"My training in the martial arts has been incredibly fulfilling---not only have I studied a very practical style of self-defense, but I have also been exposed to philosophies, ideals and concepts that have helped me develop positive traits outside of the dojo, such as teamwork, discipline, confidence, focus, goal-setting and not giving up in the face of adversity." - Dennis Demori

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Welcome! This is the Theodorou Academy of Jiu Jitsu page dedicated to your questions and concerns. If you have any questions not answered on this page, or on other pages of our site, please send them to BostonSelfDefense@yahoo.com.

COMMON (AND SOME UNCOMMON) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

How is American Jiu Jitsu better than other martial arts?
It isn't. No martial art is 'better' than another! Each person must find his or her own favorite art. Anyone who claims that one martial art is truly superior to another martial art is not a true martial artist. Anyone who studies an art in the hopes of becoming skillful in that art and does so with their full heart and spirit is truly an amazing individual. American Jiu Jitsu focuses on self-defense. If you are interested in learning self-defense, then American Jiu Jitsu may be for you. However, we always suggest that you look at all your options ... there are lots of them... to make sure you find the environment, the art, and the people that you want to learn with and from.

I hear that some martial arts are very strict and heavy into discipline - how strict are you?
You are mature enough to know what is and is not appropriate behavior. As a new student, we do not want you to worry too much about formalities. You will learn what is expected of a student, in terms of behavior, attitude and aptitude with time. We are here to learn and have fun - and that is what we expect of you.

What makes Theodorou Academy of Jiu Jitsu different from other Jiu Jitsu schools?
This is a fairly difficult question to address thoroughly. There are several Jiu Jitsu schools out there. Some focus on self-defense, some don't. It is easier to say what we do than to tell you what other organizations don't do. We practice self-defense... this means we will do whatever necessary to defend ourselves (strikes, kicks, chokes, lockups, throws, sweeps, blocks, weapons, weapon defense, arnis, etc...).

How long will it take for me to earn my black belt?
Before I answer this question, I should say a couple things. Many people see the attainment of the black belt as the highest degree of mastery in a martial art. Many see the black belt as their final goal. I would counter by saying that your black belt signifies your true start as a student, that the attainment of a black belt is just the beginning of your training. The path to attaining a black belt, and indeed the path beyond, is what is most important. Having said that, having such a goal is still important, and it can take as little as 4 years (intense training) to obtain. But normally it takes between 4.5-7 years to earn your shodan (1st degree black belt) in the American Jiu Jitsu system. Having a black belt signifies more than just your skill as a martial artist, but as a trustworthy, reliable friend to the school, to the art and to the community. It signifies that you are a teacher, a mentor, and even more a STUDENT, and have earned the respect of all your colleagues through your demonstrated respect for them.

I have rank in another school/style, can my current rank transfer to your school when I join?
We only accept rank from other American Jiu Jitsu Federation schools. At the same time, we will recognize the knowledge and expertise you have gained from the other schools in which you have practiced. This may mean swifter belt promotions but it also means you will have a deeper appreciation for what we teach. Some of our best students are black belts in other styles who started at white belt in our school to further their martial arts knowledge. In fact, several of our current black belts instructors hold senior ranks in other styles such as karate, tae kwon do, and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

I have no rank, nor have I ever done a martial art before, what can I expect?
Fun. A friendly environment. A non-confrontational approach to learning. A hands-on, interactive self-defense learning experience. We specialize in a classroom atmosphere that is engaging and caters to adults and teens. The majority of our students start with no previous martial arts training.

I am looking for a Navy SEAL level of physical fitness training. Will I get it with Jiu Jitsu?
We are not here to give you a heart-grinding, blood, sweat, and tears workout! We do workout, but that is not our primary focus. Our focus is self-defense.

I hear that Jiu Jitsu involves lots of ground work. How can that be a good self defense?
We do learn how to defend ourselves from the ground (ground fighting)... but the mainstay of our art is stand-up techniques. For a single attacker, ground fighting can be advantageous. For a multiple attacker scenario, being on the ground increases the chances of your defeat. Though the background of our style of Jiu Jitsu is the same as Brazilian JiuJitsu, we do not focus on ground-grappling techniques as intensely as our Jiu Jitsu counterparts from Brazil.

What will I learn from the first class?
How to defend yourself. Our daily goal is to progressively improve your ability to defend yourself every time you take a class, beginning with your first class.

I've heard that traditional martial arts have no place in street survival and self defense... are you 'traditional' martial artists?
Yes and no. The foundation of Jiu Jitsu is traditional techniques (nearly 2000 years of refinement can't be all wrong). However, many of those 'traditional' techniques have been modified to be more effective in a modern street defense environment. Strikes, locks, chokes, throws, gouging ... we use whichever weapons and techniques necessary to ensure that we remain safe and unharmed.

Do you spar in Jiu Jitsu?
Yes and no. We practice *PRACTICAL* self-defense... many of the methods we practice would cause an attacker serious physical harm if it were to be done full-force (bones might break, joints would disjoint, and our attacker would likely lose consciousness or possibly worse). However, we do practice with each other in a way that gets us as close to an attack scenario as possible without risking permanent injury to one another. We also grapple for real, but do not throw connecting strikes while we practice. So, if you ask: "Do you spar?," I would say what we do is a mixture of sparring, situational awareness, and scenario generation.

I am not sure that I can spare enough time in my schedule to practice Jiu Jitsu... what are your thoughts?
It is not required that students attend all available classes. We suggest that you come to at least 2 classes per week if you want to make satisfactory progress. While we do offer students the ability to train up to three one hour classes per week, we feel that 2 one hour classes per week is sufficient for a student to develop in the art while not taking away from the rest of their daily tasks.

What types of weapons do you practice with (and against)?
We practice to defend ourselves against knives (we use rubber or wooden knives... no real weapons are allowed on the mat). We also learn to defend from and use *any* impact weapon. We do this by using wood escrima (sticks). Such sticks can represent any blunt, extended weapon -- anything from an umbrella to a baseball bat to a crowbar.

I hear that Jiu Jitsu relies solely on ancient throws and joint locks... how can that be street effective?
That is a common misconception. We 'rely' on anything that is effective in stopping an attacker. This ranges from all sorts of strikes, throws, joint locks, and chokes; anything you can find that can stop an attacker (like a hot cup of coffee, a pen, dirt in the eyes, ... etc.) We teach the same type of material that you would learn in advanced armed and unarmed combat courses in the military and in advanced police training.

How many instructors do you have?
Currently, we have 18 "active" black belt instructors sharing their knowledge with students.

How much of Jiu Jitsu is 'mental' vs 'physical'?
Much of what is learned for the lower Jiu Jitsu belt ranks would be classified as physical techniques (but not all!). Before we teach you how to reliably and confidently defend against an attack with just your voice and your attackers' perception of you, you must learn how to physically disable an attacker. You will learn ways to control an attacker using your wits over your brawn continuously during your Jiu Jitsu education. As you progress toward the higher belt ranks, approaching your shodan, you will learn that the physical aspects of the art and the mental aspects of the art are indeed one and the same -- they cannot be separated into such well-defined categories.

I am a bit hesitant to start a martial art. I am not an aggressive person and it all seems very intimidating. Do you have any words of advice?
We strive to make the class as student-friendly as possible. Most martial artists and almost every dojo will welcome you to come and watch their practice. We are certainly no exception. Come to some of our practices to see if you like the environment. Take advantage of our Introductory Program to better understand what it is that we do. Make sure you feel comfortable in the environment... if you don't feel comfortable, move on to another martial art or another dojo until you find one you like. Of course, any new situation will create a little intimidation. Every new environment creates a little consternation and little anxiety... don't worry, you will soon overcome it and become a better person for it. There is no NEED for an aggressive personality to study martial arts. At the Theodorou Academy of Jiu Jitsu we develop the ability to avoid confrontation, though you will learn how to defend yourself effectively if an attacker tries to harm you.

What types of safety precautions are taken while practicing Jiu Jitsu?
The main job of all the instructors is safety... second is to make sure students enjoy their experience... and third is to teach. Without safety and without a friendly environment, who would want to learn -- or rather, who could learn effectively? To ensure safety, qualified instructors closely supervise all students. Students learn very early how to fall without getting hurt, how to 'tap' to ensure that their training partners know when to stop a technique, and how to read the intentions of their own bodies. We require that students tell the instructors about any medical conditions that could adversely affect their training (or the training of other students). We require that students clean their uniforms regularly and maintain good hygiene. The Theodorou Academy of Jiu Jitsu maintains a thorough first aid kit, though we have no problem with calling 911 for quick response in case of an emergency. We have an extremely good safety record. But, like any low-contact sport, occasionally minor injuries may occur (strains, sprains, etc...).