What you will learn
Adults face a different level of threat to kids and teens. We're talking about real, dangerous situations: violent assaults, people under the influence, and home invasions. They can happen anytime, anywhere, and nobody gets to choose when.
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Freestyle Martial Arts is built for that reality. It combines our four core areas, striking, wrestling, ground fighting and combatives, so you can deal with a situation whether it's standing, against a wall or on the ground. You'll learn to strike and defend, stop takedowns, escape bad positions, deal with grabs, chokes and headlocks, and get back to your feet. Situational awareness runs through all of it: recognising danger early, avoiding it where you can, and acting decisively when you can't.
As adults, we have a responsibility to protect ourselves and the people we love. Without training, most people have no real ability to do that. Training doesn't make anyone invincible, but it gives you skills, awareness and a far better chance.
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Most people think they can fight. Most can't. An untrained person under pressure is often more dangerous to everyone involved, themselves included, because they don't have control or understand the consequences of what they're doing. Trained people have the skill and control to handle a situation with less risk to themselves, the people around them, and even the person they're dealing with.
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For parents, there's another reason. If we want our kids to value training, health, fitness and looking after their family, the most powerful thing we can do is show them. Telling a child to train while we sit on the sidelines sends the opposite message.
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Most people come to us after something bad has happened. Think of training as insurance: it's far better to have it before you need it.
Why Adults Should Train
Fitness and Stress Relief
Martial artists are among the fittest athletes in the world. Why just go to the gym when you can get fit and learn skills that could protect you and your family at the same time? Training is also one of the best stress outlets there is. Hard physical work, a clear head and good people around you make a real difference to how you handle everything else in life.
Who It's For
Freestyle Martial Arts is the best place to start if you're new to martial arts or unsure which program suits you. Our students range from 16-year-olds to our oldest member, who is well over 70. They come from all kinds of backgrounds, ages and ability levels, and that mix is a big part of what makes this program special.
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We work around injuries and physical limitations, because we know life throws obstacles at people. But an attacker won't care about your bad knee or your age. If anything, those things make people easier targets. Training gives you the best chance to defend yourself with what you've got.
How Our Classes Run
Adults train on the same structured curriculum as every Freestyle class at West Coast, run in three 16-week trimesters that cycle through striking, wrestling, combatives and ground fighting four times each trimester. At adult level, it's taught to deal with the most serious and violent situations, while still building solid all-round fundamentals.
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Adult classes are run by an experienced instructor, with a second instructor on the mat for larger classes. Our instructors typically have well over 10 years' experience across multiple martial arts.
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Adults train a minimum of twice a week, but your membership gives you access to every Freestyle Martial Arts class on the timetable, so you can train as often as you like.
Grading
Belts are earned, not handed out. Students are invited to grade when they're ready, based on:.
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classes completed
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regularity of training
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technique
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attitude and dojo etiquette
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time at their current belt
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Tip testing is done in class three times a year, in week 12 of each trimester, with grading invitations given that week. Grading is held on a Sunday around four weeks later. Full uniform (gi and belt) is required. All dates are listed on our Important Dates page.
Freestyle Martial Arts gives you a strong foundation across every area, and there are plenty of ways to take your training further:
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA: if you find an area you love, you can add either program to your membership for a small upgrade fee.
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Competition Team: we have a small competition team for students who want to test their skills in competition.
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Student Leadership: committed adult students can take on leadership roles within the academy, helping run classes and mentoring younger students.
Pathways
