Total Self Defence was originally Meadway ju-jitsu clubs and then Meadway Ju-Jitsu academy. The club was founded by Master Professor James McDade in 1979. Prof McDade was a senior instructor for the world ju-jitsu federation and was the most senior instructor under Prof Richard Morris who was chairman of the British Ju-Jitsu association, at the London Ju-Jitsu centre.

He run the adult classes for many years during the early seventies until he opened his own clubs Meadway ju-jitsu clubs in Tottenham London and Barnet Hertfordshire in 1979-1980.

Master Prof James McDade was also a founder member of the original (M.A.C.) the Martial Arts Commission one of the first governing bodies for martial arts in the United Kingdom. The mandate was signed by Prof McDade under Aiki Ju-Jitsu the style that he taught before learning the juko ryu system that was the adopted style of the BJJA/WJJF.

Prof James McDade was promoted to 5th Dan Master of Ju-Jitsu in 1982 and served as committee member to the BJJA(GB)

Master Steve McDade started training in 1973 as a junior and was graded to 1st Dan black belt in 1983 after holding a junior brown belt for three years until he was 16 years old and could take a senior black belt, as junior black belts were not given back then, he helped run the clubs with his father.

The Academy became a private group and joined the (A.M.A) amateur martial arts association in 1992, which is one of the biggest governing bodies for martial arts in the United Kingdom.

In 2003 the name was changed to Total Self Defence and was registered as a Limited Company.

Master Prof James McDade and Master Steve McDade have taught self-defence and ju-jitsu all over the world and are international instructors with Yoshimi Ju-Jitsu International.

VISION

TO BRING TOGETHER ALL THOSE WHO TRULY WISH TO LEARN PRACTICAL AND REALISTIC SELF-DEFENCE THROUGH THE MARTIAL ART OF JU-JITSU.

MISSION

TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL WELLBEING TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF SELF-DEFENCE THAT IS PRACTICAL FOR THE NEEDS OF TODAY BY:

LIBERATING THE POTENTIAL IN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, NATIONALITIES, AND BELIEFS THROUGH SELF DEFENCE EDUCATION

UNITING ALL SELF-DEFENCE DISCIPLINES WHICH DEVELOP MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT

BECOMING THE GUARDIAN AND ACCREDITOR OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE TEACHING AND PARCTICE OF SELF-DEFENCE AND MARTIAL ARTS

DECLARATION

ALL MEMBERS ARE TO UPHOLD THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SPORTMANSHIP AND TO ONLY USE THE SKILLS LEARNT OUTSIDE OF THE MARTIAL ARTS ENVIROMENT WHEN IN THE DEFENCE OF LAW AND ORDER.