How does a gay martial arts club work then? - and why?

Equal rights for blacks, women getting the vote, women priests etc. Martial arts for many people is a traditionally macho culture. Tough guys (and tough girls) locked in the primeval pattern of 'survival of the fittest'. Well it's a sweeping generalisation but anybody reading this will recognize testosterone and a competitive streak is there in every martial arts club.

Well in some ways we are not so very different and in others we are worlds away from this. "what's the point of an all gay martial arts environment?" I get asked quite a lot by web surfers. Some mortally offended by us as a club - some gay and mildly curious about us.

Many people venturing into a dojo for the first time worry that they'll not fit in, they won't make the grade or they'll be picked on and bullied. Much of the time that's why they think about learning a martial art in the first place. This is VERY much the case with people who come along to investigate Ishigaki (the world's only gay ju-jitsu club). Many have been picked on and singled out because they're different - even before they have identified themselves as gay or 'fluid' in their definition of their sexuality.

The image of the limp-wristed effeminate gay man that is familiar in most cultures of the world may well be jarring with your experiences of a training environment. We manage to take those diametric opposites and fuse them into a club that combines a very healthy and supportive atmosphere with a focus and intensity that consistently develops people's personal physical and mental confidence. Because so many new starters come to us filled with fear we concentrate on building their confidence slowly and thoroughly. The 'gay' environment helps people feel that they fit in on some level and the strong social side of the club helps attract people back. Over and over again I have seen very timid young men and women blossom in the club, first socially and then the physical catches up and they start to love the challenge and the empowerment that dedication to a martial art brings.

Our club is relaxed, yet respectful, cheeky - in a 'laugh with' kind of way, committed and friendly. We don't do macho posturing - without soon being ridiculed - and we support people all the way through.

Because of our inclusive attitude we're lucky to have an enormous diversity of peopel who train with us. Partly that is a result of the international nature of London as a city. At any one class about 50% of the students are not from the UK or do not speak English as their mother toungue. Cultures collide (literally) in our club and yet we manage, as far as we are able, to treat everyone with the same level of respect and nurturing. Interestingly enough we've had two straight guys at black belt level in our clubs. Sexuality has never been a barrier for them - for them, like us, it's ju-jitsu first, social and sexual issues come second.

Some people may be shocked at this as a prospect - a bunch of gay men rolling around and touching each other. Some people think we're a pick up joint and get a bit of a shock when they see is training. We're tough - we may be a bit willowy at times but the willow bends with the wind, yielding to force to remain standing form. This is the philosophy of the traditional style of Ju-jitsu that we follow.

We've been in existence as a group for 15 years in February 2007 and in that time we've achieved a lot. We've got around 20 people to black belt standard and beyond. Right now we have a 4th dan, a 3rd dan, three second dans and at elast 7 first dans.

As the head of the club my role is to dedicate myself to training - being the perpetual student, keeping my mind open to the lessons that are there to be learned when I am ready. For me ju-jitsu is an art form and I train hard to make my techniques fluid, efficient and devastatingly effective whether using weapons or unarmed. The more I learn in martial arts the more I see the similarities with dance - balance, poise, centring, focus and fluidity. It's something my students respond very well to. Whilst I set a certain standard that is not what everyone aims for and I am very happy that all the black belts teach and contribute to the development of the kyu grade students. This creates bonds all through the club and it show when we are at gradings and attending international training events.

On December 10th 2006, Our Brighton Club gained its first home-grown black belts. We are immensely proud as a club.

We are a member of the Jikishin Ju-Jitsu Association, headed internationally by Sensei Terry Parker and Nationally by Sensei Brian Herbert. Their support for us has been fantastic ever since we first approached them to ask permission to set up as a gay club. Despite initial rumblings and opposition we have more than proved ourselves in our contribution to the association, in competition and in developing relationshisp with other clubs and people across the world.

Take a look at our website and see what we are like for yourself.

Focus on:
Contribution by Simon Powell, Senior Instructor, Ishigaki ju-Jitsu