Why Train?

Many times I have been asked, “I have never been placed in a threatening position why should I train in Martial Arts?” This is a great question for it shows that the person asking the question does not really know too much about Kempo Jutsu and that is understandable. We are not just involved in self-defence; there are lots of other sides to what we do. We look to develop the mind and the body.

The merits and advantages of training break down into 2 categories. Firstly there are those things that are obvious to us all and these include:

	It is healthy to undertake some form of exercise on a regular basis. Kempo Jutsu is designed to provide a cardio-vascular workout that continually increases your fitness as you progress through our grades.
	Exercise promotes weight loss, as the exercising body will find its own weight.
	In the unlikely event that you need to protect yourself or someone you care for, training with Kempo Jutsu will, after a period of time, provide you with a level of competence that you may not currently have.
	Kempo Jutsu training includes stretching and bending; these activities will assist your flexibility and promote good posture in later life.

The second category of benefit is not obvious to all and these include:

	As our students’ ability increases so does their self-confidence. This self-confidence provides career benefits for those that were a little reserved or shy.
	There is a strong sense of “team” and “belonging” that develops between our students. Often strong bonds and personal relationships form as students sweat out a class together.
	The euphoric feeling of achievement that sweeps over a student as they pass each grading is hard to describe. The higher the grade, the more difficult the grading becomes, this is a huge challenge.
	Our students do not know the meaning of giving up, as things in training become more difficult, they just apply them selves more. They also do the same in their personal life.
	As our students progress so they have the opportunity of teaching less knowledgeable students. We promote the concept of helping others, particularly those that might be a little slow in learning. It just feels good to be part of helping someone learn to do something new.

So all in all I think there is a great argument for every person on the planet to become a student of Kempo Jutsu. Particularly if you want to develop your inner self, that person that resides just beneath the surface, just waiting for the opportunity to show you what you are really capable of.

Join me and a bunch of my friends as we sweat and learn together.

Harold Baldry

Chief Instructor.