What to Expect in Your First Ninjutsu Class

Walking into a martial arts school for the first time can feel a little daunting. You don't know anyone, you don't know the etiquette and you might be worried you will look silly. The good news is that every black belt in our dojo once stood exactly where you are standing now. Here is what really happens in your first Bujinkan Ninjutsu class at our dojo in Thornbury.

Before you arrive

Your first step is to fill in the trial form, choose a day and time that suits you, then pay online to lock in your spot. We will book you in and send you an email with the details. The trial is $19.95 for 4 classes and includes a new uniform to keep (classes and uniform together valued at $124.95), so you get a proper feel for training rather than a single taster. We run separate trials for children, teens and adults, so you will be training in a class that suits your age. Try to arrive about ten minutes early so you can meet the instructor, ask any questions and settle in before class starts.

Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in. You don't need a uniform or any equipment for your first class, and we train barefoot on the mats. Bring a drink bottle and let your instructor know about any injuries or health conditions before you start.

How a class runs

Classes start by bowing in, a short, respectful way to begin training together. From there a typical adults class includes stretching and warm ups, breakfalls and rolling, and then the main part of the lesson: practical self defence techniques and, on some nights, weapons training. Adults classes run for 90 minutes and our Junior Adults and children's classes run for 45 minutes.

Almost all of our training is done in pairs rather than standing in lines punching the air. A typical drill might be your partner grabbing your shirt and throwing a punch, and you learning a simple defence against it. Your partner is there to help you learn, not to beat you, so everything is done at a speed you can manage.

Will I be able to keep up?

Yes. Your first class is about learning the basics, not proving how fit you already are. Instructors will show you how to move, how to fall safely and how to do each technique step by step. Bujinkan Ninjutsu relies on good body movement, balance and timing rather than size or strength, so people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels can learn it.

You may feel a few muscles the next day, especially from rolling and breakfalls. That is completely normal and it settles quickly as your body gets used to training.

What you will learn

In your first few classes you will usually learn basic postures, how to move off the line of an attack, a simple escape or joint lock, and the start of safe rolling and breakfalls. These are the foundations everything else is built on. Over the following weeks you will add strikes, throws, more locks and, in adults classes, traditional ninja weapons such as the bo staff and hanbo.

A few tips for your first night

• Ask questions. If something doesn't make sense, ask. Instructors would much rather explain a technique again than have you guess.
• Go at your own pace. Nobody expects you to get a technique right the first time. Slow and correct is better than fast and messy.
• Keep nails short and take off jewellery. Like most martial arts schools, this keeps you and your partner safe when you are grabbing wrists and sleeves.
• Tap or say stop. When you are learning joint locks, tap your partner or say "stop" as soon as you feel the lock. They will release straight away.

After your trial

At the end of your trial you can talk to us about how training works and which classes suit you. There is no pressure and no obligation to join. If it's not for you, just ask for a refund, and if you do join, what you paid for your trial comes off your membership. As you keep training you will work through the kyu grades, the coloured belt ranks you progress through before black belt. Many of our students tell us the hardest part was booking the first class; after that, they wondered why they waited so long.

Book your first class

Ready to see what Bujinkan Ninjutsu is like for yourself? Book a $19.95 trial using the form below, or call 03 9495 1929. You are not under any obligation to join at the end of your trial.