A Typical Session

The basic outline of the session is like this:

• Put mats out so that everyone has something soft on which to fall on. 
• Warm-up
• Line up
  A brief formal greeting ceremony is conducted, where the students will line up along the edge of the mat facing the instructors, the senior students on the left of the instructor with novices on the right. The students and instructor will then kneel and Rei (bow) to each other
• Falling practice
  Novices will be taught the basics of break falling, so that they don't hurt themselves when basic throws are used. Grades will go through more advanced falling so they are safe to practice more elaborate throws with heavier falls.
• Learning techniques
  All the students will gather round so that the instructor can demonstrate the first techniques to learn and practice. Usually, subsequent techniques will build on these initial ones. Students will then practice in pairs, alternating so that both partners get to practice the technique on the other. During this time, the instructor will observe the students and offer advice.
• Demonstrations
  After the instructor has taught several techniques, he or she may ask everyone to form a circle and then invite several pairs of students to demonstrate what they've just learnt. There will be no ritual mocking or humiliation at this point.
• Cooling down
• Line up (again)
• Put the mats away
• Showers
• Pub