) is more than just a high rank or recognized affiliation, all though these things are also important. The Sensei must be able to instruct. It is common practice in JuJitsu that the beginning student will learn a great deal from assistant instructors, as they are advanced in their training. The advanced student will train more directly with the Head or Chief instructor. The head instructor may or may not directly teach beginners, it is considered a great honor when they do teach beginners.

Your Goals and the Dojo's

It is important to know what you motivation is for studying JuJitsu and what the motivation of the Dojo is for teaching it. What are the specifics you want to learn from JuJitsu, self-defense or the art of JuJitsu. Self-defense and the art are not the same thing. Most JuJitsu Dojo's teach varying amounts of self-defense and may or may not be focused on the traditional art. At Goshinkan-Ryu Dojo's your first two belt levels are almost completely self-defense with some Japanese tradition. The last four belts are filled with JuJitsu tradition and the complexity of the art.

The focus of each JuJitsu dojo may vary according to the style and the instructor. The right dojo is the one that best matches your reasons and ethics. It is important for the new student know there reasons when they are looking for a dojo to learn JuJitsu from.

Financial Responsibility

Training in JuJitsu comes with a financial commitment and responsibility. It is important to know up front what financial agreement and contract you will face as a new student. Some dojo's have monthly rate plans or yearly with unlimited class attendance.

Class Size

Class size can be an important factor in finding the right dojo. Being that JuJitsu is a more complex than most martial arts more personal instruction is important which you will only find in a smaller class.

Cleanliness of the Dojo

The clutter of cleanliness of a JuJitsu dojo indicates the Sensei's desire to make a comfortable training place for students. Cleanliness has many health benefits, a dojo that is too cluttered, or not clean, indicates a cluttered and unkempt mind. The advanced student will take active responsibility for the dojo's cleaning and upkeep.