Andre Diaz
Jujutsu:First Principles
Where Jujutsu starts.
Self Defence Central Dojo
A structured four-week course for complete beginners. One class a week. Built from the Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu curriculum — the same art taught in the regular adult programme, from the beginning. A walk-in trial is available any time if that's what you're looking for. First Principles is something different. Four weeks. Structured. Skills built session by session.
Next dates coming soon
Who it's for
- You want to start something real, not sample it
- You're ready to wear a gi from the first session
- You want to understand why a technique works, not just copy its shape
- You'd rather be in a small group with real instruction than a packed class where you figure it out yourself
- You've been curious about a traditional martial art and want a structured way in
- You've trained in another art and want to understand what is underneath it
- A taster before deciding whether jujutsu is worth your time
- Fitness with a martial arts theme
- To be eased in gradually before anything real is asked of you
- A course where the uniform comes later, once you've decided you like it
What you'll learn
- 1Lesson 1 — Position and movement
- 2Lesson 2 — Balance Before Technique
- 3Lesson 3 — Adaptability under pressure
- 4Lesson 4 — Reading, responding, integration
What to bring and wear
Bring a water bottle and comfortable clothes. No shoes on the mat.
Your instructor
Andre Diaz
3rd Dan
His approach during class is observation-based — watching what students are actually doing with individual correction.
More about Andre DiazQuestions
Is this a trial?
There's a difference between trying something and starting it. A trial class lets you sample — you see the room, you meet the instructor, you get a feel. That's real and it's available here any time. But a trial doesn't teach you jujutsu. It shows you jujutsu from the outside. First Principles is structured from session one as the beginning of the art — not an introduction to whether you might want to begin. A sequenced four weeks where each lesson earns the next.
What the first session is like
You'll arrive, get changed, and meet the other students in the group. Andre will explain what the four weeks covers and what's expected of you — briefly, without over-explaining. Then you move. By the end of the first hour you'll have done your first jujutsu technique against a genuine attack, and taken your first sideways breakfall.
Who teaches it
First Principles is taught by senior instructors of the dojo — the same instructors who teach the dojo's regular jujutsu classes, and occasionally guest instructors from related lineage dojos. Every one of them holds rank in the tradition and trains weekly themselves. Every cycle of First Principles is taught by one instructor from start to finish.
What happens after the course?
The course ends with a clear picture of what comes next — regular classes, the grading pathway, and a continuation offer if you want to keep going. There's no obligation. You'll know what feels right once you've done it.
Have a question?
Message Andre directly.