Marc Goddard became the first ever UK Referee to be appointed for the UFC and quickly followed this up by being the first ever UK MMA Referee to be licensed and sanctioned to Referee in the USA in multiple States including the fight capital of the World Las Vegas Nevada. Marc has since travelled and officiated in all Continents having worked in some 40 countries Worldwide and can be seen taking charge of some the biggest fights around the Globe for multiple promotions and organisations including UFC World Championship Contests.

Marc recently caught up with past TJK Sensei Paul Harrison and shared the following words via Facebook –

“Fate is everything! It is very real and something I firmly believe in. As I’ve often told in stories & podcasts just before the turn of the millennium when I moved house my then next door neighbour Paul Harrison knocked on my door to introduce himself as my new neighbour. The next day he asked me “if I liked fighting” and handed me some VHS tapes (kids ask your Dad!) of the first several UFC’s. The rest is history & Paul was also my first real Sensei as he was also an instructor for the Tai Jutsu Kai brand of Japanese Jiu Jitsu owned by Sensei Ross Iannoccaro. Paul’s brand & teaching of Jiu Jitsu was brutal, honest and focused on a lot of ground work (ne-waza) self defence, as well as a ton of randori & throws.

TJK was such a pivotal organisation back in the day as we had open sport jiu jitsu comps and grappling comps before BJJ and MMA had taken off here on these shores and MMA was an acronym that no one knew of. We all called it no holds barred and Vale Tudo and our first comps were held on open tatamis, long before cages even made it here. Myself, Tom Blackledge, Paul Sutherland, Ross Mason, Ronnie Mann, Mark Weir, Pat Carr & so many others had all passed through either TJK and/or Grapple & Strike back in the day. Paul was responsible for setting me off on my real martial arts journey and discovery and some 23 years or so later I still respect & owe him so much. What if he hadn’t knocked the door that day?…

The sport of MMA as it is now was so so so different back then and so many of us have bared witness to the evolution of both the traditional arts and how we all helped shape & mould what we know today. Our other leading MMA pioneers in the UK like Ian Freeman Leigh Remedios Lee Hasdell James Zickic Paul & Alexis at London Shoot and a whole host of others moulded, created and put us on the map. Now look at us today? 2 British UFC champions to date and more to come. The future is bright.

Don’t forget your roots or where you came from, and how. It was awesome to see Paul today and catch up over old times. This sport has became my life, my full time employment and has been with me for near on a quarter of a century, and who knows what else is to come. God bless. #history”

Images and quote – Marc Goddard via Facebook

Great Post. TJK was a pioneer organisation. The first traditional jujutsu organisation to embrace the ground aspects more. Ross had a great relationship with Carly Gracie and that showed in the syllabus.

To date my Black Belt grading with Ross is the single most physically demanding day I have had in my Martial arts career.

Also to grade in TJK you had to be competing regular which was not the case with many traditional arts.

The techniques I learned from TJK has heavily influenced my jiujitsu teaching

Richard Shore – Head Instructor at SMMA. BJJ Black Belt.

It’s pretty amazing Marc that our lineage from our Japanese Ju Jitsu all runs back to one man in Kidderminster Ron Bampfield (RIP) who was both Ross’s and my instructor Chad’s Sensei. I remember training with Ross at Kidderminster YMCA back in the mid to late 80s and dam they used to batter each other and laugh about it at the same time. Remember Ross bringing Carley Gracie over before any BJJ in this country and the early grapple and strike and Trevor Cunningham Vs Mark Wier boom. Great memories

Ian Rossiter – Checkmat Somerset BJJ

Jujutsu classes are back, starting with:

• Droitwich Saturday 3rd of September
• St Johns Monday 5th of September
• Bromsgrove Tuesday 6th of September
• Gloucester Wednesday 7th of September
• Malvern Friday the 9th of September

An in-depth seminar covering self-defence headlock escapes taught by Sensei Lee Iannoccaro. Held at St Johns Sports Center, Worcester, March 2022.

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This weekend Sensei Ray Owen hosted a TJK Seminar in Tamworth for TJK Students, the seminar was a great success with Sensei Ross teaching a range of traditional Jujutsu techniques focusing on restraints and Sensei Ray Owen leading a Bo Staff session (6 foot wooden staff).

It is with great pleasure to congratulate Sensei Ray Owen, who has been a long-standing Taijutsu Kai student and instructor, on his promotion to Go Dan (5th Dan). Sensei Ray has worked hard to help TJK throughout this Covid-19 pandemic and to help keep students safely training and for the clubs to reopen successfully.

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Dear TJK Members,

Phase 2

Instructors 

Our instructors have attended Covid Safety courses and will carry out all training instructions verbally. Clear safety instructions will be given at the start and end of class. 

Arriving at Class.

If possible all members to arrive at the facility in the correct Kit and ready to train. You will require to wear a mask whilst entering the facility area. Once you are in the training hall you can take this off. Please ensure that you bring your own ready filled water bottle for hydration.

Parents or Guardians accompanying young children are responsible for supervising them at all times and should follow social distancing guidelines. Only one Parent is permitted to accompany their child. Older children should be dropped off and collected outside the premises with prior parental arrangements. 

Sorry strictly No Spectators unless prior authorisation is given.

Hand Sanitising:

Hygiene is a top priority. Most of our facilities such as sports centre will have sanitising areas. However, hand sanitisers and wipes will be available on the table at class reception. 

You should not attend if you have symptoms, in isolation 7 or 14 days or are awaiting test and trace results.  

Booking your place:

All members must book their lessons online. You will not be able to just turn up to a class and pay.

It’s been a very challenging period for our community clubs and we are aware that the new arrangements may not suit everyone. As instructors, we will do our very best to help you reignite your passion for Jujutsu and get you back to the level you attained before the closure. 

If you are unsure of any of the details above please do not hesitate to contact your instructor / club secretary.

Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Yours sincerely 

Sensei Ross Iannoccaro 

Dear TJK Members,

It’s been along time! We hope you have all been well and healthy and managing during this pandemic. 

I am writing to give you a brief update on how we at TJK Jujutsu clubs are planning once again to re-start a phased come back to training in January We are currently in talks with our sports and school hall providers as to the best way forward.

Phase 1- Covid Safe Classes.

It is important that we follow government guidelines to give our members the confidence that we are taking social distancing measures seriously. Therefore there will be restrictions and changes in the way we will be conducting the classes.

Class Sizes: A maximum of 16 per class. Those of you who have maintained your monthly payments will automatically be given a place in the class. Available spaces will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Training Times: During this phase, all classes will be 45 mins long with a maximum capacity of 16 people to allow time and space for entry and departure before the next class begins and to sanitise our mats.

Non contact training: Students will be placed on individual mats and be a min of 2 metres apart. Siblings or members from the same household may train together .  

Lesson plans: We are well aware that having such a long time of training / exercise may cause members to feel rusty or anxious about restarting. With this in mind your instructor has carefully put together a “Start Back” lesson plan with simple and basic fundamental jujutsu Drills, fitness and conditioning. This will greatly benefit all our members to re-engage, recap and prepare for phase 2 training. 

Instructors 

Our instructors have attended Covid Safety courses and will carry out all training instructions verbally. Clear safety instructions will be given at the start and end of class. 

Arriving at Class.

If possible all members to arrive at the facility in correct Kit and ready to train. You will require to wear a mask whilst entering the facility area. Once you are in the training hall you can take this off. Use of changing rooms and showering facilities should in general be avoided. Toilet facilities will be available. Please ensure that you bring your own ready filled water bottle for hydration.

Parents or Guardians accompanying young children are responsible for supervising them at all times and should follow social distancing guidelines. Only one Parent is permitted to accompany their child. Older children should be dropped off and collected outside the premises with prior parental arrangements. 

Sorry strictly No Spectators unless prior authorisation is given.

Hand Sanitising:

Hygiene is a top priority. Most of our facilities such as sports centre will have sanitising areas. However hand sanitisers and wipes will be available on the table at class reception. 

You should not attend if you have symptoms, in isolation 7 or 14 days or are awaiting test and trace results.  

Booking your place:

All members must book their lessons online. You will not be able to just turn up to a class and pay. Please use the form found here to request a place.

It’s been a very challenging period for our community clubs and we are aware that the new arrangements may not suit everyone. As instructors we will do our very best to help you reignite your passion for Jujutsu and get you back to the level you attained before the closure. 

If you are unsure of any of the details above please do not hesitate to contact your instructor / club secretary.

Looking forward seeing you again soon.

Yours sincerely 

Sensei Ross Iannoccaro 

‘Our Jujutsu classes will support your children in becoming confident and resilient young people. Your child/children will develop the skills to detect danger in their surroundings and defuse situations that may spiral out of control. If a situation turns physical your child will be able to access the very best skills that will move them to safety’

Here at Taijutsu Kai we teach children from 5 upwards and have a children’s specific syllabus. Every new student starts with techniques we feel (from our 40 years of experience) are most important for children to learn to stay safe. Our beginner syllabus is made up of simple, easy to learn, yet practical and effective techniques that can be used in a multitude of situations.

As well as an enjoyable leisure activity Jujutsu is an excellent and rewarding pursuit for children. The discipline required through the study of jujutsu will encourage children to become more disciplined, responsible and self-confident.

Children can acquire and improve their co-ordination, concentration, self-esteem and self-control through jujutsu. Add this to self-defence and fitness benefits and you can see why jujutsu has become so popular with children.

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We encourage every child to train at Taijutsu kai and boys, girls and all ages are always welcome. Children don’t need any special uniform or equipment to get started and we offer a free trial lesson for every child. They just need to arrive in clothes usually worn for P.E. lessons at school and they’re good to go!

We have also taught many students with disabilities and special needs, if you feel your child may be able to benefit from training Jujutsu but unsure if it is a suitable pastime for them, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can have a chat about how we may be able to help.

At TJK we all instructors regularly meet to keep all our techniques up to date and to the highest standards. With over 20 instructors and high-level black belts with countless years of experience coming together to share knowledge and experience.

Instructors are given the opportunity to train, ask questions and share experiences with other instructors. Sensei Ross keeps all clubs performing to the high level of standards that have come to be expected of Taijutsu Kai schools of Jujutsu, from parents and students alike. This pool of experience, knowledge and a family knitted community of instructors and students is just one of the reasons Taijutsu Kai stays at the forefront of self-defence and sports Jujutsu and offers the very highest levels of Martial Arts coaching.