Edinburgh’s student radio interviewed us to talk about Japanese Jiu Jitsu!
EUJJC president Timea Virag and social media officer Maddie Ferris talk about their experiences with the martial art – including why they fell in love with Jiu Jitsu, how it differs from other martial arts, and the friendships and supportive Japanese Jiu Jitsu community found in Scotland and beyond.
Below are some excerpts from their conversation. The full interview is well worth a listen!
How they found jiu jitsu
Timea: Friends who had tried Jiu Jitsu before at other universities encouraged me to come along. I came to a taster session and really enjoyed that we did a little bit of everything—middle work [grabbing/punching scenarios], thows, locks.
Maddie: I’d done fitness-style Muay Thai kickboxing before but wanted to try a new self-defence martial art during my Master’s. I was not expecting to find anything for me in the sports fair but met the then-president, Emma, who said, “You look like you’d love to beat a man up.” She wasn’t wrong: I tried a class and it was exactly what I’d been looking for.
What makes Japanese Jiu Jitsu different?
- Self-defence first. Every technique begins with a realistic attack: a wrist grab, a throat grab, a punch, a bottle, even a (training) weapon. The aim is defend yourself, stay on your feet, and get away.
- Broad skill set. You’ll learn grip releases, locks, throws, standing grappling and groundwork, and (at higher grades) weapon disarms and multiple attackers.
- Mat etiquette and tradition. Sessions open with a respectful bow; you’ll still see nods to the art’s samurai roots.
On BJJ & Judo: BJJ and Judo have common roots with the Jiu Jitsu practiced in ancient Japan, but broadly speaking, BJJ specialises in groundwork and Judo concentrates on throwing. Both martial arts excel at these skills, especially in competition settings. Our style of Japanese Jiu Jitsu covers groundwork principles and shares many of the same Judo throws, but applies these in self-defence scenarios, in response to various unarmed and armed attacks. Many members cross-train to get the best of both worlds.
I like to say our style is like Judo and BJJ had a baby, and that baby had a knife
Beginner-friendly, technique over strength
Early sessions focus on safety, including how to fall (“break-fall”) so the force spreads across a larger area of the body and reduces the impact. Breakfalling allows judoka and jitsuka to be thrown hard and pop back up. Beginner sessions also focus on quick, reliable escapes, such as wrist releases and throat grabs. The emphasis is on using leverage and anatomy, not strength. We also teach simple leg sweeps that rely on balance and timing.
Giant novices try to muscle out of a grip and fail. Then they use the technique properly, and it’s effortless. That light-bulb moment is addictive.
Most beginners arrive with no prior martial arts experience. The self-defence focus and visible female higher-grades and instructors help retention. Right now the uni club even skews women-majority.
Giving back: outreach & volunteering
The entire structure of the club and the wider The Jiu Jitsu Foundation is non-profit and volunteer-run. Edinburgh instructors donate their time; senior students help run warm-ups, coach pairs, and teach in local high schools. The club also collaborates on charity drives (e.g., blood donation) and is planning self-defence courses as part of anniversary celebrations.
No one here gets paid to teach, and that’s what makes it special. Every throw, every correction, every session is someone giving their time because they care.
Competitions
Two national events are held each year, which include a whole weekend of training and competing.
- Atemi Nationals (November): Showcase of the most beautiful and skillfuly executed throws and techniques.
- Randori Nationals (May): Judo-style sparring with groundwork and (from green belt) stand-up entries under adapted judo rules.
Edinburgh jitsuka have done exceptionally well in recent years. One highlight is Edinburgh University’s main instructor Seva winning the Atemi Nationals Black Belt trophy on his very first attempt, marking the club’s first win of the trophy in over 20 years.
Every time we compete, we’re not just representing Edinburgh—we’re representing Scotland. And we make sure people remember that.
30th Anniversary (2026)
In 2026, Edinburgh University Jiu Jitsu Club marks its 30th anniversary! We’re hosting a major Edinburgh training weekend that’s open to the wider community, featuring an accessible self-defence day alongside advanced sessions for higher grades, followed by the only appropriate finale: a ceilidh. Alumni from three decades will reunite on the mat with current students, and friends from our Jiu Jitsu Foundation network across the UK and overseas are invited to join.
Why pick jiu jitsu?
Timea: Confidence. Again and again you prove to yourself you can do hard things—and the community keeps you coming back.
Maddie: It’s value for time: throws, groundwork, self-defence, weapon defences, some striking—all in one curriculum with loads of training opportunities.