By increasing confidence and achieving a greater sense of mastery over one's own body and reactions, training in our club should decrease the chances of students entering into violent situations. All students should see physical confrontation as a last resort.

"Learn the ways to preserve rather than destroy
Avoid rather than check, check rather than hurt
Hurt rather than maim, maim rather than kill
For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced."
Old Buddhist Principle.

"Advance without coveting fame, retreat without fearing disgrace"
Sun Zi 490 BCE

Training etiquette

1. Always try to be punctual for lessons.
2. If you need to leave a class before it formally finishes, tell the coach before the class begins, and when the time comes, let the coach know.
3. Declare pre-existing injuries to the coach and to your training partner. If for health reasons or otherwise, you do not think it wise for you to practice a particular drill or exercise, just tell the coach and miss out that exercise. Do not force injuries to do activities detrimental to recovery. If there is some more gentle version of that or another exercise you can do, try that instead.
4. All jewellery and personal adornments should be removed prior to training. Jewellery can be dangerous during practice.
5. When a training session has started, focus your mind only on improving your martial arts. Do not talk about non-training matters.
6. Always show appropriate control in your techniques, aiming to apply force only within the limits agreed by you and your partner. For strikes, assume the limits are non-contact, until there is explicit agreement otherwise. For a lock or choke, tapping indicates no more pressure should be applied. If your partner taps, immediately release. In learning locks and chokes, do not try to apply moves suddenly.
7. Do not lose your temper in the dojo and do not let ego determine your training. As Steve Morris says, "Your moves have to have emotional content without you becoming emotional." Train with your partner in the way that you think will benefit your partner's (as well as your own) martial arts the most. People learn best by progressive resistance: First let your partner apply the move so they get a feel of it. Then gradually increase resistance so they have to work harder but can still sometimes apply the move. Let your partner feel success in performing the move. Further, in free play you will learn most if you go into positions you are not skilled at dealing with. There is no shame in tapping, nor in letting your opponent try something new.