Why We've Written This
Martial arts in the UK isn't a regulated industry, which means it's on clubs like ours to be upfront
about who's teaching, what's involved, and what the risks are - rather than leaving you to guess. This
page is written for parents and guardians who are new to the club, or thinking about joining.
What a Session Looks Like
Our Junior class (ages 8-11) runs 6:00pm-6:55pm, and the Senior class (11+) runs 7:00pm-8:30pm. A typical session includes:
- A warm-up to prepare the body for training
- Technique instruction and practice, paired or in small groups, always supervised
- Age-appropriate drills - younger students focus on control, discipline and fundamentals rather than sparring
- A calm finish, usually with a bow to close the session
Junior students move up to the Senior class once they reach secondary school age, starting as a
"Senior Junior" while they settle in.
Dropping Off and Collecting Your Child
We hand every junior member over directly to a parent, guardian, or another adult you've specifically
told us to expect - your child leaving on their own, or with someone we don't recognise, isn't
something we'll ever just allow. If you'd like someone else to collect your child, or you're happy for
an older junior to walk home unaccompanied, please tell us that in writing beforehand rather than on
the night. Full detail is in our
Collection & Handover Policy.
The Risk of Injury - Honestly
Jujitsu is a contact martial art, and like any physical sport, there is a genuine risk of injury -
most commonly minor knocks, bruises, or strains, but occasionally something more serious. We won't
pretend otherwise.
What we do to manage that risk:
- Techniques are taught progressively and matched to age and experience
- Contact drills and sparring are always supervised by an insured instructor
- We ask about any medical condition, injury or additional need before your child trains, so we can adapt appropriately
- At least one first-aid trained instructor is present at every session
- Any injury is treated immediately, recorded, and you'll be informed as soon as possible
Full detail is in our Health & Safety Policy,
and if a head injury is ever suspected, our
Concussion & Return to Training Policy sets out exactly what happens next.
By joining the club, you're accepting this level of risk as inherent to the sport - the same way
you would for football, rugby, or gymnastics.
Grading and Belts
We grade three times a year. Progress is based on attendance, ability and effort, not just time served.
Grading fees and the syllabus for each belt are covered in full on our
Syllabus page. There's no pressure to
grade before a student is ready - our instructors will guide you on timing.
Licence Fee
As with all martial arts, an annual licence fee covers training-related accident cover, and is due
after your first few sessions (not on day one, so you can try it out first). Details are on our
About page.
Health, Emergency Contacts and Additional Needs
When your child joins, we'll ask for emergency contact details and any health information we should
know about. This isn't a box-ticking exercise - it's what lets an instructor respond correctly if
something happens. If your child has an additional need, please talk to us - see our
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
for how we approach this.
Photos and Social Media
You choose separately whether photos of your child can be used privately on our member area, on our
public website, on Facebook, or in promotional material - and you can change your mind at any time.
See our Photography & Social Media Policy.
If Something's Wrong
Talk to an instructor, or contact us directly at info@cobrajujitsu.com.
For a safeguarding concern - including one about the club itself - you can also go straight to BMABA's
independent Safeguarding Unit. See our
Safeguarding Policy and
Complaints Policy for how.