Welcome to Inner Circle Academy

This site is under construction!  We are getting our Zen on and trying to build you "one with everything"

 

Inner Circle Academy is a not-for-profit club set up to teach self-defence arts to those who need them most.

We are primarily a Japanese Jujutsu club, however we have several other independent & complementary curriculums. We have 3 branches across Moreton Bay area with between 120-130 regular members attending. Our classes are usually full. We operate waiting lists and advertise the remaining vacancies mostly through word of mouth. We've never turned anyone away who's come to us with a dire need.

Our prices are family focussed, we are FairPlay voucher accredited and we focus on practical outcomes rather than style-based dogma. 

Inner Circle Academy is the biggest (by far) supplier of Community Self Defence courses in the Moreton region.  We run 30 to 40 Healthy Active program sessions for the local council every year since they started. We’ve put 1000s of students through and get great feedback from past participants on the usefulness of various parts of the course used in real world situations.

Our Japanese Jujutsu studies follow an authentic lineage that links back directly to the Samurai of ancient Japan. All of our programs including Tai Chi, Kali and Iaido have authentic lineages that source to the originators.

 

Our programs and classes include:

 

Scorpions 2-week course – ages  6-16

• Common assault defences 
• Aggression De-escalation
• Anti abduction
• Eliminating bullying 

 

Women’s & Children’s Fast Track Self-Defence,  4-week course – ages  12+

• Serious assault defence
• HAPV De-escalation and violence management 
• Anti abduction 
• Antii DV
• Use of weapons
• Weapon Defences

 

Non Volent Restraint & Self- Protection for Care Settings Course - This course is designed to equip caregivers with the essential skills to manage challenging situations safely and compassionately and importantly defend yourself and others, in a legally and work-environment appropriate manner. This program focuses on de-escalation techniques, non-violent restraint methods, and practical self-protection strategies tailored to the unique demands of care environments. Participants will learn how to maintain calm and control while ensuring the safety and dignity of both the caregiver and the individual in distress. Courses are provided on demand. POA

 

Butokan Goshin Jutsu -Goshin Jutsu is Japanese for self defence. Inner Circle Academy maintains a separate curriculum for Goshin Jutsu based on ancient Japanese principles embedded in styles passed to us from Samurai originators through our lineage and also the more modern 7 Principles of Self Defence.

Our entire Goshin Jutsu curriculum is  embedded within our integrated curriculum and is prerequisite to completing our Uchi En Ryu gradings.

 

Panda Jitsu – ages  3-6  This is martial arts fundamentals hidden within fun games.  It's designed and delivered by martial arts experts and education professionals. We use gameplay to embed martial arts fundamentals in age-appropriate activities. Little learners aren't usually mentally nor physically ready for cut down martial arts styles. Panda Jitsu is fun, rough n tumble and builds deeper bonds with family. We teach self-control, basic self-protection & importantly, self-esteem. When they are ready for more serious study they can more easily graduate to the next level. We use evidence supported & world’s best  pedagogical practices to determine when to graduate a student. Although the targeted age group is 3-6, the upper age limit is flexible based on the child’s milestones & development markers. $5

 

Dragon Cubs game – ages   6-8   A transition program from Panda Jitsu and an entry level program for little learners not quite ready for rigours of a full martial art.

We focus on the building blocks for the next level curriculum, getting the basics right and age-appropriate self-defence essentials. The focus age group is 6-8 however from 5 to 9 or 10 is acceptable for participation depending on the individual.

 

Uchi En Ryu - Junior Jujutsu - Tigers – ages  8-11, Wolves – ages  12-15

This is an integrated traditional Japanese Jujutsu curriculum with the beginner level loaded with Goshin Jutsu, self Defence and practical outcome techniques. We teach how to defend against a wide range of typical threats, how to escape and how to fight when needed.  There is some form of combat practice or pressure testing engagement in every session. Counterintuitively, we do not produce people of violence, but confident & effective peace keepers.

There is no such thing as a junior black belt. At Inner Circle, “Black Belt” means “Teacher” (Sensei) and therefore must be an adult.

 

Uchi En Ryu  Senior Jujutsu – ages  16+  Seniors can expect to learn the entire curriculum from the practical self defence through to the traditional art legacy. By the time you’re a brown belt you’ll know all the techniques by their English name and Japanese name, where they came from and why they are in our curriculum. You’ll be able to make them work at will and teach them effectively to other students.  You are never too old to start. There are 24 gradings from 0 to black belt. They take an average of 6 months per grading (Belts and stripes mark progress). The beginner gradings take less time each and the more advanced gradings may well take much more than 6 months.

 

Tai Chi – Ages: If You Can Walk, You Can Tai Chi.  Tai Chi is Free, Every Saturday morning in the park. It promotes balance, flexibility, and overall well-being. Our program focuses on the traditional Yang forms of Tai Chi, and can be adapted to any fitness level. Tai Chi offers a pathway to inner calm and physical vitality. 

 

Uchi En Iaido  - Seminars and Healthy Active programs only. Advanced classes are restricted to existing students. Iaido is the art of drawing and cutting with a sword, a practice that embodies precision, grace, and mindfulness. Students will learn the fundamental techniques of sword handling, kata (forms), and the historical context of Iaido. This practice not only hones physical skills but also fosters mental clarity and discipline, making it an enriching martial arts journey.

 

Kali -  is a dynamic and versatile martial art ideal for weapon-based training. In our Kali curriculum, students will explore the use of sticks, knives, and empty-hand techniques in a structured and progressive manner. The curriculum covers fundamental drills, flow drills, and practical applications, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of this fluid and adaptive combat art. Kali training enhances our Jujutsu training with a complete and versatile weapons system. Essential parts are embedded within our integrated curriculum however students can grade separately in Panloob Bilog Kali, a fusion of two of the most effective and comprehensive kali styles.

 

Uchi En Kobudo is the practice of traditional Okinawan weaponry, encompassing a range of implements such as the bo, jo, sai, nunchaku, and tonfa. Training in Kobudo develops strength, dexterity, and a profound appreciation for the cultural heritage of martial arts. We also explore and train in weapons of opportunity.  Kobudo training is incredibly transferable to any makeshift weapon making for a substantial & practical addition to urban self-defence situations.  Curriculum is reserved for advanced students with focal components combined into the integrated curriculum.

 

Our instructors are all volunteers and pay their own memberships, affiliations, and professional development. We are committed professionals and experts in our field. 

Instructors are all black belts, blue card certified, first aid certified, fully insured, AJJA accredited and hold nationally recognised qualifications (government recognised certificates and diplomas in coaching, martial arts, self-defence, coaching, training and education).

We are accredited with /  affiliated with The Australian Ju-jitsu Association  (AJJA – Australian Peak Body), the World Jujitsu Federation Australia,  International Black Belt Academy, and the World Goshin Jutsu Federation (Japanese for Self Defence) and instructors have collectively nearly a century of experience and 50,000 hours plus of mat time.

We are not a franchise. All of our techniques work and are stress tested and proven.

Our instructors are graded in person by the highest qualified martial artists in Australia. We hire community halls as our dojos so we can access our communities directly and keep our costs down. We don't do competitions, tournaments, medals, trophies and such. 

 

Inner Circle Academy is an outcome-based self-defence school.

We have a very strong work ethic culture. Everyone helps, everyone does their bit. 

We've turned out 100s upon 100s of strong, competent and potent community minded individuals ready to help make our society a better place.

 

Current Enrolment Invitations

Something to think about while you are deciding whether or not to get off the couch or not.  Agree or disagree?  

I welcome your thoughts or questions either way,  talk to me on our Facebook page.

You don't need to subscribe to violence to be a martial artist. You don't need to train for and plan to be able to injure or maim someone who might attack you at some time in the future. BUT you have a right to defend yourself against violence and aggression. I recommend that everyone devote a small amount of their time to learning the basics. It's then your choice what to do with those skills. I have been a practising pacifist for most of my life, but I wouldn't want to meet me in a dark ally!