Essex Jitsu - Can I do Jitsu?

Can I do Jitsu?

The simple answer to that question is, "Yes."
The complicated answer is, "Yes, of course."

Jitsu is about the individual. We are teaching something to you. There are set techniques and all of them have varying collections of principles behind them that make them work. The difference is, we teach them so they work for you. Anyone can do Jitsu, it just takes some effort and a bit of enthusiasm.

Things you will not need to take up Jitsu:

Strength of a Bear

Jitsu is about using your opponents force against them. This takes a lot of thought out of a situation when considering what is reasonable force. The reasonable force you use is decided by your attacker. By learning the principles of the techniques and applying them in your own way - to suit your own body - strength becomes much less of an issue.
Speed of a Puma

Speed is subjective. A martial artist may look fast. They may be fast. In Jitsu, speed is more about predicting what your opponent is going to do. Throughout your training you will learn to recognise postures, movements and other signals that can indicate when your Jitsu will be needed. By reacting to these stimulii, it will appear that you are very fast indeed, but you are simply using your common sense.
Eyes of a Hawk

Just kidding around - this is just a gag about an old TV show.
Ultra Fitness

We've said it before, and we'll say it again - because it really is true. Jitsu is about controlling your opponent's force. Strength and fitness are not necessary, especially when you start. Your fitness will improve as you train (usually without you noticing it) and it will help for the later gradings, but in the context of learning and using Jitsu, you do not have to be very fit.
The High-kicking Ability of Jean-Claude Van-Damme

Why kick your leg up in the air? If you are thinking of taking up a martial art, then you may have seen advert posters for arts such as 'Tae-Kwon-Do' (for example). These posters often feature a picture of the instructor with his/her foot up by his/her ear, in some kind of crazy standing splits. Some people may find this sort of move is effective self-defence.
In Jitsu, we don't believe in high kicking for two reasons.

1. No matter how fast you can kick, it takes a relative age to get your leg that high in order to kick someone. After you have been practising Jitsu for a while, you would find it quite difficult to resist the urge to take their leg and tear it off while they are busy faffing about.

2. Why kick high (if at all)? To get their head? A much simpler and more satisfying solution is to bring their head down to knee height and kick it while it's there. Jitsu is fantastic for that. For an example, see Wrist Lock #2 under the techniques section.