Name: Daniel
Dojo: London
Belt: Blue
Joined: 2 years ago
What inspired you to start practising Ju-jitsu?
The short and cheerful version? Wanted to become fitter and wanted some self-defence skills. And I feel like I’ve achieved both! The longer version that’s a bit more depressing? As a queer Asian man working in a field that deals with a huge variety of people, I felt like learning a martial art was important to ensuring that I could feel safe and could practise allyship in a safe and effective way.
What do you like about Ishigaki?
TLDR - good vibes and good martial arts. I really enjoy the atmosphere and community that you get with Ishigaki. I also found it quite difficult to find LGBTQ+ spaces that were platonic in nature and not clubbing-related / alcohol-related. Furthermore, all of the senseis are more than happy to adapt the moves to your body, so that you can execute them successfully!
What has been a highlight of your Ju-jitsu journey so far?
Learning a type of throw called a rice bale; it was one that during the new joiners’ day that I was like “this is insane, I’ll never be able to do something like that.” So being able to then get it to a good standard after a year of practising felt like a full-circle moment!
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining?
Don’t be afraid to give it a go - I know it’s easier said than done, and I was quite fortunate to have a friend I could drag along. The senseis are super accommodating and welcoming. Previously, I’ve had quite bad experiences with other martial arts, and I’ve never really felt unsafe during a ju-jitsu session.
I will also say during my first new joiners day, I will say that I saw that a lot of the black belts didn’t look like like me. If you’re not a white person entering a predominantly white LGBTQ+ space, it can feel a bit scary and dissonant - regardless of how inclusive people are. We’re currently trying to work on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the club, and I’ve been inspired to become a black belt so future new joiners can see more people who look like me represented.
