Hellcat Ju Jitsu
About this club
Hellcat Ju Jitsu runs on a Wednesday evening at Thornhill Social Club, from the same hall as the Hellcat karate club and taught by the same instructors. The junior class trains from six until seven, for ages five to thirteen, and the adult class follows at half seven and runs an hour and a half, for fourteen and over.
The name says Ju Jitsu, and the grading syllabus is Ju Jitsu — but the teaching draws heavily on kickboxing and karate as well, which gives the club far more of a mixed martial arts feel than the name suggests. Strikes, kicks, throws, locks and groundwork all get a look in. That suits the people teaching it: Sensei Richard Bellwood and his son Sensei Jamie Bellwood hold Black Belts across karate, Ju Jitsu and several of the Okinawan weapons between them, and they teach from all of it rather than staying inside one syllabus. Anyone who wants to train in the karate club as well is welcome on a Tuesday and a Thursday — the two grade separately, but each one makes more sense once you have done a bit of the other.
Class timetable
| Day | Time | Class | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 6:00pm – 7:00pm | Ju Jitsu — juniors | 5–13 years |
| Wednesday | 7:30pm – 9:00pm | Ju Jitsu — adults | 14+ |
Term-time and holiday variations are announced in class and on the club’s Facebook page.
What to bring to your first session
Nothing you do not already own. A T-shirt and jogging bottoms, bare feet, and a bottle of water. Once you decide to continue you will need a gi (suit) and a NAKMAS licence — the instructor will sort both, and there is no rush.
Getting here & parking
Yes
Postcode for satnav: WF12 0BQ.
Common questions
Do I need a karate suit to start?+
No. Come in a T-shirt and jogging bottoms for your first few sessions. You train barefoot, so no trainers are needed either. Once you decide to carry on, your instructor will sort out a gi and a licence — there is no rush and no pressure.
How much does it cost?+
You pay per session, on the night. There is no joining fee, no contract and no monthly direct debit. Your first session is free so you can see whether it suits you before spending anything.
What age can my child start?+
The junior Ju Jitsu class takes children from five to thirteen, and the adult class is for fourteen and over. Both run on a Wednesday evening at Thornhill Social Club.
Can I stay and watch my child?+
Ask the instructor at your club. Some halls have room for parents to sit in and some do not, so it varies from venue to venue.
How often are gradings?+
Ju Jitsu has its own kyu and dan grading structure, separate from karate. Gradings run regularly across the association and your instructor will tell you when you are ready — nobody is pushed to grade before they are.
Are the instructors checked?+
Every WYSOK instructor holds an enhanced DBS certificate, current first aid training and full insurance through our NAKMAS affiliation.