Optimal Martial Arts & Self Defence
About this club
Optimal Martial Arts & Self Defence opened in April 2000 and has run every year since, moving venue a few times along the way. It now meets on a Monday evening at Standbridge Community Centre on Standbridge Lane. Ju Jitsu is taught in a single class for all grades, from half seven until nine, open from ten years old upwards. Much of what is taught here is the syllabus adapted to self defence — the same throws, locks and strikes, worked through as answers to the situations people actually find themselves in rather than as movements for their own sake.
The club was started by Sensei Shane Walker, WYSOK’s Chief Instructor, who holds 7th Dan in karate and 6th Dan in Ju Jitsu and has taught here for twenty-six years. He is joined on the mat by Rob Sawyer, Roger Green, Carl Evans and Mark Valente — between them holding Black Belts in Ju Jitsu, in karate and in several of the Okinawan weapons, with Rob a 6th Dan in Ju Jitsu in his own right and Mark running his own club over at Normanton. That is an unusual amount of experience for one hall on a Monday night, and it means a technique gets explained several different ways until one of them lands.
Class timetable
| Day | Time | Class | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 7:30pm – 9:00pm | Ju Jitsu — all grades | 10+ |
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: WF2 7NP.
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?+
Our Pee Wee classes take children from four years old, in separate shorter sessions pitched at that age group. Main classes generally start from around ten, though this varies by club — ask the instructor.
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?+
Kyu gradings run roughly every three to four months across the association. 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.