Incorporating Kano Style Jiu-Jitsu
- Jiu-Jitsu IBF Grading Syllabus from 6th Kyu to Rokudan
- Being able to produce the Kano Style Jiu-Jitsu IBF Syllabus for UK Great Britain fills me with a great sense of pride, and I feel highly honoured to do so.
Many people believe that Kano Style Jiu-Jitsu was the forerunner of Judo. It is a style, which uses the techniques of judo as a Self Defence skill. This training is ideal for Martial Artists of all styles and as an effective Self Defence.
Many Martial Arts were practiced in Japan during the Feudal era. These were the use of the lance, archery, sword and many more.
Jiu-Jitsu, Ju-Jitsu also called Tai-Jutsu & Yawara, was a Martial Arts system of attack and defence that involved throwing, punching, kicking, stabbing, slashing, choking, bending and twisting limbs and the restraint of an opponent.
Although Jiu-Jitsu methods were known from the earliest of times, it was not until the latter half of the 16th Century that Jiu-Jitsu was taught systematically and in many different styles.
My father Professor T.W.Starling 8th Dan Ju-Jitsu, encouraged me to train with him and be taught by many masters of different Martial Arts from a very early age.
As a child training in the late 1960's, I was brought up on Judo, Karate and Jiu-Jitsu, and given my first experiences of the International Budo Federation and other organisations both UK based and International.
I was always instructed on traditional Katas and old training methods, which were often shunned by more modern type Instructors and indeed Students.
My father has always said "The human body has spent thousands of years in development and will only bend and move in certain directions, so there are no new techniques, methods or styles only the re-visiting of old ones!"
I have endeavoured with this syllabus to include a cross section of Jiu-Jitsu in all the Kyu Grades to encourage the Student with their progression onto the coveted Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt).
When moving and progressing onto the Dan Grades, the Jiu-Jitsuka (Jiu-Jitsu Practioner) then develops a more complete understanding of the martial art.
There is no Syllabus after Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt) in Kano Style Jiu-Jitsu IBF. We adhere to the Japanese way and with Dr. Jigaro Kano's Ranking system. Training has no end and with Rokudan 6th Dan and above this will be awarded within the International Budo Federation by a committee of designated International Representatives of the IBF.
I would like to dedicate Kano Style Jiu-Jitsu to all Martial Artists everywhere regardless of their chosen Art or Style, and hope that they can find some of the Budo Spirit or Way that is sincerely meant and incorporated within it.
- Sensei Tom Starling 8th Dan
- President IBF representative for UK Great Britain
Sensei Tom Starling 8th Dan President IBF representative for UK Great Britain [left] and Prof. TW Starling 8th Dan WJJF [right]