Published 25 August 2026 | By Sensei Rebecca Kane, World Champion and Head of Weapons Training for the UK and Europe
Looking for a welcoming way to get fit, build confidence, and learn practical self-defence? Discover how Kempo, Ju Jitsu, and kickboxing training at the British Kempo Society can support your development at any age.
Martial arts training for real life
Starting martial arts can feel like a big step. You may be wondering whether you are fit enough, experienced enough, or confident enough to join a class.
The good news is that you do not need to be an athlete or a martial arts expert to begin. At the British Kempo Society, training is designed to help you develop step by step. You learn in a supportive community, practise at your own level, and build useful skills through regular classes and workshops.
Our approach brings together the traditional values of Kempo with practical elements of Ju Jitsu, striking, fitness, and modern training methods. The result is a balanced martial arts experience for beginners, families, experienced students, and other martial arts clubs looking to expand their knowledge.
You can learn more about the British Kempo Society and discover the history, values, and community behind our training.
Kempo Ju Jitsu: practical skills with traditional values
Kempo Ju Jitsu combines movement, control, striking, escapes, throws, locks, and defensive techniques. It is not about trying to look impressive. It is about learning how to move safely, understand distance, stay calm, and respond appropriately when faced with pressure.
In a typical class, you may work on:
- Stance, balance, and footwork
- Blocks, strikes, and controlled kicking
- Escapes from grabs and holds
- Joint locks and takedowns
- Ground movement and safe recovery
- Partner drills and controlled sparring
- Awareness, confidence, and de-escalation
These skills are taught progressively. Beginners can focus on the basics without feeling overwhelmed, while more experienced students can develop timing, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure.
Ju Jitsu also teaches an important lesson: technique can often be more useful than strength alone. Good positioning, leverage, balance, and timing help you manage movement efficiently. This makes Ju Jitsu an excellent choice for people of different ages, sizes, and fitness levels.
Our Ju Jitsu classes are about more than physical technique. They help you develop calmness, awareness, and the confidence to make sensible choices.
Martial arts and self defense for adults
Many adults begin training because they want to feel safer, improve their fitness, or try something different from a traditional gym workout.
Martial arts and self defense training can support all three goals. You will move your whole body, improve your coordination, and practise skills that can help you feel more prepared in everyday situations.
Our self-defence approach begins with awareness. Learning to notice your surroundings, maintain personal space, use confident body language, and avoid unnecessary confrontation is just as important as physical technique.
When physical training is required, the focus is on simple, controlled, and realistic movements. You practise how to create space, protect yourself, escape from common grabs, and move away from danger. Training is always delivered responsibly, with safety and respect at its centre.
Regular training can also bring wider benefits, including:
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Greater mobility and flexibility
- Better balance and coordination
- Increased strength and stamina
- Stress relief and improved focus
- More confidence in everyday life
- A stronger connection with your local community
You do not have to wait until you are “fit enough” to start. Your fitness improves as you train.
Martial arts for kids: confidence, focus, and discipline
Martial arts for kids should be positive, structured, and age appropriate. Children need to feel safe while learning how to challenge themselves, work with others, and manage their emotions.
At the British Kempo Society, children can develop valuable life skills through regular practice. They learn how to listen, follow instructions, take turns, show respect, and keep trying when a technique feels difficult.
The benefits can reach beyond the training hall. Martial arts may help your child develop:
- Confidence when meeting new people
- Focus during lessons and activities
- Coordination and physical awareness
- Respect for themselves and others
- Resilience after mistakes or setbacks
- Healthy exercise habits
- A sense of belonging within a team
Self-defence for children is not about encouraging aggression. It is about teaching awareness, boundaries, confidence, and the importance of seeking help. Children learn that the safest option is often to avoid conflict, move away, and tell a trusted adult.
For families, training together can also create a shared activity. You can encourage your child’s development while becoming part of a friendly martial arts community.
Kickboxing training for fitness and skill
If you want an energetic workout, kickboxing training can be an excellent choice. It combines punches, kicks, footwork, pad work, conditioning, and focused repetition.
Kickboxing sessions can raise your heart rate quickly while helping you develop timing, rhythm, balance, and coordination. They are suitable for people who want to improve their fitness, sharpen their striking skills, or prepare for more advanced martial arts training.
You do not need to compete to benefit from kickboxing. Many students train simply because they enjoy the challenge and the atmosphere. Others choose to progress towards sparring, competition, or instructor development.
The key is controlled practice. You learn how to generate power safely, maintain good technique when tired, and work with a partner respectfully. This develops both physical fitness and mental discipline.
The British Kempo Society is proud to include experienced leaders in striking arts. Our Instructors page introduces the team, including Grand Master Ronnie Green, Head of Kickboxing and Thai Boxing.
Meet Shihan Ben Ledwick
Shihan Ben Ledwick is a key founder of the British Kempo Society and Head of Kempo Ju Jitsu. He travels internationally to promote the art, its values, and its wider community.
Ben’s role reflects the Society’s commitment to sharing knowledge across clubs and generations. His experience supports students who are beginning their martial arts journey, as well as instructors and senior practitioners looking to continue their development.
The British Kempo Society welcomes connections with other martial arts clubs and centres. Instructor-level training, workshops, and shared learning opportunities help strengthen the wider community and preserve the traditions of Kempo Ju Jitsu.
Whether you are a student, parent, club owner, or instructor, you can contact the British Kempo Society to find out more about training and networking opportunities.
Meet Sensei Rebecca Kane
Sensei Rebecca Kane is a World Champion and Head of Weapons Training for the UK and Europe. She has an extensive background in Filipino Martial Arts, full-contact stick fighting, K1 kickboxing, and Thai boxing.
Rebecca was the first under-16 female to qualify for the British team competing at the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships in Cebu City, Philippines. Her competitive career includes national and international titles, five World titles, and professional experience in Thailand.
Today, Rebecca offers both online and in-person training, helping people develop confidence, resilience, fitness, and practical self-defence skills in a way that suits their needs.
Her work also extends beyond the dojo. Through The Dancing Fighter, Rebecca supports women, children, schools, community groups, and organisations through self-defence sessions, motivational work, and confidence-building programmes.
Her message is simple: progress is possible when you have the right support, training, and community around you.
A welcoming community for every experience level
Martial arts are often shown as individual pursuits, but progress is built with other people. You learn with training partners, receive guidance from instructors, and become part of a community that celebrates effort as well as achievement.
At the British Kempo Society, inclusion, fairness, and tradition guide the way we train. You can arrive as a complete beginner and still have a valuable place in the class. You can also continue developing through gradings, seminars, workshops, instructor training, and shared events.
Your goals may change over time. You might start for fitness, discover an interest in self-defence, and later decide to explore competition or weapons training. There is room to grow.
Ready to start training?
Whether you are searching for martial arts for adults, martial arts for kids, self defence classes, ju jitsu classes, or kickboxing training, the British Kempo Society can help you take the next step.
You do not need to know every technique before your first class. You only need the willingness to learn.
Your next steps:
- Read more about the British Kempo Society.
- Meet our experienced instructors and leaders.
- Contact us to ask about classes, workshops, or training opportunities.
- Subscribe to our network for updates on events, training sessions, self-defence tips, and community news.
Join a community that values fitness, confidence, practical skill, tradition, and personal growth. Learn more, start training, and take your next step with the British Kempo Society.