Preview: Looking for a fun way to get fit, build confidence, or learn practical self-defence? Discover how Kempo, Ju Jitsu, and kickboxing training can support your development at every age and experience level.
Published: 13 August 2026
Written for British Kempo Society by Penny, AI Blog Writer
Martial arts insight from Shihan Ben Ledwick and Rebecca Kane
Martial arts for real life
Martial arts are about much more than punches, kicks, or earning a new belt. At the British Kempo Society, training is about helping you become fitter, more confident, more focused, and better prepared for everyday life.
Our community brings together traditional Kempo Ju Jitsu, practical self-defence, weapons training, and kickboxing. That means you can train towards your own goals, whether you are:
- A complete beginner looking for a new challenge
- A parent searching for positive activities for your child
- An adult wanting to improve fitness and confidence
- A martial artist looking to develop your skills
- A club or centre interested in joining a wider network
You do not need to be naturally strong, flexible, or experienced to begin. Every student starts somewhere, and a good martial arts community helps you progress one step at a time.
Learn more about our history, values, and mission on the About British Kempo Society page.
What is Kempo Ju Jitsu?
Kempo Ju Jitsu combines traditional martial arts principles with practical techniques for modern training. Sessions can include striking, blocking, movement, escapes, throws, joint locks, controlled sparring, and self-defence applications.
The aim is not simply to overpower someone. You learn how to use balance, timing, positioning, awareness, and technique. These skills can help you respond calmly and intelligently under pressure.
For beginners, this makes Kempo Ju Jitsu a varied and interesting martial art. You are not repeating only one type of exercise. You develop your whole body while learning useful skills and working with training partners.
For experienced martial artists, Kempo Ju Jitsu also offers depth. There are always more details to refine, from footwork and distance to control, breathing, and timing.
Most importantly, you train as part of a community. Partners help each other improve, senior students support beginners, and everyone shares the same training space with respect.
Fitness benefits for adults and children
Martial arts training provides a full-body workout without feeling like a standard gym session. A typical class may develop your:
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Strength and stamina
- Balance and coordination
- Mobility and flexibility
- Reaction speed
- Core stability
- Concentration and body control
Kempo and Ju Jitsu can help children improve their movement skills while learning how to follow instructions, work with others, and stay focused. The structured environment gives your child clear goals and regular encouragement.
For adults, martial arts can be an enjoyable way to stay active around work and family commitments. Training can help you release stress, improve energy levels, and build physical confidence. You can work at an appropriate pace while gradually becoming stronger and more capable.
Research into martial arts practice has also linked regular training with improvements in physical fitness, balance, flexibility, confidence, and mental wellbeing. You can read an example of published research in this review of martial arts and health benefits.
Practical self-defence for everyday situations
Self-defence starts before a physical confrontation. Awareness, communication, boundaries, and knowing when to leave an unsafe situation are all important.
At British Kempo Society training, self-defence is approached responsibly. You can learn how to:
- Notice potential risks earlier
- Use confident body language and clear verbal boundaries
- Create space and move away from danger
- Escape common holds and grabs
- Protect yourself if a situation becomes physical
- Seek help and move to safety
For children, self-defence should always be taught in an age-appropriate way. The focus is on staying safe, avoiding trouble, finding a trusted adult, and getting away. Children should understand that martial arts are not about starting fights.
For adults, training can help you feel more prepared without encouraging aggression. Confidence often comes from knowing that you have practised realistic situations in a controlled environment with supportive training partners.
The goal is not to make you look for confrontation. The goal is to help you make safer decisions if you ever face pressure or danger.
Kickboxing training for fitness, discipline, and skill
Kickboxing is a great choice if you want a challenging workout with a strong focus on striking, footwork, timing, and fitness.
Training may include pad work, combinations, defensive movement, conditioning drills, and controlled partner exercises. You can improve your stamina while learning how to move with purpose and control.
Kickboxing also teaches you to stay calm while working hard. You need to listen, react, manage your breathing, and keep going when you feel tired. Those lessons can build resilience that carries into work, school, competition, and family life.
You do not have to become a competitor to enjoy kickboxing. Some students train for fitness, some for confidence, and others enjoy testing themselves in competition. Your training can be shaped around your personal goals.
Meet Shihan Ben Ledwick
One of the key instructors in the British Kempo Society is Shihan Ben Ledwick, Head of Kempo Ju Jitsu and a key founder of the Society.
Shihan Ben travels globally to promote Kempo Ju Jitsu and its values to an international community. His experience supports the Society’s aim of connecting traditional martial arts principles with modern, practical training.
For students, strong leadership matters. An experienced instructor can help you understand not only what to practise, but why it matters. They can help you develop good habits, train safely, and progress without rushing.
The British Kempo Society also includes instructors with experience in Kempo, Ju Jitsu, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, kickboxing, Thai Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts, weapons systems, and other disciplines. You can meet the instructors and leaders who help shape our community.
Rebecca Kane: World Champion and weapons training leader
Rebecca Kane is a World Champion and Head of Weapons Training for the UK and Europe. Her background includes Filipino Martial Arts, weapons systems, K1 kickboxing, and Thai Boxing, with national and international championship experience.
Rebecca has won multiple world titles and has competed at a high level in both weapons-based martial arts and combat sports. That experience gives her a practical understanding of preparation, focus, pressure, and performance.
Her teaching is also strongly connected to empowerment. Rebecca is passionate about helping women and children build resilience and confidence through self-defence, movement, and positive personal development.
You can find out more about Rebecca’s work, talks, and self-defence sessions on The Dancing Fighter.
A welcoming community for every experience level
You do not need to arrive with perfect fitness or previous martial arts experience. Beginners are an important part of every healthy club.
Your first few sessions may feel unfamiliar. You will learn how to stand, move, warm up, practise techniques, and work with a partner. Over time, those basic skills become more natural.
Children can benefit from the encouragement of training alongside others who are working towards their own goals. Adults can enjoy being part of a group that supports progress without judgement. More experienced students can continue developing through advanced training, workshops, grading, and competition preparation.
This shared journey is one of the best parts of martial arts. You celebrate someone’s first class, help a training partner understand a technique, and encourage each other through difficult sessions. The community grows when students support one another.
For martial arts clubs and centres
The British Kempo Society also welcomes connections with other martial arts clubs, instructors, and centres.
Being part of a wider network can create opportunities for:
- Instructor-level training
- Workshops for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students
- Shared learning across different disciplines
- Events and training sessions
- Professional connections with experienced instructors
- A stronger sense of community across the UK
The Society was founded around 2001 by instructors who wanted to share their skills in a non-political environment. That spirit of cooperation remains important today.
If you run a club or centre and would like to learn more, please contact the British Kempo Society.
Start your martial arts journey
Whether your goal is better fitness, practical self-defence, personal confidence, or simply trying something new, Kempo Ju Jitsu and kickboxing can offer a positive path forward.
You can train at your own pace, learn from experienced instructors, and become part of a supportive martial arts community. Your first class does not need to be perfect. It only needs to be your first step.
Learn more about British Kempo Society, meet our instructors, or get in touch to ask about training.
Subscribe to the British Kempo Society network to hear about upcoming events, workshops, and training sessions. Stay connected, keep learning, and continue building your strength, confidence, and community.