 |
 |
 |
  |
  |
|||
 |
|||||||
New Member Information
Kumo Jiu Jitsu
Welcome To Our Dojo
An Information Package for New Members
The Canadian Centre for Grappling Arts
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Canadian Centre for Grappling Arts. According to tradition, a dojo is considered to be a family, and to join a particular dojo is to become part of that family. We are happy that you decided to join ours.
This package has been prepared to help familiarize you with the way we do things at our dojo, and to explain our expectations of our students. As questions arise please do not hesitate to speak with me, one the instructors, or one of the other members.
We all look forward to getting to know your child(ren), and you, as we work together to grow in the Kumo Jiu Jitsu tradition.
Hanshi Darrell LaFrance
Kumo Jiu Jitsu – New Member Information
WHAT IS JIU JITSU
WHAT IS KUMO JIU JITSU
HOW DID OUR MARTIAL ART GET ITS NAME
PHILOSOPHY OF KUMO JIU JITSU
PHILOSOPHY OF THE DOJO
THE INSTRUCTORS
DOJO ETIQUETTE
CLASS SCHEDULE
ANATOMY OF A CHILDREN’S KUMO JIU JITSU CLASS
ANATOMY OF A BLACK BELT
WHITE BELTS
YELLOW BELTS
ORANGE BELTS
GREEN BELTS AND ABOVE
GRADING
CRITERIA FOR ADVANCEMENT
CONCERNS / SUGGESTIONS / COMMENTS / MISC
What is Jiu Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu, originated in medieval Japan where soldiers of the various Warlords used it to defend themselves against both armed and unarmed attackers under the premise that one should be able to overpower much stronger attackers and restrain or incapacitate them. Because of its origins, Jiu Jitsu developed as an all-encompassing combat system directed at allowing the practitioners to defend against a single untrained assailant or a group of trained combatants.Since Jiu Jitsu began as a mainly wrestling style of combat, the leaping and kicking movements found in many other arts (such as Tae Kwon Do) are not used. Instead, techniques that would be effective against an opponent wearing armour are common. These include throwing, joint locking, striking, choking, pinning, as well as weapons defence.
Over time, Jiu Jitsu was adopted by various people who then took various aspects of it and developed those facets into a new martial art with a focus on that one specific characteristic of Jiu Jitsu. For example, Karate developed the striking aspect, Aikido the joint locking and balance aspect, Judo the throwing and holding aspects, and Tae Kwon Do the kicking aspect. All have their fundamental origins in ancient Jiu Jitsu practices, and as such Jiu Jitsu is sometimes referred to as the 'Mother Art'.
Having said that, Jiu Jitsu is not as specialized as some other styles ( Karate for example, with its emphasis on striking ), however Jiu Jitsu remains effective because it encompasses all combat techniques and is characterized by “flexibility of technique” that allows a threat response varying from gentle but firm dissuasion to infliction of serious injury. For this reason the police and army are taught aspects of Jiu Jitsu as part of their training.
What is Kumo Jiu Jitsu
Kumo Jiu Jitsu is a unique style of Jiu Jitsu, developed by Hanshi Darrell LaFrance, that is patterned on the fighting style of the spider. It is based on the premise that one should be able to defend oneself against any style of attack, in any situation, by choosing a response that suits the circumstances without having to rely on strength and/or power.
Kumo Jiu Jitsu is faithful to the ancient forms of Jiu Jitsu which teach all aspects of self defense from both a standing and ground position. Students are taught how to control opponents with little energy or force, how to execute throws, off balance their opponents, apply pressure points, defend themselves on the ground, and of course how to kick and strike.
How did our martial art get its name
Hanshi was cleaning up the dojo one night and as he swept he noticed a grasshopper entangled in the web of a spider. Slowly the spider approached and a tremendous fight took place as the grasshopper attempted to free itself from the spider and the spiders’ web, but no matter how hard it tried, the grasshopper could not get away from the spider until soon the grasshopper tired, and the spider wrapped up his dinner and went about repairing his web.
Having seen this, Hanshi thought that it embodied the philosophy of our martial art and hence the name Kumo – which means spider in Japanese – Jiu Jitsu.
Philosophy of Kumo Jiu Jitsu
The underlying philosophy of Kumo Jiu Jitsu is that one should not have to use strength to defeat an opponent. Like the spider, a smaller individual should be able to defeat a larger opponent by using distraction to "set up" their adversary, taking away the means of using their strength, and ultimately subduing them.The style is based on redirection of force and the use of an opponent’s strength against them.
In keeping with this philosophy, many of the techniques taught in this style do not require strength to execute. Sensitivity to an opponent’s weight distribution, as well as an awareness of what is possible from a given position, are key to the anticipation and countering of an opponent’s actions. In fact, once it is realized that an opponent has very limited options, it is relatively simple to position oneself to counter those movements, in what would appear to be an instantaneous response.
Philosophy of the Dojo
Our dojo is built on the old traditions, one of which held with the viewpoint that the dojo is a family and that to join a particular dojo was to become a part of that family. This point of view is particularly relevant in our dojo as the style of martial being studied can result in serious injury if partners are not treated with respect and care that would be extended to someone of your own family. This way of thinking is one of the reasons that we plan a number of family outings every year for all the members of the dojo.
Because we are a traditional dojo, all the students are taught the customs that are part of being a martial arts student, and are also taught basic Japanese phrases and words.All the instructors at the Canadian Centre for Grappling Arts have been trained by Hanshi himself and have been studying with him for a number of years. In many cases they are in pursuit of their Black Belts and teach as a part of the preparation for that rank. They are all volunteers.
Instructors are in a unique position. Not only do they teach skills, but they must also instill self-discipline and confidence in their students, which is a role usually reserved for parents. In addition, instructors are not just responsible for one student but for an entire class of students whose safety is of paramount concern. Having said that, if you should have a concern about something observed in a class, do not hesitate to approach the instructor.
Hanshi
Hanshi Darrell LaFrance is the founder of Kumo Jiu Jitsu (The Fighting Art of the Spider). He holds the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt which is recognized by both the World Kobudo Federation and the American Budo Associaton.
Hanshi has been involved with martial arts for over 35 years, is the highest ranked grappling instructor in Canada, and has shared his knowledge openly with many clubs over the years. He pioneered the first free-style grappling tournaments ever held in Canada, and is the author of the World Kobudo Federation's tournament grappling rules.
In 1995 Hanshi LaFrance was voted Instructor of the Year by the Canadian Jiu Jitsu Association, and in 2000 was appointed Vice-President of the Canadian JiuJitsu Association.
Hanshi LaFrance is also in charge of Grappling World Wide for the World Kobudo Federation, and is recognized internationally as a leading authority on grappling. He has traveled to many different countries around the world teaching his unique style of grappling.Sensei Larry
Sensei Larry has been studying with Hanshi LaFrance for five years and currently holds the rank of Shodan. Sensi Larry handles dojo affairs in Hanshi’s absence, and has been teaching for over four years.
Sensei Brett
Sensei Brett has been studying with Hanshi LaFrance for almost five years and currently holds the rank of Shodan. Both he and Sensei Larry have been training together and teaching for over four years.
Sensei Jessica (Junior Instructor)
Sensei Jessica, has been studying with Hanshi since she was four years old and having attained her black belt, assists the Senior instructors with the Junior classes. She is the first Junior student in the club to be awarded a black belt by Hanshi.
Sampei Gary
Sampei Gary holds a blue belt in Kumo Jiu Jitsu, and a black belt in Karate. He has recently begun teaching as part of his training in Kumo Jiu Jitsu.
“Dojo” means “place of the way”. Etiquette is important in the dojo because it
• Is based on respect for oneself, for others, and for the dojo,
• Sets the rules and guidelines of behaviour within the dojo, which in turn helps prevent injuries,
• Is integral to the creation of a respectful and attentive atmosphere which is conductive to learning,
• Helps put all the distractions of life out of your mind so that you can concentrate on what you are doing.Etiquette in the dojo is not a question of rank. Everyone is expected to treat anyone else with respect and courtesy. Everyone is expected to know and always follow the rules of etiquette.
General Etiquette
• It is important to be on time and to participate in the ceremony which begins class.
• Remove your shoes before entering.
• Bow before stepping onto or leaving the mat. Always bow in the direction of the shomen (front wall of the dojo).
• If there is a senior person or instructor present acknowledge his or her presence with a bow and the greeting Osu (pronounced "Oos"). This gesture shows respect both toward fellow practitioners and the art.
• It is everyone's responsibility to keep the dojo clean. No eating or drinking on the mat at any time.
• No jewelry should be worn during practice.
• Your Gi should be clean and mended, but belts are never washed.
• Fingernails and toenails should be kept short.
• Speak quietly and maintain an attitude appropriate for serious practice
• Carry out the directives of the instructor promptly. Do not keep the rest of the class waiting for you!
• Do not engage in rough-housing during class.
• During the class, any student wishing to leave the mat or to practice something other than what the class is practicing, must first ask the permission of the instructor.
• Do not talk or walk around while the instructor is demonstrating or lecturing. Talking on the mat during class is impolite and interferes with the concentration of other students. When discussion is necessary, keep it brief and quiet.
• Never stand around idly on the mat. You should be practicing or, if necessary, seated formally, awaiting your turn.
• If for some reason it is necessary to ask a question of the instructor, go to him or her (never call out), bow respectfully, and wait for acknowledgment. A standing bow is acceptable.
• It is usually considered polite to bow upon receiving assistance or correction from the instructor.
• If you arrive for class late (a practice that is not encouraged), it is proper etiquette to wait, formally seated beside the mat quietly, until the instructor invites you to join. Once you step onto the mat, you should kneel at the back of class, close your eyes and meditate for a few moments to calm your mind to prepare for class. It is most important that you do not disrupt the class in doing so.
• If you arrive late for line-up, but before Instructor has come onto the mat, you should take your place in line after the white belts so as not to disturb the class.Before Entering the Training Area
• Upon arriving, shoes must be placed in the shoe stand or under it.
• Attendance cards must be placed in the clear plastic holder. If you cannot find a card with your name, please see one of the instructors
In the Sitting Area
Respect for others is as important in the sitting area as in the training area. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners in this area and to engage in quiet activities or discussions that are not disruptive or disrespectful to others. Older students are expected to provide a good example for our younger or newer students.
Anatomy of a Children’s Kumo Jiu Jitsu Class
The Children’s class at the Canadian Centre for Grappling Arts focuses on a mix of fun and learning.
The old saying “monkey see, monkey do” is very aptly applied to a group of children and it may be necessary to remove students from a class if a student is being disruptive. This is not meant as a punitive action, but is done to preserve order and an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Children, depending on age, tend to have a limited attention span and need to be constantly stimulated, otherwise their attention wanders and it becomes necessary to repeat instructions or even discipline students. This in turn takes away from the productivity of the class. The challenge then, is to keep children’s attention long enough to allow instruction on 4 - 7 techniques per class AND make the experience fun and interesting.To meet these goals, actual instruction time is kept to approximately 45 minutes and the rest of the class is devoted to some sort of enjoyable activity. The following is a general outline of an hour class from beginning to end.
Time in mins: Activity Comment
- 0 - 10 Warm-up The warm up takes the form of practicing troublesome techniques. At white and yellow belt levels this would be rolls and kicks, at all other levels, kicks and review of previous weeks techniques would comprise the warmup.
- 10-15
Class lines up
- Instructor checks nails for length and that belts (obi) are properly tied.
- The class is bowed in.
- Long nails are a hazard when grappling. Students know this, or become aware of this, and expect the 10 push up penalty for nails being too long.
- The Obi is an integral and essential part of the uniform and, as such it is important that it be tied properly. Children are encouraged to tie their own obis.
- 15 – 45/50 Instruction on techniques. The class is divided into belt levels and instruction begins. This period is approximately 30 – 35 minutes long.
- 50 – 58 Wrap up activity. This activity is one of the following: grappling, stand-up sparring, or a game. It is intended to give the children an enjoyable “reward” for working hard during class. From a practical perspective, it gives them an opportunity to use the techniques they have learnt (grappling and sparring) or helps to build co-ordination and control (a game).
- 58 – 60 Class is bowed out and dismissed.
- Students form single file and firmly shake the instructors hand on their way out.
Your First Class
- It is best to arrive a few minutes early in case there are any last minute questions and the instructors can ensure that gis are properly assembled and belts tied correctly.
- Shoes and socks are removed and placed in or under the shoe stand
- Attendance card is removed from the A/B wooden box and placed in the plastic card holder
- Bow at the entrance to the training mat and enter the dojo
Students at the Canadian Center for Grappling Arts start with white belts and progress through yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and finally achieve their black belt after approximately four to five years of study.
It is important to realize that belts are earned through a series of regular tests designed to evaluate a students’ knowledge of the techniques required at the various belt levels. Promotion in rank is not automatic based on time or any factor other than knowledge and skill. In addition, students are evaluated based on their own individual capabilities. This means that if they demonstrate competency to the best of their ability, even if it is not as good as the best student in the dojo, they will be promoted.
In general, students with white, yellow and orange belts should be eligible for advancement in belt ranking every six months, however at the higher levels (green and above) this time period is typically extended by two to three months resulting in advancement every eight to nine months. These are general rules of thumb only. The actual time frame depends to a large extent on the child, their abilities and how hard they work.
Grading takes place every three months, except where noted, and is preceded by two days of of pre-grading. Pre-grading is a process whereby the instructors can evaluate the readiness of a student for grading. If a student is not deemed sufficiently prepared for grading they will not be invited to test for advancement at that particular time. Students are therefore urged to be diligent in their efforts as a missed grading will result in a three month wait for the next opportunity for advancement.
Attendance is also considered in evaluating a student’s readiness for advancement. In the period between grading, a student must have attended a minimum of fourteen classes. Attending the required number of classes does not automatically qualify a student for advancement. Advancement is earned by proficient demonstration of required techniques. It is not automatically awarded at the end of a specified time period.
White Belts
Students at the white belt level are graded every month. Upon successfully completing the third months’ grading, a student is awarded their yellow belt. In the event that a student does not successfully complete the third month’s grading, they are awarded an appropriate number of stripes to correspond with their demonstrated level of knowledge, and re-tested for their yellow belt in one month.
Yellow Belts
Students with yellow belts and above are graded once every three months. Successful intermediate grading at three and six months is acknowledged with stripes on a student’s belt.
Orange Belts
A student has the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of the orange belt curriculum in order to advance to Green Belt at six months. In the event that a student does not successfully complete the six month grading, they are awarded a second stripe and re-tested for the next highest belt in three months
Green Belts and above
All belt levels that are green and above, require a minimum of six to eight months study time and successful completion of three tests for first, second and third stripe techniques. A successful fourth grading will result in promotion to the next level. Students have an opportunity at the third testing to be promoted to the next level if they can proficiently demonstrate all techniques required for advancement.
Instruction is given in a manner that allows all techniques relevant to the next testing period to be taught and practiced. No more than four to seven new techniques are taught in any class as this will allow for maximum retention by the students. (Most people can remember a maximum of 5-7 new things at any one time.)
For all levels above a white belt, students are introduced to and continuously practice the techniques required for the next level of advancement in the first month. This procedure continues into the second month with provisions made to allow some practical use and/or practicing of self-defence techniques in the second month. The assumption here is that in the first month there was sufficient practice on the part of the student to allow for a few “break” days. The third month should be devoted to the mastery of the techniques taught and the fluent, unhesitating execution of these techniques.Grading. At regular intervals students are evaluated with respect to their progress. In order to attain the next level, a student must satisfy certain conditions.
To earn a stripe, a basic understanding and demonstration of techniques is required. The Instructor may prompt student or offer hints on a technique. Normally two or three stripes must be obtained before testing for a belt is possible.
To earn a belt, unprompted polished execution of all techniques relevant to the level for which the student is being tested. The instructor will not prompt a student or offer any hints. However, upon successful execution of a technique, the instructor may offer tips to make the technique more effective.Depending on rank, if a student still requires prompting or is not proficient in the execution of the techniques, a third or fourth stripe may be awarded and the student will re-test for the belt at the next grading session.
- At designated intervals (see above) students are graded for proficiency in the techniques taught. Those who demonstrate a proficient knowledge of the curriculum are advanced to the next level.
- White belts are graded once a month. All other belts are graded once every three months.
- White and Yellow belts have to pass two intermediate tests, before they are eligible to test for advancement to the next belt. They receive a stripe for each successful testing.
- Orange belts and above, must pass three intermediate tests before being eligible for advancement to the next belt level.
- Brown belts must pass three intermediate tests and help teach in order to be considered for their black belt. Typically testing for a black belt is one year after attaining a brown belt.
- The grading
schedule is usually posted in the club newsletter, a copy of which is
posted on the lobby bulletin board and emailed to anyone who has submitted
his or her email address. A limited number of copies of the newsletter
are also usually available on the display case in the lobby.
- Attendance. Attendance is required at a minimum of two classes per week. This will qualify a student for pre-testing. (This applies to Yellow Belt and Higher). This is a rule of thumb only and not a hard and fast rule. Some students learn faster than others and can qualify for grading with a lower total number of classes attended, however in general two classes a week are the minimum required to be proficient enough to eligible for grading.
- Successful completion of a pre-test. Should a student not pass the initial pre-test, there will be ample time to receive additional help and redo the pre-test prior to the actual grading date. Passing the pre-test is a mandatory in order to be eligible for grading. Pre-grading takes place on the Monday and Friday prior to grading day - usually a Saturday. Tuesday to Thursday is used for last minute polishing and practice.
- If a student is eligible and qualifies for grading they will receive a form such as the one below entitled "Notification of Grading". The form details:
- The rank for which they will be tested
- The date of the test
- Which instructor pre-graded them
- The fees involved for the test
Only students who qualify for testing receive one of these sheets
Summary of the Grading Process
Grading Fees
Fees for grading are as follows:
$10 per stripe
$20 per belt ( this amount includes both the grading fee and the cost of the belt )
Newsletter
A monthly newletter is send to everyone by email. It is also posted on the club bulletin board. Some hard copies are left in the dojo for people who prefer this.
Suggestions or Concerns
As mentioned earlier on, The Canadian Centre For Grappling Arts is a family oriented organization. In many dojos, parents are not allowed to watch the class. The fact that in our dojo parents are not only allowed to watch but also encouraged to do so, is good, but sometimes questions or concerns arise because of it.
It is good from the point of view that parents are able to see what their children are learning, but it also means that parents may see something that they are uncomfortable with or which causes concern due to a lack of understanding of what is happening on the mat.
Parents are encouraged to voice their concerns, either by using the suggestion box or preferably by speaking directly to the instructors. Keep in mind, nothing can or will be done about your concerns unless you make them known.
Bulletin Board
In addition to the newsletter, information about upcoming events and sign-up sheets are located in the bulletin board area. Be sure to check the bulletin board when you bring your child to class.Your Participation
Everyone who instructs or is involved in the activities of the dojo is volunteering his or her time. Your fees are used to cover the operating expenses of the dojo. If you have time or ideas to contribute to the dojo, please speak to one of the instructors, sign up, or use the suggestion box. Many hands make the work light.
Several social events are organized over the year both for the children and the adults (parents), so that ‘fun’ is part of the dojo experience.
We all have a common interest in making sure that our dojo is a pleasant, clean and safe place for ourselves and our children to live, learn and grow in. Within this community of respect and learning, we look forward to getting to know you and your children better over the coming years.
