Crouching tiger, hidden centre

I’m a lover not a fighter. So what I would do if I was attacked has never really crossed my mind. I guess running away is always a good option, but then again I’m a walker not a runner. Oh dear.

Self-defence classes are all over the city in different forms. Most gyms and leisure centres now offer some form of defence class as the popularity for such lessons grows.

The Fighting Fit Martial Arts Centre is a hidden hub of self-defence and personal fitness minutes from Manchester city centre. The centre specialises in Fitness and Conditioning Classes, CrossFit Classes and Circuit Training alongside Bujinkan Ninjutsu, a traditional martial art that can be applied to modern day situations. We all know about ninjas but little about the martial art they get their skills from. Ninjutsu is both the preferred art and where the root of the word ninja comes from. Impressive. Whilst you may not strive for black belt status or care about the historical and cultural aspects, learning these techniques will make you street smart.

The classes cover a variety of skills from unarmed combat, which includes striking, locking and throwing, to unique Japanese weapon systems like the 6ft staff or samurai sword. Instructors, Ian Wilson and Jay Cahill use their skills and experience in the art to train Ninjutsu students at the Fighting Fit Centre in Salford.

As a founding member of the Shadow Warrior Bujinkan Dojo in Manchester, Jay has been studying Bujinkan Ninjutsu for eight years. She joined up with Ian to open the Fighting Fit Martial Arts Centre in June of last year. Ian has been studying martial arts for over 25 years. Back in 1985 he stumbled across the little known art of Bujinkan Ninjutsu and went on to receive his Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1989. The expertise of the two combined means you're in strong, safe hands.

Lined up around mats, the two hour lesson begins with a warm-up routine followed by stretching of muscles which your body might not be used to using. Mine certainly wasn’t. We then moved on to 'rolling' skills. Yes, we all did forward rolls down a hill at primary school, but who'd have thought that if you were knocked to the ground that same roll could pick you right back up again, if done correctly? Learning to land, roll and get up correctly is a lot more tricky than it sounds and practicing it will leave you feeling like you've done a full cardio workout in the gym. The difference is that this one move might actually help you one day. No more dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes next time I fall.

The class is held at the no frills Fighting Fit Martial Arts Centre in Salford and with a fully matted training area, no gym machinery or other distractions cluttering the space, you can concentrate solely on the task at hand. Each lesson focuses on a specific technique and builds on variations of the movement, additions to the move and demonstrations of the types of situations it would be beneficial in. After an introduction to some punching skills, our lesson centred around using a variety of wrist locks to stop and restrain an attacker.

It's easy to go into a martial arts lesson thinking that by the end of it you'll be a fly-kicking, brick-breaking 'Daniel-san'. For a start, you literally won't get your kicks from Ninjutsu as high kicks aren't a feature of the art. It will however, teach you how to overcome an opponent who is physically stronger, in other ways. It's not about learning how to knock someone out. It's about learning to look after yourself and involves the brain as much as the body.

You don't need to be a competitor for the World’s Strongest Man to learn such techniques either. As Jay says: “It's beneficial for people who aren't as strong because it's about learning to find your opponent’s weaknesses.”

Ninjutsu isn’t a sport-based martial art. There is no point-scoring or competition but all techniques taught are functional for self-defence situations. Fitness is based on coping with the intensity, flexibility and core strength. It's for everyone.

All classes are informal but practical and are suitable for anyone wishing to study martial arts, regardless of past experience. For those wishing to follow the belt route, there is also opportunity to be graded by attending classes and then demonstrating your skills, posture and use of weaponry. Classes also offer an opportunity to learn the historical aspect of the art form, should you wish to study it in more depth.

If you do wish to improve your fitness or strength, the centre also runs circuit and conditioning classes at various times through the week and weekend and is now home to Crossfit Central Manchester. Or, if you would like your specific needs to be catered for, you could book a session with one of the centre’s two fully qualified personal trainers.

For more information regarding these classes, please visit www.bujinkanmanchester.co.uk and for a full schedule of classes please visit www.fightingfitmartialarts.co.uk