The Way Self-Defence

Frequently asked questions

There are a number of questions that members get asked. In many cases these questions highlight concerns that may discourage someone from taking a self-defence course. The aim of this page is to address the common questions and misconceptions.

No. Our self-defence course is not tied to a particular 'style' of moves & techniques. You will learn a range of core techniques that you can use in real situations. Many martial art styles take years to learn (and have a large number of techniques). Our self-defence course is designed to give you essential self-defence skills in 15 weeks.
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Refer to the What it costs section (where the matter is dealt with in more depth).
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The answer to this is "no" - providing you listen and follow the instructions given. However, it is important to realise that if you wish to take your training to a more realistic level it will hurt a little. The choice is yours.
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No. A self-defence course does not focus on physical fitness. You may find some of the exercises tiring, but if you need to take a break you can.
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We only have space for 10-15 students. The class sizes are usually kept small because our training focuses very much on the individual.
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You will need clean-soled trainers for wearing on the training mats (these must not be the shoes that you have worn to/from the training hall). You will also need an old tracksuit or other loose clothing. You will not need to purchase specialised clothing, and you should not wear new or expensive clothes since the physical nature of the training means you may damage clothing.

You should not wear jewellery - try not to bring it with you.

You should bring a drink (ideally water) for after the session.

All other training equipment is provided by The Way Dojo.
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Not specifically. You are advised to wear your training clothes to the hall and simply bring a change of shoes. There are large toilet cubicles you can use for changing (for example if you come directly from work), but there are not showers and washing facilities.

We do not have storage lockers - please do not bring unnecessary valuables with you.
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The serious nature of the self-defence course means that we set a minimum age of 14 (where individuals are able to demonstrate the appropriate maturity this can be changed at the discretion of the teacher).We have had younger students train with one of their parents (normally Mums) training with us too.
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Age is not a problem. Your self-defence training can be tailored to your individual capabilities.
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Yes. Many people feel more comfortable starting new activities with their friends. However, you should be aware that it is not a social club. While we do aim to enjoy the training and have a laugh, we take our training very seriously and expect you to do the same.
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We do not allow people to come and watch because we find it disruptive for new people on self-defence courses. If you are sufficiently interested then we would suggest that you take the next step, arrange to come along to meet us and maybe join in for an evening, and then see how you feel. Life is not a spectator sport, and neither is our training. This can be arranged by contacting teacher John.
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As you will have paid for the course in full it is in your interest to attend all the sessions. If you do miss a class we will try to catch you up on any missed material/content within your remaining weeks.
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Many people work shifts. We would suggest that you try to rearrange your Monday shifts to allow you to attend the full course. You can also pay to do additional weeks if you wish. As with everything, if you have any issues contact the teachers in advance.
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The Teachers, John and Emma.
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Absolutely. It is important that you bring your inhaler and explain your medical situation to the teachers. You will need to discuss medical issues with the teachers before you start training. This is covered in more detail in the Personal injury insurance section.
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It can vary but usually starts at 19:00, but you should aim to arrive by 15 mins beforehand.
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It can vary but usually 21:00, but occasionally they go on a little past that time. If it is important that you leave promptly, then you will need to let the teachers know this so that you can leave on time.
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No, you will not get bullied or picked on. The Way Dojo does not tolerate prejudice or discrimination of any kind. The type of person who would bully someone else would not be tolerated at The Way Dojo.
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Yes, there are trained first-aiders at the self defence course (and all members of the regular training group will have done first aid training).
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This would depend on the nature and extent of the disability. You would need to talk to the teachers, but generally it should not be a problem.
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