Practical training, better fitness, and a supportive community for adults, children, beginners, and experienced martial artists.
Written by Sensei Penny, British Kempo Society Blog Writer
Published: 11 August 2026
Martial arts can offer much more than learning how to punch or kick. At the British Kempo Society, training is about developing practical skills, improving your fitness, building confidence, and becoming part of a respectful martial arts community.
Whether you are looking for self-defence classes for yourself, a positive activity for your child, or a new challenge through Kempo Ju Jitsu and kickboxing, there is a place for you to begin.
You do not need to be fit, flexible, or experienced before joining. You simply need a willingness to learn.
What is Kempo Ju Jitsu?
Kempo Ju Jitsu combines traditional martial arts principles with practical movement and self-defence training. Classes can include striking, blocking, escapes, locks, throws, takedowns, footwork, and controlled partner exercises.
The aim is not to encourage unnecessary conflict. Instead, training helps you develop:
- Awareness of your surroundings
- Better balance and coordination
- The ability to stay calm under pressure
- Practical responses to common situations
- Confidence in your own movement and decisions
- Respect for yourself and the people around you
For beginners, the training is introduced step by step. You learn the foundations before moving on to more advanced techniques. As your confidence grows, you can work towards gradings, attend seminars, and take part in the wider activities of the Society.
The About the British Kempo Society page explains how the organisation preserves the traditional values of Kempo while also using modern training methods. This balance helps keep classes meaningful, useful, and accessible to today’s students.
Self-defence for adults: useful skills for everyday life
Many adults begin martial arts because they want to feel safer. Others want to improve their fitness, manage stress, or find a hobby that offers more purpose than a standard gym session.
Kempo and Ju Jitsu training can support all of these goals.
A good self-defence class does not focus only on physical techniques. It also teaches awareness, communication, boundaries, and decision-making. You may learn how to identify risks early, create distance, use your voice confidently, and look for opportunities to leave a difficult situation.
Physical skills are an important part of training, but they are only one part.
Regular practice can also improve your general fitness. Warm-ups, movement drills, pad work, partner exercises, and technical practice can help develop:
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Core strength
- Mobility and flexibility
- Balance and posture
- Reaction speed
- Hand and eye coordination
- Physical stamina
You can work at a pace that suits your current ability. Over time, you may notice that everyday movement becomes easier and that you have more energy for work, family life, and other activities.
Just as importantly, you are training alongside other people who are also learning. That shared experience creates motivation. Your classmates understand the effort involved, celebrate your progress, and help make each session something to look forward to.
Self-defence for children: confidence, focus, and discipline
Martial arts can be a positive experience for children when training is age-appropriate, well supervised, and built around respect.
At British Kempo Society clubs, children can develop physical skills while learning how to listen, concentrate, cooperate, and persevere. They practise with other members of the community and learn that progress comes from regular effort rather than instant results.
For your child, martial arts may help develop:
- Confidence in new situations
- Better focus and listening skills
- Coordination and physical control
- Respect for instructors and classmates
- Patience and perseverance
- Healthy ways to manage energy and emotions
- A stronger sense of responsibility
Self-defence training for children should never be about making them fearful. It should give them practical awareness and the confidence to seek help, set boundaries, and move away from unsafe situations.
Partner work is introduced carefully. Instructors can adapt exercises to suit age, size, experience, and confidence levels. The focus remains on safe learning, good behaviour, and helping every child feel included.
Gradings can also give younger students achievable goals. Learning a new technique, remembering a sequence, or earning the next belt can provide a real sense of achievement. They learn to be proud of progress while understanding that every member of the community starts somewhere.
Kickboxing training for fitness and confidence
Kickboxing offers an energetic way to improve your fitness while learning effective striking fundamentals.
Training may include stance, footwork, punches, kicks, pad work, combinations, defensive movement, and conditioning exercises. You can expect a full-body workout that challenges your legs, shoulders, core, and cardiovascular system.
Kickboxing is suitable for many different goals. You might want to:
- Improve your fitness
- Learn striking skills
- Build confidence
- Release stress
- Improve coordination
- Prepare for competition
- Add variety to your martial arts training
You do not have to be a competitor to enjoy kickboxing. Many students train simply because they enjoy the challenge and the atmosphere of the class.
For those who do want to compete, structured training can help develop discipline, fitness, timing, and composure. For everyone else, pad work and combinations provide a practical and enjoyable way to exercise.
The British Kempo Society’s instructor team includes experienced specialists in kickboxing and Thai Boxing. You can meet the British Kempo Society instructors and learn more about the experience behind the Society’s training programmes.
Learn from experienced instructors
Choosing a martial arts club is about more than finding a convenient class time. You want instructors who can explain techniques clearly, create a safe environment, and support students at different levels.
The British Kempo Society brings together instructors with experience across Kempo Ju Jitsu, Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing, Thai Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts, and other disciplines.
Shihan Ben Ledwick, Head of Kempo Ju Jitsu, has helped develop the Society and continues to promote the art and its values within the UK and internationally.
Rebecca Kane, Head of Weapon Systems and Master Grade FMA, has achieved national and international success in stick fighting, kickboxing, and Thai Boxing. Her work also focuses on helping women and children build confidence and resilience. You can learn more about Rebecca’s work, including self-defence sessions and empowerment programmes.
Grand Master Ronnie Green, Head of Kickboxing and Thai Boxing, brings a wealth of competitive experience to the Society’s striking training.
Ady Tredwell, Head of Jiu Jitsu and Kempo, supports students in developing technical skill and understanding.
This depth of experience gives students access to traditional knowledge, practical instruction, and a community that welcomes people at different stages of their journey.
A martial arts community for beginners and families
Starting something new can feel uncomfortable. You may worry about being the least experienced person in the room, not knowing the terminology, or struggling to keep up.
That is normal.
Every experienced martial artist was once a beginner. A good club understands this and helps new students settle in. You can learn the basic stance, movement, etiquette, and techniques without feeling pressured to know everything on your first day.
At British Kempo Society, community is central to the training experience. Members support one another, instructors guide students through challenges, and families can become part of a wider network connected by discipline, respect, and personal growth.
The Society also holds workshops, instructor training, seminars, competitions, and events for different experience levels. These opportunities allow you to keep learning beyond your regular class and meet martial artists from other clubs and centres.
For clubs and martial arts organisations, connecting with the British Kempo Society can also provide opportunities to share knowledge and strengthen the wider Kempo community.
What should you expect from your first class?
Your first session will usually begin with a warm-up and basic movement. You may then learn simple techniques, practise with a partner, and finish with conditioning or stretching.
You do not need to arrive with specialist equipment. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move and ask the instructor what you will need for future sessions.
Most importantly:
- Arrive a little early if possible.
- Tell the instructor that you are new.
- Listen carefully to safety instructions.
- Work at a controlled pace.
- Ask questions when you are unsure.
- Treat your training partners with respect.
- Give yourself time to improve.
Martial arts is a journey. Your first class is not a test of what you already know. It is the first step towards learning something new.
Start your journey on 11 August 2026
Whether your goal is better fitness, practical self-defence, improved confidence, or a positive activity for your child, Kempo Ju Jitsu and kickboxing can offer a rewarding path forward.
You will build physical skills, but you may also gain better focus, greater resilience, and a stronger connection with your local martial arts community.
To ask about classes, training opportunities, workshops, or joining a club, visit the British Kempo Society Contact page. The team will be happy to help you find the right next step.
Learn more. Meet the community. Join a class and begin your martial arts journey.
Stay connected with future training news, events, instructor updates, and practical guidance for adults, children, families, and martial arts clubs by joining the British Kempo Society network through the Contact page. Subscribe today and keep learning with your community.