Combat Magazine - October 2011 by Martial Arts Publications Ltd

BRINGING MARTIAL ARTS TO LIFE

MARTIALARTSSHOW the

THE NEC BIRMINGHAM 12th & 13th MAY 2012

October 2011 Vol. 36 No. 10 £3.95

THEMARTIALARTSSHOW 2011 Forms Invitational Tournament

Street

Wars

I Predict a Riot PLUS..

The Pro’s & Con’s of Competition - Using The Force Sammo Hung, A Living Legend - Cynthia Rothrock, Friday’s Child Valhalla’s Gates Open Once Again - Tatsuo Suzuki, A Life of Karate

visit us at www.combatmag.co.uk

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VOL 36 NO. 10 OCTOBER 2011 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Paul Clifton paul@martialartsinprint.com

SENIOR DESIGNER Kevin Thompson

WEBMASTER Nick Harley

ADVERTISING/SALES EXECUTIVE Jan Harley 0121 351 6930

HOW TO GET WORK PUBLISHED

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NEWS ITEMS

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CALENDAR

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CLUBS DIRECTORY

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DISCLAIMER

COMBAT is published by M.A. Publications ltd, Unit 20, Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 1BE. The publishers reserve the right to reject editorial and/or advertising material as they see fit. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. However, the Publishers will endeavour to return such matter providing that it is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Any material accepted by the Publishers shall be revised or altered should the Publisher deem it necessary to do so. The act of submitting manuscripts and/or materials shall be considered an express warranty that such material is original and in no way infringes upon the rights of others. It is expressly forbidden for any part of the magazine to be reported whatsoever without the permission of Editor / Publishers. The views or comments expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the editor or Publisher. Distribution by COMAG, Tavistock Works, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE.

ADVERTISING DETAILS

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COLUMNISTS

Aran Dharmeratnam Gavin Mulholland Joe Hallett Kerry-Louise Norbury Mike Finn

PHOTOGRAPHY Carrie Austin 07716266854 Film Media Phil Hobden Mike Murphy

CONTRIBUTORS KUNG FU Brian Dossett David Wing Guy Holland Mick Clarke Peter Browne Rich Hinchcliffe Richard Thomas Stuart Rider Tom Hibbert

Derek Frearson Iain Armstrong Jeremy Yau Michael Tse Simon Lau Vince Hinde Yap Leong

COMMENT With all that has happened over the last few weeks, with the civil unrest, the rioting and the street violence I was forced to stand on my soap box and air my views on the matter by stating the case for the need to have martial arts taught in schools! I gave two or three brief radio talks on the subject of violence and how we could make a radical change for the better by simply putting martial arts on the curriculum and how that would make a HUGE difference! My reason for detailing this is that in this issue, Wayne Harrison offers an insight into gangs and the reasons we may be reaping the rewards of our own lack of action. It makes for a great read as Wayne himself has a great deal of experience to call on when it comes to gang related issues and violence in general. Enjoy the read but please, let me have your feed back as it will go towards a project that I am very passionate about too. Well the summer is almost over and whilst your hearts may be into your training, your heads will I am sure have been into letting your hair down and enjoying the sun (what little we have had of course). So what do you plan to do whilst you switch from summer to autumn mode? Well, if I were you and I wanted to stay ahead of the masses, I would take a look at www.martial House.co.uk it’s a place that has been created, designed and made exclusively for you, the martial artist and best of all its FREE. As well as carrying all the latest news (as it happens), you can place FREE adverts for your club, list your events for FREE in its calendar section, create your own profile & connect with (publicly and privately) any martial arts people through it. It has lots of helpful tools and content (and some still yet to be released functions). So, take some time to visit a brand new entity in the Martial Arts World, take advantage of all its assets and facilities because as I said its all FREE! Think of it as your new Face book with lots of added benefits BUT for Martial Artists ONLY! Thank you to every one of you that visited, demonstrated, exhibited and supported The Martial Arts Show Live this year as you made it the GREATEST event ever and one that we can ALL be proud of. Everything went as smooth as it could and EVERYONE that I have spoken with has said that they had the most enjoyable time ever! The only criticism that we experienced was that there was just too much to take in, in one day. So, if you book your tickets before September the first, not only will you save £5 against the normal day rate ticket price – We will upgrade it to a weekend ticket for no extra charge. That’s a £40 ticket for two days for just £15.00. With 3 times as many visitors this year than last, more than twice as many exhibitors AND with 74 exhibitors already booked in for next year we are already set to give you a FANTASTIC Martial Arts Show for 2012 (May the 12th & 13th at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham). If you could not make it this year, be sure to check out the photo report in this issue and you will see lots and lots of faces with smiles on them and make yourself a promise to be there in person at The Martial Arts Show Live – YOU WON’T REGRET IT ! After a great deal of thought, I have decided to open the Martial Arts Hall of Fame up to general public recommendation. So if you would like to recommend your instructor or an outstanding member of the martial arts world for consideration, send an e-mail to; cliftoncombat@aol.co.uk and I will get back to you with the correct application forms. So that you understand what the Hall of fame is all about, all you need to do is ONLY recommend someone that you feel is an outstanding example for all others to follow. Be this because they are a great instructor, raise money for charity, have a really nice way about them or they are just a great or cool person that cares about their students. If you know of any one that deserves to be recognised for their work or contribution to society using their martial arts, please let me know. The world needs to know that there are some great unsung heroes out there that really do their bit! Until next month, Oss! Paul.

KOREAN ARTS Dave Oliver David Allerton Hee Il Cho Keith Evans Tony Vohra

KARATE

Chris Denwood Mike Finn Neil Horton Peter Allen Rannoch McDonald Ronnie Colwell Steve Arneill

THAI BOXING Dan Green Richard Smith Shaun Boland Tony Myers

SPORT MARTIAL ARTS

BOXING

Humphrey Broome Joe Hallett John Swift Neville Wray Peter Edwards

FULL CONTACT

HEALTH/ STRENGTH/ FITNESS

Luke Calvert Mark Wilson-Smith Bill Wallace Cris Janson-Piers Dean Sugden Joe Lewis Kerry-Louise Norbury Paul Hennesey Steve Humphries

Drew Price Gavin Sibson Neil Rosiak Philip Malin Silvio Simac Jon Watson

SELF PROTECTION/ DEFENCE

Aran Dharmeratnam Kevin O’Hagan Morne Swaenopal Peter Browne

PHOTOGRAPHY Carrie Austin Martyn Skipper

MMA

Carl Fisher Dave O’Donnell Gavin Mulholland Rob Nutley

We are on the look out for enthusiastic martial arts fans that would like to become area/regional reporters. Fancy yourself as a team player? genuine and ‘real’ martial arts fans call now on: 0121-351-6930

CONTENTS REGULARS 6 -

MARTIAL ARTS NEWSLINE

10 -

COMBAT FILM - With Phil Hobden

16 -

THE MAN SPEAKETH! - By Robert Devane

20 -

WANT TO LEARN MARTIAL ARTS? Written by Dave J. Lomas

26 -

CHATTERBOX - With Kerry-Louise Norbury

28 -

BUNBUN SERIES - With Mike Finn

32 -

COMBAT HELPLINE - With Master Jake Ogden

144 - CLUBS DIRECTORY & CLASSIFIEDS SECTION

FEATURES

40 52

124

40 -

SOUTHERN SHAOLIN WUZUQUAN UNION OF CHINA Competition & Cultural Event Held in Quanzhou

46 -

SAMMO HUNG - A Living Legend

52 -

ISKA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

60 -

BRITISH SAMBO - 25th Anniversary

64 -

TATSUO SUZUKI - A Life of Karate

70 -

TMAS FORMS INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT By Joe Hallett

78 -

CYNTHIA ROTHROCK - Friday's Child

80 -

I PREDICT A RIOT By Wayne Harrison

84 -

MARTIAL BOOT CAMP - By Cris Janson-Piers

86 -

1ST SKDUN EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

90 -

STANDING ON YOUR OWN TWO FEET Enter Teuk Gong Moo Sool - Part 2

96 -

GRADING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL - By Luke Farmer

100 -

DARREN SHAHLAVI An Exclusive Interview By Mark Iles

106 -

MARTIAL ARTS Not What They Used to be

108 -

IBF SUMMER CAMP

112 -

VALHALLA'S GATES OPEN ONCE AGAIN!

By Simon R. Augustus

114 -

THE EVOLUTION OF A MARTIAL ART SYSTEM Part 12 By David Weeks

118 -

A WEEK TO REMEMBER By Master Guy Edward Larke TRADITIONAL

142 124 - PROFESSOR TATSUO SUZUKI - By Neil Horton 130 - THE E.S.K.K. COLUMN - With Chris Denwood 134 - STANCES - Kokutsu Dachi

138 - TANG SOO DO - By Master David Allerton 142 - USE THE FORCE By Chris Airey

THE NEC BIRMINGHAM 12TH & 13TH May 2012

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BRINGING YOU THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WORLD OF MARTIAL ARTS. IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON’T THEN WRITE OR FAX IT TO US AT Unit 20 Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 1BE TEL: 0121 351 6930 E-MAIL: newsline@martialartsinprint.com

New Products For WuShu Direct.

WuShu Direct have some great new products that have just arrived and are now available from the WuShu Direct website Budget Butterfly Knives These Budget Butterfly knives offer a great way to own Wing Chun knives at an affordable price. The knives are cast from solid aluminium, so they are both lightweight and have no handle fixing issues. They also have nicely bound handles and they offer excellent value for money. Adjustable Tension Grips Likewise, these adjustable Tension Grips (for strengthening the hands and the forearms) are adjustable and range from 10kg to 40Kg The Tension Grip offers easy adjustment to suit your desired exercise and allows you to increase the amount of resistance as your grip strength develops. Ergonomically sculpted handles with soft synthetic rubber inserts ensure a comfortable grip even during extended exercising.

Use regularly to enhance your grip. These are perfect for martial artists or anyone that needs to increase their grip strength Use a pair to work both hands at the same time and really blast that workout to the max!

BJJ UK Team Open at TMAS

by Jon Broster Sunday 8th May 2011 Birmingham NEC An ongoing issue at BJJ competitions is the winner of the team trophy. In simple terms, the team with the most entrants wins the trophy, so Braulio Estima’s British Open is always won by Gracie Barra Birmingham and the English Open is always won by the Carlson Gracie team (who organise it). It was therefore decided to devise a team event that would pit team against team on a more even playing field, to see who would come out on top. So it was that the first ever UK Team Open was held at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre on Sunday as part of The Martial Arts Show – Britain’s biggest martial arts expo. The competition was contested between teams of 3 blue belts, one under 76kg, one under 88kg and one at open weight, on a best of three basis, with the winner progressing to the next round. Right from the start there were some excellent matches, with the majority being decided by submission, but with very few one-side encounters. It soon became clear that Checkmat were the teams to beat, and they did indeed progress to the final where the final score was 2:1 in favour of Checkmat 1.

In addition to the team event, there were two open weight divisions. In the blue belt absolute Ed Ingamells (Gracie Barra Swansea), who won all his matches in both the team and individual competitions, managed to prevent a Checkmat cleansweep by beating Dave Chapman (who is the current British Open absolute champion) in a exciting and extremely entertaining match. Icon had brought a very strong team of white belts who came close to taking all the medals in the white belt absolute, but Tim Taylor of GB Tamworth won a very hard fought play off for third place to spoil their party. The format of the competition was enjoyed by all who entered as well as the significant audience. It was certainly true that the contestants showed some real team spirit, working together, and displaying excellent sportsmanship at the same time. The event was sponsored by Scramble <http://www.scramblestuff. com/> who provided some excellent T-shirts for the event officials and competitors. Blue Belt Team Open: 1 Checkmat1: Adam Watts, Mick Hall, Dave Chapman 2 Checkmat2: Steve O’Keefe, Lee Ambler, Dayman Lake 3 Icon: Germaine Gill, Jefferson George, Aaron Neil White Belt Absolute: 1 Germaine Gill (Icon) 2 Jefferson George (Icon) 3 Tim Taylor (Gracie Barra Tamworth)

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Blue Belt Absolute: 1 Ed Ingamells (Chris Rees Academy/GB Swansea) 2 Dave Chapman (Checkmat) 3 Steve O’Keefe (Checkmat)

place in Thetford, Norfolk over the weekend of the 17th and 18th of September 2011.

First Fightnightlive-TV Event Hailed a Success!

In 2009 Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu launched a campaign to raise money for “Help for Heroes”, raising an incredible £20,738.00 in their first year!

FightNightLive-TV Director Dell Mann said “I would like to thank all who subscribed to watch the first of our events which showcased two local Lynn boxers”.

This year will also see Kevin Pell personally donate all the money raised from the sale of their commemorative T-shirts to our “Help for Heroes” appeal fund.

FightNightLive-TV s next live event will be FREE to watch on Saturday August the 13th at the Pyramids Centre, Southsea, Portsmouth. This will be a World Class Boxing Council sanctioned event, “Night, of Champions” featuring the rematch of “Iron” Mike Bourne v Jase James.

Over the weekend of this year’s Shochu Geiko, Paddy Swallow (Kyoshi) will also be holding a charity Judo competition and Guru Martin Sillitoe will be staging a full contact charity Escrima competition wearing full body armour and all of the £5.00 entrance fees will also go to the “Help for Heroes” appeal.

This first fight was a cracker and more fireworks are expected in this rematch event in August. Bourne won the first fight with a unanimous points victory over six hard fought rounds. But it must be stated that jase james took the fight at only four weeks notice. At the rematch, James will have plenty of time to prepare for the fight and many think that Mike Bourne could loose in the rematch. Pictured presenting the British Title Belt to “Iron” Mike Bourne is Kings Lynn based businessman Mr Paul Johnson. The August 13th event will have a full supporting under-card of 15 fights. Anyone wishing to watch fights from the first live event in May can do so by going to www.dellmannsacademy. com and clicking on the FightNightLive-tv page. The next live event in August (13th) can be watched FREE of charge and live at the same website above.

The 10th International Martial Arts Festival

The 10th International Martial Arts Festival - Shochu Geiko, will take

This year we will also see the addition of a “very limited rules” grappling competition from a standing start, under the direction of our resident MMA instructor Miguel Camacho and once again all £5.00 entry fees will be donated to the “Help for Heroes” appeal fund. If anyone would like details of paying for this years seminar via Internet banking to secure the pre paid entry price, please contact their Headquarters directly on 01953 483795 for full details and pre event registration

Puma overtakes Adidas and Nike in race to drop toxic pollution Puma, the world's third largest sportswear brand, has responded to a Greenpeace challenge to 'detox', by publicly committing to the elimination of all releases of hazardous chemicals from its entire product lifecycle, and across its global supply chain by 2020 (1), putting it firmly ahead of its competitors Nike and Adidas in the race for a toxic-free future.

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Puma's move comes less than two weeks after Greenpeace launched its 'Dirty Laundry' report, which identifies commercial links between major clothing brands (2), including Nike, Adidas and Puma, and suppliers responsible for releasing hazardous and hormone-disrupting chemicals into Chinese rivers (3). Round one of the Detox challenge goes to Puma© now Nike and Adidas had better get in gear or risk falling behind in the race towards a toxic-free future, said Martin Hojsik, Coordinator of the Toxic Water campaign at Greenpeace International. It's not enough for Nike and Adidas to follow Puma's lead © Greenpeace is calling on all three companies to show leadership by becoming more transparent about the hazardous chemicals currently released during the manufacture of their products. Puma's statement incorporates many elements determined by Greenpeace as crucial to bringing about systematic change within the textile industry: a precautionary approach to chemicals management, a clear timeline for reaching zero discharge, and the elimination of all discharges of hazardous chemicals throughout its supply chain and product lifecycle © including those coming from polluting production activities such as wet processing (4). Puma has also stated that it will publish an action plan within the next eight weeks, which will detail how it intends to deliver on its commitment. (5) The Greenpeace Detox challenge continues to build momentum; thousands of people have added their names to an online petition that challenges the CEOs of Nike and Adidas to use their power and influence to tackle the urgent issue of toxic water pollution (6) and convert their words into actions. Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation

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newsline that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace is campaigning to stop industrial pollution of our water with hazardous, persistent and hormone-disrupting chemicals by demanding that companies and governments take action to detox our future.

OBITUARY

Professor Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan (Hanshi) 27th April 1928 - 12th July 2011 It was with great sadness that the martial art’s world and in particular the karate fraternity learned of the passing of Wado Karate legend Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan (Hanshi) in his London home on 12th July. Sensei Suzuki was eighty three years old and had been battling cancer since 2009. Tatsuo Suzuki was born on 27th April 1928 in Yokohama Japan. He began training in karate at age fourteen years. Five years later at only nineteen years he was awarded 3rd Dan black belt. When still only twenty four years old he was awarded the rank of 5th Dan by the founder Hirinori Ohtsuka, the highest grade in Wado Ryu at that time. In 1973 he was presented with his 8th Dan and in the same year given the title Hanshi (Master) by the International Budo Federation and was presented with a special silver cup by Higashi Kuni no Miya the uncle of the late Emperor of Japan. From 1945 to 1956 he received direct instruction from the founder of Wado Ryu Hironori Ohtsuka at Wado Ryu Headquarters Japan. Thereafter, as Ohtsuka Sensei’s most senior student he travelled with him both domestically and internationally performing demonstrations and teaching at various locations. In 1963 with Ohtsuka’s approval and following requests from numerous countries to provide instruction and perform demonstrations, Sensei

Tatsuo Suzuki spearheaded a group of Japanese instructors which left Japan and travelled abroad to Europe and America. He settled in London in 1965 and founded the first Wado Federation in England. From his base in London he spread Wado Ryu throughout Europe. To assist him he brought senior students from Japan, taught them how to be instructors and sent them to various European countries. Within a few years Wado Ryu became the most popular style in Europe. Many WUKO World Champions emerged from the ranks of his English students and were vital members in a brilliant team that won four World Championships in a row. Interestingly, Wado Ryu was officially introduced into Ireland when Suzuki Sensei gave a demonstration on the RTE Late Late Show in 1966.

Sensei Suzuki passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday morning 12th July with his wife Eleni and close friends at his bedside. His achievements are truly unique in the annals of Wado Ryu karate and he will forever be remembered for his immense contribution and dedication to the practice and development of the original Wado style as taught to him by the founding father Grand Master Hironori Ohtsuka the 1st.

Following Sensei Ohtsuka’s death in 1982 many problems had developed in Japan and eventually Sensei Suzuki in his effort to protect the essence of authentic Wado formed his own ‘Wado International Karate – Do Federation’ (WIKF) in 1990. With the help of long time loyal senior black belts who shared his vision the WIKF expanded over the next twenty years to become one of the largest global karate Federations with a presence in 61 countries and a student membership of around 22,000.

Ryan McLelland, Ain’t It Cool News

However, in November 2005 his normally excellent health suffered a setback when at the age of seventy seven he took a major heart attack which required triple by pass surgery. Sensei gradually recovered and within a couple of years was once again travelling and teaching internationally. Nevertheless, in 2009 he developed a cancer which necessitated a life threatening stomach operation from which he would never fully recover, although he was still advising his senior instructors at special courses with the last leader’s seminar at Crystal Palace just five weeks before he died.

He is survived by his wife Eleni, two daughters and a son, three brothers and one sister. Robert Hamilton (European WIKF Secretary)

“Never Back Down 2 beats the original in every single way” Directed By and Starring Michael Jai White and Featuring Real MMA/UFC Stars Including Lyoto Machida, Todd Duffee, “Big” John McCarthy, Eddie Bravo and Scottie Epstein The Adrenaline-Pumped Sequel Debuts on DVD on September 12 Featuring more thrilling and jaw dropping fight sequences than the original; Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown hits Unrated DVD on September 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Starring America’s number one martial arts action star Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, Blood and Bone) in his directorial debut, Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown returns to the adrenaline‑pumped underground world of MMA fighting, as a group of four college-aged fighters must learn the most intense fighting techniques and go head-to-head in a punishing Beatdown competition. The film also stars Dean Geyer (“Australian Idol” 2006), Alex Meraz (Twilight), Evan Peters (Never Back Down, Kick‑Ass), and Jillian Murray (Wild Things: Foursome) and features

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newsline professional MMA and UFC stars, including UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, Todd Duffee, “Big” John McCarthy, Eddie Bravo and Scottie Epstein. Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown includes deleted scenes and filmmaker commentary. The film will be available on DVD for £12.99. Synopsis: Behind the closed doors of a seemingly normal college, the ultimate showdown in underground MMA fighting is being planned. Ex-MMA rising star Case Walker (Michael Jai White) trains four college-age fighters, each with their own individual obstacles. Case will instruct them to master the most mind-blowing fighting techniques and go head to head in the most punishing competition ever devised - The Beatdown. Featuring UFC Champion Lyoto Machida, MMA fighter Scottie Epstein and UFC fighter Todd Duffee. Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown is a Mandalay Pictures – BMP, Inc production. Directed by Michael Jai White, the film was written by Chris Hauty (Never Back Down) and produced by Craig Baumgarten (Universal Soldier, Universal Soldier: The Return, Universal Soldier: Regeneration) and David Zelon (Soul Surfer, Into the Blue),and executive produced by Moshe Diamant (Dragon Eyes, The Black Dahlia). DVD Bonus Features Include: Deleted Scenes. Commentary with Director Michael Jai White, Todd Duffee and Scottie Epstein Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown has a runtime of 99 mins and is yet to be rated. Visit Sony Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.co.uk

Catch former UFC Light Heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida in Never Back Down 2

EXTRA EXTRA Hollywood to London

Don’t Miss This Chance in London!!! UK martial arts stalwart and stunt Guru, Dave Lea is about to return to the UK for a brief visit to hold a special Stunt weekend! If you are an aspiring actor, a would be stunt person or just wish to know how to get into the movies, make sure you take a look at what Dave and Silvio Simac have planned. Dave will also be showing his onset and behind scenes action reel. And at only £50 for the whole day, you can bet that you won t find any cheaper way to gain a professional insight into the World of acting and stunt choreography. You will also be entered into a draw to have your fight scene filmed so that you have a show reel to take to your next audition. It’s open to all ages so if you have put off your ambitions in the past make sure you grab yourself a fantastic opportunity now! If you are a fan of martial arts movies and like the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Michael Keaton, Jean Claude Van Dame or Wesley Snipes or you love movies like Batman – You simply must attend Dave’s course. It will take on the 10th and 11th of September in London. For all the details call Silvio Simac on 07961 189 483 or e-mail Dave direct at: Dave lea7@earthlink.net.

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COMBAT FILM By Phil Hobden

APOCALYPSE NOW (BR, 15, RRP £25.99) Review by Phil Hobden During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe. One of the greatest war movies ever made is re-released this month on a multiple Blu-Ray super package which includes what is probably the best cut of the film along side tons of extras, not least HEARTS OF DARKNESS, the award winning and simply epic making of documentary. Apocalypse Now is simply a must own film.

Action 4/5 Film 5/5 If you liked this, try; Platoon, MASH, Hurt Locker The Hit List (18, DVD) Reviewed by Matt Duddy After what is possibly the worst day of his life, Allan Campbell (Cole Hauser) goes to his local bar to drown his sorrows. There he meets Jonas Arbor (Cuba Gooding Jr), a rouge CIA assassin. Arbor asks Campbell to draw up a hypothetical list of 5 people he wants dead, a drunken Campbell obliges and Arbor disappears into the night. The next morning, Campbell awakens to the news that one of the people on his list has already been murdered; can Campbell stop Arbor from completing his list and at what personal cost? Borrowing heavily from Collateral, The Hit List is a formulaic cat and mouse thriller with a high body count, creaky acting and a well worn idea.

Action 3/5 Film 3/5 If you liked this, try; Collateral, The Contract, The Mechanic BATTLE: LOS ANGELES (BR/DVD, 15, £19.99) Review by Phil Hobden Battle: Los Angeles is nothing less that big, dump, stupid, gung ho action. If that’s your bag then you can do far worse than this unpretentious mash of Alien’s vs Humans. A solider on the dawn of retirement is drawn into a deadly war as extra terrestrial invaders lay the smack down on a battered LA. Whilst there is very little originality here, I was never bored and at times it was pretty impressive.

Action 3/5 Film 3/5 If you liked this, try; Independence Day; War Of The Worlds WUSHU (DVD, 15) Review by Mike Parkin Brothers Li Yi and Li Er are sent to study at a Wushu school, under the tutelage of their father Li Hui (Sammo Hung). The young lads make some strong friendships and they all grow up together, becoming incredible athletes in the process. Now in their teens, the friends compete in a tournament hoping for a place on the National team, and find themselves trying to foil a dastardly kidnap gang who are targeting children in the area. This is quite a weird film, in that if not for the kidnapping side plot there is no dramatic tension whatsoever. Everyone gets along famously with everyone else – even the kids’ rivals. However it’s easy to see past that once these guys start really displaying their skills, which are pretty phenomenal. The kidnapping plot pays off very well too allowing a little dark edginess to proceedings and allowing Sammo Hung to prove that he is still very much the daddy.

Film 3/5 Action 4/5 If you liked this try: Best of the Best, SPL 10 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

COMBAT FILM By Phil Hobden

THE WARRIOR’S PATH (15, DVD) Reviewed by Matt Duddy When priceless Thai treasures are stolen by a ruthless mafia boss, it is up to Krit, a gifted martial artist and his archaeologist friend Praifa to return the antiques to the Thai Royal Palace. The latest film from the team behind the Ong Bak series sees regular stalwarts Mike B and Erik Schuetz given more of a leading role. The Warrior’s Path sticks closely to the themes (and storyline) which made the original Ong Bak such a success, however, this seems a sometimes confusing and lazy effort with no real standout fight sequences in its very short 79 minute runtime. Come back Tony Jaa, all is forgiven!

Action 3/5 Film 2/5 If you liked this, try; Ong Bak, Warrior King, Chocolate THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (18, DVD) Reviewed by Matt Duddy The highest grossing Korean film in recent years sees reclusive pawn shop owner Tae-Shik take on local mobsters when his only friend and her young daughter are kidnapped. In return for the safe release of his friends, Tae-Shik agrees to do a job for the mobsters however, the job turns out to be a set up leaving him the target for both the police and a rival gang. Stylishly shot, ultraviolent and boasting one of the best ever knife fight sequences committed to film, The Man From Nowhere is a pulsating thriller which richly deserves comparison to the classic films of John Woo and Takeshi Kitano.

Action 5/5 Film 4/5 If you liked this, try; Taken, Man on Fire, Leon The Fighter (15) Review by Richard Hawes Christian Bale may have won an Oscar for his performance as crack addicted retired boxer Dicky Eklund, but the fighter of the title is actually Dicky’s half-brother. As portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, Mickey Ward is tough but gentle, overshadowed by the powerful, domineering personalities that surround him. Most notably those of his wild sibling, who once fought Sugar Ray Leonard, and mother/manager Alice. His journey to triumph is a familiar one, but it’s confrontations that take place outside the ring that have almost as much, if not more, significance and make the story feel so original. Director David O. Russell has made a film that’s a compelling mix of kitchen-sink drama and sports movie clichés. Not just a must see for fight fans. Highly recommended.

Film 4/5 Action 4/5    If you liked this try Warrior, The Wrestler, Invincible

KNOCK OUT (12, DVD) Review by Richard Hawes Released in 2010, India’s unofficial version of Phone Booth (2002) elaborates on Larry Cohen’s original concept but not in the way you might expect. Hindi-language remakes usually mean the addition of song and dance sequences that alienate western audiences, but Knock Out has none of those expected Bollywood flourishes. This is a slick but OTT thriller very much in the Hollywood mould. Though it may be an obvious rip-off, it is a very satisfying one. Perhaps even more so than the original. Of particular interest to Combat readers will be the hand-to-hand action action sequences, in which 51-year-old Indian icon Sanjay Dutt takes on Britain’s own Silvio Simac and Joey Ansah. The latter recreating his memorable scrap with Jason Bourne in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Film 4/5 Action 4/5 If you liked this try Rudraksh, Speed, Connected WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 11

COMBAT FILM By Phil Hobden

NORWEGIAN NINJA (15, DVD) Review by Mike Parkin Director Thomas Malling was 12 years old when he watched the news about politician Arne Treholte being arrested for high treason and espionage. Malling’s film takes that news story and filters it through the eyes of his 12 year old self, incorporating all that was important to him at the time, such as video games, comics and spy movies…and ninjas. In Malling’s version, Treholt was in fact the leader of an elite special forces group called Ninja Force. In his most deadly adventure, Treholte and his men must prevent the agents of “Stay Behind” from implicating Russia in a series of terrorist attacks on Norway, thereby allowing USA to get a foot-hold on the country. The end result is a wonderful fantasy movie which mixes loads of different elements all to good effect.

Film 4/5 Action 3/5 If you like this, try: Black Dynamite, GI JOE, Team America: World Police THE MECHANIC (15, DVD) Review by Phil Hobden Jason Statham is Arthur Bishop an elite assassin working for a shady organisation. But when the Agency double cross him and his mentor and friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is killed, Bishop enlists Harry’s son (Ben Foster) on a mission to avenge his death. Cue explosions, shoot outs and the usual shots of Statham bare-chested. Let’s get this straight The Mechanic is nothing you haven’t seen numerous times before. That said it’s a pretty enjoyable romp, is actually a better film than the Charles Bronson original and is far from boring. So overall well worth a watch.

Film 4/5 Action 4/5 If you liked this try The Transporter 1 & 2, Crank THE DEVIL’S TOMB (DVD, 18) Review By Daniel Gibberd Cuba Gooding Jr. leads an elite special forces unit to secure an underground bunker and rescue a scientist working there...but something unholy lies waiting for them! Despite a decent cast and solid direction by debutante helmer Jason Connery, the bad tends to outweigh the good, and that’s mostly down to the script. It’s chock full of illogical plot holes and tired Hollywood cliches, meaning it’s pretty predictable throughout, and you don’t for a second buy that these actors are special forces troops. They just don’t convince. There’s a distinct whiff of an ‘Aliens’ homage here and there, but it’s obviously not in the same league. It’s not quite theatrical release quality, but better than most straight-to-DVD fare. Worth a rental, but not much more.

Film 2/5 Action 2/5 You May Also Like: The Bunker, Outpost, Event Horizon, Aliens FIGHT DVD’S – WWE/UFC ROUND UP WWE THE TRUE STORY OF WRESTLEMANIA (DVD/BR, £29.99, 15) features over 8 hours of material looking back at the history of the WWE’s greatest annual event. WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2011 (DVD/BR, from£17.99, 15) is the annual 30 men in a ring, last man standing tournament made different this year by an addition 10 superstars. UFC ULTIMATE HEAVYWEIGHTS (DVD, £12.99, E) takes a look at the IFC’s big men. Expect sweaty big muscle’s galore. UFC 124: ST PIERRE vs. KOSCHECK 2 (DVD, £17.99, E) features the hotly anticipated rematch between GSP and the mouthy Koscheck following up on their Ultimate fighter stint. UFC ULTIMATE KNOCKOUTS (DVD, £12.99, E) features over 30 KO’s. A case of ‘does what it says on the tin’. Also worth a look is UFC BEST OF 2010 (DVD, E) covering, as you would guess, the best fights from the year that was 2010. UFC 125 : RESOLUTION (DVD, E) features Edgar v Maynard 2 and Leben V Stann, both amazing fights. UFC 126: SILVA vs BELFORT (DVD, E) features fights between Anderson Silva & Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffen vs Rich Franklin and Jon Jones vs Ryan Bade. Oh and one of THE best KO’s ever! TUF 12: TEAM GSP v TEAM KOSCHECK (DVD, E) is the explosive season of The Ultimate Fighter that featured a lot of talk, several good fights and a long wait to see Koscheck get hit in the face. 12 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

COMBAT FILM By Phil Hobden

PHIL’S QUICK CAPSULE REVIEW (for more check out http://uglyreview.blogspot.com) 127 HOURS (DVD/BR, 15) is Danny Boyle’s Oscar nominated guy stuck in a cave cuts of his arm movie. A well made, thought provoking and often gut wrenching classic. TRUE GRIT (DVD/BR, 15) is another Oscar nominated home video debutant that is better than the film is claims not to be inspired by and worthy of every accolade that has been thrown at it. One of THE best films of 2010/11. THE FIGHTER (DVD/BR, 15) is a good boxing movie. Just not as good as everyone will lead you to believe. If you have seen every other boxing movie since Rocky, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get. Russian serial killer movie your kind of thing? If so check out TRACKMAN (DVD, 18, £9.99) a brutal eye popping horror movie. Studio Ghibli’s iconic first movie LAPUTA (BR, PG, £24.99) is out now in glorious Blu-Ray, Miyazaki’s homage to Jules Verne. PANDENIC (DVD, £15.99, 15) is another in the ever increasing virus/pandemic type movies. Which isn’t a bad thing as I have always had a love for all things virus... Russell ‘Don’t you point that phone at me’ Crowe stars in THE NEXT THREE DAYS (DVD, 12, £TBC) alongside Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde and Elizabeth Banks. When his wife is arrested for murder School teacher Brennan (Crowe) finds his world turned upside down. ASSUALT IN THE PACIFIC: KAMIKAZE (DVD, 15, £TBC) recounts the legend of the kamikaze pilots from WW1 and its effect son the closing days of the war. FADING OF THE CRIES (DVD, 15) is a creature featuring starting Horror regular Brad Douriff. GHOSTED (DVD, 15) features a who’s who of “Hmmm I knida know him” British actors in this violent prison movie. DETECTIVE DEE(BR/DVD, 15) , the multi-award winning Tsui HJark movie with chorography by the legendary Sammo Hung. CROSS (DVD, 15) is a supernatural thriller starring er... Vinnie Jones, Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Sizemore. Worth a watch for the cast alone... From Hammer (yes Hammer!) comes THE RESIDENT (DVD,Br, 15) featuring former Karate Kid Hilary Swank and the legend that is Christopher Lee. Odd neighbours, strange bumps in the night... just what you’d expect from one of the greatest names in horror. THE WARRIOR & THE WOLF (DVD/BR, 15) comes from acclaimed Tian Zhuangzhuang an epic tale of battle, bloodshed and passion. HUNGER (DVD, 18) is a rather taboo pushing look at Cannibalism that asks just how far will five people go to survive? Find out on DVD now. BRIGHTON ROCK (DVD/BR, 15) is the remake of the classic British gangster thriller given a mod twist. RISEN (DVD, 12) is the true story of Howard Winstone, Welsh boxing legend, rthat starst Stuart Brennan, John Noble and, er, Shane Ritchie. THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (BR, 18) continues Arrow Films stream of Argento releases with this, his first ever movie. Due to Space constraints we had to trim a few reviews from last issue. So... the abbreviated versions: THUGS MUGS AND DOGS (3/5) “Thugs Mugs and Dogs is a brutal, gritty drama with black humour delivered as fast as the greyhounds. Place your bets that this will be a cult classic”. By Matt Duddy THE ASSASSIN NEXT DOOR (2/5) “Sadly, ‘La Femme Nikita’ it ain’t. It’s better than some Danny Lerner films I’ve seen, but still kind of average” by Daniel Gibberd TERRY (4/5) “This is a study of urban criminal life and its consequences at its rawest, gutsiest best”. By Matt Duddy BLACK (4/5) “by Richard Hawes BEATDOWN (2/5) “Beatdown retreads old ground and this story has been done to death, it does have some well choreographed fight sequences, however, the manner in which they are directed and edited will either give the viewer a migraine or an epileptic fit.” By Matt Duddy RUBBER (1/5) “Was a tread bare story that ran too flat for my liking. Could have done with more air... okay enough puns. I didn’t like this at all but others have raved about it. Very much a marmite movie” By Phil Hobden PRIMAL (3/5) “There is violence and gore aplenty along with some genuine jump out of the seat moments which marks this film a cut above the rest” By Matt Duddy SUDDEN FURY (2/5) “Despite its incredibly low budget, shaky camera work and horrible sound, there are flashes of real brilliance in the fight sequences and some superbly choreographed and executed shootouts” By Matt Duddy UNIVERSAL SQUADRONS (4/5) “All told, a tidily executed mid-budget movie, well acted from top to bottom” by Daniel Gibberd LEGACY: BLACK OPPS (3/5) “Whilst not quite fast-paced or thrilling enough to be classed a thriller, it’s still a very absorbing psychological drama that keeps you guessing right to the very end...and you’d never guess it was shot in Bonnie Scotland!” by Daniel Gibberd INK (5/5) “Ink is a truly fantastic film, it has beautiful, breathtaking visuals, a highly original script and concept, solid performances and some great choreographed fight sequences. This is the best independent film you have not seen...” By Matt Duddy WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 13

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COMBAT FILM By Phil Hobden

Competitions This month we have the following titles to give away: We have copies of Oscar nominated THE FIGHTER to give away on DVD. To win a copy all you have to do is answer this easy question: Which comic book character does Christian Bale also play? a) Batman b) Robin c) Wonder Woman Answers on email to fighter@martialartsinprint.com We have 5 copies of DOUBLE IDENTITY to give away. To win a copy all you have to do is answer this easy question: Which film did Val Kilmer star alongside Tom Cruise? a) Days Of Thunder b) Top Gun c) Annie Get Your Gun Answers on email to doubleid@martialartsinprint.com We have copies of one of my favourite films ever, THE DOORS to give away on Blu Ray. To win a copy all you have to do is answer this easy question: Which film did Val Kilmer star alongside Tom Cruise? a) Top Gear b) Top Gun c) Top Secret Answers on email to doors@martialartsinprint.com We have 5 copies of ARTHUR AND THE GREAT ADVENTURE to give away. To win a copy all you have to do is answer this easy question: Which film did director Luc Besson also make? a) Leon b) Lethal Weapon c) Let The right One In Answers on email to arthur@martialartsinprint.com We have copies of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: EXTENDED EDITION on Blu Ray to give away. This box set, worth almost ÂŁ90 each, features all three film sin their extended editions. Which film is Peter Jackson currently directing, a prequel to this famous trilogy? a) Lord Of the Dance b) The Hobbit c) Narnia Answers on email to lotr@martialartsinprint.com

WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 15

THE DRUID SPEAKETH! By Robert Devane

What do you want? Living spontaneously can be fun but to achieve most things you’ll need a plan. The more exact your plan, the better. You don’t have to have all the skills and knowledge needed right now because with proper goals you’ll gain what you need along the way. Goal setting is extremely important to ensure maximum achievement. Many studies have shown that those who have written goals achieve more than those who haven’t! Goals help you to define what you want, to make it attainable to your subconscious and to plan your route with military precision. Goals are not just for planning a New Year. They should be reviewed daily and added to or changed on a regular basis. This article specifically outlines how you go about writing and organising your goals for maximum achievement.

Step 1:

“What would you dare to do if you knew that you could not fail?” Don’t hold back. Get a piece of paper and simply start writing. Jot down anything and everything that you want to do, try, achieve or have. Don’t be afraid to think big!

Step 2:

Organise your goals and ideas into sections. 1) Family Goals 2) Financial Goals 3) Personal Growth Goals 4) Physical Goals 5) Social Goals 6) Possession Goals

Don’t be afraid to ask yourself what you really want.

1) Family Goals

Organise all your goals and wants for yourself and your family into this section.

2) Financial Goals

This section is for all your financial desires. How much do you want to earn? How much do you want to save? How many investments do you wish to own? (stocks, bonds, shares, real estate, business’)

3) Personal Growth Goals

Who do you wish to be? What characteristics do you have that you wish to change or enhance? What courses and studies do you wish to take in order to continue your learning curve?

4) Physical Goals

If you wish to lose or gain weight, put it down here. If you wish to take up a sport or achieve a certain level at a particular sport, put it in the physical goal section. Also, write down any physical skills that you wish to develop.

5) Social Goals

How do you wish to contribute to society? Who do you wish your friends to be? What functions do you wish to attend? Some of the members from Martial Arts Incorporated that took part in the sparring challenge week

6) Possession Goals

This is the section you have been waiting for! Write down all the material things that you want. Cars, clothes, jewelry, property etc. Make sure that with each one you write down you ask yourself, “Do I really want this?” Have fun with this section!

Step 3:

Now that you have categorised all your goals, it is important to review them all and to break them down into smaller goals. Each main goal is generally made of several small goals. You must break down each of your goals into the smaller goals that are required in order to achieve your main goal. For example: if you wish to earn £1000 net per week then you must figure out how you plan to do this. Are you going to get a second job, work harder at your current job, increase your prices, start a business or invest? You must then organise your answers into smaller goals. For example: Main Goal: Earn £1k net per week. Smaller Goal 1: increase sales Smaller Goal 2: make more cold calls Smaller Goal 3: Send Brochures to all local business’ and offices Smaller Goal 4: Place advertisement in local newspaper. All of the smaller goals should add up to your main goal. This will make your goals a lot more attainable. It also helps to turn your goals into plans instead of wishes.

Step 4:

The next important thing you need to do is to put approximate dates beside each one of your goals. The dates signify when you want to have your goal achieved. You must have some sort of schedule. The smaller goals along with the main goals need to be dated. However, don’t be too exact with your dates. They are only approximations, so give yourself plenty of ‘breathing space’ and avoid being too strict or putting too much pressure on yourself.

Step 5:

Look at your goals on a regular basis. The best time to do this is first thing in the morning and last thing at night. These times are great for getting your goals into your subconscious. Once your subconscious has accepted and fully believes in your goals, it makes

it a lot easier to make them happen in the physical world. Change or add to your goals as you see fit. Just because it is written down doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind. Change your mind as often as you like because this will help you narrow down to what really is most important to you. When it comes to reviewing your goals, tick the ones that you have achieved, cross out the ones that you changed your mind about and simply carry forward the ones that you have not yet achieved. Don’t be mad if you do not get everything done that is on your list, just reschedule them. Also, reward yourself after every goal you achieve. Remember, goals need to be fun too. Again, Happy New Year and Happy Goal Setting! Keep me posted about your achievements. Robert ‘The Druid’ Devane is a professional instructor and fighter. He runs Martial Arts Incorporated which has 2 full time Dojos in Dublin. Robert can be contacted through the website: www.martialartsinc.com

IT’S BACK! RTIAL MAAMRRATTIA SL M A R T IA A L R T S M AARRSTTIASSLHOW M A R H O T RRSTATHIASRSTLHIASOLW W MAAMRRATATIA SOLWOW S ARSTHSOHW SHOW the

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THE NEC BIR MINGHAM 12 TH & 13TH M AY 2012

& THIS TIME IT’S

BIGGER at the NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM, UK

Saturday the 12th & Sunday 13th May 2012 www.themartialartsshowlive.com

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WANTTOLEARNMARTIALARTS? Written by Dave J. Lomas (7th Dan Black Belt in Kung Fu) retired.

Qualifications Often referred to in promotional posters and adverts is of course the subject of qualifications. It stands to reason and common sense that when joining a club you would expect the instructor to be a fully qualified teacher of the martial arts and fully able to give instruction and know what they are talking about. It is true to say that if someone is claiming to be a highly qualified instructor, having never taken any formal training in their life, over someone who has undergone intense training and formal exam tests over a period of years, then this of course is far from fair and you the new beginner will be trained in a way that is a waste of time and money. The question then is how do you know if the person you are going to invest your time and money in, is a qualified instructor? There are a number of things that you can do when first attending a club, the first being to ask questions on the martial art in question and to ask for any written details or promotional leaflets. The instructor should be able to answer any technical questions without any major problems but if he cannot give complete and practical responses to your questions then push him with more questions to see how much he or she really does know. If the instructor is fully qualified then this should be no problem to him, or her, at all but if they do not know their job then walk away, and in addition always avoid those instructors that come across as arrogant or boastful and are clearly out to make money above all else, regardless of their qualifications. Back in the 1980’s I visited a kung fu club and met the head instructor who boasted that he had been trained in China under several kung fu masters and further claimed that he was a national coach to all the top martial art teams. He further went on to say that he only taught students after they had been given lessons by one of his assistant instructors for the first three years and only then if the assistant

instructor recommended further instruction under him. This raised my suspicions however when I noticed him teaching children and a few adults that were only beginners and was not even in uniform at that point in time. Boasting further he went on to say that he only dealt with the chief instructors of other clubs or styles and never wasted time on other assistant instructors from other clubs. When I asked him what style of Chinese boxing he taught he said that he did not teach Chinese boxing only kung fu. I further referred to the term Wu Shu, meaning martial arts in Chinese, and he further said that he did not teach that also. When I explained that Chinese boxing and Wu Shu are in general speaking terms the same as kung fu he seemed confused. He was also teaching basic techniques that any low graded ‘correctly trained’ student would know were incorrect or simply wrong. A few weeks later this very boastful individual had an advert in the local news paper that said learn kung fu also learn Wu Shu and also learn Chinese boxing. For someone who had also claimed to be a qualified instructor for more that 35 years, at

that point in time, he did not seem that knowledgeable about the basics. Any qualified instructor who has gone through various grading tests to reach the standard that they now hold would be able to explain to a new beginner the requirements involved. In addition, any qualified instructor would know the general background history of their chosen art including the terminology and the basic details like the difference between Chinese boxing, Wu Shu and kung fu after all their years of formal training. Many reputable clubs are associated to each other in various ways, often with regard to competition events and to arrange insurance cover for those taking part. In the case of independently run clubs these arrangements are automatic within their own branches but it is well worth noting that not all clubs, big or small, are covered by insurance. Some clubs do not want the expense of insurance cover, only profit, therefore it is always a wise course of action to provide your own additional personal insurance cover just in case. Any good martial arts club or weekly class event should be covered for a range of things including

Public Liability Insurance Cover and a Criminal Record Check that is a requirement these days. Although the instructors or event organisers are not required to display all their certificates and legal documents on a regular basis, students or new beginners who are thinking of joining one of these classes are perfectly entitled at anytime to request to see all these documents and certificates. A good reputable instructor will normally have these documents available for inspection at all times but if they are reluctant to provide these items for inspection then this should ring alarm bells regarding their qualifications and legal status. In the UK a law has been passed that says anyone involved with children (including those adults who are regarded as vulnerable), should be checked for a criminal record for the reasons of security. This law also covers instructors who are teaching children on a regular basis. I think, (and I am sure many others will agree), that it is a complete and utter waste of time. If it was to be truly effective then not only are the adult instructors who come into contact with the children on a regular basis needed to be checked out for reasons of safety but also all the other adult men and women students of the class in the same way, as they are also, in regular contact with the children in the class. But if this were to be enforced then a lot of people who were thinking of joining a club, (but had some form of criminal record), would end up by not joining for fear of having their membership refused and their past wrong doings made known. New students will most likely be unaware of these legal issues and will not think to ask to see such documents but a good club that likes to maintain a good reputation may decide to cover this situation by providing all the relevant details within any promotional leaflets or any documents that they issue to new members upon joining. This type of information should include information on insurance cover, the Criminal Record Bureau, (CRB), check for all adult instructors and adult students of the class, certificates of rank or qualifications issued by their own instructors and the instructor’s first aid certifi-

cate details. Alternatively the instructor or event organiser should provide details of a governing body or association that they can contact for verification. In the case of an independently run group the instructor should provide a contact address or the phone number of their chief instructor who can confirm the groups legal cover and qualifications. In the same way kung fu had become more popular than karate during the 1970’s so did the Japanese ninja become the latest fighting fashion trend in the 1980’s. The ninja, (Japanese covert assassin), used all types of killing weapons and empty handed, (taijutsu), fighting skills to kill their target, and now they had taken over the martial arts scene in addition. During the 1970’s many karate trained students had opened up clubs under the title of kung fu and called themselves high ranking qualified kung fu masters knowing that the new student would not initially know the difference until it was to late and the new beginner had wasted their money.

scale without outside interference, or getting involved in martial art politics and without focusing attention on certificates and qualifications but instead being focused on the job in hand, that being, learning effective combat skills. These instructors are in some ways the unsung heroes of the martial arts preferring to teach the martial arts up to a good standard, hopefully, without seeking publicity or fame. Students who are trained under these conditions are normally people who are not interested in certificates or qualifications but prefer to learn good quality combat skills. These instructors and their students will never hold formal qualifications or widespread recognition for their efforts but will have gained the most valuable part of the martial arts and that is a ‘never to be forgotten’ experience. Those who prefer to train only a few select students will often teach for free or for a modest small fee. They are not interested in money or fame and regard certificates as just a worthless piece of paper that will in the end

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Back in the 1970’s before medical checks became more routine several new beginners ended up collapsing with heart attacks and other unchecked medical problems. Some of these unfortunate new students did die as a result of their conditions which put legal pressure on the clubs instructors. Today all responsible clubs will have some form of public liability insurance cover against accidents within lessons and some form of procedure in place in the event of a medical emergency; however it is the full responsibility of the new beginner to inform the instructors of any medical concerns that they may have. Although a good club will have an instructor in attendance at all times who has a current first aid certificate the instructor cannot gain access to a persons private and restricted medical history to check if a new student is fit enough to take part in classes but they can insist that any new beginner, regardless of their age, complete a standard registration form and include any medical details that should be taken into account when taking part in training sessions. Based on the information available to them at that point in time they must then consider the option of letting that person take part in classes or, if there is still some concern, asking the new student to provide a written letter from their doctor confirming the person’s fitness to take part in the class. This situation is not just limited to adults; medical checks of this nature should also include the younger person and children if the instructor thinks it is warranted. If an instructor fails to cover their safety procedures in any way and a student suffers any injury or medical problem arising from their participation within the class then the instructor could still be held legally responsible if it is proven that they have acted in a negligent way. Children have played a big part in the world of martial arts for many years and for more than just one reason. Both newly opened and well established clubs rely on children attending classes to keep membership numbers up and to keep money coming into the club. Even small, none profit making, clubs need money to pay for hire costs, equip-

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In the same way that those who had been trained in karate methods had opened up ‘so-called’ kung fu clubs to cash in on the Chinese martial art craze of the time so did those who had trained in karate and kung fu start up ninja classes in the same way claiming that they were qualified experts in the art. When the ninja period started in the mid 1980’s and yet again karate and kung fu trained students opened up ninja classes claiming to be qualified teachers, people had become more aware of this situation and began questioning the instructors qualifications and the techniques being shown. It was clear to see that some of the things they were asked to do within training sessions and required to do for a grading test was a con. In the movies at that time ninja films showed the ninja assassin doing spectacular somersaults and back flips and this became part of the training and test requirements within these bogus clubs but the biggest question of all that was asked by the new students was, “Have you killed anyone”? A true ninja in ancient feudal times was no more than a killer who was paid for their services and used any available weapon to complete their task, therefore, the question was asked “If you are a qualified teacher and expert in the art of ninjitsu have you killed anyone’’? It would be like someone claiming to be an expert ‘Hit-Man’ and qualified in going around killing people for money and therefore qualified to teach these specialist assassination methods but without ever having killed anyone. Although many of these instructors would say that they only taught the empty handed version, called taijutsu, this did not deter people from repeating the question. Attempts over the years have been made to regulate these various martial art clubs in an attempt to prevent unqualified instructors from teaching bogus combat arts but the difficulty in policing these fly-by-night clubs is far too big a problem. There are those who by choice will refuse to join any association or group that offer their services, (because of the money and control aspect some would say), opting instead to teach a limited select few students on a small

In theory anyone can become a new student of the martial arts not stop someone in a real street fighting situation. They also further regard competition sporting events as being no more than a point scoring game. A true traditionalist will always say that you should only fight to protect your family and your own life and not for a plastic trophy that will only boost your ego for a short time. In theory anyone can become a new student of the martial arts but the first and vital thing that needs to be take into consideration when thinking of joining a club regardless as to the nature or the style of combat involved is the subject of health and fitness. It stands to reason that if you have a medical condition, like a bad heart for example, then you must first undergo a general examination under a qualified doctor to assess your fitness and any future medical problems that may result in this type of activity before committing yourself to this form of training.

ment and a whole host of other ongoing things if they are to remain open and the money from child members is just as important as money from the adult students. There have been countless times when the number of adults attending a class have fallen to such a degree that only the intake of children taking part has kept the class or club alive. Although it is often said that teaching children the martial arts when they are young will benefit them better as they get older, there are some instructors who will only teach children through the shear necessity of keeping classes up and running. Any experienced teacher of the martial arts, or any other group activity for that matter, will tell you that although some young children can and do learn well and try hard within training sessions, for the most part, many do not have the maturity to understand the instructions given or the ability to appreciate the true nature of what they are learning when it comes to some types of martial art. Combined with lack of attention, boredom after the initial novelty has worn off and lack of willpower to keep up the physically hard and demanding training along with the others, many children will leave classes after a short period of time. For these reasons in the main all instructors, if they are honest, will tell you that although children can keep classes alive when only a few adults attend they know that mainly children are only a short term investment overall. Some children will do very well and continue their training for many years to come, some even continue into adulthood, before human nature takes

over and they start thinking about career and family matters however the short attention span, lack of understanding of the things that they are being taught or being bored and wanting to do more exciting things like going out with their mates instead of doing press-ups, squats and repetition punches and kicks will stop many children in the early stages of their training. This situation is not just limited to children, many adults are the same. The very young minded child will not be able to resist the urge of not paying attention and may start messing about and maybe even rolling around on the floor in a playful mood, inevitably this will result in the instructor spending more time telling the child to get up and stop messing about, which in turn will disrupt the progress of the class.

Many adults and children are the same when it comes to seeing the spectacular fighting skills and special effects shown in the movies and on television but they often find that their image of the fighting arts is broken when they find out that martial art training is all about hard work, repetition and the sometimes difficult commitment needed to make progress. Taking up any type of hobby or sporting activity is also a financial commitment that can be very costly in the long run.

determination is vital if you wish to reach a high standard within the martial arts. The subject of age restriction with regard to children is something of a grey area. Taking on board the limitations and restrictions already stated, to set an age restriction is not that easy. A child of only 9, for example, could be far more behaved and mature for their age and far more willing to learn and try hard than, lets say, a teenager of around 14 to 17 years old. The true problem therefore is not always the age factor itself but one of individual character. Some have argued, over the years, that no child under the age of 16 should legally be allowed to take part in the martial arts based on a number of factors, not least of which is the problem of health and safety for a child doing any form of fighting or combat training as a whole. Another factor to take into account is the child’s own ability to make up their

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to take part in this form of event”? Some parents when they take their child along to a club for the first time think that learning a martial art is some form of safe game, sport or hobby for their small child to do, and although a good club will enforce good safety standards within the classes, the parent still fails to realise that although their child can copy the fighting moves that they see on the T. V. it is still all about fighting and, if it is a good club, very hard work and often very technical. Some parents unfortunately take their children along to training sessions thinking that it is no more important than the local young kids playgroup and treat it as such without realising that it is a serious training session in unarmed combat, if it is a properly run club of course. Even if the parent is aware of all these things some, but only a few thankfully, will still send them along to classes so that the club instructors can be a substitute child minder for a couple of hours or so that their child can learn to fight back against the school bully. Learning to fight back against the school bully will put the child at risk of becoming a bully themselves, thinking that it is alright to hit someone. Although it is the right of the child to hit back in defence of their own safety there are more effective means of solving the problem like going through the schools complaints procedures for example. Many adult students will leave clubs that allow children to run around shouting and screaming but there are some instructors who are so desperate not to lose any money from the children that attend that they will not restrict or expel such disruptive children even though they run the all too real risk of losing adult members of the class and might also further gain the bad reputation of running not a good martial arts club but an unprofessional wild kids playgroup. It is no wonder that there are some people who strongly believe that no children under a certain age be legally allowed to attend martial art classes until they are mature and old enough, but if such a law was passed then a lot of combat clubs would soon close down. When it

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Joining a club for the first time will initially only cost the price of a lesson but over a period of time there will be other costs to cover such as uniforms, membership, grading test fees, travel costs, equipment and training gear. Learning the martial arts will include your time and effort in addition to financial commitments therefore you will need to be sure that you have the staying power and the right state of mind to stay with it through good and sometimes very hard times. The word ‘discipline’ is a common used phrase within the world of martial arts and it is understandable that a parent will think that this kind of training will do their child some good, however, the word discipline in the martial arts really means ‘self discipline’ and not the instructors doing the parents job of shouting at the child to make them more grown-up and better behaved. Although for the child with the correct mental attitude and the maturity to learn in the correct manner, training in the martial arts will truly learn self discipline and a better lifestyle in the long run but for the naturally disruptive and ill mannered child this sort of training will only result in being expelled by the instructor who will not and cannot allow a child, or an adult for that matter, to disrupt the class for others and will not take on the time consuming role of disciplining a child because the parent cannot, or will not, do it themselves for whatever reason. Child discipline will always be the responsibility of the parent in most situations. Perish the thought that some parents would use the instructors to control their child’s behaviour or that they just might be using the instructors as a cheap alternative to a baby sitter, but the truth is that this situation is far more common than you may think. Referring to the subject in more general terms, self discipline as with any activity be it painting, sport, and hobbies or even within the workplace is the art of maintaining and enduring a level of effectiveness and seeing things through to the end. Self discipline is maintaining a routine or the attempt to fulfil a goal or objective, sometimes against all the odds or when the thought of giving up is a strong temptation. This form of self

Parents should always take into account the nature and training methods used own mind and consider for themselves what is truly involved and not to be tempted by the things that they see within advertisements, films and other influences. Many parents that are not fully aware of the nature and training methods involved fail to realise that allowing their child to take part in what is, when all said and done, a form of fighting, regardless of the fancy name given to it, is all about hand-to-hand combat and if the child does not pay full attention then they risk injury not only to themselves but also to others. From a very young child’s point of view learning the combat arts is nothing more than ‘play-acting’ at fighting and they will not initially be able to understand all the other various aspects involved in the martial arts like an adult. Parents should always take into account the nature and training methods used within any club that they visit and ask themselves the question, “Is my child mature and physically able enough

comes to the young child learning the martial arts however it is true to say that a lot depends on the nature of the martial art being studied in question when it comes to long term benefits and suitability. So far the main points have been about children within the martial arts but the subject of the older person taking up the combat arts for the first time is also an important issue. Yet again the subject of having an upper age limit is not that clear to set. For those who are still enjoying good health in their latter yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taking up the martial arts is not going to be a problem on condition that they have no medical problems that could put them at risk. Learning the arts can still have benefits for the older person but the main question however is how old is too old? There are, and never will be, any hard fast set rules about taking on a more elderly student but there are two factors that should be considered and that is the subject of benefit and the other is putting oneself in undue risk. Teaching an elderly person to respond to an attacker with martial art techniques is not that wise a thing to do. If the attacker is younger and more able than the older person then chances are their efforts, thinking that their combat training will help them win, will put them in even greater danger than just simply cooperating with their attacker and hoping for the best. Even if they are fit and healthy for their age the problem of brittle bones and the ability to recover is still a factor that must be kept in mind. For the elderly or more mature person the option of using martial art fighting technique in such a situation, just like many things in life, is a there and then judgement that no one can truly predict at that point in time. Martial art clubs that teach a range of self defence methods will also on occasion teach students how to turn around and disarm a man holding a gun in your back but would you risk doing such a thing when you know that the slightest mistake on your part could result in taking a bullet in your hand or even having your face blown off at point blank range. Would you risk your life against someone who is holding a gun in your back and only wants that little bit of money that you have in your pocket.

If someone really wants to shoot and kill you then you have nothing to lose by fighting back with everything that you have because if you do not then you will end up dead anyway, better to go down fighting than just letting it happen, but someone who has every intention of killing you will not mess about by poking a gun in your back first, they will just shoot you and go away.

So when you see instructors demonstrating self defence techniques against a man holding a gun you ask them would they do that if it was for real and the gun was loaded? Would you try and disarm a man with a loaded gun? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think so.

Hi and welcome to another installment of Chatterbox with me Kerry-Louise Norbury. As usual you have been sending plenty of questions in for me to answer, so enough with the intro, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get to the questions in hand. What are your views on the future on full because I had got out of it everything contact? Why did you leave the F/C scene? that I wanted, ultimately the WAKO Unfortunately full contact seems to have been taken over by K1 and MMA as these styles add the danger factor to them which attract the crowds, they kind of make full contact look a little more sedate. I respect any person who enters a ring regardless of what style they are fighting but I think full contact is dying. I left the full contact scene

Pro World title belt so when I won that there was nothing else I wanted, so I changed my style and I am currently training in K1 and Muay Thai to give me more goals to aim for and further levels and titles to attain.

How did your last fight go?

Really well thanks. I beat the WAKO South African champion for the WAKO Pro Intercontinental K1 Rules title. I felt fitter than I ever have and I am much stronger than I have been before due to altering my training and fight style. I used all my skills that we worked on in

Mine and my coaches (CJP) specialist articles and our biographies will soon be released in a very detailed & excellently illustrated book. It will form a training reference manual rather than a one off read. Due out in August it will be a must read and will be made available through this very magazine or by emailing crisjansonpiers@googlemail.com the gym and all the hours sparring and doing bag work, pads and sprint work really paid off. It went the distance as she was very strong and determined and had got one hell of a chin on her, but I won by unanimous decision. I love fighting K1 it has given me something more to train for. My Mum doesn’t like it so much though she thinks it’s gruesome and she watched me fight with tears in her eyes , but I told her it was her that got me in to the sport in the first place!!

Do you ever think “forget it I’m retiring from fighting”?

No way! I love everything about it, the training the pre fight nerves the fighting and the chill out after the fight not to mention the winning! I always spar in class and currently my training partner is due to fight and I am even enjoying doing the pre fight training with him but I just won’t get the result at the end of it! (hopefully I can help him to though!) I have always said I will retire at 35 but as this is getting closer I don’t know but I can’t see anywhere in the near future I will retire. The only problem is that injuries are getting harder to shake off!

I am struggling to get my last 2 kg off before my fight but I have only got 2 weeks left please can you help me!?

This is hard as I have some good ways of getting weight off but you should really have tried and tested these out previously so you know how your body reacts to them. Also I don’t know if you are weighing in on the day of the day before. You have 2 weeks so a protein only diet should sort this out as most people lose 1 kg per week on a diet but don’t do this long term. The cabbage soup diet can shift the pounds quickly too but unless you have tried it, it’s hard to say how much you will lose. (Email me and I can send it you for next time). There is also a system called water loading, it is natural but disliked by some. I would only discuss this on a personal level with you as it is a very serious measure which again needs trying out away from any pending fight date to see how it affects you!

I have got a good punch on me but when I’m fighting I never seem to hit them properly, I either miss or don’t hit with my full power. All my fights have gone the distance. I have a great punch on the bag and everyone in the gym thinks that I am really strong. Have you got any tips for me? If you do a lot of bag work the striking surface is much bigger that someone’s head and although bag work is excellent for so many things, accuracy is not one of them. You get your accuracy from focus mitts, work singular techniques without power (focus on speed) until your accuracy improves then use combinations, then get the focus mitt holder to start moving the pad. This works well as a fighter is always moving.

I have just got my next fight confirmed and I have researched her and found out she is 9 inches taller than me I see that you seem to always be the shorter fighter have you any tips for me?

Yes I can help no problem. There are as much advantages and disadvantages being tall as there are being small. Both fighters have their own obvious game plan but the closer you get to your opponent the harder it is however if you are fighting a clinch style you have to be careful of knees but there are advantages being small in the clinch too. If you stay at a distance the taller person will pick you off and possibly win on

CHATTERBOX With Kerry-Louise Norbury

points, you have to ruin their comfort zone by being in yours. I like being the smaller opponent there is more target area and at the same weight the smaller fighter should be the stronger fighter and besides the crowd like an underdog!

I fought my first 3 round amateur K1 Rules fight not so long ago and I was totally shattered after the first round, my training went really well but I just couldn’t breathe and all the skills I had been taught I couldn’t use because I was too tired. I was surprised to be like this as I am a gym instructor, I train in the gym 5 days a week and no one can keep up with me especially at running where I really excel.

This is simple, people seem to think kickboxing is an endurance sport and they train for endurance; long runs, cycling etc. We do an explosive sport so the training you need is not long distance running it is of course interval training, working your heart and body at different intensities. you need to train to mimic fighting and if you look at fighting it isn’t at all one paced, you lock horns for 10 seconds then move round then your back in again so this is how you need to train. This training is hard work and takes a lot out of you but I guarantee you will feel much better next fight. I do have a very in depth article on this which I can send you.

Use of Focus Mitts WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 27

BUNBUN SERIES By Mike Finn - Leading World Authority

The Journey... the Path...

& the Destination

Part 5

I began martial arts around 1954, went by train across Siberia to Japan in 1968, there I studied with many of Japan’s leading masters. I could not afford to go back to Japan till the 1980’s and at that time continued my studies. In total (in lay persons terms) through endeavour and hard work, I qualified in Japan with 40 black belts in 10 martial arts, this was both my great personal achievement and my curse. On my return to Britain in the 1970s my knowledge and qualifications were met with vehement hostility in the martial arts world, this led to a whispering campaign directed at discrediting those qualifications, which in truth were so easy to verify. If I had known the result I would never have sat any exams in Japan. After all, a belt is something you wear round your waist, but training with Japan’s leading masters and attaining their knowledge is both enduring and incomparable. In this series I will talk frankly about martial arts, the masters I have trained with and the truth about martial arts training. In the early 1970s when I first

returned from Japan, I began writing for the Combat magazine. At that time my qualifications were frequently challenged, both verbally and physically. In Japan I fought the Japanese on their own terms, sweated blood to achieve competent skill levels, suffered the rigours that all foreign exponents went through in Japan at that time, and all my exams were taken with national organizations and leading masters. In response to criticism in the late 1970s, I wrote an article for Combat called something like ‘What Are Grades Worth’ and published one of my certificates. Within a month, the ‘hanko’ and kanji (official seal and

List Showing some of the dan grade qualifications

Members of the Shorinji class and the Manji v the Swastica

Japanese characters) were lifted and appeared on a number of dubious certificates of other people and organizations, it was the last time my certificates appeared anywhere. In this article I have included a list showing some of the dan grade qualification I achieved in Japan over the years. However, I studied and researched with other masters and skills during my various visits there. I was one of the first westerners to train in Shorinji Kempo (now called Nihon Shorinji Kempo), and certainly the first to bring this skill to Britain. I remember that I watched this art, because it took place after my kendo lessons at the House Of Senators at the Diet Building In Tokyo. I found it both effective and interesting. It was in 1968 that one of the teachers Murahatta sensei asked me if I would like to join, one of the problems however was the fact that I was not Buddhist, which was mandatory at that time. After receiving some education from Murahatta sensei and other members I eventually became Buddhist, went through the special ceremony and joined the class. We trained on a wooden floor, and the techniques were more severe than those of aikido, also there was a certain amount of gymnastic type manoeuvres. I remember an escape from a technique called Ippon Se-Nage

Myself at the Shorinji festival in Tokyo 1970

(cartwheel throw), very much like the Judo throw Ippon Seionage, which I had fallen from for the previous 18 or so years. This was a big drawback because I was so conditioned to falling, the cartwheel over the head seemed very alien. Each attempt caused me to crash onto the wooden floor instead of landing on my feet, even the head teacher Tamura sensei told me to stop after 30 or so heavy falls. The next day my back and legs were mauve with bruises, but luckily, at the Aikido dojo, there was one student called Harada who was also a dan grade in Shorinji, with his coaching on the more resilient Aikido mats, I was eventually able to perform the technique at the Shorinji dojo. In 1970 the National Shorinji Kempo Festival was to be held at the Nihon Budokan. It was a very prestigious event and I felt honoured as the first non Japanese, to be asked to take part. (Nihon) Shorinji Kempo was founded by Doshin So, who was born in the Okayama prefecture in 1911, he brought the sys-

Myself doing the Cartwheel at the City Of London Demonstration

Murahatta and class at the Diet building Tokyo

tem back from China and established the headquarters in Tadotsu, Kanagawa, on the island of Shikoku. The Buddhist philosophy is centred around Kongo-zen, combining gentleness with hardness and compassion with strength. It emphasises the philosophy of ‘Jita kyo-e’, exist half for yourself and half for others. The Naional Shorinji Kempo festival was impressive. The hall and audience were comparable to a well attended Albert Hall. I only had a short ‘embu’ to perform, but being in the presence of Shorinji masters such as Hideo Kosuge was daunting. The skill level was very high and I felt a lot of pressure as a lowly 1st kyu. When my turn came I went onto the floor with my training partner and switched of from all but the immediacy of the ‘embu’. Afterwards, over the microphone I was praised by Doshin So himself, who wanted me to meet him, it was a momentous moment for me to actually speak with the founder. Eventually I returned to Britain as a 1st kyu, and began to keep up my

training at the London Judo Society. The only major stumbling block was the Shorinji badge (the old design), I had worn it on my kit for so long that I forgot it was there. However, many at the dojo did not see it as the Buddhist Manji, but the last war swastika. It was a sad testimony to a sign that represents peace, nevertheless it seemed prudent at the time, to continue my Shorinji training in my ordinary judo kit. I did give a number of demonstration during the 1970s, which included Shorinji Kempo. One was before the dignitaries of the City Of London, however, I was told that although the demonstration was very good, I was scaring some of the people in the front rows and it may be appropriate if I cut the display sort. I remained a 1st kyu, in Shorinji, but found it a very versatile training system. More on my time in Japan with the next article. Article By Michael Finn (see club directory - www.elite-int.com or Mike Finn Martial Arts Youtube)

Master Doshin So, founder of Nihon Shorinji Kempo

BE YOUR OWN BOSS! DO YOUR OWN THING!

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With Over 50 Years Practical Experience, He Has Been On The Combat Mat and Inside Dojos and Kick Boxing Rings. Many Former & Present Instructors & Martial Art Champions Were Trained By Him. Email: bmd@maas.co.uk or Tel; 01483720054 YOU CAN EVEN CHECK US OUT ON

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Competition

COMBAT HELPLINE With Master Jake Ogden

, The Pro s & Cons!

Welcome back to my column and thank you for all of your comments, reference to last month’s column. This month I want to discuss competition. There seems to be ongoing debates between different styles and organisations whether competition is a positive thing or a negative thing in terms of student development, retention and achievement. I can only speak for myself, but I do head one of the fastest growing organisations in the country and have participated in hundreds of competitions during my amateur and professional sports career.

I have also prepared students and organised competitions from grass roots level all the way through to international elite levels, spanning across four different sports. I understand both sides of the debate and can empathise with both parties. On one side of the debate are those who are against competition as they think it can breed elitism, differentiation between students and harm or destabilise confidence. This is similar to the way that some primary schools are going with their “non competitive” sports days. I agree that it is about “inclusion”, but I don’t agree that competition creates an irrevocable rift between elite students and the less talented students, which I will discuss later in this column. On the other side of the debate are those who think competition is a must and it is all about competitiveness, creating champions and winning. I can also see this point of view, as I have been an elite athlete. However; it all depends on what the instructor wants to advertise them selves as and whether they want to be a small elite group professing performance and excellence or whether they want to be a group who offer martial arts to the masses and go down the inclusion rout. The inclusion route will suit some students as they may not be of a

competitive nature, but there are also those who are of a competitive nature and yearn for high-end competition and training. I guess the danger of the performance and excellence type of training, conditioning and attitude can result in a divide between abilities if it is not managed properly. For example the old school PE sessions where the two top players would be captains and they would take turns choosing their teammates. Eventually, all that would be left would be the players that were not as talented as the rest so therefore would be chosen last by the captains and usually under duress. This type of approach may cause the student to feel useless and inferior and can sometimes fuel low self-esteem. This is something that needs to be carefully managed by the instructor and all depends on the type of student the instructor targets and recruits. Many years ago, I retired from competition and set up my first club. My primary aim was to create a small group of elite fighters who would dominate the competitionfighting scene all over Europe. As time passed, the type of student that walked through my door were not elite performance and excellence material (genetically) they were regular, everyday folk, some with confidence some without. Nevertheless I was happy to teach WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 33

them as I knew I could help them become fitter, more aware and more confident etc. After a period of months I entered them for their first grading and they were all successful. Once I had announced that these students had passed their grading their parents came up to me and said “Thank you Jake, you have changed my child’s life. He/she no longer feels intimidated or gets picked on at school, you have given them the confidence to hold their head high and no longer be a victim”. I have never forgotten those words and from that very moment my point of view and my methods of training changed. I felt more satisfaction from seeing the excitement on those children’s (and parents) face’s, knowing they could achieve than I had ever felt from winning any of my titles. I believe martial arts should be welcoming for all, I am aware that some of the reality based fighting systems may not be suited to certain pockets of the society by generally the arts should offer something to everybody. My personal view is that competition can be a very positive thing and should be something that everybody should try, provided it is introduced and explained properly and the students are prepared correctly. There are many different levels of competition and it is up to the instructor to prepare and enter students into competitions that suit the student’s ability. Let me elaborate on this. My organisation has a national competition once a year. We make sure that there are sufficient categories based at the

34 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

relevant standards to ensure that all participants are competing at the right level for their ability. You will always have winners and losers and sometimes controversy, much the same as everyday life but again as long as students are educated properly in the way competitions can go sometimes, there should be minimal disruption. We are not a big competition based organisation unlike some groups, but once annually we find is plenty.

Competition Fear and Anxiety As soon as competition is mentioned some people will feel anxiety and not want to take part. My approach is to counsel students that feel apprehension. Some people are just not cut out for competition and that is fine. Buts for others if they fully understand the benefits that competition can bring they may be more inclined to participate.

Points to think about Competition should always be done for fun. Win, draw or lose when you enter a competition you should be doing for an enjoyable activity, otherwise it pointless doing it. With my students I explain that it is a process of their individual personal development and you could do the same. The fact that you will have stood on the mat in front of judges and spectators and performed your pattern/kata or sparred against someone from another club takes a huge amount of courage. Most people

would never do this. Sometimes pushing your personal boundaries or daring to step outside of your comfort zone is the next step of personal development, the next step to gaining your next grade, the next step to becoming a more experienced and competent martial artist, or the next step becoming more confident in every day life. As explained in my previous articles, often your biggest adversary is fear from within and not the person you are trying to impress or beat. Try to say yes to the challenge and embrace it and then win, draw or lose put it down as experience.

Team Cohesion It’s good to be passionate about your art form and your club and wanting to unit and represent the club collectively. As mentioned before it’s about finding the courage to get out there and have a go. It’s a personal journey to attain your individual goals and sometimes competition is one thing that you can push yourself towards and tick off the list once you have achieved it because it all takes courage. When there is a competition coming up, try to get club/team spirit high. It’s an opportunity for you all to come together and work as a team in terms of specific training. This works especially well when preparing for a team kata/form. The coming together of people makes all involved feel part of something which is one of the essential human needs.

Winning and losing Competition invariably results in winners and losers. Winning is always nice but you can also learn a great deal from losing. Trying to be the best you can be is the imperative factor here. This relates not only to martial arts, but also to everyday life. Sometimes life is about applying yourself, competing and trying to win. For example; when you apply for a job interview, generally the best/most suitable person wins the job over the other applicants. This notion repeats itself in so many different scenarios but you should always learn and gain experience from all of them. Trying to set the game up to win is paramount. Winning is a great feeling but sometimes when people do not win the lesson learn from that experience

can be more important than winning itself. Some of the most successful people in the world have failed many times before eventually getting it right. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be good at everything but loosing in a competition should highlight your weaknesses so this gives you an idea on what to work on.

Risk There is always a certain element of risk whenever you practice martial arts because it is a physical activity and there is generally some sort of contact. As long as the necessary risk assessments have been carried out and the necessary safety precautions and control measure are in place there should be minimal problems and very limited risk.

Vetting All instructors should vet the competition they wish their students to enter as different competitions have different rules on age, weight, grade, contact and techniques. By instructors having this knowledge and relaying it to their students allows the student to feel more confident with what they are about to embark upon or indeed decide if it is for them or not.

Conclusion At the end of the day, I personally feel that professionally run, friendly competitions are a good thing. I generally encourage my students to try to enter at least one competition (that I have vetted to ensure that it suits their ability and needs. Competition allows people to experience competing against somebody who they do not know in a controlled environment. When this is done properly it can help with confidence, dealing with anxiety, pushing boundaries, focus, dealing with emotions (humble in victory and gracious in defeat) and being able to performing when asked or needed to in everyday situations like exams etc . If you have any more questions on this matter please do not hesitate to contact me direct. Until next time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Always expect the unexpected. Unlock your potential and enjoy your training.

For further details please contact Jake Ogden on 01327 342611 info@jakeogden.co.uk www.jakeogden.co.uk www.wjo.org.uk

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The Southern Shaolin Wuzuquan Union of China

Competition and Cultural Event held in Quanzhou, Fujian Province The teams from the UK and Ireland had waited for no less than two years to go to China for this prestigious event. It was going to be bigger and better than previous years owing to it being the 20th Anniversary of the International South Shaolin Wuzuquan Union based in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. There was to be over 400 competitors from more than 20 countries in attendance. Our teams were ready and looked forward to going to China at long last. Background. The following information provides background for the event and has an extract from a correspondence direct from the Quanzhou Association for Wushu, Fujian, China to all participating countries... In June 2008, the State Council for the Peoples Republic of China duly issued that South Shaolin Wuzuquan be included in the state levelled intangible heritages of humanity. The Party Committee and the Government of Quanzhou Municipality have not only highly appreciated the great contributions done by the International General Sodality of the South Shaolin Wuzuquan for the past 20 years in the safeguard, saving, delivery and development of the Wuzuquan but showed great concern for the development of the Sodality. This very “Minnan Cultural Festival” involves very wide range of great interests. Besides the South Shaolin 40 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

Wushu, it covers various intangible cultural heritages such as dramas, Nanyin (the Southern music), the tea culture, porcelain culture, puppet show, the stone carving arts and so on. Friends from all over the world will be invited to attend the unprecedented grand occasion. It has been a rare opportunity to take the celebration of the International General Sodality of the South Shaolin Wuzuquan as an important part of the “Minnan (South Fujian) Cultural Festival”, which will add luster to the celebration of the International Sodality. [Extract from a letter to all participating countries] What does this mean? Simply put, it means that there are only 3 martial arts organisations in China recognised by the All China Sports: The Chinese Wushu Association, The Chinese Taiji Association and the International Nan Shaolin Wuzuquan Union. These 3 organisations issue their own grading awards and do

not recognise any awards issued by other organisations in the world. The format for the celebrations included the following... * An open celebration ceremony. * Electing the new Chairman. * Preliminary elections for the proposal of the new Chairman in 2012. * A ceremony for the first international release of the book called “The Manual of Wuzuquan”. * An international academic exchange / forum for Southern Shaolin Wuzuquan ideas and techniques. * Setting up a ranking system of Wuzuquan. Confirming and releasing the FIRST batch of high rank players. * Holding a Wushu parade of activities and joint performances for the South Shaolin Wuzuquan. * Holding an international invitational tournament for the South Shaolin Wuzuquan.

By Nigel Gilham nigel.gilham@kixxmartialarts.co.uk

20th anniversary of the International Nan Shaolin Wuzuquan Association. There were to be four grades available for selected masters and students, i.e. 10th Dan, 9th Dan, 8th Dan and 7th Dan. All of the representative countries had to put forward names for approval by the committee. The British and Irish contingents were awarded to following: In addition to awarding of the new Dan grades, the committee also recognised the passing of the previous President and the election of the new President of the association, Master John Graham (9th Dan) of the USA.

The Event / Competition. After a very tiring journey which began in Heathrow on the 23rd of February we arrived at the Overseas International Hotel in Quanzhou at approx 1am on the 25th February. Members of the hotel staff were kind enough to provide some refreshments before we went to our rooms for a well-deserved rest. We needed to be up for a 6:30am training session then off to breakfast. After a brief look around the city of Quanzhou we were taken to the stadium to practice for the opening ceremony celebrations due the following day.

Friday:

All of the Teams were invited to a very formal meeting in the mid-morning. The conference room in the hotel was full as the organisers announced that the government was endorsing the awarding of Dan grades in this the

Following this auspicious meeting, all of the guests were asked to meet outside the hotel for the group photo before going to lunch. After lunch, everybody was ferried to the competition stadium on coaches with police escorts. This made us feel very important and something of a celebrity. The teams from each country lined up behind their banners to be marched into the stadium for the opening speeches and ceremony. The organisers told us that there were no events for us to take part in that evening so we were taken back to the hotel for dinner. However, we discovered the following day that the short weapons category had taken place that evening!!! We had three people in that event.

Saturday:

With the exception of Nigel (the team coach) we were ready to compete all day today. Nigel had a lot of work

ahead of him to sort out the events for each of our competitors. The program was all in Chinese and the language was Mandarin. This made for slow going so Nigel enlisted the aid of the very kind Australian and Malaysian Teams, who both had people that could read Chinese. Nigel found he was able to communicate in ‘broken’ English, ‘broken’ Mandarin and even ‘broken’ Cantonese (to the amusement of his new Chinese friends). In addition to the assistance we received we had a lot of help from our own team members; Tracy Gilham, Ruth Burchell, Kevin Davies and Jonathan Humphreys who worked very hard to ensure the smooth running of the events for our competitors. Everybody’s events were registered and even the situation with the short weapons event the previous evening was satisfactorily sorted out. In the morning we saw Kevin, Andrew, John, Geoff and Alison perform their hand forms. It was particularly nerve wracking for Alison and Geoff who were competing for the first time. Everyone did well on the day and gained valuable experience for future events. Kevin Naughton - Baihe Si Men (Hand Routine) - Gold Andrew Cole - San Zhan (Hand Routine) - Silver John Keogan - Taizu San Zhan (Hand Routine) - Silver Geoff Thompson - Er Shi Quan (Hand Routine) - Achievement Certificate Alison Sneyd - Baihe San Zhan (Hand Routine) - Achievement Certificate We were all ferried back to the hotel for a quick, light lunch before returning to the stadium for the next session. The afternoon performances included the forms for short weapons, where we saw the following: Andrew Cole - Sai Form (Shuang Chai) (Weapon Routine) - Silver Kevin Naughton - Cane Form (Bian) (Weapon Routine) - Bronze John Keogan - Sai Form (Shuang Chai) (Weapon Routine) Following the end of the competition for the day and a dinner at the hotel, all of the guests were taken to a televised show at massive indoor stadium. It was approximately an hour from the hotel. There were thousands of people and the whole

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TESTIMONIALS Shigong Han Jin Yuan (Grandmaster Kim Han) The Chinese Wushu Association is using the International Nanshaolin Wuzuquan Union to gain experience on how to judge the traditional Chinese routines which is a very difficult task. Once the solution has been found, the Chinese Wushu association will introduce it to the international competition and scrap the present system. The International Nanshaolin Wuzuquan Union is still trying very hard to solve this problem. I am the only one so far from the international delegates who has contributed to solving this problem. I only wish the Chinese end is strong enough to ask the international community for suggestions. Nigel Gilham (Coach) I felt extremely privileged to be considered worthy enough to travel as Coach with Grandmaster Kim Han and the British and Irish Teams to this unparalleled event held in China. The Team performed with professionalism and consideration for their role as representatives of their countries. It is fair to say that the competition was very rewarding on many levels and I personally feel honoured to have made many new friends. I would like to thank everyone for the Team Spirit. Tracy Gilham It is a great experience to be invited and involved in such a big international competition, meeting so many friendly people from all over the world. We might not speak the same language but our common interest in the martial arts. Thank you Kim and Nigel for inviting me. Andrew Cole Being involved in an event on such a scale was a rare and inspirational experience. To be able to compete against individuals from many cultures and backgrounds is something I never though I would have a chance to do and I would love the opportunity to do it again in the future. John Keogan Electric is one adjective that springs to mind when describing the feeling I had walking into the stadium and being hit by a wall of sound and an explosion of colour. Just being there was fantastic but being able to fly the flag for Five Ancestors UK, compete against the Shaolin Monks and demonstrate at the Temple was a rare Honour and I thank Sigong Han, Sifu Nigel Gilham and the Squad for making it possible and such a memorable experience. Ruth Burchell The event in China was a fantastic experience; the magnitude and sense of occasion was brilliant in particular the cultural demonstration by 100s of participants welcoming us to the event was unexpected, colourful and inspiring. The way the competition was organised meant competitors could focus on their event with the translators ensuring everyone was in the right place at the right time - their help was invaluable throughout. The organised trips...

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show was part of the festivities for the event that were shown over China on the CCTV network.

Sunday:

The competition this morning consisted of the Forms for the category C (age 39 to 59) and the set sparring for hands and weapons routines. Nigel Gilham - Shuangsui (Hand Routine) - Bronze Nigel Gilham / Andrew Cole - San Zhan San Shou Dui Tao (Pre-set sparring) - Bronze Nigel Gilham / John Keogan - Er Shi Quan San Shou Dui Tao (Pre-set sparring) - Bronze Then it was all back to the hotel for lunch followed by trip to the Quanzhou Museum to be guests at a formal tea ceremony then to the Southern Shaolin Temple in Quanzhou. We were all taken to the Quanzhou Museum first where a very special tea ceremony was to take place. It was truly amazing with many tables set aside for the guests from overseas. There was a stage with various acts and scenes taking place for the cultural part of the ceremony. We were all very honoured and made to feel very special by the organisers. The trip the Shaolin Temple was more memorable for both John Keogan and Kevin Naughton being asked to demonstrate their forms

and to watch many others demonstrate forms. Nigel was nervous but very pleased to be interviewed by Chinese television channel CCTV. We all considered the Shaolin Temple to be a very special place so we took many pictures to remember it by. That evening direct from our visit to the Shaolin Temple, a fleet of coaches took us to a truly massive ‘closing ceremony’ banquet at an enormous hotel. We had our evening clothes with so we quickly changed in the toilets and made our entrance. There were a number of speeches and the handing out of commemorative gifts such as flags, bottles of wine and a very special straight sword from China. All of the teams were expected to sing a karaoke song for the hosts. The British and Irish wowed the crowd with ‘We Will Rock You’. The party atmosphere was very infectious and everyone joined in to make a memorable closing ceremony.

Monday:

On the Monday we were very preoccupied with posting our commemorative swords back to the UK. We were not able to carry them with us as we had two other destinations to reach before we returned home. It was with some difficulty that we managed this task and without the help of our good friends Master John Graham (USA) and Xiao Feng (China), we might not have managed it.

TESTIMONIALS continued...

provided a fascinating context to the cultural festival and gave the competitors a chance to relax. I can’t wait to go again..........thank you Geoff Thompson Our Trip to china for the international Wuzuquan tournament coincided with the end of the celebration for Chinese New Year. One thing was most apparent when we arrived was that the people (trying) to organize the event meant to impress us. There were police escorts for our coaches for everywhere we went; from the 2000+ seated arena for our demos/competitions, to the stadium for the concert for the people of Quanzhou. We were left with the impression that investment in the region is massive and people are surprised to see us but very friendly when they are in our photos. Jonathan Humphreys China was completely amazing in an extremely inspirational way. The dedication and skill of all the competitors showed me what I do is a lot larger than my daily training. I hope to go again and show my improvement. I am grateful to my teachers Nigel and Tracy for inviting me and to Grandmaster Kim Han without whom the trip would not have been possible!

Tuesday:

It was time to leave Quanzhou for the airport in Xiamen. Grandmaster Han had planned a short diversion to the Nanputo Temple near Xiamen. This place was of significant interest to us as we were able to visit one of the places that our late, much lamented Shizu Chee Kim Thong had trained in his youth.

Sammo Hu

A Living Legend Sammo, you joined Hong Kong’s Peking Opera School in 1961 at the age of nine where you studied alongside such stars as Jackie Chan. What was your first impression on joining the school and what was the training like in those days? It was very hard, I can tell you. Maybe you won’t believe me but if you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Farewell My Concubine’ it was very much like that. Every day we had training and then more training. If you weren’t training hard enough, or if you were naughty, the master beat you. He didn’t beat you until you died; he just beat you until you wanted to die!

Do you believe that the training is still as tough now as it was all those years ago; and do you still have associations with your old school and the friends that you made there? Today, no-one trains like that. You aren’t allowed to train children like that anymore; you’d end up going to jail. All of us who went to that place are all like brothers, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Foy (Corey Yuen), there were so many of us... Yes, that training helped a lot when we first started making movies. But, for us children, every day was very hard.

Since starting as a child actor you’ve since worked as a stuntman, choreographer, writer, actor, producer and director. Having starred in 75 films and worked on another 230

this is an absolutely phenomenal career. Is there anything in the film industry that you haven’t done and would like to, and if so what? If I had the chance I’d very much like to make more drama movies, but every time the studio asks me to make an action or comedy action instead. The audience enjoy this a great deal and, of course, I like action too. But as an actor, as well as a director, I want to try different things. I have scripts for so many different films and I’m hoping that I can direct again soon.

Early on in your career you played a part in Bruce Lee’s ‘Enter the Dragon’, as the young Shaolin Student that Bruce talks to at the beginning of the film. Did meeting Bruce in any way affect your outlook and career aspirations and if so how? I can say that Bruce Lee was Hong Kong’s first real movie star. He’s like a Hollywood star to us. In those days, before you made a hit movie, you were just a contract player working for Shaw Bros or Golden Harvest. After Bruce Lee became successful he turned around and said, ‘Okay, now I have my own company’. So he became partners with Raymond Chow and later I created my own company too (Gar Bo, D&B Films, Bojon), I wasn’t just the actor or director for hire anymore. Of course no-one can be a star like Bruce Lee, but we can learn a lot from him.

You play the lead role in ‘Enter The Fat Dragon’, that of a character who idolises and then impersonates Bruce Lee. There are some fantastic fight scenes in this movie and if anyone hasn’t seen it I would recommend that they do. You have his mannerisms down perfectly. Did you find this hard to achieve and how long did it take to get it right? A producer friend of mine one day told me, ‘You look like Bruce Lee, but fat!’ Then they asked me to play someone like Bruce Lee. Of course at that time Bruce Lee was already our idol and we action guys all played like him just for fun. We kept thinking ‘Oh, what if this fat guy loves Bruce Lee; that should be really funny...’ Stuff like that.

ng By Mark Iles

Hmm. I think Hong Kong films are now ‘Chinese’ films. Of course now we know we can do the action movies. I think that the important thing at the moment is drama, the script itself. We’re looking to find some new material here.

The hit TV series ‘Martial Law’, in which you starred, ran for two years and has featured widely on channels here in the UK, earning you a great many fans. In fact even a Welsh pop group have named themselves after you. How did this series come about and have you any plans to do anything similar?

‘‘

I’m training for Hapkido quite a lot, yes. It’s with one Korean guy called Whang In-shik who acted in some Hong Kong movies. He can kick very good. His way of kicking is different from ours. Before then we just kicked in Northern style kung fu. At that time we shot many Hong Kong movies in Korea, so we got the chance to see Taekwondo, Hapkido and all of those styles. Wow, their kicking was very good. So, naturally we wanted to learn.

The sheer success of ‘Martial Law’, and such films as Jackie Chan’s remake of ‘Karate Kid’, shows that there’s a huge market for such material here in the west. Can you see more films being created specifically for this market, which would also go down well in the orient?

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Which styles of Kung Fu have you studied and what made you go to Korea to study under the famous Hapkido Master Ji Han Jae? How long did you study with him and do you still maintain these links?

I’m really happy that people are still watching that and I will have to check that CBS still sending me money! One producer that I was worked with at Golden Harvest many years ago, Andre Morgan, called me one day and said, ‘Sammo, are you interested to making an American television series?’ Naturally I said, ‘Of course! The Only problem is I don’t speak English very well’. He replied, ‘Don’t worry, you can learn’. So, the next thing I know is that I’m flying to America to meet with CBS. They liked me, so we made it.

We even have an actor playing Bruce Lee, so that the fans of Bruce Lee will know

Alongside Jackie you’re credited with introducing Kung Fu comedy and its tremendous success here in the UK. You are also credited with developing Jiang Shi, an oriental equivalent to the western vampire movies. With this in mind what developments can you foresee taking place in the Hong Kong film industry in years to come?

Now, it’s very difficult. The China market is very big and maybe the films that they like there American audiences won’t. Then maybe American audience would like some films and China wouldn’t. Take ‘Karate Kid’, American audience loved it. They hadn’t seen that style of it before. But the China audience said, ‘Oh, Jackie Chan’s done kung fu. We’ve seen that so many times before.’ So maybe the West enjoy Chinese comedy more. As for me I just hope that I get to make the films that I like; that people will enjoy it anywhere, it doesn’t matter! (laughs)

When choreographing a film how do you go about it? Do you study an actor’s martial ability and then work your ideas around them? Or are they selected, in part, for their physical ability to be able to do the scenes you have in mind rather than use stunt men; again depending on the star? First we concentrate on the story and the character. We look at what style of action is needed for that time and place. Sometimes they already have the star that they need, know what they can do and what they can’t do. So you plan that maybe for this action we could use a double, for that perhaps we can use a wire... Most important of course is the script. In some modern American movies they use the wire for everyone’s flying, and I see that’s no good. That should be for the old time ‘swordplay’ type of movie.

When you’ve selected an actor to portray a character in your films, do they undergo a period of physical training to prepare them for the part that they will have to play?

If the actor is new then yes, they will definitely have training. If it’s a seasoned star then you hope they might already have had training. If they have no time, only what’s on the set such as Andy Lau in ‘Detective Dee’, then that’s not a problem. Andy has already done so many movies that we already know what he can do.

Look Familiar?

You’ve recently choreographed and starred in the film ‘Ip Man 2’, alongside Donnie Yen, Darren Shahlavi, Huang Xiao and Simon Yam. What drew you to this production about the life of this infamous Kung fu master? When we were doing ‘Ip Man’ at first I was just the action director. Then the film started to become more successful so they said, ‘Okay Sammo, you’re not just action director anymore, you’re playing a part in the film too’. I asked them if they would pay me more money and they replied say yes. So I said, ‘okay, no problem!’ (laughs)

In a way starring in this film about Bruce Lee’s teacher draws a circle back to when you worked with Bruce in ‘Enter The Dragon’. Do you think this influenced your choice of working on this movie? Not really. Just that ‘Ip Man’ was a hit; so of course they wanted ‘Ip Man 2’. For me I personally wanted to do ‘Ip Man 2’ and not let someone else to do it. Of course I knew Ip Man was the teacher of Bruce Lee, so we put a small thing in the second movie. We even have an actor playing Bruce Lee, so that the fans of Bruce Lee will know.

What part of ‘Ip Man 2’ was the most difficult and which part of it did you specifically like and why? For me the action part was when we fight on the round table, because the space was so small. We have Ip Man fighting me and I’m already very big, as you can see!

For acting, I like the scene where my character sees Ip Man teaching his students outside. We talk quietly. There’s no need to say our real meaning. Many of the old sifu are like this.

You play the part of Hung Quang, a Hung Gar master who early on in the film is an adversary of Ip Man. What did you particularly admire about this character? He takes cares about so many people; his students and his family, the workers at the dock. He has to find a way to deal with the westerners and then, after the boxer challenges Chinese kung fu, he cannot accept it. He has his principles and I admire that.

Finally, what projects have you planned for the future? Right now I’m shooting a film about Chinese Opera called ‘My Kingdom’ and I have a small part in it. Afterwards I’m hoping that I can direct my own movie and maybe star in that too. I hope so.

Sammo, thank you.

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I.S.K.A National Championships

Stockland Green Leisure Centre in Birmingham was the host of this years first I.S.K.A. National Championships since the new I.S.K.A. Management team took over last year. With over 270 competitors and 250 spectators, this was the beginning of a new era for I.S.K.A. With the introduction of MMA into the sections to add to the usual semi contact / light contact and forms, this completion turned out to be something special. The likes of the legendary Lee Hasdell, who is known as a pioneer of British MMA and also National Director for I.S.K.A. in MMA attended. Paul Clifton from Combat magazine, Paul Hennessy I.S.K.A. UK Executive Director, fighters and former fighters also turned up to support as well as Chris (The Fly) William who terrorized his opponents back in the days, Richard Allan, Joe Tierney, Dave Baptist, and Matt Winsper who is now the I.S.K.A. full contact Amateur Director. Girls Semi Contact Under 13’s -25kg 1. Katie Smith (LMBBA) Girls Semi Contact Under 13’s -30kg 2. Courtney Ayres (Team Centurion) 3. Demi Jade forrest (Team Centurion Girls Semi Contact Under 13’s -35kg 1. Victoris Brewer (Plyline Lincs) 2. Niamh Bruntlet (Team Centurion) 3. Demi Jade Forrest (Team Centurion) Girls Semi Contact Under 13’s -40kg 1. Jessica Street (Warrior TSD) 2. Demi Jade Forrest (Team Centurion) 3. Bethany Jones (Spiritual Warriors) 52 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK

Doors opened at 9.30 am and the place was already starting to fill up fast. Alfie Lewis’ Mushin Kai Team from Liverpool were all raring to go to add more silverware to their endless list of successes. Team Centurion with large numbers was there to battle, so were Huges Shurai. The Winsper’s were back in action with a large following so was the Peterborough Freestyle Team and Spiritual Warriors. The day kicked off with the girls semi contact under 13’s -30kg with C Ayres defeating D Forrest both team mates from Team Centurions.

J Street from Peterborough showed no mercy as she swept the board to take gold. While D Forrest took silver and B Jones (Spiritual Warriors) took a creditable 3rd place in the girls -40kg. The girls’ +45kg was an all finals for NSBB girls, C Burk and A Jones but it was Burk who finally took the gold medal after a close fight. Boys under 13’s -25kg, D Kamara (Mushin Kai) was in excellent form against J Vaughan to take gold, while in the -30kg M Ainsbury continued his winning streak by taking gold with K Zaman and J Medlicott having to settle for silver and bronze.

In the -35kg, V Brewer (Plyline Lincs) was in fine form taking 1st spot from N Bruntlet with D Forrest coming 3rd.

Over in the girls under 18’s -45kg, L Jones (Spiritual Warriors), who

Girls Semi Contact Under 13’s +45kg 1. Chloe Burk (NSBB) 2. Amber Jones (NSBB) 3. Ebony Kirk (Team Centurion)

Boys Semi Contact under 13’s -40kg Adam Roberts (Hughes Shorai) Keiran H Walker (Morrison BB Acad) Reece Hood (Olympian Kickboxing)

Boys Semi Contact Under 13’s -25kg 1. Odel Kamara (Mushin Kai Liverpool) 2. Jonathan Vaughan

Boys Semi Contact - Under 13’s -45kg Tom Smith (LMBBA) Luke Bulpin (Brotherhood K'box Acad) Brandan Scott (Infinity)

Boys Semi Contact Under 13’s -30kg 1. Marcus Ainsbury (NSBB) 2. Kameel Zaman (LMBBA) 3. J Medlicott (LMBBA)

Boys Semi Contact - 13’s +45kg Van Kwofie (Mushin Kai Liverpool) Tom Smith (LMBBA) James Bulpin (Brotherhood K'box Acad)

Boys Semi Contact Under 13’s -35kg 1. Ryan Gifford (Winspers) 2. Mark Keenan (Morrison BB Academy) 3. John Paul Wilson (Hughes Shorai)

Girls Semi Contact - Under 18’s -45kg Lianne Jones (spiritual Warriors) Megan Abel (Sheffield Dragons) Zara Gateley (MBBSA)

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has been training hard for these championships produced one of the finest performances to date, winning gold against M Abel (Sheffield Dragon) with Z Gateley taking bronze.

G Devaney won gold against I Proctor (Team Centurion). The Sheffield Dragon fighter pulled out all the stops on the day. A Glasspool took 3rd spot.

S Ryan (Watford) could not be stopped as she powered her way to victory in the under 18’s -51kg with A Jones taking silver.

Undefeated T Billingham (EMA) could not be stopped once again as she beat G Morgan (Hicks Karate) into 2nd place while it was a return to action for C Upon who took 3rd spot.

Boys semi contact under 18’s -55kg witnessed a brilliant fight between B Rowan (Kuei-Ling) and N Pugsley (Gilmore Kickboxing), toe to toe exchanges which was such a close fight but in the end Rowan piped him at the post with G Smith taking bronze. J Haywood (Gilmore Kickboxing) is one to watch out for in the future as he had to overcome a very hard semi final fight with (Mushin Kai) D Gallagher. In the finals he met D Lowe (Aldbury School of Black belts) and won in fine style in the boys under 18’s -63kg. C Hughes (Shorai) wasted no time as he beat J Pitman to take gold with D Brown (Emulous) taking bronze. Boys’ under 18’s +71kg, young M Lewis (Mushin Kai) son of the legendary Alfie Lewis is certainly following in his fathers footsteps defeated L Golder (NSTK) in a one sided final. Women’s’ semi contact -60kg. I.S.K.A. World Champion, L Morrison, continued where she left off last time, taking gold with V Bartle (Peterborough Freestyle) taking silver in her first competition for nearly 3 years.

Girls Semi Contact Under 18’s -51kg Shannon Ryan (Watford K'boxing Club) Amber Jones (NSBB) Girls Semi Contact Under 18’s -55kg Natasha Hobbs (P'borough Freestyle) Grace Smelt (Sheffield Dragons) Emily Ayres (Team centurion) Girls Semi Contact Under 18’s -59kg Tia Farley (Winspers) Corrine Hoare (Team Centurion) Girls Semi Contact Under 18’s -63kg Natasha Ryan (Watford K'boxing Club) Rebecca Jones (Spiritual Warrior)

Men’s -67kg. Great category saw I Hollett (LKA), K Findley (Peterborough Freestyle) and R Todd (TMA/Kwon England) who would take the honours in this section. Findley had a hard fight with Todd. It had to go into sudden death which Findley edged through only to meet a fired up Hollett who was in no mood to let slip. Good techniques’ going in over two rounds but it was a hungrier Hollett who came through with flying colours to take gold with Todd taking the bronze. Men’s semi contact -71kg, a fired up K Findley stepped up in this section determined for gold after taking silver in the -67kg. He met S Whyley from the Winsper’s camp and this fight lived up to all expectations. Hard shots flowing, at one point both fighters clashed and Findley sustained a bloody nose but he carried on and went on to win the finals in fine style, with last years champion P Peverelle taking a bronze medal. D Hughes was on fire in the -75kg but he couldn’t stop a fierce K Swaby (Urban Gym) taking the gold medal by one point. Girls Semi Contact Under 18’s +63kg Tara Billingham (CMA) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s -45kg Ashley Morey (BSMA) Scott Rankin (LKA Liverpool) Jack McKnight (Oldbury Blackbelts) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s -51kg Adam aboabrook (Mushin Kai L'pool) Ashley Morey (BSMA) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s -55kg Ben Rowan (Keui Ling) Nathan Pugsley (Gilmore Kickboxing) George smith (Spiritual Warrior)

S Savage (Olympian Kickboxing) took on all comers in the -81kg. In the final he met R Bulpin (Brotherhood Kickboxing Academy). This fight went all the way point for point, but Savage edged in front in the last ten seconds to take victory. D Noble (Blackpool) fought and beat N Young (ADMA) in the men’s -86kg. However, Young managed to take gold in the +91kg from G Walker (Ashield Tiger). Over in the boy’s light contact -25kg (Mushin Kai) O Kamara took his 2nd gold medal of the day beating L Bridgewaters from (Winsper’s Gym) then he stepped up to -30kg and made it a hatrick when he fought and defeated K Zamara (LMBBA). This young man has a bright future ahead of him. -35kg, R Gifford beat R Marsden into 1st place while in the -40kg M Carter (Hythe Dragons) piped J Poolton (Winsper’s) into 2nd place. Boys light contact -45kg, E Coke met team mate B Behan in the finals and gave a good account of himself to take the gold medal. Also team mates in the +45kg witnessed brothers J Sellamuthu and M Sellamuthu from (Hythe Dragons) battled it out for 1st place but it was J Sellamuthu who took the honours with A Brown (Team Centurion) taking bronze. Over in the girl’s light contact 35kg M Mingle (I.S.K.A. World Champion 2010) continued where she left off fighting a fierce P Nealon (Peterborough Freestyle). Both girls gave a good account of themselves Boys semi Contact Under 18’s -59kg Scott Brewer (Plyline Lincs) Ben Scott (emulous) Daniel Williams (LMBBA) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s -63kg Josh Haywood (Gilmore Kickboxing) Daniel Lowe (Oldbury Blackbelts) Darryl Gallagher (Mushin Kai L'pool) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s (14-17) -67kg Kevin Owens (Team Shorai) Boys Semi Contact Under 18’s -71kg Connor Hughes (Hughes Shorai) Joe Pitman (Infinity) Daniel Brown (Emulous)

but it was Mingle (Gilmore Kickboxing Gym) who took the gold in the end. Girl’s light contact +45kg, E Kirk (Team Centurion) defeated A Farley (Winsper’s) in a close fight. After many years watching young S Rankin on the national circuit, this young fighter has got better and better. With the years gone by he fought and defeated a good P O’Sullivan (LMBBA) in a great final to take the gold medal back to (Liverpool LKA) in the under 18’s -45kg section. There was no stopping talented fighter and World Champion, D Gallagher (Mushiu Kai Gym). He fought and beat C Portman (Winsper’s) in a good final to take gold with D Lowe taking the bronze medal. -71kg - C Hawthorne I.S.K.A. World Champion 2010 from Gilmore camp showed no mercy as he defeated D Brown (Emulous) into 1st place with J Harvie taking bronze for Fighting Fit.

+71kg - J McDowell met team mate A Hellet (SKA) and took the gold in a good fight.

Over in the girl’s light contact -50kg, S Ryan (Watford) defeated E Bonie Jones (SKA) to take gold. This future world champion has all the ingredients to win every time.

R Green (Winsper’s) met world silver medallist C Hilton (MBBSA) in the -54kg and what a fight this was. Both going in strong, combination techniques followed from both fighters but it was a more determined Green who took the fight with B Usher taking bronze. N Ryan (Watford Kickboxing) met L Smith in the finals of the -66kg. This young lady, I can’t see anyone stopping her from a world title as she took gold. J O’sullivan (Lee Mat) took bronze. Men’s light contact -67kg, R Davis (Wayne Stokes) battled with S Bates (Scotland) to take the gold with D Harkas (KA Fight Club) taking home the bronze. British and European champion E Swaby (Urban Kickboxing Gym) fought D McCullouch (Scotland) in the finals. He showed excellent skills to take gold in the -75kg section. C Lawton (Sacah Martial Arts Centre) fought S Bugh (Emulous) in the 86kg and won gold. Over in the men’s veteran light contact -75kg P Smallman (Synergy KB) fought defeated D Stork (Weston Warriors). Men’s Masters light contact -75kg D Butlin (Mansfield KB) also defeated D Maston (KAOS Wolverhampton) into 1st place while J Cheetham (Team Centurion) took the honours in the +75kg. Over in the MMA, L Hasdell called all the fighters into the area to explain the different rules, different formats and different time limits. A time limit of

4 minutes on each fight was agreed which is stated in I.S.K.A. MMA rules. Then it was down to business as usual. One thing I did notice before they all started was the tremendous conditioning which of course is important in mixed martial arts. You need the conditioning to outlast your opponent as rounds lag on. I spoke to one of the fighters who were up first in the -66kg, J Johnston (Winsper’s Gym). I asked him what his goal was today, he said, to finish all my opponents within 20 seconds so that I do not need to worry about going the full length in fights. To my surprise he took to the floor and within 20 seconds his opponent J Taylor (Black Night) tapped out after receiving a knee strike therefore leaving Johnston to take the first MMA gold for I.S.K.A. In the men’s -77kg J Constantion (Leicester Shoot) was constantly moving, he kept changing positions and engaging into explosive movements, this was too much for J Shore (NSBB) to take and Constantion took gold in this weight section with ease. Men’s -84kg - who says Paul Gilmore’s Kickboxers can’t MMA. Well he shocked a few people when G Mascold (Gilmore MMA) came up against C Krzysik (Black Knight Gym). Mascold kept breaking his opponents breathing pattern using a wide variety of different movements and using his entire body at full intensity for the whole 4 minutes to take the gold medal in the finals, great fight.

The men’s -93kg saw M Hadaway (SSJ) looking like he had been training for a triathlon. You could tell he looked organised. He met C Krzysik in the final and it looked like a workout for the SSJ fighter. He had strength and also plenty of gas in the tank which lead him to take gold. -120kg - Paul Gilmore said if you are tired you are not strong, if you are tired you are not fast, if you are tired you don’t have good techniques and if you are tired you’re not even smart. Word of wisdom what took him to the final and won gold. The crowd took to the MMA and that’s what sports are needs right now. The Kata and forms area kicked off at 11.30am on area 6. The Kids -13years Japanese style started the proceedings, with Jade Maltby (Sheffield Dragons) taking the ISKA English title. In the above section another win for Sheffield Dragons with Grace Smelt receiving a gold medal after a strong Kata performance. ISKA World Champion Jamie Davis proved why he is the champ with an outstanding Po Dai routine winning that section. Later on Jamie entered the -13years Korean Style where he made it two golds. In the Adult Korean Style it was between Vernard Fong and Andy Wu both executing clean kicks and punches but it was the balance of Vernard that won the judges vote with Andy settling for Silver. In Soft style forms both Nat Whiles (StageTrix) and Helen Osborn showed true core strength and elegance in their routines, both taking gold.

Boys Under 18’s +71kg Marcus Lewis (Mushin Kai Liverpool) Luke Golder (NSTK) Nathan Young (ADMA)

Women’s Semi Contact 18 - 35yrs -66kg Melissa Freeman (Kilmarnack IAKSA) Patricia Shaw (Blackpool Karate)

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -71kg Kyle Findley (P'borough Freestyle) Stuart Whyley (Winsper’s) Phil Peverelle (Gilmore Kickboxing)

Women’s Semi Contact 18 - 35 yrs -54kg Leasha Morrison (Morrison BB Acad)

Women’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs +66kg Tara Billingham (CMA) Gaynor Morgan (Hicks Karate) Charlotte Upton (ASBBA)

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -75kg Kyle Swaby (Urban Gym) Dave Hughes (Hughes Shuria) Lee Downing (Bomb Squad)

Women’s Semi Contact 18 - 35 yrs -60kg Leasha Morrison (Morrison BB Acad) Victoria Bartle (P'borough Freestlye) Women’s Semi Contact 18 - 35yrs -63kg Georgia Devaney (Sheffield Dragons) Imogen Proctor (Team Centurion) Alice Glasspool (Zheng Dao Lo)

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -63kg Graig Canning Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -67kg Ian Hollet (IKA Liverpool) Kyle Findley (P'borough Freestyle) Richard Todd (TMA/Kwan England)

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -81kg Shaun Savage (Olympian Kickboxing) Robert Bulpin (Brotherhood K'box Acad) Jerome Seals (Target Martial Arts) Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -86kg Dale Noble (Blackpool Karate) Nathan Young (ADMA)

Next up were the Creative sections with Brandon Scott (Infinity Martial Arts) head to head with Adam Parker (Crawley Black Belt Academy) with no acrobatic or aerial maneuvers allowed it was down to their Martial Arts basics to take the win. Judges awarded the gold to Adam after Brandon was short of the time. In the equivalent Extreme section with 8 competitors battling it out, Jack Fansworth (Team Evolution) took bronze with Jade Maltby in silver and Megan Abel (Sheffield Dragons) performed a well-balanced form with tricks, kicks and creative hand combinations receiving a gold medal. The audience stepped back when the weapon sections were called out with various arrays of weaponry being unmasked from their cases from Bo Staff, Nunchaku, Kama and Extreme Sword. In the -13 Creative weapons Adam Parker took his third gold medal of the day beating Aaron Lee Benwell’s (MSJBBA) high level body rolls and Mitchell Brothwood (Team Vision) settled for bronze after dropping his sword but hats off to him for taking a risk. In the Creative weapons Junior Boys Sam Aisthorpe (MSJBBA) won gold with his Bo Staff routine, this boy is improving every time he competes, well done. Extreme weapons -13years saw another good turn out with 6 competitors all gunning for the top spot. Jack Bloor (Team Evolution) took bronze position followed by team member Jack Fansworth in silver and Luke Underwood (Team Vision) winning with his energy pumping routine following in the footsteps of his brother Jack. In Junior boys Extreme Sections in Open Hand Nat Whiles ended in bronze position with Matthew Lightfoot (Team Resurrection) loosing the top position

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs -91kg Nathan Young (ADMA)

by 0.2 against Luke Scott (Team Stagetrix). The tables turned in the weapons section as Jack Bloor, Luke Scott and Jack Underwood (Team Fusion) all lost 0.5 from the judges’ score after dropping their weapons. It was up to Nat Whiles to finish his routine without any mishaps, which he did, winning him the gold, with team member Luke Scott in silver and Jack Underwood bronze. Katie Alker (LKFA), Chloe Michael (Team Stagetrix) and Emily Threw (Team Evolution) showed that girls can do it too, taking home gold medals in their chosen sections. Andy Wu showed off his Nunchaku skills in the men Extreme weapons category pulling out all the stops from flips, strikes and releases, his efforts were rewarded with a gold medal. Last but not least was the Extreme Martial Arts Tricks Battle. With 6 Trickers in attendance, this made for a good battle. Round 1 saw Joe Aisthorpe (MSJBBA) against Lewis Lightfoot (Infinity Martial Arts). Joe flipped his way to the semi finals. Luke Scott went up against Andy Wu who unfortunately let himself down with landings of his moves taking Luke to the final. It was against reigning English Champion Robert “Blaze” Hughes (Airborne Entertainment). Both trickers defied gravity with Corkscrews, Swing-through, round off axe full twists and some fancy break dancing. Judges awarded the win to Robert with Lukerin silver position and Andy Wu bronze. That completed the Kata and Forms sections of the Championships. Joe Hallett ISKA Director of Forms would like to thank everyone for attending and a huge thanks to the officials John Swift, Ryan Doyle, Wendy

Men’s Masters Semi Contact over 40 -75kg Shaun Kisby

Men’s Semi Contact 18-35yrs +91kg Nathan Young (ADMA) Gwilym Walker (Ashfield Tigers) Mick Clark (Wired Performance)

Men’s Novice Semi Contact +18yrs -81kg Steve McCraig (IASKA)

Women’s Veteran Semi Contact over 35 +63kg Nina Da Gupta (Light House)

Girl’s Light Contact under 13’s -30kg Stacey Bishopp (Sport Martial Arts)

Men’s Veteran Semi Contact 35-40yrs -75kg Dave Hyeton (ASBBA)

Girl’s Light Contact under 13’s -35kg Megan Mingle (Gilmore Kickboxing)

Wilshere and Jeff Scott. Joe Halett is looking forward to seeing all the qualified competitors at the first ISKA UK squad training session. The competition came to a close and the I.S.K.A. team would like to thank all the competitors and spectators who turned up on this lovely day. Dave Hughes ISKA Chief Referee who did a great job keeping all five areas’ moving all at once. The likes of Richard Allan, Chris Williams, Joe Tierney, Paul Gilmore, Dave Ryan, Jay Morrison, Peter Markland, Richard Phillips, Angela Hebden, Andy Desa, Owen King, Kyle Findley, Dave Hughes, Tony Baldwin and Chris Ladyman Joe Hallet, ISKA Form Director, ran the forms section smoothly while his mother Maria and Paul Hallet did a fantastic job on the draw sheets. Well done to those who qualified for this years European Championships which will be held in Lido Di Jesolo, Italy, from 25th - 29th October 2011 Those who came 1st, 2nd and 3rd are all invited to the ISKA National squad training the first one on Sunday May 15th at the North Solihull Sports Centre, Conway Road, Chelmsley Wood, West Midlands at 12pm-3pm. The rest of the dates will be confirmed via the ISKA website www.iska.org.uk and also on Face book. Next event is the ISKA British Championships on the 10th July 2011 in Birmingham. Hope to see you all there. For more information please contact me on 07788476478 or cliftonfindley@yahoo.co.uk.

Paige Nealon (P'borough Freestyle) Demi Jade Forrest (Team Centurion) Girl’s Light Contact under 13’s -40kg Jessica Street (Warrior TSD) Girl’s Light Contact under 13’s -45kg Ebonie Jones Girl’s Light Contact Under 13’s +45kg Ebony Kirk (Team Centurion) Abbie Farley (Winsper’s)

British Sam (Sombo) Federation 1986-2011

In 1986 Martin Clarke founded the British Sombo Federation now called the British Sambo Federation. Martin had competed in Sambo with the British Amateur Wrestling Association in the early 1970’s in those days it was refereed to as either Cambo or Sombo, the word Sambo was considered racist by the powers that be. Using the C instead of the S was because in the Russian Alphabet the S sound was written as a C as for Sombo some maintained this was the correct spelling in reality the only spelling was Sambo. With the Sport moving to Olympic Games recognition, the FIAS directed all member countries to use just word which is Sambo.

an article about the “World Games” which was to be held in London in 1985. The World Games is basically an organisation which accepts all the non Olympic Sports one being Sambo. On his return he contacted the British Amateur Wrestling Association and asked to be considered for the British Team only to be told GB would not be entering a team. Couple of days later the Chairman of BAWA Bert Jacobs contacted Martin and asked him to organise a team and he was made Chairman of the BAWA Sombo Committee.

In 1977 Martin tired for the Judo Moscow Olympics you can read the full story by reading his book “Martin for Moscow” which is also on the net. With his unsuccessful bid Martian tried other Combat Sports and in 1984 he participated in the 1st World Jiu Jitsu Championships in Canada where he won Silver. On his return journey he picked up an old copy of the Daily Telegraph where he saw

Martin first job was to find out about the rules as the last time he fought there were no ground holds and the scoring was a mixture of Sombo and Free Style Wrestling, for this he contacted Josh Henson USA who came over and gave a seminar. The rules had returned to Sombo Tradition scores for throws, leg locks and arm locks, all the freestyle rules have been removed with the only

Martin Clarke being presented with his Sombo Grandmaster certificate 60 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

concession to theFree Style fraternity was the inclusion of ground holds. Some months later a trial was held at his club at Sittingbourne and a team selected, the British Team at the World Games won Gold, Silver, 4 bronzes, referees Alan Kontozi and Brenda Jones were awarded International Level 3 status. Martin had not only been successful as a World Silver medallist but also managed a very successful team. In the October Martin along with Tony Bull and Trevor Roberts competed in the World Championship in San Sebastian Spain, Martin could only manage a 5th place but in later years would eventual win another two World Silver and a European Bronze. As the team was part of the BAWA they were obliged to pay all expenses for this trip and this was the main reason why eventually the British Sombo Federation was formed. Martin was summoned to BAWA HQ and Bert Jacobs said the BAWA did not have the funds to support Sombo and would I be prepared to start a separate organisation we his blessing this he agreed to. In early 1986 an inaugural meeting was called to form the British Sombo Federation a constitution was agreed upon and a committee was formed which consisted of: Chairman Martin Clarke Vice Chairman Alan Kontozi Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Jones Committee Members Valerie Clarke, Dave Boulding

25th Anniversary The BSF went on organise British and regional championships as well as taking teams to world and European championships and in 1990 the Sports Council recognised the BSF as the Governing for Sombo/Sambo in GB. Martin went on serve as Treasurer of the international Organisation FIAS , was awarded a Grand master of Sambo the only person in GB ever to receive the award ,in the last few years was presented with a Gold medal for Services to International Sambo and was also awarded a Star of Sambo this given to him while at the World Championships in St Petersburg 2008 this was awarded to the top 10 most influential people in World Sambo. Brenda Jones sadly no longer with us became the first Women Exceptional Referee the highest position for a referee; she refereed all over the World. In 1989 BSF organised the European Sambo Champions and 1992 they organised the World Championships both held in Herne Bay. Times move on and the British Sambo Federation recently altered its constitution to take on the new Political Boundaries of Great Britain. The BSF role is now to represent GB in all matters, and each individual country in the UK deals with its own matters. The BSF consists of English Sambo Federation, Scottish Sambo Federation and Northern Ireland Sambo Federation. On the 1st Sunday in December the BSF intend holding a Championship in Sittingbourne the birth place of British Sambo to celebrate the 25 years and in the summer it will be holding week long 25th Anniversary Camp at Folkestone.

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Tatsuo Suz A Life of Karate

By John Broughton

Born in 1928 Tatsuo Suzuki started his study of karate at the age of 14 and by the age of 19 was awarded his 3rd Dan, and by the age of 24 was awarded the then highest grade in Wado Ryu of 5th Dan. At the age of 45 Sensei was given the title of Hanshi and awarded his 8th Dan. Although offered higher grades in later life he politely refused them as by then his Sensei Ohtsuka Sensei had died and he felt only Ohtsuka Sensei should grade him. For many of Mr. Suzuki’s early years he trained directly with Ohtsuka Sensei and travelled Japan and abroad teaching and performing demonstrations. Master Suzuki founded the first Wado Federation in England and from there spread Wado Ryu karate throughout Europe Mr. Suzuki Sensei came from a time when karate training was hard and brutal, when only the most determined came through. He had a reputation as a fierce fighter and had to prove his karate ability not only in the dojo but also on the street. Determination, strong spirit and hard work along with the samurai Bushido ethos drove Sensei to achieve amazing things in his personal life and in his karate. Sadly Mr. Suzuki died on Tuesday 12th July 2011 and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and countless karate students around the world. But Mr. Suzuki Sensei will live on in the memory of all his students and his influence will be felt for generations in the dojos across the world. I would not be so presumptuous as to try to cover a life as full and varied as Mr. Suzuki’s in these few words and would strongly recommend you read his life story “Suzuki, The fullness of a life in Karate “, study Mr. Suzuki Sensei’s 64 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

videos and try if possible to train with an instructor with direct experience of Sensei’s teaching. To help get a personal insight into Mr Suzuki as a teacher and a person I have been joined by 3 generations of Mr Suzuki’s students, Sensei’s Dave Allsop 7th Dan, Simon Coope 3rd Dan and David Coope 2nd Dan. Thank you Sensei’s for sparing me your time, if I may I would like to talk to all three of you about your memories of Mr Suzuki Sensei.

Sensei Dave Allsop could I take you right back to your early days, how did you first meet Mr Suzuki ? DAVE ALLSOP: When I first started to get interested in karate it had only just begun to take off in the UK and I joined a local club at Mansfield . At the time the club was predominantly a Judo club but a lot of the members became more interested in karate. In those days there were very few instructors and no higher grade students to learn from so we started to copy moves that were appearing in magazines and newspapers. We saw pictures of Mr Suzuki performing punches and copied them in the dojo but with no knowledge of how to do them properly. My first instructors

were only green belts themselves and as they had very limited knowledge to pass on we spent most of our training free fighting. Very quickly the karate side took over from the Judo at the Mansfield dojo so we started to search around for an association to join. We made enquiries and were put in touch with a big club in Yorkshire that actually had brown belts teaching, we joined them just at the time their association split from Mr Suzuki but we stayed with the new association that Sensei set up called the UKKF which became the UKKW until the mid 1990s.The first time I actually met Sensei was when he came to Nottingham and I took my green belt grading with him. I was absolutely terrified about meeting him, but since then I have done all my gradings with Sensei. The second time I met Sensei was at Crystal Palace when I took my 5th Kyu after a week long summer course, he was with Mr Ohtsuka who was on his first visit to this country.

What was training like with Sensei in the early days? DAVE ALLSOP: I remember at Crystal palace is was like boot camp, Sensei told us you could not perform your basics properly until you were really tired and he had us repeating the moves again and again the full

uki

RIP 27th April 1928 12th July 2011

‘‘ ’’ don't give up on your students because miracles happen and one day they will get there

length of crystal palace. It was the first time I heard Sensei use a word he became famous for , he would stand in front of us saying “again, again” until he felt we had got it right. It was a typical way they taught in the Japanese Universities and the way Mr Suzuki had learnt his karate. They would start with 200 students and train them hard so that the 20 who were left at the end were the right students. How Sensei taught in the early days was exactly how he always taught, he strongly believed in repetition. For instance f you were training a kata you did the same kata over and over, sometimes for 2 hours and then he would break it down into sections that you kept repeating. Sensei said that your body not your mind had to know how to do the move, that way you reacted a lot quicker without having to wait to think about it. The shame is that nowadays students don’t always want to wait to learn something in depth they just want to rush onto the next thing. For 43 years Sensei’s insistence on repetition and perfection has driven me on to constantly improve, I can still hear him saying “again and again and again and again”. Another thing Mr Suzuki always said was as an instructor never give up on your students, you might have some one who can not do something but don’t give up on them because miracles happen and one day they will get there. And he drilled this into me and I knew he never gave up on me or any other student, the training was hard and repetitive you either thrived on it or gave up and I thrived on it although a lot didn’t.

I read in Sensei’s book that he would train up to 10 hours a day and sometimes late into the night. DAVE ALLSOP: I can believe it, Sensei was an incredible fit and tough man, that picture up there is when I first met Sensei when he was about 40 (Dave points to one of many faded old photos on his dojo wall of Mr Suzuki) he was tough as iron even though I was 15 years younger than him he could run much faster than me. Sensei could not have reached the levels of fitness and perfection of movement without long hours of hard training. 66 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

I had the honour of training with Mr Suzuki a couple of years ago on a course organised by Simon Coope and I was amazed how fast Sensei was even then. DAVE ALLSOP: Absolutely Sensei never lost his speed especially when you think that not long before that course Sensei had a triple heart bypass. Right up until Sensei’s illness got worse over the last few months he always trained and I new his hand speed was always faster than mine. I always felt that Mr Suzuki was possibly fitter than Mr Ohtsuka , I met Mr Ohtsuka when he was 76 and Mr Suzuki was definitely fitter when he was 76.Sensei was an amazing advert for karate with his fitness and mental agility he never gave up on his karate even when he was quite ill. I was told when he woke up from his operation the first words to his wife was “can I still train?”

Do you feel that Mr Suzuki stuck to Mr Ohtsuka training at all times? DAVE ALLSOP: Without a doubt karate was Mr Suzuki’s life , he was very passionate about his links with Ohtsuka Sensei, I once asked him why one association taught things different to another wado association and he said “ I teach exactly what Mr Ohtsuka taught me” and I believed him because he said it with fire in his eyes. He is fiercely passionate about Mr Ohtsuka training and wanted to pass it on to his students.

has always been with me and will continue to do so. I want to pass onto my students what he gave me, he drove me forward for a long time to very high standards, a higher standard than I would have achieved anywhere else. That was another thing about Sensei; he showed he cared because he stayed with you until you got it right. He would keep on at you until you got a problem move sorted, I have seen him do that with students so many times and he did it to me for 43 years.

How did Sensei change over the years, do you think his karate and teaching changed. DAVE ALLSOP: If you read his book Sensei says he struggled in the early days, living in the UK was a massive change for him culturally, but no I believe Mr Suzuki stuck strictly to what he had learnt and stayed with that all through his live. Of course he made minor changes to Wado as a style and to his own karate, for instance he developed the Ohyos to teach sparring techniques to westerners. As he got older Sensei also made small changes to his own karate to make it work for his body at that time in his life. Over the years I have certainly changed (laughs) I’m still changing moves in my karate and realise that is what Sensei had been trying to get me to change years

ago. Over the years I never noticed Sensei change his attitude; he has a tremendous work ethic and demands this of his students. His passionate enthusiasm for karate and Ohtsuka Sensei has not changed. I know from my life with Mr Suzuki that he strongly believed in the old traditional Japanese ways of discipline and self sacrifice, the samurai bushido standards and most definitely is one of the last of that era.

I read that Mr Suzuki studied Zen meditation as an integral part of his martial arts; did you see this reflected in his karate? DAVE ALLSOP: Sensei did talk to us about his Zen studies , traditionally a lot of the early samurai studied Zen to help them keep a clear mind and I am sure this also helped Sensei in the same way with his karate. Mr Suzuki told me a funny story once which is also in his book, Sensei used to go to a Zen Buddhist monastery to study Zen thinking and the head teacher would give him a koan to go back to his room to think about. Once you felt you had the answer you would go to the teacher’s room but if you got it wrong he would ring a bell and you would have to go back to your room to give it more thought. Sensei said he took the koan back to his room and after a short while was convinced he had the

Mr Suzuki with Ohtsuka Sensei

At this point Sensei Allsop stopped himself and seemed to be lost in thought for a minute, then said “I am determined to carry his teaching on unchanged to my students”. But I noticed sadly he was still talking about Mr Suzuki in the present tense and I didn’t have the heart to correct him. DAVE ALLSOP: I find I am always saying he ( Mr Suzuki) said this , he did that and I feel his influence WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 67

right answer ,so excitedly jumped up and ran down the corridor but before he even got to the teachers room he heard the bell ring.

I had heard that Mr Suzuki could be quite a fierce and frightening instructor, that Sensei had a reputation for not suffering fools easily. DAVE ALLSOP: Over all the years I trained with Sensei he never ever shouted at me (laughs) he talked to me in a loud voice when I was not performing to the high standard he insisted on but I can honestly say he never lost his temper with me. A lot of students who didn’t know Sensei well maybe had this impression, but they were mistaking passion for fire and I never saw Sensei lose his temper with a student. Mr Suzuki had amazing patience and would spend his valuable time making sure you got it right who ever you were.

Simon good to meet you again, we go back too many years to mention here, originally we both trained and graded together to black belt under Sensei’s Lee and Russell Gould, since then you moved on to run a group of very successful clubs under Mr Suzuki’s association . What effect do you feel Mr Suzuki had on your karate? DAVE ALLSOP: I will always be grateful to my first Sensei’s, they gave me a solid grounding in karate and actively encouraged me to reach out further afield to develop my karate. I spent sometime looking a various associations, some of which I’m sure were equally good but I felt Mr Suzuki would give me but also my students the most direct link to the most authentic Wado karate. I was very lucky to live close to Sensei Allsop’s dojo in Mansfield; Dave has spent many hours working with me personally and my students to push us towards the very high standards he always expects.

I can only repeat what Sensei has said to you, both from Mr Suzuki Sensei and Sensei Allsop my karate has been vastly improved and developed by constant repetition, every time I do a basic or a Kata I can here Mr Suzuki in my head saying again, again, again. I remember one of the first times I trained with Mr Suzuki Sensei was on a winter course in February; we spent the whole 3 days working on Kushanku Kata. The next course was in Kendal and we spent a couple of days doing the same Kata, that summer we went to Spain on the summer course and spent the whole time still on Kushanku by the end of those courses we must have done the Kata at least 500 times. At the end of that year I had a pretty good idea of Kushanku but it was that meticulous attention to detail that shone through all his teaching. Mr Suzuki Sensei would stand in front of you for 10 minutes making you repeat a move over and over; he seemed to have limitless time and patience for everybody. It was that constant drilling of the little points that when you put them together it all made sense. In my early days of training with Mr Suzuki Sensei I would be terrified as you heard the scrapping of the slippers he always wore on courses coming up behind you. But the more I got to know and appreciate Sensei I learnt to welcome the attention, eventually as my confidence grew I would ask Sensei for guidance and he would always spend time with me until he felt it was correct. So to go back to your question I would say the biggest effect Mr Suzuki has had on my karate is the attention to detail, I try but don’t always succeed to treat my students with the same respect and teach them as individuals as I felt Sensei always did with me.

DAVID COOPE: For me Sensei’s training was more about a frame of mind, obviously with sport karate you are bouncing which is not how Mr Suzuki Sensei did his karate. Although there are many similarities to the way we fight now as in his day, its all attack, attack , attack, but in Mr Suzuki’s time it was full contact whereas now its point scoring.

If we could jump a generation, David Coope through your fathers clubs you have trained and graded with Mr Suzuki, do you feel Sensei was as relevant to the latest generation of karate students especially like yourself with a sports karate interest.

On Friday 22nd July 2011 there was a service of thanksgiving for the life of Grand Master Tatsuo Suzuki, born on 27.04.1928 and who died on 12.07.2011; at the service all mourners were given an order of service which contained a letter from Sensei.

As the next generation in karate do you find now you have to adapt the way you teach karate to suit the kids coming into the dojo. DAVID COOPE: Most defiantly not, I have been shown the benefits of repetition and attention to fine detail that I feel is the legacy passed down to me directly from Mr Suzuki, Dave Allsop and my father and hopefully in many years time I will be able to continue in exactly the same way. DAVID COOPE: As I stand on the side line watching the sports karate students doing England squad training, I am amazed how many times I still see Mr Suzuki’s influence, many of the pair work in just pure Ohyo In his time Mr Suzuki Sensei was a great fighter and most of the high level instructors around today were either direct students of his or have been trained by his students.

Thank you very much Senseis, I know this is a sad time for us all in karate but from what you all say I strongly feel that Mr Suzuki Sensei’s influence will be felt in dojos around the world for many years to come .

all the students together and trained with them and we became like a big family helping each other. I like it like this; this is my way and the best way.” “I have tried to ensure throughout my lifetime that the true spirit of Ohtsuka Sensei’s karate is carried on. I have done this for the past 30 years since he passed away and I have also imparted my knowledge and spirit to various instructors to carry out the work and ensure the future of the WIKF and traditional Wado Ryu as it was taught to me by the founder. Through various instructors in the WIKF throughout the world, I have ensured that this will carry on. A strong family that will help each other and the future of Ohtsuka Sensei’s authentic Wado Ryu will carry on”. I was told that during Mr Suzuki’s memorial service Sensei’s wife showed a moving and very personal slide show with many slides showing a happy laughing man that enjoyed a joke and had an amazing sense of humour. Sensei’s wife felt that many people knew the karate side of Sensei but only a very privileged few knew him personally and she wanted to make sure the world new him for all facets of his personality. I strongly believe that Grand Master Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan legacy to the world will be the establishment and development of Wado Ryu karate that has rippled out across the world. Sensei has changed the life of students from all walks of life and his teachings will be felt in dojos for generations to come. Thank you Sensei, of course we mourn your death but more importantly we celebrate your life.

If I may I would like to include a couple of paragraphs from his letter... “In 1990 I started the WIKF and carried on with the teaching and training in the same way as Ohtsuka Sensei. I taught

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tmas - Forms

Following on from the success of last year’s tournament we thought it was only right to bring it back for the second year with a few minor changes. Firstly, this year’s tournament was open to anyone who felt themselves worthy to compete in a prestigious tournament like the F.I.T and be entered into the lineup. Also this year’s event was aimed at the next generation of forms competitors with two age divisions -13years and -18years. After releasing that the TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament was back for 2011, we received a great response from fellow coaches and competitors, all wanting to be apart of the new age of forms competition. One week before the event the final line up was confirmed which made it one of the most anticipated events being held over the TMAS Live weekend. -13 Musical Open Hand Joe Aisthorpe – Master St James Black Belt Academy Jade Maltby – Sheffield Dragons Megan Abel – Sheffield Dragons Eli Mckenna – LKFA Adam Parker – Crawley Black Belt Academy -13 Musical Weapons Ben Underwood – Team Vision Megan Abel – Sheffield Dragons

-13 Open Hand

Casey Marshall – Team Elements Mitchell Brothwood – Team Vision Luke Underwood – Team Vision Aaron Lee Benwell – Master St James Black Belt Academy Adam Parker – Crawley Black Belt Academy Lewis Eramus – Team Elements -18 Musical Open Hand Katie Alker – LKFA Megan Abel – Sheffield Dragons Nathaniel Whiles – Team Stagetrix Jessica Grant – Temple Masters Luke Scott – Team Stagetrix Matthew Lightfoot – Team Resurrection -18 Musical Weapons Nathaniel Whiles – Team Stagetrix Chloe Michael – Team Stagetrix Jack Underwood – Team Resurrection

Sam Aisthorpe – Master St James Black Belt Academy Luke Scott – Team Stagetrix 10am Saturday morning and with queues formed outside, The Martial Arts Show Live was opened to the public with Martial Artists from all around the Country swarming to the NEC Birmingham for the only show of its kind being held this year. The F.I.T competitors all arrived at the “tournament area 3” to warm up and prepare for the battle ahead. The tournament took place at regular intervals throughout the Saturday starting at 10.30am with the -13 Musical Open Hand section. An open draw took place to decide the running order in a fair and unbiased way. Joe Aisthorpe was first to present his routine to the judges, then Jade Maltby, Megan Able, Eli Mckenna and finally Adam Parker. All the competitors pulled out all the stops showing a great balance of Martial Arts and creativity throughout their forms. With the results in, Megan Abel was crowned TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament Champion 2011 with team member Jade Maltby in 2nd place and Joe Aisthorpe in 3rd position. After the tournament I took some time to interview Megan and get some stats from her...

Invitational tournament By Joe Hallett

Name: Megan Abel Age: 13 Height: 150cm (4’11”) Weight: 44kg Residence: Sheffield Style: Freestyle / Sport Karate Grade: 2nd Dan Black belt Years Training: 7 years Instructor: Master Terry Johnston Present Club: Sheffield Dragons Most Valued Titles: ISKA & WTKA world titles in semi-contact fighting and musical forms Other Styles Studied: Wushu, Taekwondo, Traditional Japanese. Likes: Sports, socialising, face book Dislikes: Cheats, bad sports, favouritism Hobbies: Tricking/gymnastics, swimming, netball, roller blading, ice skating & music. Favourite Food: Sunday lunch Favourite Film: Harry Potter Favourite Martial Artist: Bruce Lee Ambitions: Actress / Movie star Honors and Achievements: 11 World titles from 3 governing bodies. Plus multiple domestic titles including WTKA, ISKA, WKA & WAKO. Voted by ISKA “best girls forms performer 2010”

Megan Able

How did you feel when you were invited to compete at this year’s TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament? Delighted to have been asked for the second year running.

Did you do any preparation for the competition and did your training regime change in anyway? I decided to compete in musical sword for the first time alongside open hand musical form. Other than that my routine was pretty consistent training 5 or 6 days per week.

How did it feel to compete at an event like “The Martial Arts Show Live” in front of thousands of spectators? Great and although nervous it helped me to perform under pressure.

You were against forms competitors you wouldn’t usually meet on the circuit did you like the challenge of this?

Yes definitely, too many competitions have only a small number of forms competitors so it was a great boost for the forms sector in this country.

The F.I.T brought back the 2 score system that was used in the first year, what are your opinions on this system did it work for you? Yes it is a different approach but it gave me more of an idea of what the judges wanted to see, so helped me to look at my form more critically for the future.

How did it feel when your name was called out as the TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament Champion 2011? Brilliant it was a great thrill and great honor too at such a huge event.

If you were invited to the next F.I.T event will you be happy defend your title? Definitely yes!

If you could change one thing about the UK Forms circuit to make it better what would it be? Make sure that the big competitions do not clash so there’s more chance of all the best competitors turning up. Ideally a champion of champion’s league run by the big organisations might help?

Any inspiring words for anyone reading this that would like to start musical forms? Musical forms are a real challenge and always evolving, there is no limit to what can be done with training and dedication. I like the balance between doing forms (including traditional) and fighting as they push me to the limit so karate never gets boring. My new sword form also gives me something else to work on, to push myself.

What is next for you? A family holiday to Spain then concentrate on two big forms competitions, “The Best of British” at Sheffield Octagon and The Showtime Forms Tournament in Manchester in October & November. I may also be travelling to Italy for the WTKA World Championships in October and the Irish Open next March and the CIMAC Super league for fighting next year. After a short break for the competitors to regain some energy it was on with the next category, the -18 Musical Open Hand. Again a draw took place with Nathaniel Whiles, Katie Alker, Megan Abel, Jessica Grant, Luke Scott and Matthew Lightfoot all performing in that order. Again you could see every competitor wanted the title and raised there game with highflying tricks and solid powerful techniques. This category was going to be a tough one to call for the judges. After long deliberation they came to a decision with Luke Scott winning the title and Matthew Lightfoot in second position and Megan Abel picking up her second trophy of the day in third place. After Luke caught his breathe I asked him a few questions.

-18 Open Hand Name: Luke Scott Age: 17 Height: 171cm Weight: 62kg Residence: Godmanchester Style: Sport Karate Grade: 3rd Dan Years Training: 11 Instructor: Jeff Scott Present Club: Stagetrix Most Valued Titles: 7x WKA World Champion Other Styles Studied: Wushu, Kung Fu Likes: Sleeping in, Travelling, Ice Cream Dislikes: Lack of creativity, smoking, Reality TV Hobbies: Tricking, playing football, going to the cinema Favourite Food: Pizza Favourite Film: The Dark Knight Favourite Martial Artist: Matt Emig Ambitions: To be a top level forms competitor and win a NASKA title. To work in the film and stunt industry Honors and Achievements: - 2007-10 WKA Gold Medals Individual & Team Forms (Adult) - National Champion on multiple circuits including Wushu - Paul O’Grady Show (Channel 4) - Let Me Entertain You (BBC Two)

How did you feel when you were invited to compete at this year’s TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament? I was excited as I knew from seeing the previous year’s competition, which unfortunately I wasn’t available to attend, that this was going to be a top event with lots of competitors

from around the UK. Plus an opportunity to perform in front of a massive audience/ crowd.

Did you do any preparation for the competition and did your training regime change in anyway? I didn’t really change my training schedule much for this competition as I already do a lot of practice everyday during an average week. This event was on the end of a chain of competitions I had competed in also so I was already drilling my forms and was in good condition for this competition.

How did it feel to compete at an event like “The Martial Arts Show Live” in front of thousands of spectators? I always like to compete in front of a large crowd as you always get a bigger buzz from the atmosphere and it gives you even more energy to perform and take it to the next level.

Like Megan was up against forms competitors you wouldn’t usually meet on the circuit did you like the challenge of this? I always prefer it when there are lots of decent competitors to go up against. It means you really have to pull it out of the bag to get the result and makes winning feel much more deserved. There’s nothing more

Luke Scott

I would recommend musical forms to anyone – it’s the most fun, rewarding and confidence boosting sport I’ve ever done and there are always new things to try. Just remember to start small, basics are most important as they build the foundation for years to come – don’t rush onto the harder tricks before you’ve perfected what you’ve already got. Remember that clean techniques make champions.

What is next for you?

with lots of top competitors from all over the national circuit and it was fantastic to be named champion in such company.

If you were invited to the next F.I.T event would you be happy to defend your title? demoralising than turning up to a competition where there is one or two competitors against you.

The F.I.T brought back the 2 score system that was used in the first year, what are your opinions on this system does it work? Personally I think the way the NASKA circuit in is judged in America is a lot clearer. I thought there wasn’t any need to have two scores; any decent judge should be able to make an assessment of this themselves and compile it into one overall score for the competitor.

How did it feel when you were called out as the TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament Champion 2011? I was really pleased to win at such a big event like The Martial Arts Show Live in front of such a huge audience. It was a really tough competition

I would be more than happy to come back as it was a great competition and a great setup I recommend anyone to go and check it out.

If you could change one thing about the UK Forms circuit to make it better what would it be? I would reduce the number of association’s right down to only one or two, as there is now so many associations and circuits that it has become so fragmented and divided meaning hardly anyone is at each competition. If this happened then it would be much more affordable for everyone plus much more testing for the competitors. If you won then you could really call yourself a national champion – rather than just the champion for that association.

Any inspiring words for anyone reading this and would like to start musical forms?

I am appearing at the Valhalla festival in Essex but I’m also training hard in the run up to the WKA World Championships in Germany at the end of August, where I’ll be defending my world titles. Hopefully I’ll be bringing home some more gold medals for England! Also joining me will be some other members of Team Stagetrix who will also be aiming to get the best results they can! 1.30pm and it was on to the next segment of the F.I.T. The -13 competitors were back on deck for the Musical Weapons. This was the biggest category of the day and some new additions with Ben Underwood, Casey Marshall, Mitchell Brothwood, Luke Underwood, Aaron Lee Benwell and Lewis Erasmus all representing. With a variety of weapons from Bo Staff to Extreme Sword it was going to be a spectacle for the crowd which kept building up even more throughout the event. Unfortunately some of the competitors made vital errors in their routines which cost them dearly. The competitors lined up for the results in 3rd Adam Parker, 2nd place Megan and 2011 F.I.T Champion Luke Underwood following in the footsteps of his World Champion brother Jack. Luke afterwards was happy to be interviewed after winning such a great title. Name: Luke Underwood Age: 11 Height: 5ft Weight: 50kg Residence: Telford Style: Extreme Martial Arts Grade: 2nd Degree Black Belt Years Training: 7 years in Kickboxing and 4 ½ years in Extreme Martial Arts Instructor: Dave Busby Present Club: Vision Martial Arts

Most Valued Titles: F.I.T Champion 2011 Other Styles Studied: Kickboxing, Seiko-Kai Shito-Ryu Karate, Extreme Martial Arts Likes: I like tricking and experimenting with new moves using my Bo staff. I like to train with others and enjoy the challenge of competition or matching someone’s move. My other interest is ice hockey. (I play for Telford venom u12s) Dislikes: Training with people that can’t be bothered and trophy hunters. I don’t like to lose and always aim for the best. Not keen on any veg. Hobbies: Extreme martial arts, Ice hockey, free running, rugby, tricking and bowls Favourite Food: pizza and spag bol Favourite Film: Karate Kid Favourite Martial Artist: I am inspired by Joe Hallett and my brother Jack Underwood. Ambitions: To become as good as my brother Jack. For others to want to be like me and to progress in my second sport of ice hockey. I would love to represent my country in either sport. Honors and Achievements: ISKA British championships 2009 – third place. WUMA Champion 2009 ICO British championships 2010 – second place. ISKA British Championships 2010 – second place ISKA Midlands Championships 2010 – third place. Cimac Superleague 2010 – third place. ISKA South West and Beyond 2010 – third place ISKA British Champion 2011 F.I.T 2011 Champion Plus numerous interclub events for fighting and weapons.

How did you feel when you were invited to compete at this year’s TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament? It was very exciting as my brother had competed there the year before and I was aware of the two scores system which I knew would help me get the best judges opinion of my performance to date. It also gave me something to work for and I raised my game in the lead up to the BIG day.

Did you do any preparation for the competition and did your training regime change in anyway?

Yes…..I definitely worked harder with a lot of work going into my martial arts skills as I wanted people to see the best of what I could do and also a reflection of why I was a black belt. I spent a lot of time with my brother who gave me lots of pointers on things like stances and aggression.

How did it feel to compete at an event like The Martial Arts Show Live in front of thousands of spectators? It was a great feeling & I think when you watch my performance back you can feel the amount of emotion I put into it. Of course I was very nervous too.

You were against forms competitors you wouldn’t usually meet on the circuit did you like the challenge of this? Before I performed it was quite scary as I had never seen some of the people before but I think this is what made my set, as I gave it my all, knowing I had to raise my game.

The F.I.T brought back the 2 score system that was used in the first year, what are your opinions on this system does it work? I think it is the way forward for the sport as it opens up the performance highlighting strengths and weaknesses and definitely providing an equal playing field.

How did it feel when your name was called out as the TMAS Forms Invitational Tournament Champion 2011? I can’t describe it - as I looked down the line at the standard of competitors there, I knew I had achieved something that day….I could hear the huge crowds cheering…it was fab

If you were invited to the next F.I.T event will be happy defend your title? Definitely and I would work just as hard to bring the best on the day.

If you could change one thing about the UK Forms circuit to make it better what would it be? That we all worked together …. So many amazing competitors … supporters … coaches and if we pulled together, it would be great!

Any inspiring words for anyone reading this and would like to start musical forms? Just do it…

What is next for you? I hope to continue training and developing as an athlete on the circuit but most of all to keep having fun and enjoy the sport. Last but not least it was the -18 competitors turn to show off their weapon skills. Each competitor using the Bo Staff, this made it very interesting and the results would show who had the best Bo skills on the day. Judges awarded the win to Luke Scott giving him his second title of the day with a well deserved 2nd place going to Jack Underwood and Luke’s team member Nathaniel received the bronze. Once again the F.I.T lived up to expectations and broke down the barriers that have been built over the years between forms competitors. It was nice to see everyone getting on together and cheering their fellow competitors. This is the revolution that TMAS Live has provided and it can only get better. I would like to thank the referees on the day John Swift, Alistair McDonald, Junior Anderson and Jeff Scott and a huge thank you to our sponsors Infinity Martial Arts who supplied the trophies. Not forgetting the competitors who took part, without you there wouldn’t be forms in the UK. Now there is only one question left? Will the F.I.T return for 2012 – YES it will at “TMAS Live ‘12” at the NEC in Birmingham over the weekend of May the 12th and 13th, SEE Ya There!

WAKO Welcome to...

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF KICKBOXING ORGANISATIONS President: Tom Hibbert M.B.E., F.S.M.A.

Founded in 1970 WAKO is the largest unified kickboxing organisation in the World with over 100 nations currently in membership. WAKO World H.Q. is based in Milan. ★ WAKO History ★ WAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976. The founder was Mr Georg Bruckner from Berlin, who promoted the first ever World Championships in semi and full contact karate (as it was called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitors representing 18 countries. WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sports and acted, since the very beginning, as the authentic Kickboxing Federation of the world. In our Championships, only national teams are accepted. Each member country can present only 1 competitor in each weight class. The WAKO World Championships are NOT open competitions therefore each representative is the premier competitor in that category, from their country.

World Governing Body for Kickboxing World and European Amateur Championships Title Fights held continually both Amateur & Professional Regional Competitions are held throughout the year British Amateur Championships to choose British Teams Full-Contact, Light Continuous-Contact, Semi-Contact, Musical Forms Licence, Membership and Insurance available to all of U.K., Southern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Coaching courses, Referee Training, Seminars and Training Dan Gradings and WAKO certificates for all Members For upto the minute details of all forthcoming W.A.K.O events visit our website To see national wako listings of over 13,000 instructors/clubs on the web, type: www.bt.com/thephonebook then in ‘business’ type: martial arts and town

Contact: WAKO, 66 Chaddesden Lane, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6LP Tel: 07973 507716 / 01332 663086 or Fax: 01332 280286 Email: info@wakogb.co.uk

www.wakogb.co.uk

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CWC001/05

Cynthia Roth , friday s child

Cynthia Rothrock is a petite, youthful lady from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Born in a small town she did family activities like fishing and baseball. She was a Daddy’s girl, and a self confessed tom boy. Cynthia had tried dance and music but never stuck at it. At the age of 13 she started Karate as her Mother cleverly made her sign up to the local school for four months, to make sure she stuck it out. Cynthia loved the uniform, the angry white pyjamas, so much so she wore her father’s PJ’s with a white belt at home when practicing. “I remember one day I had my Dad’s pyjamas on, they were white and they looked like a karate uniform and I had put them on backwards because, you know men have that hole, to go to the bathroom! They were too big so I put my white belt on… My Dad found me and we laughed, he said something like: ‘Hey, I didn’t know they made uniform’s with hole in the back’!”

Being an only child at home and the only female in her dojo, Cynthia relied on herself to get by. A spell of bullying only made her practice more. Alongside the sound advice from her teacher, who said: “Practice or you won’t be any good.” “I wanted to learn how to defend myself due to these bullies in the 6th grade, they were really bad girls.

I don’t even remember them, nor would I now… I do remember one pushed me but the phone rang so I ran inside and said, I gotta get the phone now, so thankfully never had to use my martial arts in real life. I think after that the martial arts made me feel confident so no one really bothered me. It isn’t surprising I felt that way they used electrical cow prods if you weren’t in a low enough horse stance back in the day. You couldn’t do it these days I don’t think, it was pretty brutal back then.” Cynthia remembers her first Karate teacher well, he taught her Tsung Su Do in a Korean accent. This gave her the excellent kicking abilities you see in the movies to date. She was probably the first and only woman back then to fight in white stilettos. “I had to jump of a building in heels into a load of cardboard boxes and then I had to jump of a 15ft wall and I couldn’t even go off balance that was more difficult than when I was in explosions and being flung off buildings! Kicking in stilettos was just genius; I had never seen that before! It is still one of my favourite scenes.”

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rock After she achieved her black belt in Tsung Su Do she tried different styles of Kung Fu like Eagle Claw and Wu Shu. Now she practices Kenpo and is opening a studio soon. “You will always be able to learn martial arts, it is endless and you never know enough.” I asked if the stiletto is now on another foot, does she encourage her daughter to study martial arts as Cynthia was. “I would like her to take it up but I don’t force her. She told me ‘I don’t wanna be you Mum’ to which I replied, I don’t want you to be me, I don’t care what you do with martial arts but I want you to be able to defend yourself. If I had my way she would do it every day. Hopefully she will take it up properly at some stage. I started her when she was five; she liked it but didn’t end up sticking with it, I taught at her school and she did quite well, she is very flexible.” Cynthia was in the UK to visit the martial arts show and work on a new film called “Friday’s Child”. Cynthia is the star of the film and was actually born on a Friday but I don’t think her character in this British Horror by Dean Meadows will be as loving as she is. Apparently there is a massive and brutal fight scene at the end that will really please movie and martial art fans, described as some classic Rothrock. Cynthia’s last film was 2003 so this is very exciting news.

Street W I Predict A Riot!

The Meaningful Violence of Gangs. To be better equipped to combat gangs & riots it is vital you understand them. Gangs seem to have an almost ‘romantic’ persona, popular with Hollywood movies, national television, games consoles & with legends such as Robin Hood it’s fair to say that most of us have had a level of interest at some point. Criminality & Social Order is an immense subject, with gangs being only one part of that. Even so the reasons why gangs exist and what they do is itself a lengthy subject. A gang fills a gap in the lifestyle of some of today’s youth. Changes in society have brought about a less cohesive community than many of us saw when we were young. Groupings within society such as families and community organisations, even the community itself seem to be less effective or not as appealing to children. There can be many reasons for this. A major factor is the desensitization of violence & crime. Quite simply - we seem fascinated by it and society seems to be very accepting of passing this on to our children by way of the gratuitous violence/crime on their LCD or Plasma screens. With traditional groups within society breaking down, the basic human need to belong still exists within oneself. This goes to the very core of why gangs exist. There is a serious loss of identity among some of our

children. This of course gives rise to no sense of purpose, frustration & anger. It is of no surprise perhaps that a breakdown of structures within groups such as family, education and community seem to be clustered in certain areas. These same areas then have a core number of disillusioned youth with no belonging. A gang fills this void within a person. In many ways becomes a substitute family. Immediately a sense of belonging is within oneself, a sense of purpose even if it is crime. For the new gang member, their feelings toward the state and the law will be immaterial. With a severe lack of personal responsibility they will blame everyone but themselves. Whilst one is a member of gang, an intense feeling of loyalty develops. Quite often this is through highadrenaline activities, which in itself will bring people who share those events even closer. To feed their sense of belonging, Gangs will lay claim to areas, sometimes viciously defending their ‘territory’. This violence serves many purposes. As can be saw it brings the gang closer together. Yet it will also be a protective shield to them, both within the community of law-abiding citizens, through fear and from other gangs. All this of course provides

identity to them. And strangely they will feel personal responsibility to the gang, yet not to society. All of these points are essential if you are to understand the way they work. It may seem to society that they embark on the most mindless acts of violence & crime. For sure without exception this is true. Not to them though. Everything they do is for a reason. Often they won’t be able to explain it properly themselves. The mindset is quite natural after a time. Actions are sub-conscious often. The recent riots in England are a prime example. Yes it was pure criminal activity. Terrible violence inflicted upon people and society. There is no excuse. However the keys to your survival with gangs and these kinds of situations are knowing how they think and work. A gang (people who gather on an ongoing basis to commit crime) are in many ways different from any other group who happen to be committing a crime. Gang members know they have one another there to automatically back them up, which enables them to feel much more secure in acting out their part. Gangs also have their fear reputation. Reputation is a funny thing in some ways. Once one has it they feel compelled to carry on being the way

ars they are expected. Once a gang is in a situation invariably they will be compelled to act in a way that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for ones benefit. Although structure does exist within gangs it is important they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to be weak. Whilst the riots were indeed criminal something else was going on.

Reputation among gangs: This would have been a major reason to them with gangs wanting to showcase themselves as the most dangerous to one another. This made the riots so much more dangerous. And to the gangs to appear the most threatening they have to act the most threatening. In a riot situation the more crazy crimes they do the better it is for the gangs. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair to suggest that the recent riots had many opportunistic people involved. Many with previous criminal backgrounds and of those, a number of gangs as well. The usually lawabiding person whom is stealing a mobile phone or some doughnuts may not pose a real threat to others. There will be many in a riot though that are clearly dangerous.

By Wayne Harrison

goods stolen and property damaged as human life is worth much, much more. What we are dealing with, in this situation is gangs’, quite comfortably ramping up their violence level and decent people not being ready for this. It must be assumed that potentially every person involved in rioting may become very hostile to others. There really is no point in putting yourself in danger for the sake of property.

What if you are caught up in a riot? Obvious the ideal situation is to not be there in the first place but should you be unfortunate however, there are a few things that might help, all centring on not being noticed... It is vital that decent people realise something. As can be saw law & order can break down very rapidly. However our conditioning to automatically expect things within society may still linger within us. This is where there is clear danger. I was aged around ten or eleven when I first saw a large-scale riot in Northern Ireland. Someone had got critically injured by a police plastic bullet, and my home town went crazy. Even so many of the families whom had stayed to watch the band parades still stayed on to watch the looting & riots. The speed with which things happen can be very fast and almost hypnotic. I saw on TV many ordinary folks also watching the recent riots in England. Similar things have been known to happen in the cases of serious assaults, people standing transfixed.

So many people running about it would be difficult if not impossible to know which of the mob would decide to attack you on the way past. If you can see the police, run toward them, even if it means going through the ‘front lines’ of the criminals. Cover your head with your arms, in case of missiles. Even though the police are the prime target, you are safer with them. Once with them, the duty of care to the public will mean they’ll look after you.

The problem with this is that you have no real idea of what level the people around you are prepared to break the law. Gang members who so easily ‘raise the bar’ every single day to commit terrible crimes will so quickly raise it even further if they feel the police are unable to do anything. In the mindset of the rioting mob if you are not with them you are against them. With gang members you are as much a valid target as any shop.

If there are no police it’s vital you fit in as much as possible. Don’t walk, run also. Ditch your handbag or briefcase, anything that looks valuable from the outside. If groups of rioters are coming up behind you get into a shop if you are able. Yes they are looking to get into shops also and this is the point. If it is a choice between attacking you on the way past in the street (since there is no other target) or seeing you in a shop filled with lovely ‘goodies’, take the shop option. Stay away from cash areas, and the office/storerooms. These places will be areas of interest to criminals. However tempting, don’t stay in the shop but keep moving, preferably not in the direction of the criminals, unless of course you know the police are there also.

Quite understandably communities may feel obligated to take on some form of protective role if they see police resources stretched. Great care must be taken with this as we saw, more harm was done once this did happen recently in England compared to all the

If you are able to get into a vehicle make sure it is able to drive away immediately. Don’t just sit in the vehicle even with the doors locked. The vehicle is a valuable target itself to be burnt out. If you sit in the vehicle naturally scared once the

criminals get into the car (and they will if it is stationary) the risk to you is greater. If the car can drive then it must be drove. Of course road safety laws exist and I can’t even suggest that you place anyone in danger. However once in that vehicle it must move! There is no other way to say it, but you will have made yourself a great target in a stationary car, targeted by potentially very dangerous people. That must be balanced up among all other things.

Gang Members: Gang members have a great loyalty to one another. Many do not care for the law. What this means is that when their ‘blood lust’ is high they will simply not care about consequences. Defusing an attack by negotiating skills has little chance of working. The ‘soft skills’ would have been a waste of time in any gang I was in, or any gang I’ve personally known about. What we have is a mix of standard ‘mob pack instinct’, violent criminals who know they can rely on each other. Who will try to out-perform one another for reputation, not to mention try to enhance the gangs reputation/ fear by being more vicious, law & order broke down, and a perception from the gangs that the police are overwhelmed? It is a very dangerous mix. As the nation now knows, I don’t wish to seem too negative, but this must be fully realised. If the ‘soft skills won’t work and it has been impossible to avoid being there, you are left with the ‘hard skills’, physical techniques. In many ways it’s not important what techniques you use. It’s how you carry out your actions that are important. To an extent folks either disagree or agree with the above. I only go with what I’ve directly experienced. In thirteen years of being in gangs, being shot at, stabbed, attacked by punishment teams, attempted abductions, etc, it wasn’t techniques themselves that saved me. It was the aggressive attitude I showed. As much as anything it is a huge psychological boost to you and a negative one to your attackers. Some may very well waver if you are able to meet or better still exceed their aggressiveness.

The gangs and indeed criminals in general do what they do because they feel they can. This is very important. It is their mindset that is their most important weapon. However mindset can be changed quite quickly. The gang will seek to overwhelm you with terror by showing how crazy they are. In your own personal training try to merge the same level of aggressiveness, I’m not talking about going blind with rage. Instead bring that primeval power from inside you, and deliver it in your physical techniques. Remember the context that you would be enacting this for real, the most extreme situation with the highest prize - your safety! Use visualization just prior to your techniques. Feel the adrenal response. And with a maniac scream let rip with two or three of your best techniques. Drill constantly like this, perhaps getting used to picking up something to use as a weapon, incrementally adding more outside stimuli as time goes on, more obstacles or people, anything that will add pressure. The idea behind this is that many join gangs and feel strength in numbers. However this strength is a false one and is in fact the bully mentality. The gang’s courage isn’t real. You want to let it be seen that you will do whatever it takes to not be the only one falling to the ground. This can create hesitation in some. And anyhow, you have immediately conditioned yourself to do exactly what needs to be done there and then. You are prepared a little more internally. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you will rise to the occasion. It’s vitally important your training matches the arena it is meant to. Naturally this will be incremental on your personal training path. All combat training does not fit all combat arenas. The reason is clear. The way your training is delivered, and therefore experienced will have a direct impact on what way it will be performed in the most extreme conditions. To match intense violence and aggression you must show the same.

Stay Safe.

Wayne Harrison is the founder of Civilian Personal Protection. A multipurpose system focusing on teaching the criminal mindset and how to create your own appropriate mental conditioning. Wayne is available to offer consultation on criminal tactics & ideology. CPP regularly run courses on combating criminal activities that have been witnessed first-hand, giving a highly valuable insight into crime.

Tel: 07516104689 www.combatingcrime.wordpress.com www.civilianpersonalprotection.co.uk

Martial Boot Camp 2011 By Cris Janson-Piers. Photography by Janson-Piers Imaging Satori martial arts of Lincoln, run by the well know figurehead Jez Hall, held their 1st boot camp in August. It consisted of various exercises and technical work delivered by world class instructors. The programme ran from a Friday evening until Sunday afternoon and the setting was in private wood owned by the Wilkinson brothers of Lincoln which provided the idyllic setting for what proved to be a tough but enjoyable weekend. The participants stayed on site in tents to help generate the atmosphere the organisers were looking for. The food, supplied by Jude Wilkinson, was excellent and especially picked to deliver the energy sources required for the arduous task ahead! Total Fitness of Lincoln also helped the athletes by supplying all the refreshments. The aim of the weekend was to take the martial artists out of their comfort zone and try some old school training and exchange ideas to expose them to different ways of thinking, training and of course have some fun along the way!

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Friday saw the participants arriving to set up camp for the weekend, introductions made and new friendships forged over the campfire and coffee after the evening meal.

Saturday morning started with a 2.5 mile steady run through fields and woodlands followed up by 2.5 miles ran at speed. After a short rest a much needed breakfast was served. Following on from this the 1st technical session of the weekend was taken by Master Kerry-Louise who provided an outstanding K1 seminar leading the students through some impressive reflex drills challenging them to think and react instinctively. Kerry gave everyone on the course some fantastic insights and inspiration. After a tough morning an interesting diversion in the form of Tom Wilkinson’s banger race provided a hysterical blend of off road driving and dilapidated cars! A cleverly placed event, to see if the students would lose their focus, of which they would require for the next gruelling session. After lunch it was to work “caveman style”! Bag work, sit ups and the now infamous ROCK STEP UP a gruelling series of step ups, up and down on a natural rock ledge with Jordan Waring and Matt Spring competitively pushing each other to the limit! After

this followed a cool down exercise with a few lengths of the outdoor pool and a well earned rest. After the evening meal had settled it was time for some sparring. This was a time to show off some of the skills the students had learnt so far. KerryLouise and some of her fighters provided us with a masterful display of K1 techniques while everyone else warmed up. This gave students from different clubs a chance to spar with people and styles that they were not familiar with. Not been able to resist Tom Wilkinson just had to have a go and was skilfully and safely taken around by the ring by Jordan Waring who was incidentally voted ‘top participant’ of the weekend for his outstanding efforts. The evening ended with another campfire and some relaxing banter. Sunday everyone was awoken early again, this time for a bleep test before breakfast, one of the areas some were not looking forward too

at all, but with the majority doing really well at it. Following a short rest it was back into the ring for a boxing master class taught by former 3x world champion kick boxer and professional heavy weight boxer Lee Swaby. Lee worked in with the students and made them all feel real special and also took time to sit and chat with them after about his personal achievements. A short rest, with time to take some more water on board then saw the team with their noses to the grindstone with more bag work, abdominal drills followed by a good stretch and short massage to finish. This 1st summer camp was organised by Satori in conjunction with the BFKKO and was a resounding success. We would like to thank Kerry-Louise, the President of the

BFKKO for her unfailing support and to the students involved who gave 100% throughout the event. Not forgetting Dean Robinson for organising, liaising and putting the whole thing together. A great success, so much so that next year there will be a specialised children’s course. The dates for next year’s camp have been released already, they are: Children’s 7/8th July 2012 and the Adults follow on 13-15th July.

Bournemouth Kanku Shotokan Club attends

1st SKDUN European Karate Championship

At the end of a training session earlier this year Sensei Gerry Breeze made an announcement with regard to the SKDUN European Championship taking place in Hungary. He would have to go in place of Sensei Colin Putt who was recovering from an operation. I, Richard Benett for one, was instantly interested but by the time my son Tom and I got home I’d put the idea aside as it seemed totally impractical and unrealistic. However Tom’s good performance at Legends and my disappointment at not being able to do more because of injury, caused me to change my mind. I called Sensei Breeze on Wednesday night, he arranged everything with Sensei Aurel Patru, the President of SKDUN, and it was “game on”! I went to Tom’s school the next day to explain our planned expedition and was given their whole-hearted approval to take him out of school to represent our country.

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At 4.30am Friday morning we set off for Luton Airport for the flight to Budapest. After landing we got the bus to Terminal 2 to meet up with Sensei, and then joined other competitors on the coach to the beautiful city of Eger, a renowned thermal spa resort in Hungary. On arrival we were met by the SKDUN officials who showed us round and made us feel very welcome. Our accommodation was at the Hotel Eger, very comfortable and just a short walk to the Kemeny Ferenc Sports Hall where the tournament was being held. We had an early

night so that we could be at the sports hall for 8.30am the next day. It was the usual struggle getting Tom up in the morning, but we made it in time for breakfast then on to the sports hall. The place was milling with contestants and spectators, with very large contingents from Romania and Hungary. The atmosphere was electric! The Kata competitions took place first with Veterans Male 40 yrs + being the first to go. I was the first called up for Bassai Dai. I got through to the next round, last 8, and did Empi but couldn’t progress any further. The standard was very good. I also took part in the Senior Men’s Kata 21-39 yrs, doing Jion, but got no further than the first round. Tom went later in the morning in the Cadets Boys 9th-7th Kyu 14-16 yrs. He performed Heian Shodan but sadly made no further progress. After lunch all the national teams lined up and the various local and international officials and representatives were introduced. Sensei Patru made a special tribute to Sensei Gerry Breeze explaining the history of SKDUN and Sensei Breeze’s guiding influence and huge contribution to the association as a founder, Technical Director and Board member. Sensei Breeze was presented with an award by the

Head of the Hungarian Armed Forces Close Combat Group. We were then treated to a fantastic drumming display by a Hungarian troupe in national costume followed by battlefield CQB by the Hungarian Armed Forces Close Combat Group. The Kumite competition began straight after. Again the Veterans went first. Despite my best efforts I was beaten in the semi-final and had to be content with a 3rd place Bronze medal. Tom, although displaying great fighting spirit, was less fortunate and was disqualified for excessive contact. I was tempted to take part in the Senior Men’s Kumite, but was advised to “guard against impetuous courage” by Sensei, so made my apologies to the judges and withdrew. Sensei Gerry was kept very busy throughout the day, advising and correcting whenever necessary on technical issues.

At the end of the first day we headed back to the hotel, bruised but not battered. Tom and I drowned our sorrows later that night and enjoyed a meal at, yes, you guessed it, McDonald’s!

Later, Tom and I took advantage of the hotel facilities and spent the afternoon relaxing in the pool and spa. We had dinner with Sensei later that evening at the hotel and reminisced over the last 2 days.

The next day was more relaxed for Tom and me, as we were spectators. However Sensei Gerry Breeze was still involved as Technical Director. All the Team finals took place in the morning and again the standard was very high, with most of the events won by the Romanians and Hungarians. Italy had a big team and they did well in the Katas. Georgia had a very good Men’s kumite team which won Bronze and impressed with their speed, technique and spirit.

It had to be an early night again as we were being picked up at 4.00am to take us back to the airport. So after a bleary-eyed start we flew back to England and made our way back to Bournemouth.

The event ended earlier than expected. So after all the formalities and our goodbyes to officials, competitors and new friends, we had time for lunch with Sense Gerryi in Dobo square and a little bit of sightseeing.

OSS!!

All in all it was a brilliant weekend away where many lessons were learnt, new friends made and an insight gained into a beautiful and culturally rich country. And to top it all we didn’t come back empty-handed!

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Standing on own two feet

Enter Teuk Gong Moo Sool (Part 2) Stances are a not only a part of martial arts, but of everyday life. You could even say a part of nature. Stability is needed for plant life, animals and human beings. Lack of it can spell disaster. For the martial artist, stances provide balance, leverage, stability, and another method of generating power. Practitioners of Teuk Gong Moo Sool are no different. What follows is the evolution of GM Park’s decades of martial arts experience, in this case, practical stance training. First each stance will be explained with attention paid to the “why”. Next the poomsae (pattern) will be detailed. 1. Moh-ah-seo-gi Jah-sae: The “Attention” stance symbolizes the energy from the sky and the ground. To perform it, first you perform a high X-block, then you bring your hands together in a Chinese bow, then pull the hands down low in front of the of the body. (See A1 – A5)

2. Gong-gyuk Jah-sae: This unique position means basically to “Attack.” It’s an offensive posture with the body balanced equally between both legs and sunk low to the ground. In addition the torso is leaned forward to enable one to explode forward at a seconds notice. This way you can scatter (or interrupt) your attacker’s power. It resembles a lunge in fencing when employed versus an aggressor. The lead hand is extended to protect the heart, while the rear is protecting the navel region. (See B1 – B3)

3. Bang-uh Jah-sae: In many ways it resembles the Attack position. The “Defence” posture is utilized to receive an attack as it moves backward and can easily be moved into after the Attack stance is employed. Counterattacks are easily used, many times without even a single block released. (See C1 – C4)

4. Pyoung Jah-sae: The “Basic“stance or “Balanced” stance, as it is more aptly called, in many ways resembles the archetypical horse stance most of us grew up with. The knees tend to pulled in rather than pushed out. Another difference is that while the 2nd and 3rd stance move forward and backward, this is designed to smoothly move from left to right. (See D1 – D5)

your

By Master Guy Edward Larke

5. Ahp-goo-bee Jah-see: This “Forward” stance once again requires the individual to lean forward as the feet are fixed firmly to the ground to provide stability for strong blocking techniques and counter attacks. Many times this employed with knife hand blocks. (See E1 – E3)

6. Kyoh-cha Jah-sae: The “Cross” stance uses a triangle like formation with the lower torso. Again the body weight is low while it is evenly distributed on both sides. It is like a small tree that has been transplanted, when small sticks are employed to give it strength. The upper hand blocks and grabs the offending limb as the lower (shoulder, elbow, knife hand, and hammer fist) pierces the enemy’s defences. (See F1 – F3)

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7. Dwee-goop-bee Jah-sae: The “Bending Back” stance might seem like a typical back stance, but it much more resembles a branch blown backwards by a strong wind. As one can guess it is defensive in nature. One sinks as low and as far back as possible to get gain maximum distance from one’s assailant. As you are bending backwards, it is far more feasible to spring back as if you were and elastic band snapping back into shape. (See G1 – G3)

8. Joo-choom-suh-gi Jah-sae: Literally, this translates to “Halfway Standing” or perhaps “Interrupt” may be more appropriate. It may be considered a tiger stance by some but GM Park purposely discarded as many animalistic references as possible as he saw them irrelevant for the 21st Century. It is used to interrupt an opponent’s attack to catch them off guard. It’s very easy to perform a defensive move from this posture. One could raise the lead leg to block kicks with the bottom of the foot and follow through with a kick of one’s own with the same leg. (See H1 – H3)

9. Han-bahl Suh-gi Jah-sae: “The One Foot Standing” position appears to resemble the crane stance. It is rare where it is 100% defensive. (See I1 – I5) 92 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

reverse punch being employed. This is reversed to the right side. (HH1 – HH2) Then you move to the front and go into a one leg standing position with the right leg raised and high and low blocks performed. Quickly repeat on the other side.(II1 – II3) Turn to the left and look downward as you block outwards with your left arm and punch at an imaginary assailant on the ground. Repeat to the right. (JJ1 – JJ3) Finish with the attention stance and salute. (KK1 – KK2)

10. Bahn Moo-ryup Jah-sae: This last stance translates to “Halfway Kneeling Standing.” A more appropriate name may simply be “Kneeling” stance. It is performed versus an attack from a prone opponent. This allows you to defend and attack simultaneously. (See J1 – J2)

Ki-bon Jah-sae Hyung (Basic Stance Pattern): First you start at attention. (AA1 – AA2) Then you go forward to attack. (BB1) Following that you step back into the defence position. (CC1) Then you move to the front and perform a wide circular high block with your right arm followed by a lunging punch. After, repeat the same motion with a left block and right punch. (DD1 – DD6) Next you step to the right and perform an angular knife hand strike and palm strike while moving into a forward stance. Repeat to the opposite direction. (EE1 – EE6) The next step is a cross stance done to the right with a knife hand strike aimed at the throat. After, repeat the actions to the left side. (FF1 – FF4) Then drop to the right into a bending back stance with the knife edges of the hands protecting the groin and the top of the skull, immediately springing to the other side afterwards. (GG1 – GG2) The next step is an interrupt stance to the left with a left hand face block and

The stance form is detailed on this periodical’s website. Other differences will be discussed in far more detail in a further issue. Anyone interested in learning more about this neoclassical military art can contact me or the association at http://www.tgms.or.kr. Master Guy Edward Larke has dedicated his life from a young age to the pursuit of the martial arts, Asian culture and hopology. It led him to Korea in 2000 and has lived there since then. He lives in Seongnam city with his wife Gi-Ryung and son Alexander. He holds black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Taekkyon, Bon Kuk Kumdo, Korean kickboxing, Karate-do, Wushu, Cheonji-muye-do, and various other arts. Currently he teaches Taekwondo, Karate and Cheonji-muye-do full time in addition to writing for various magazines and running Kisa-Do Muye & Marketing. He can be contacted at kisa_do_muye@yahoo.ca

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Federation of Traditional Martial Arts Unhappy with your current organisation? Want? Complete independance No politics Access to qualifications CRB checks Insurance Grading support

TEL: 01234 353865 Email: ftma@hotmail.co.uk www.ftma.org.uk FTM001/01

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What Does the WRSA offer you? • Insurance for Fighters, Instructors and Promoters So you are fully protected

• Regular Tournaments around the country.

Already 40 planned for 2009. See Website for details.

• Gradings with Specially designed certiﬁcates and badges. Each Belt Grade Certificate is Unique

• Courses for Judges and Referees.

The WRSA encorages experienced fighters and coaches to take our judges and referees course so they understand what judges are looking for

• Regular Meetings

Meetings so member can express their views of how the WRSA is being run. What they think is good and what they feel needs improving.

• Courses

First aid courses run by qualified instructors. Training courses for ring craft, weapons course, etc.

• The WRSA does not interfere with how you run your club.

It does not restrict you or your fighter as to which shows you fight on.

• The WRSA welcomes

Kickboxing Clubs, Thai boxing clubs, Kung Fu Clubs, Traditional Karate clubs.

For Further Information contact the WRSA or Steve Humphrey, Cressdene, Evesham Road, Offenham, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 8SA Tel: 01386 48452 Mobile: 07881 784839 Email: ukcba@lineone.net

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Grading at the highest level! By Luke Farmer 3rd Dan Blackbelt of the BFKKO/WFKKO I knew it was going to be hard. I knew I was ready for it. I knew that I had done the preparation but the question was, had I done enough and could I physically and mentally outlast a constantly intense, week-long 3rd Dan international grading with the Lanzarote sun burning down on me? I started martial arts 10 years ago, learning Freestyle Karate at the Falcon Fight Academy within the BFKKO under Cris Janson - Piers and Kerry Louise Norbury (WAKO PRO World Full Contact Kickboxing Champion), from this I started to learn kickboxing, kick-jutsu, grappling and K1 styles. It was finally time to grade for my 3rd Dan Black belt in Freestyle Karate and I had chosen to take it as part of the week long international grading in Lanzarote. This would be my third Dan grading within the BFKKO so I was well aware of what prepara-

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tion and practice was required for a grading back home. You have to be fit enough to not just finish the fitness examination part of the grading but even fitter to be able to endure the day’s physical exertion while maintaining composure and the technical proficiency required to pass. However to prepare for a week’s grading of 4 - 5 hours’ worth of training and examination per day I had to attack this grading from a completely different angle than before unlike anything that I had been through before in my martial arts career.

As this would be my first time going for the Lanzarote international grading, after putting the trip off for the past 2 years due to college exams, the only knowledge I really had to help me to prepare was that each day of the grading week, at the prestigious Club La Santa Lanzarote sports resort, would involve the 2 - 3 hours’ worth of the kickboxing and K1 Rules training course (Run by Cris Janson Piers and Kerry-Louise), at least an hour of solid group fitness session (devised by Kerry-Louise) and an hour’s worth of personal and daily examination. Training and practising my technical skills was the one similarity between this grading and the ones back home, I ensured that I consistently practised all the techniques on the 3 page syllabus and knew every basic technique and every combination back to front from memory in both my normal and opposite stances. Even though the technique practise was important I knew I had to put all the effort I could into fitness training because I not only had to endure the hard week but be fit enough to cope with the hot and intense Lanzarote climate especially at such high altitude. Being as fit as I could meant that it would be easier to remain composed during the grading assessment periods for longer, allowing me to put more effort into my grading and tiring less than I would if I wasn’t as fit. To improve my cardiovascular fitness I regularly completed

road runs at least twice a week building my furthest distance from 5km to 10km as well as the fitness training done at the Falcon Fight Academy 5 days a week. This also involved training alongside Kerry-Louise in dedicated fitness sessions that target plyometric, endurance, cardiovascular, core strength and conditioning components of fitness by circuit, interval and continuous training methods. These sessions ensured regular well rounded fitness preparation for this grading.

Arrival

I usually supplement my regular martial arts training with weight training and resistance training however I would also have to change this approach too in order to be as fit as possible while trying to lose weight in terms of body fat and increase my strength for the grading. By doing 2 - 3 weight training sessions per week, one being dedicated to large power and strength exercises such as deadlift and push press and the remaining sessions comprising of weight training exercise circuits that target different muscle groups. With the combination of weight training and all round fitness training I hoped that this would improve my fitness enough for the grading.

After the course sign up and briefing meeting the first one and a half hour session of the kickboxing course took place, covering all basic principles and techniques before moving on to more intermediate and advanced technical applications. Immediately following this was the first of the 1 hour Dan grading sessions, each of the 6 sessions would follow the full grading format however the final 3 sessions are when the actual assessments are completed, allowing time to get acclimatised to a grading performance in those the conditions

By the time the 4th of June rolled around to depart for Lanzarote no more training could have been done. I just hoped that I had done enough, whether I had or not I would only find out at the end of the intense week that was to follow.

After departing from Britain we landed in Lanzarote at around 9:00pm and managed to arrive at Club La Santa at around 10:00pm. After taking in the new amazing landscape and the surroundings of the resort I could already feel the warm Lanzarote air resting heavily on my chest. I knew that I needed to get as much rest as possible because it was all going to start tomorrow.

Day One

before being assessed. Today was page one of the syllabus; basic techniques and combinations, with the sun beating down it was hard catching my breath even on the basic techniques and I realised that remaining focused through every technique was the most important in getting me through every minute I had to work. After a few hours rest, the next lesson of kickboxing lesson took place in the evening, I was looking forward to the end of the day because I had just realised that for as much physical fatigue you feel in these conditions you also suffer from just as much, if not more mental fatigue.

Day Two Straight after breakfast 3 continuous hours of training was on hand, starting with a 5km run around the running track. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad to note that I prepared well for running because the temperature, the sun and the warm air take so much more out of you than I ever expected. During the whole run I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shake the feeling as though someone was constantly pressing down on

my chest and lungs. I was definitely correct in training my cardiovascular fitness, if I hadn’t I can’t imagine being able to complete the run, let alone the rest of the training today. After a few minutes rest to catch a breath the next session of the kickboxing course would begin. Even though the main instruction behind the course is technically and application based every one and a half hour session is an endurance challenge by itself. Straight after this was the final hour of the morning training which was the run through of the Dan grade combinations, as these are more complex and longer than the combinations done the previous day it is even harder on the lungs, learning how to control your breathing is hugely important out here. After that session I welcomed the rest to prepare for the evening course, as if I hadn’t had to do enough work today this last session was a fitness circuit.

Day Three The training started before breakfast at the crack of dawn in the Olympic pool where we completed 20 lengths (1km), I didn’t welcome the feeling of tiredness and heavy drained muscles before the day had even started but I had to press on because after breakfast the course resumed for another session leading right into the next Dan grading session that covered the final part of the syllabus, pad work. This was definitely the hardest of these sessions so far, but after it was done I knew that I was in the right frame of mind and had at least be-

come used to the climate and training condition to fully focus me for the first session of being assessed for my 3rd Dan the following day. Once again the evening course session capped off another gruelling day.

Day Four This day definitely looked like it was going to be the hardest of the week and that’s not because I admit to feeling anxious for the first day with a full grading assessment in the middle. After breakfast the fitness session required us to be on the running track for a suicidal sprinting session starting at 100m sprints and decreasing the distances down in 10m intervals down to 10m sprints. In the heat working at such high intensity your energy gets sapped fast and straight after the fitness session continued with a pad work combination circuit. This consisted of 12 stations around the running track where at each station 50 of the respective pad work combination had to be completed, finishing with the run around the track to the next station. Now it was getting tough just to conserve energy, after all I needed to because there was still the first of today’s course sessions and the grading session to get through before the few hours break. During the grading session I knew I had to put all I could into every movement, making sure that it hurt out of effort in an attempt to maximise my score as much as possible. After the evening session was finished all I could think was that there were only two more grading assessments to go.

Day Five It was back in the Olympic pool again for another 20 lengths worth of swimming before breakfast, I was amazed that I could do the same as I completed the other day after yesterday’s hard work. Today’s course sessions were back to back with the 3rd Dan combinations assessment between them, this assessment was hard because I knew that I could do the techniques but if I didn’t focus fully any mistake could be a big mistake and there was no way I was going to let that happen. After going through the combinations and in both stances my head was hurting and needed the rest. Once the last kickboxing session was over for the day in the early afternoon all I needed to think was that I had the rest of the day to relax and calm me down and that I had only one day left to go.

Day Six On this last day the last grading assessment took place straight after breakfast and it was pad work. I was definitely relieved it was in the morning and not in the midday heat. As it was the last session there was nothing else for it but to dig in and give all my focus and effort, it would be the worst thing to happen to lose focus and lose marks and potentially fail on the last session on the last day, after all the effort that has been put into this week. Once that session was over it was over for good and a huge load had been lifted off of my shoulders, all that was needed to do is finish the last 2 hour course session and the grading would be complete. When it was done I still had no idea if I had passed or failed but I knew I had put the effort in and felt proud that I had done it whatever the outcome. I must also say that I believe my diet and nutrition played a big part in me coping with all the adverse conditions surrounding my grading. I supplemented using Allsports International products such as “Best Thing”, “Only Whey” Protein Powder and “Sr3” an energy boosting drink. Not only did they help me through my training but easily as important with my recovery!

The Result That night at the grading presentation I was presented with my 3rd Dan in Freestyle Karate (and my senior 98 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

Dan Grade) and I accomplished it by earning my first ever first class pass in my martial arts career. It seems that being pushed harder than ever before in these fantastic surroundings and the punishing climate brought out my best result. I feel forever proud for myself and ultimately happy that I had made the decision to come out to Lanzarote for this great test of the international grading because I know I have earned it through every

drop of sweat shed, every punch and kick thrown since starting martial arts preparing me for this past week and now I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for the next one to roll around. I implore anyone who wants to have the test to prove that

they have truly earned their next grade (any grade, yellow belt to black belt, and any style) or if they want to be pushed to the next step to take up the Lanzarote course/grading challenge because it will be something they will never forget nor regret.

Darren Shah l An exclusive Interview By Mark Iles

He has starred alongside some of the biggest names on the Hong Kong Kung Fu Scene. So how did this quiet boy from Stockport end up playing the lead bad guy role in some of the best Martial Arts Films to come out of the far east? Darren you were up in Stockport, Manchester, and started your martial arts training at the age of seven by studying Judo in an old theatre and then Karate under Dave Morris and Horace Harvey. From there you went onto Kick Boxing and Muay Thai with Ronnie Green and Master Toddy. What is it that you love about the martial arts? Amongst many things it’s just the confidence that martial arts gives you as a kid. I was a very shy child and, as I developed both this confidence and my physical abilities, I found it a way to channel all that extra energy. I actually felt that I was rapidly improving in something, which was cool. School work is one thing when you’re a boy but you really do need something physical to occupy your time. I also believe that martial arts provides a sense of discipline from someone other than your parents, such as through a sensei or sifu, to help guide you through life. Not only is this good but it’s also very healthy, it teaches you respect for other people.

Your love of these fighting arts led you to the cinema and to the plethora of kung fu films, such as those made by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. What made you decide to actually become an actor? Did you undertake any formal training, or did you find yourself drawn into the industry and is this something you’ve always wanted to do? Once I started watching movies, such as those made by Bruce Lee, it brought me much closer to my dreams. Martial arts is a key to having a good and healthy lifestyle, as well as making you physically fit and confident. When I started judo, as a kid of seven or eight years old, our classes took place in an old drama theatre at a school. Sometimes we would get there early and I would see the actors rehearsing their plays. So I developed a love for acting at the same time that I discovered martial arts really. Then I started doing theatre at school, so I come from a theatre background. For just as far back as I can remember I’ve always wanted to be an actor, although not necessarily on stage. I remember seeing star wars and that vision of Hans Solo running through a space station with a blaster in

his hands is something that has always stuck with me; and it’s the same with Bruce Lee. Acting in these movies gives me the chance to combine the two, martial arts and action parts.

What made you move to Malaysia, where you started work as a stuntman, before moving to Hong Kong where you also found work as a doorman and then bodyguard to celebrities? The first real actor that I ever met was actually Donnie Yen twenty years ago. I went to a seminar of his down in London. I’d borrowed some money off my mum and got on the train at Stockport then travelled down and took part in this seminar that Donnie was doing, teaching Hong Kong style film making to kids such as myself. I remember thinking at the time that I really want to be in a movie with this guy. I like Van Damme and his kicking ability but Donnie was so fast and precise that I knew that I could definitely learn something from him. I went to several other seminars, including one from Cynthia Rothrock and another with Mark Houghton. Then I got a call from Bey Logan, who I knew at the time, and

lavi he said that he was going to be producing a film with Mark in Malaysia. Bey was writing the script and I was going to be the star in the film. He told me to borrow some money off my dad and get myself out there and we’d shoot the movie. So I did but unfortunately the film didn’t happen. They didn’t have any finance in place and I was understandably upset about that. Fortunately for me Mark Houghton was working as a fighter out there and he got me some work. So I got a good background in fight choreography through working for Mark in Malaysia. I then went off to Hong Kong and supplemented my income by working as a doorman, although I didn’t really look old enough to be doing that. I was only twenty at the time but I’d already sent all my stuff off to the film companies. Then, one day, I got a call from Yuen Woo Ping’s producer saying they wanted to meet me. I met with Yuen Woo Ping and showed him some kicks and

‘Fist Of Legend’, ‘Win Chun’, ‘Tai Chi Master’; and we all know that Yuen Woo Ping went on to make ‘Kill Bill’, the ‘Matrix’ movies and then ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’; all of which are wonderful films. So this was a time when I knew that I was working for someone who would make me look great and it was a very good entry into the film business. Yuen woo Ping is the guy who gave me my first lead role, so I owe him a lot. I actually met him again a couple of months ago at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, where Ip Man 2 was playing and he was being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. We had dinner and we discussed working together in the future. He’d actually recommended me for ‘Ip Man 2’, which was really nice of him. It’s been fifteen years since I did ‘Tai Chi Boxer’ and here he is recommending me for ‘Ip Man 2’ all these years later. It really was quite a thrill. So I’m eternally grateful to him for taking a big chance on me and giving me that first lead role.

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Well, it’s not easy building a career as an actor. I actually took a couple of years off acting to do stunts, so that I wouldn’t have to do movies just for the money and during that time I got to work on ‘300’. I was on the stunt team of that film for three months. I saw the way that Gerard Butler worked and he really impressed me. Here’s a man who was training hard every day, all day. That was a really important role that broke him out big time into main stream. As far as his performance goes he was terrific and he really worked hard on that movie. Eddie Murphy is another guy who was very generous. When I was working with him he suggested that I come up with more dialogue and threw some insults my way, so that I had to come up with some stuff to respond to him. Over the years I’ve had the chance to work with some people who’ve had a reputation for being difficult and for some reason they’ve all been absolutely wonderful with me. Then of course there’s Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen. Donnie really transforms the character of Ip Man. He was only drinking one protein shake a day and he really changed physically for the role and gave a very understated, internalised performance. He’s grown tremendously as an actor and quite rightly so. He’s now widely recognised as a martial arts star as well as a movie star. One thing that I appreciate about Sammo Hung’s performances is that in every film he plays a com-

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he hired me as the main bad guy in ‘Tai Chi Boxer’. After ‘Tai Chi Boxer’ came out I got a call from Tony Leung, who’s the director of the seasonal films like the ‘No Retreat No Surrender’ movies. This was around midnight. He said he’d just seen ‘Tai Chi Boxer’ and would I come and meet with him. They asked me the same thing, could I show them some kicks. Then they asked how much money I wanted to play the main bad guy opposite Gary Daniels in a movie and we made a deal on the spot. This was a pretty nice, swift entry into films. It was terrific doing ‘Tai Chi 2’, or ‘Tai Chi Boxer’ as it’s known in England. I was well aware that Yuen Woo Ping is one of the masters of the industry, one of the great film makers. He did ‘Drunken Master’ and ‘Snake In The Eagles Shadow’; which are iconic films and the movies that started Jackie Chan’s career. Then

You’ve worked in the horror films ‘Legion Of The Dead’ and ‘Beyond Limits’, worked as a stuntman in ‘The Chronicles of Riddick’ (Vin Diesel) and ‘Night At The Museum’ (Ben Stiller, Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams) and were also the stunt double for Ray Liotta in ‘A Dungeon Siege Tale’; so you’ve met and worked with some of today’s movie legends. Of all the many stars around today who do you most admire and why?

you can make a lot of money doing stunts for a little while

pletely different character. Just take a look at some of his old films; he varies everything from his hair style to different ways of fighting. He’s a terrific actor and quite under rated really. Most people see him as this incredible martial arts performer, choreographer and director. But he’s actually a terrific writer, producer and comedian too. All these people have been really wonderful to me.

I’ve watched ‘Ip Man 2’ several times now. I have to say that the film is absolutely stunning and that you play a tremendous part. How did you land the role of Taylor “Twister” Milos and how did you feel when you finally found out that the part was yours? Well, I went through a divorce that hurt me a lot personally and it was a tough thing to go through. I wasn’t happy with the work that I was getting in American roles. I was only getting small parts and they didn’t really leave much room for creativity. So I took two years off and worked for friends of mine who were stunt coordinators. They kept saying, ‘look you can make a lot of money doing stunts for a little while’, so I decided just to do that: but only so that I could afford to be more choosey about the acting parts that I took afterwards. I contacted a friend of mine that I had kept in contact with for a long time, Mike Leader, in Hong Kong. He’s involved in producing and casting staff so I said, ‘Mike listen, I really want to come back out to Asia and do something. I’ve missed the hard work, so keep your eyes open for me’. Mike did as I asked and kept a look out for stuff that would be suitable and I started putting myself out there again.

I’d been working out and watching the films that Wilson Yip had been doing with Donnie Yen in ‘Shar Po Lang’, ‘Dragon Tiger Gate’ and ‘Flash Point’. I had gone down to China Town and picked up a copy of ‘Ip Man’, because I’d heard so many good things about it. I was on my way down to my local gym with the film and a portable DVD player, to work out on the elliptical machine while I watched it, when I got a phone call from Mike Leader saying that he’d been hired to do casting to find someone to play the main bad guy for ‘Ip man 2’. I remember telling him that he wouldn’t believe it but I was on my way to gym with my DVD player and actually had a copy of ‘Ip Man’ in my bag. Mike told me to go and watch it, then call him back and let him know what I thought. So I watched it and two hours later, when I was back home, I gave him a call and said, “Whatever it takes, get me in this film!” It was the perfect movie for me to come back to Asia and take part in. The director and Sammo had seen my reel and knew me from ‘Tai Chi Boxer’ and also from ‘I Spy’, where I play a boxer with Eddie Murphy. They were a bit concerned that I looked a bit too modern to play an English boxer from the 1950’s. So Mike asked if I could possibly take some pictures where I look like a boxer from that period. So I hung up a bed sheet in my living room and took some photos with my hair slicked to one side. Then I used Photoshop to change the colour to sepia. The director loved the pictures and hired me immediately. So over all it was a gamble. They didn’t meet me or anything but they knew my work. I spoke to Wilson about it and he said that he’d seen the photos that I’d sent and knew that I was committed to the project; that I was perfect for it and that was why he hired me.

I flew out there to ask if I was right handed, because he’d seen me in some fight scenes before and had noticed that I was a south paw. I told him that the reason that I’m a southpaw is that I watched Bruce Lee in ‘Enter The Dragon’ when he was fighting you and you guys are southpaws in that scene. I’d copied Bruce Lee when I was a kid and became a southpaw myself. So I was really working with an idol of mine. I had a signed picture of Donnie Yen on my bedroom wall that I got twenty years or so ago, when he signed a poster of ‘In The Line Of Duty 4’ I think it was. So, it’s amazing that I had this photo on my wall all those years ago and now here I was. It was an amazing trip to be working with Sammo, Donnie and Wilson Ip. That movie has really inspired me to get working back in Asia again.

Twister comes over with a menace that’s truly gripping and contrasts brilliantly with Donnie Yen’s calm portrayal of Ip Man. Having been drawn to the cinema to watch Bruce Lee’s many movies how did it feel to be playing a part in a film about Bruce’s teacher?

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The first time that I met Donnie was at that seminar he did all those years ago. I didn’t want to show him a picture of me when I was just a teenager, as I had to fight him and be this really imposing bad guy. Afterwards I showed him a picture of us together that had been taken at the seminar. So we got on immediately. I first met Sammo when I got out there and we did a couple of days first rehearsal. He was just wonderful and very warm. I told him that I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t know who Sammo hung was. He’d sent a message to me before

Well that’s a great question, thanks for asking that. I did the press tour in china. They flew me out to Beijing for the films world premier with Sammo, Donnie and Wilson. We did five major cities and press conferences. The Chinese press asked what it meant to me to be working in this movie. I said that I’m not just an English actor who had been flown over there to work on a movie, I’m actually a really big fan of martial arts and it’s because of Bruce Lee that I’m an actor. It’s thanks to Ip Man and his mentorship of Bruce Lee and the consequent impact on the world of martial arts, health and fitness - not to mention film making - that I’m here today. So if it wasn’t for Ip Man and his influence on Bruce Lee and then Bruce’s influence on me and so many millions of others I just wouldn’t have the life that I have now or be where I am. I personally owe a lot to Ip Man in this kind of indirect way. Playing a part in this movie, to contribute by being able to play such a character, is a very nice full circle for me. Being here because of Ip Man himself and Bruce Lee is such a fitting tribute for me that I feel extremely good about it. I’ve gotten so much from Ip Man, Bruce Lee and this epic story. The way this movie’s impacted on, and changed, my personal life is very gratifying

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You star alongside Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung. As a serious martial artist it must have been an absolute delight to work with such legends. When did you first meet them and how did these meetings go?

I learned an awful lot from simply watching movies

Did you get to train in many martial arts schools in Hong Kong? If so where and in which styles? No, my training came from my instructors in Judo; then Dave Morris, Horace Harvey and Ronnie Green. I learned a lot of stuff from watching movies. Every time I got to somebody’s house, or friends, of mine I borrow movies; in particular martial arts movies. I watch everything that I can get my hands on. I study and then rewind them. I play them in slow motion and then pause

them. I watch the choreography, how the bad guys react and all that kind of stuff. So I learned an awful lot from simply watching movies. Likewise when I started to work for action directors and did the seminars with Donnie Yen, Cynthia Rothrock and Mark Houghton. I learned from everybody, learning really what we call motion picture fighting.

There’s a certain magic about Hong Kong, particularly for martial artists. Can you ever see yourself living there? Do you prefer to live back home in the UK, or is there somewhere else that you feel drawn to? I love LA and I love England; and of course I’m always at home when I get back to Manchester. I love it. I’ve got all my family and friends there. But I’ve got a place in Vancouver and also a place in LA, so it’s between the three. I lived in Hong Kong on and off for four years and it’s a nice place but I like to go over there to work, not really to live; or at least not right now, possibly some time in the future. I love LA and England. I love Vancouver because the latter is a mixture of the best of LA and the best of England.

You’ve filmed ‘Born To Raise Hell’ with Steven Seagal and also recently finished the film ‘Aladdin And The Curse Of The Djinn’. What other projects do you have in the pipeline that your fans can look forward to? Yes, ‘Born To Raise Hell’ is out on DVD now and ‘Aladdin And The Curse Of The Djinn’ is on scifi in May. I’ve done some guest roles in TV shows. I’ve done ‘Human Target’ and just did a movie called ‘Hanger 14’ with Steve Austin and Michael Jai White. I play an Italian

American gangster, which is nothing like I’ve ever played before. It’s a different kind of role. I’m currently looking at something with Warner brothers but I can’t say too much at this moment in time.

Darren, I have to say a huge thank you for this interview. We really look forward to the release of Ip Man 2 here in the UK on 7th March and I firmly believe that this film is going to be a massive hit. Not only would I recommend that people watch it for the historical, martial arts element and sheer entertainment value but I feel that your gritty portrayal of Twister will lead us to see much more of you in the years to come. Thank you.

Martial Arts Not what they used to be

Martial Arts is no longer what it used to be I mean in terms of numbers, I hear of many clubs closing through lack of membership. Some forms of Grappling are kicking the trends not the traditional style like Judo and Sambo but the relative new ones like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA. Some tell me Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ will soon take over Judo in the UK in being the most popular Jacket Wrestling Sport. I much prefer Judo and Sambo to BJJ but then I would say that, I have spent the last 55 years doing Judo and 35 years doing Sambo. Sometimes you have to move with the flow BJJ is very well organised with rules, syllabus and uniform and has a large World wide following. My main criticism is that there is no National Body representing the whole of the UK (to my knowledge any rate) I have for several years tried to get a BJJ section established at my DOJO in Sittingbourne, I have emailed several people but get no reply! I am not interested in running a BJJ club but want to offer my Dojo for rent as I know that my Sambo, Kurash, Judo clubs will benefit by having a BJJ section. So let hope sooner then later we get a National Body here is name for you BJJ UK or GB BJJ.

After complementing BJJ I can not say the same for MMA, this lot of rag a muffins start clubs up with no qualifications no experience. OK maybe I am to hard, some have credibility but not many, I have a name for it STREET WRESTLING, this where a group of youngster just chuck a couple of mats down and start rolling around the floor and all of sudden they are doing MMA what ever that means. I recently saw a MMA competition on YouTube what a mess, they were on some inferior mats the competitors looked like they had just come from the beach with those ridiculous shorts, the referee looked like some hippy from the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and the audience were all standing on the mat which had no demarcation area. I very much doubt if they had any insurance and totally ignored any health and safety issues but what was most frustrating was that the Wrestling itself was pretty good and enjoyable to watch.

There is light at the end of the tunnel FILA the International recognised Wrestling organisation has taken on board a lot of the more of the out landish grappling style such as Grappling- Pankration- Combat Wrestling Beach Wrestling - Belt Wrestling. The British section of FILA is the British Wrestling Association and they have formed FILA GRAPPLING which run by Paul Ivaenus and Oliver Ellif while FILA COMBAT which covers the rest of the Grappling Styles this is run by Andrew Brownbridge who is also President British Grappling Association with these guys in charge Grappling can be become main stream with some credibility but lets get away from the name MMA. Many years ago my club used to practise Freestyle Wrestling as I did myself, I also once organised a British Junior Wrestling Championships at Herne Bay, with the interest in Grappling I have decided to get the club to rejoin the BWA and get my members to learn how to do wrestling properly.

IBF Summer Camp 2011 Well August arrived and with it once again so did the Annual IBF Summer Camp, now in its 45th year! It was first started by Nobby Clarke 6th Dan Deceased using the old St Mary’s Bay Schools Journey Centre, Nobby ran the camp till 1988 when illness prevented him carrying on so his son Martin took over. The camp is still known as Nobby’s camp event even though Martin has run it for more years than his Father now. As the years moved on we saw massive improvements in the facilities and the equipment used, plus the camp expanded from a Judo programme to Martial Arts and Combat Disciplines. Sadly the interest in these courses has slowly died, at the height of Summer Camp in the late 1970’s Nobby would run for 4 weeks with two junior weeks and two Senior weeks over that period he would have 600 players not just from GB but from all over the world, this year we were down to one week and 18 course members. Some say it is time to throw in the towel but NO what we need to do is change the way we run the course and what we do.

The Martial Arts weekend will be for 11 years and above and Adults in fact we want to actively encourage juniors to attend, the grappling weekend will be more intense so the minimum age will be 15. The price will be kept low just £200 this will include all tuition fees, dormitory accommodation and breakfast and evening meal plus will give discount for block bookings. The Bash Night was once again held on the Thursday night, this is where Judoka, Kurash Wrestlers and Samboists come along and have a sparring session, and this is always a spectacular event with the Dojo being full of spectators. This event has been going for over 30 years,

not so many this year maybe it was because instead of being free they had to pay £5. As always you will get someone mention the fact it is a hard week, these are normally reminded of the time 30 years ago when two very fit Black Belt s turned up, trained for a day and during the night they packed there bags and left without telling anyone or the time a Belgium Jiu Jitsu club of about 15 booked in only to stay one night, they told us that they never expected to do actually contact and train hard. Allan Clarkin paid us a very nice compliment when he said that in

Colin Carrott Joe Blanco John Clarke

Laurence Sandum George Loscombe passed to 1st Dan Judo 108 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

his 40 years of attending courses he found this the friendliest and best value for money ever, a great indictment of what we are doing.

FILA Grappling (MMA)

As usual I would like to thank all the instructors and staff for there help in producing another successful week and yes we will be back next year This year’s camp although small in numbers was large in character with all those attending putting in 100%. The activities this year were Judo, CombatSombo, FILA Grappling (MMA), Sambo, SportCombatSambo and the use of focus mitts and kick shields. Instructors were Grandmaster Martin Clarke, John Clarke Sambo Master, 5th Dan Judo, Colin Carrott Sambo Master 4th Dan Judo, Ian Parker 3rd Dan Judo and we had a visit from Joe Blanco 3rd Dan Judo. Also on the course was 60 year old Alann Clarkin from Burnley who attended the course and was awarded his 3rd Degree CombatSombo. Allan not only participated in most of the lessons he also instructed the course in pad and bag work as well giving a full hour of fitness training, his 40 years of Martial Arts knowledge and the fact that he holds 6th Dan at both Kickboxing and Traditional Jiu Jitsu will be a great boost to British CombatSombo. His Dojo in Burnley has been running since 1982 http:// www.black-knights-kickboxing.org.uk A comment from John Clarke “Allan was one of the best Coaches outside Sambo and Judo I have met”

There always a few special people at these camps, well the truth is they are all special for having the gumption to attend and realise if something is worth having it is worth working for but there were a couple I would like to mention: 11 year old Lewis Clarke the forth generation of Clarke’s to be involved in Summer camp and 11 year old Ryan Marsden from Burnley both had never done CombatSombo before and worked exceptionally well through the week keeping up with the Adults. Both were awarded their Junior Orange Belt CombatSombo the first Juniors to receive a

CombatSombo grade, Lewis was also awarded a Green Belt in Sambo. 39 year old Vicky Franks deserves a mention being the oldest female on the course but not for that reason but for the for the fact she managed all the fighting including FILA Grappling (MMA) The big finally of the week is always the Black Belt Grading, this year there was no competitive Judo or Sambo grading so we missed out on the punch-up but two students were taking Technical Grades, they were Laurence Sandum and George Loscombe both successfully passing to 1st Dan Black Belt Judo

(Below) Russell Dodd’s and Son Adam, Danny Carrott with Dad Colin, Vicky Franks with son Ben, George Loscombe with son Miles, Martin Clarke, son John, grandsons Harry and Lewis

AMA Amateur Martial Associations

AMA is the largest Martial Arts Organisation in the British Isles. It is the Governing Body for over 6,000 clubs and 90,000 members. Most of these have been with us for over 35 years. We must be doing something right! Join the AMA now and get the best national and international recognition, the best access to courses and competitions, national and world-wide. Over 35 years experience of growth. Whatever the size or style of your group or club you are welcome in the AMA. We are here to serve you. DAN GRADES & CERTIFICATES VALIDATION ALL GRADES COMPETITIONS: REGIONAL, NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL BEST INSURANCE (and I mean best!)

WE NOW OFFER INSURANCE FOR MMA PRACTIONERS ALL STYLES WELCOME CLUB AND COMPETITION GRANTS CRB CHECKS (Criminal Record Bureau clearance) ALL STYLES CAN BE INSURED & ARE WELCOME IN THE AMA WE CAN NOW INSURE (BLOCK BOOKINGS) PRACTITIONERS IN SOUTHERN IRELAND

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To see national AMA listings of over 13,000 instructors/clubs on the web, type: www.bt.com/thephonebook then in ‘business’ type: martial arts and town For an information pack without obligation, call us, alternatively you can fax or post the coupon to the address below.

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Tel: 0161 763 5599 Fax: 0560 150 2065 E-Mail: office@amauk.co.uk

JKD001/02

Valhalla’s Gates Open Once Again! The Vikings hordes descended upon Colchester for the Valhalla Festival, a weekend of strong mead, strong men and demonstrations of combat arts ranging from Wushu and Karate to archery and spear throwing. Simon Augustus takes a look at the highlights of the day. The gates of Layer Marney tower opened on Saturday the 23rd of July for a two day festival and warriors from all backgrounds massed in one of the halls of the five hundred year old building to start the festival with a Viking prayer celebrating Odin and the other warrior Gods of Norse mythology. When I arrived it was like I had stumbled through a loop in time, some weird vortex linking this world to Asgard – the realm of the Gods. I found myself walking past ancient looking animal hide tents, caldrons being heated over open wood fires, with men in chain mail and horned helms sitting on the grass. I had to stop, turn around and look at

Mark Epstein giving a few MMA tips. Inset: Kwoklyn Wan (center left) with Valhalla Organiser Scott Horton (center right)

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the cars parked just behind me just to assure myself I was still in the right time period. There was a strange and wonderful amalgamation of body builders, Ironclad Viking warriors, modern soldiers and Martial Arts, Muay Thai and MMA fighters among the throngs of people who began arriving. This weird and incredible mix held the promise of a rare opportunity to see displays of physical abilities forged in years of discipline, sacrifice and pain - Weight lifting, boxing, Gong Fu, Muay Thai. And soon the legendary Vikings would showcase their combat skill with their blades, shields and spears.

Before that began I took the opportunity to sample some of the fine honey mead being sold in large, heavy earthenware jugs. I approached the old white bearded druid at the stall and casually asked how much his brew was. He stopped, looked up, patted his robes and said in a low mumble, “I’m not sure – it’ll come back to me eventually.” And it did, luckily for me and every battle-hungry Viking looking for a thirst quencher. After sampling the merchant’s wares I pushed my way through the crowds to get a good view of the strong man competition, which had the audience screaming and cheering on competitors as they displayed incredible feats of strength and endurance. Even the sword brandishing, mead drinking Vikings had to take the time to gather around the likes of Andy Bolton, six time world power-lifting champion and reigning Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Champion, and Glenn Ross, founder of the UK Strength Council and Irish Strength Association and creator of the UK’s Strongest Man competition. These mountains of muscle lifted and hefted 22-stone anvils and the dreaded Atlas Stones – perfectly shaped spheres of pure, sinew-wrenching rock. Under the Ragnarok Fight Tent, Combat/Fighters Magazines &

The Martial Arts Show “Live” team provided some spectacular displays alongside Hercules’ gym and the gunslinga franchise. The day featured demonstrations and exhibitions from: Dave Rawlings, Luke Scott, Chloe Michael, Steven Butler, James Wardle (Hooded Arts), Dean Williams, Barry Upton, Jas Bryan, Kelly Harper, Adam Shah, Darren Summers, Stuart Knight, fighters Shaun Smith, Lucas Namalvick, Shane Smith (from Mike Belgraves “One on One Fighting Fit Gym”) and one of Thai Boxings elite, Danny Kendrick Some recognisable names in MMA (like Mark Epstein) and boxing (Ross Walgrove) made appearances, as did some up and coming fighters. Ross “The Razor” Francis from Hercules’ gym had his debut fight, Csaba “CHOPPER” Andrasek and Gavin Lines all gave a great account of themselves under the watchful eye of coach Gareth “Gruff” Levine in the ring at Valhalla. Thai boxings Danny Kendrick found time out of his stringent training schedule to attend the festival and give advice on the best diets and

training regimes for forging a fighting fit body. With over ten years of experience under his belt, Danny has become one of Muay Thai’s most widely venerated fighters. He has over fifty professional fights to his name and titles that command respect, like his recently gained WKMA British title. Danny has clashed with other heroes of the ring – like the famed Thai fighters Orono Ubon and Kanong.

Csaba “Chopper” Andrasek, an up and coming fighter from the famous Hercules’ Gym.

Between training in Thailand and London, Danny lends his expert knowledge and fighting skill to training other fighters who aim at having a career as successful as his. “Never close your mind off to knowledge. Never think you’re above anyone. Learn, learn, learn,” he told me. At Valhalla Festival Danny introduced fighters and body builders to his range of stimulants and protein shakes that he has developed in the spirit of sharing his knowledge on nutrition. “I just want to help people achieve what they want without wasting years working out what works and what doesn’t.”

As the day wound to a close and the sun began its descent it was time to celebrate the way that Odin intended – a beer festival. As maidens copiously poured out traditional warrior brews, like Thor’s Tears, Nidhogg Dragon Lager, and ox, hog, Venison and other meats slowly cooked on spits, some tried drinking from the ceremonial giant horn, Gjall. All were merry as they ate and drank and sang. All could be satisfied that Midgard had this day done the warrior Gods proud.

Towards the end of the afternoon we were treated to a bout between Mark ‘The Beast’ Epstein - a retired champion of K1 and the MMA cage who has been laying knock out punches inside and outside the ring since he was a young street brawler fighting for survival - and

After a tie was announced, Ross “The Razor” Francis was next up to take his place in the ring against Steve from the Chelmsford Boxing club. Purely a boxing match, Ross fought hard and demonstrated stunning ability and composure despite it being his first bout.

The Valhalla Festival now has a great foundation on which to build and if determination makes the difference between success and mediocrity you can be certain that the organisers of the event, Gordon Evans & Scott Horton will most definitely have a HUGE SUCCESS on their hands in 2012! – Paul S Clifton.

By Simon R. Augustus

The Evolution of a Martial System Part 12 By David Weeks

Chapter Four: Mixed Martial Arts: The Modern Phenomenon In the twelfth and final part of this series we look at how the blending of different systems has become the ‘norm’, rather than the exception and we use Jay Dobrin’s Chinese Boxing / Escrima systems as the prime example of martial blending. VI. BIFF!

By the late 1970’s Jay Dobrin had received his instructorships in both Brian Jones’s Chinese Boxing system and Rene Latosa’s Escrima; at which point Latosa advised Jay to travel to America and train with some of the same instructors who had helped shape Latosa’s own escrima and so Dobrin duly journeyed to the US and experienced first-hand the lightning skills of the likes of Leo Giron and Dentoy Revilar. Upon returning to England Jay decided to ‘strike out’ on his own. Rene and Bill Newman were exploring the possibilities of venturing into Europe and exposing the little-known art of escrima there; whilst Brian Jones was content to continue running his Chinese Boxing clubs in London.

Jay’s idea was to start blending the Chinese Boxing and the Escrima together, so that they became virtually one art. In this way - although they could still be taught as separate systems; particularly for those who didn’t wish to engage in a weapons-based art - the practitioner could merge seamlessly from one art to another; picking up or discarding a weapon. The basic concepts from each system thus became a single concept, based around ‘flow’ and understanding fundamental body mechanics. Initially under the banner ‘Inner London Martial Arts Society’, this quickly became redundant as Jay’s reputation as a top-class martial artist spread and he was asked to start giving demos and seminars both nationally and abroad. Soon,

Dobrin was spending lengthy spells in Europe, teaching in Finland, Sweden, Belgium, etc and this constant travelling led to him renaming his clubs the British and International Fighter’s Federation, [BIFF]; an acronym which immediately caught the eye! By the mid 1980’s Jay and his senior student / instructor in both systems Master Phil Chenery were amongst the hardest-working martial artists in Britain; constantly journeying to Europe; teaching the Finnish Army knife and other bladed weapons strategies and establishing BIFF clubs, run by European representatives of Dobrin’s system, in Finland, Belgium and Germany. Also, established and highly-graded martial artists were calling upon Dobrin and Chenery to teach their students Escrima, as a complement to their karate or jiu jitsu training and it was during the 1980’s and early ‘90’s that Dobrin and Chenery established their awesome reputation for live seminars. Very few people were using ‘live’ blades in those days and the sight of Jay swinging a razor-sharp machete at Phil’s head and then deftly parrying a balisong knife strike brought audible gasps from the spectators and their use of sticks and empty-hand sparring at full pace and heavy contact was a breathtaking spectacle. [Indeed, after one carefully rehearsed demo, in which Jay had ‘battered’ the willing Chenery for several hours, for the spectators delight,

Geoff Thompson

a barmaid who had watched the demo refused to serve Dobrin in the bar afterwards; claiming that he was ‘horrible for what he’d done to that poor man!’] Training with Dobrin and Chenery was not for the faint-hearted. Once shown a block; if a stick was aimed at you, you were expected to block it. It was the ‘traditional’ Filipino way of teaching the art; whereby a rap across the knuckles with a hard stick was the fastest way to cure a defensive error. Likewise, ‘live’ blades began with slow, sweeping movements and then gradually picked up velocity, as the student understood the flow of the drills. Nevertheless, it was usually the adrenalin coursing through their veins which enabled them to ‘pass’ and parry the ‘live hand’; for one small mistake in timing could be very painful. As with the sticks, Dobrin believed that the age-old Filipino methods of using a ‘live’ blade, rather than a ‘dummy’, provoked more realistic responses and thus better fighters. “Wooden blade;

wooden reflexes”, was a favourite Dobrin adage and, in truth, training injuries were minimal, due to the high standards of instruction from Jay and Phil. As the years passed Dobrin continued to refine his systems. Still referring to the unarmed side as Chinese Boxing, Jay had mixed Wing Chun trapping and sensitivity drills with Cadena De Mano - the unarmed side of Escrima - along with karate and Wing Chun kicks and strikes. This close-range system, he believed, could thus be used and adapted by any body-type; regardless of height or weight. Likewise, Jay took the essence of Latosa Escrima and adapted it so that it flowed and intersected with his Chinese Boxing; making them inter-changeable. Thus, the BIFF Chinese Boxing / Escrima system was formulated.

VII. Chinese Boxing / Escrima in the 21st Century.

I first met Jay Dobrin in 1994 but it wasn’t until several years later that I discovered he taught martial arts! Jay was merely a drinking buddy in my local pub, until one night we returned to his home with a ‘takeaway’ after the pub had closed and he showed me a videotape of himself performing a martial arts demo. I was immediately hooked and for the next two years I trained privately with Jay several times a week. My own martial background had included several years in Wado-ryu karate and a couple of different stints in Western Boxing when I was The UFC in it’s early days

younger but it had been many years since I had engaged in any form of self-defence training. [Not including my second marriage!] In 1998 I qualified as a Fitness Instructor and the following year I approached Jay with an idea. Billy Blank’s Tae Bo martial arts / fitness training workout videos were a phenomenal success and - following their example - I wanted to combine elements from his Chinese Boxing system with aerobic fitness routines and weight-training techniques and Jay agreed to grade me as an Assistant Instructor on this basis and affiliate my Fighting Fit Chinese Boxing clubs to BIFF. The amalgamation of Chinese Boxing self-defence techniques and cardio-vascular workout routines proved popular enough for me to open four Fighting Fit clubs and one Chinese Boxercise class in East London and in 2001 I received a Sports Coach UK Award for my endeavours in promoting martial arts / fitness classes for children and adults. Back in 1998 Jay had introduced me to Phil Dixon, who - along with Phil Chenery - was Dobrin’s most senior Instructor in BIFF Escrima. At this point the Ultimate Fighting Championship [UFC] was ‘breaking’ into the mainstream consciousness and Mixed Martial Arts was the new phenomenon. No longer a cult show for the few people ‘in the know’, the UFC had grown in stature and inspired thousands of martial artists to step outside of their comfort zone and train in different arts. Thus, you had grapplers learning the striking arts and vice versa, as students and instructors alike sought to understand and employ every area of potential combat. This was also the period when the likes of Geoff Thompson and Jamie O’Keefe exploded to the fore with their books, videos and thoughts around cross-training and ‘reality fighting’; exploding many myths about the effectiveness of certain arts and techniques. For the next four years I trained twice a week with Phil in his own personal interpretation of BIFF Escrima. Phil had begun training with a variety of other martial artists and was incorporating grappling techniques, groundwork and padwork into his syllabus, as he sought to discover ‘what worked’ under pressure situations.

I also trained privately and in club settings with Judo, Thai Boxing and several Wing Chun kung fu instructors, as I attempted to add diverse elements from grappling and striking arts to my own core syllabus. Gradually, the Fighting Fit clubs moved more heavily towards selfdefence than fitness training and recognising this - I trained with Shaun Osborne, [Wado-ryu karate / Indonesian Silat Instructor] and in 2004 gained both my 2nd Dan Black Belt and a generic Self-Defence Instructor qualification from him.

Although I no longer ran clubs I continued to teach privately; continuing my own learning via training with the likes of Chris Pearson [Jeet Kune Do / Kali], from whom I received both my 3rd Dan Black Belt and a Black Sash in Kali, in 2008. From this point, with the help and advice of Chris Pearson, I amalgamated the empty-hand techniques from various systems I’d learned and the weapons skills from Escrima / Kali and formed the nucleus of my current system; which I refer to as Chinese Boxing Concepts in honour of my initial inspiration Jay Dobrin.

[Note: Jay Dobrin still teaches his BIFF systems in the Essex area and continues to evolve his grades and techniques. He is assisted by Phil Chenery, Phil Dixon, Archie Golder and Kevin Tucker amongst others in England, as well as having BIFF affiliated instructors in many European countries. See www.biffuk.com for full list of affiliated clubs and instructors. ] Next month: An exclusive interview with the legendary Jay Dobrin. Article by David Weeks, [pen name], author of ‘Tyson and I’ ISBN 978-14343-1471-0 and ‘Bullets, Blood and Broken Bodies: The extraordinary criminal career of ‘Buller’ Ward’ ISBN 9781904432425. Available from Jamie O’Keefe’s New Breed Books or eBay.

a week to remember

It seems bizarre, but even after several years in the martial arts; I didn’t really have any contacts in the United States until after moving from Canada to my present home in the Republic of Korea. After a number of years residing I here I began writing for a number of periodicals and my network grew exponentially. One of the contacts I came across was quite an unusual figure. He was a blind martial arts expert originally from New Jersey in the United States. Why he was and still is such an amazing figure in the martial arts world is better described in an article I wrote about him in May 2011 issue of this magazine. One of the truly impressive accomplishments Chief Master Robert J. Ott had under his belt was a Korean martial arts seminar he spearheaded in 2009. This united some of the best and brightest in the Korean martial arts world. It was unparalleled in his region of the USA. But it wasn’t enough. Shortly thereafter one my editors, Laura Stolpe said this individual wanted to know how many masters I did know

in Korea and areas of expertise they possessed. I took that as a challenge of course and sent an e-mail detailing the masters and styles I came across in my decade of study here. Little did I know that would start one of the closest friendships I have ever had, in or out of the arts? Robert’s passion and sincerity stunned me to say the least. His breadth of

GM MacKenzie opening ceremony by introducing Robert as host.

Left to Right: GM Jung Kyung-Hwa, GM James McMurray, GM Rudy Timmerman, CM Ott, GM MacKenzie, GM Geoff Booth 118 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

knowledge of the Korean martial arts was second only to his curiosity to learn even more. It didn’t take long for him to enlist myself and a close friend and instructor of mine Jae-Sik Yang to introduce the ancient art of Taekgyeon to the Northwest region of America. This predecessor to the majority of existing Korean arts will be covered in a later issue. Due to the openness of my new friend’s mind I got rare insights into the planning, building, implementing and running large scale martial art events. In many minor ways I even had opportunity to assist him and his association. August 2011 came quickly actually and I flew to Seattle to start another chapter in my story. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened that week. The lake house at which I resided was beautiful and was on the edge of the most breathtaking lake I had seen in a very long time. With the reputation of the weather in that part of the country we were truly blessed.

Within seconds of arrival my team (including Taekgyeon Grandmaster Jung Kyung-Hwa and Master Shin Joung-Kun) and I was taken care of by Chief Master Ott’s carefully chosen assistants who saw the entire trip that we wanted for nothing. A buffet of various kebobs and cold beers greeted us upon our arrival as well. That evening I also met my overseas friend and legendary Sin Moo Hapkido grandmaster Kenneth MacKenzie who welcomed us warmly into the fold. The next day comprised of meeting other legendary figures in the world of Korean martial arts such as: • • • • • • •

Grandmaster Michael De Alba Grandmaster James McMurray Grandmaster Geoff Booth Grandmaster Billy Lee Burchett Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman Chief Master John L. Godwin Chief Master Kevin Janisse

All of these gentlemen were surprisingly friendly and open to the arrival of newcomers from the other side of the world. Not to mention the accomplishments of each man would take a book at least to detail. That night I took a turn at showing some of the skills I developed over the years in the women’s selfdefence workshop. It was certainly an unusual feeling and experience from teaching back in South Korea.

CM Ott presenting GM MacKenzie with gift (sword and stand) Wednesday saw the arrival of the dozens of participants from various parts of North America. From then to Saturday was a blur of banquets, seminars (meditation, Hapkido principles, Taekgyeon, etc.), giveaways, water sports and Korean music/ dance performances. One of the highlights for me was to meet a young lad I wrote about in the previous issue of Fighters Magazine, by the name of Cameron McFadzen. It was a rare treat to get to meet and even teach him and his mother. By the end my Korean entourage and I even spent our last day in the country with him, his mother and step-father.

It reminded me that martial arts overcome all boundaries whether they are physical, racial, linguistic or geographical. They also form bonds that time can’t erase. Thank you to you Cameron, Jennifer and Jeff for teaching me that. As my business is in martial arts promotion more or less it was wonderful to see not only the reaction of Westerners to Taekgyeon, but to see the Koreans’ reaction to the passion, sincerity and sweat of the attendees. It was truly an

Presenting Martial Artists of the Year award to Cameron. Behind: GM Burchett, Master Shin Joung-Kun, GM James McMurray, Gm MacKenzie. In front: GM Jung Kyung-Hwa presenting Cameron with the Taekgyeon Staff (Cameron accepting staff). CM Ott on the right holding Cameron’s Trophy (already presented)

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GM Jung Kyung-Hwa (left) presenting CM Ott with gift (Scroll) also in picture sitting down GM Rudy Timmerman

GM Jung Kyung-Hwa with CM Ott cutting the cake. In background: GM Burchett, BlasĂŠ, GM Rudy Timmerman eye opener for them as well. Sometimes the image of Westerners successfully mastering the martial arts comes across as unlikely. Thank you to those of you who broke that stereotype. You acted as ambassadors for our countries for those few short days. At the end of it all, my close friend CM Ott and I sighed and collapsed into chairs on the decks of his summer lake house. We laughed, cried, and shook our heads over some of the various events that transpired that short week.

Then we decided 2013 had to be even better. From anyone else I would smile and nod thinking it simply wishful thinking. But as anyone who has met him would say, if anyone can pull it off he can. Master Guy Edward Larke has dedicated his life from a young age to the pursuit of the martial arts, Asian culture and hopology. It led him to Korea in 2000 and has lived there since then. He lives in Seongnam city with his wife Gi-Ryung and son Alexander. He holds black belts in Taekwondo,

The Lake House before people started leaving to go home Hapkido, Taekkyon, Bon Kuk Kumdo, Korean kickboxing, Karate-do, Wushu, Cheonji-muye-do, and various other arts. Currently he teaches Taekwondo, Karate and Cheonji-muye-do full time in addition to writing for various magazines and running Kisa-Do Muye & Marketing. He can be contacted at kisa_do_muye@yahoo.ca.

By Master Guy Edward Larke GM Jung Kyung-Hwa, CM Ott (shaking hands) at the Opening ceremonies: in front of the head table (sculpture faintly in background)

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TRADITIONAL

Vol. 23 No. 12 October 2011

ESKK

Structural Alignment in Karate

STANCES

Kokutsu Dachi (The Back Stance)

tatsuo

suzuki

RIP 27th april 1928 - 12th july 2011

Visit the Traditional Karate Magazine website @ www.karatemag.co.uk

Profess RIP 27th April 1928 - 12th July 2011

I was asked to write an article on the life and accomplishments of this great Karate master and devoted Budoka. Having informed other martial arts colleagues of the sad news, I felt their words summed it up and have included their comments below. Clearly, Mr Suzukiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s achievements, both in Karate-do and with his steadfast attitude, have had an impact on a global theme and stretch across many different martial art systems.

By Neil Horton.

or Tatsuo Suzuki Mr Tatsuo Suzuki was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1928 and raised with true ‘bushido’ (way of the warrior) spirit. His martial arts training started in his youth and he would also supplement his physical training with the reading of manuscripts and books on the Samurai and meditation. Training and practise became a way of life and Mr Suzuki became a devoted student to the founder of Wado Ryu Karatedo, Hironori Ohtsuka. At the age of 24, he was awarded the grade of fifth dan black belt in Wado-Ryu, which was then the highest level awarded for this system to any university student. However, Mr Suzuki did not want this rank and asked not to be awarded the grade by the founder, which was also true when he received eighth dan level. The devotion and absolute loyalty remained, similar to that of a Samurai and his Master, and to only teaching exactly what he had been taught. Mr Suzuki was dedicated to passing on the ‘purity’ of Wado-Ryu and not mixing it with other martial art forms he had also acquired.

Wado instructors like Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei, Ichikawa, Kono and Muramatsu. The one who mostly impacted my life as a Wado practitioner was Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei. His strive for perfection and to instruct authentic Wado as he was instructed by the master Hironori Otsuka also inspired most of his students. At quite a few world championships he has been there with me. His memory will always live on. ~ William Millerson 7th Dan, Curacao I am very sad by his passing. I have been doing Karate for forty two years and I am only one of his three original students still training. He was an outstanding instructor and was the foundation of our Federation. Mr Suzuki gave us the essence of what Karate is all about, not the same as taught these days, which has allowed us to teach with a strong foundation. There have been many Japanese instructors over the years, but Mr Suzuki was the ‘Father of Wado’ and I am very proud to say he was my original instructor. I thank him

for making me the instructor I am today. He may now be gone but his teachings will live on!!! ~ Colin Clapperton 8th dan, Scottish Karate Federation It was very sad when Mr Ohstuka’s close student, Mr Suzuki, passed away. All members of Wado International Karate-do Federation are sad with this loss, but as Sensei Suzuki wished, the leaders of this strong organization will, with all their power, continue the hard work training and teaching the way Ohtsuka taught. Sensei Suzuki was very local to Hironori Ohtsuka (the founder of Wado-ryu). We will be loyal to Sensei Suzuki in the same way he was loyal to his teacher. I have known Sensei Suzuki since 1966 and started to train with him from 1978. He has taught a regular Summer Course in Cantabria, Northern Spain for the past twentyeight years. During this time, many students came from all over the world to receive instruction. ~ Wim Massee 7th dan, WIKF Spain

In the early 1960’s, Mr Suzuki moved to England to spread the Wado Ryu karate system to potential students. As imagined, his time and efforts were in great demand all over the country and his ability and prowess rapidly spread. Today, the organisation he established in 1991, the Wado International Karatedo Federation, flourishes throughout the world. Mr Tatsuo Suzuki will never be forgotten and I am confident to say his teachings and philosophy will be passed on from one generation to the next. I started training Wado in Holland in 1970. In those days I have received training from Japanese

Tatsuo Suzuki, Masafumi Shioomitsu, Yoshi Iwasaki

The first time I saw Mr Suzuki was at a demonstration at the BKA Northern Championships in Darlington around 1968, when I was a 5th kyu & was in awe of the skill & the precision that a human being could achieve. This inspired me to keep training & try master the Karate techniques. Shortly after this time, there was a split within the BKA & the UKKF was formed, that our Club Middlesbrough Budokan did not join. We stayed within the BKA & I progressed with Wado Ryu through the BKA Instructors such as Fred Kidd, Peter Spanton & then Toru Takamizawa. It is indeed a great loss & without his pioneering in the mid/late 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Wado Ryu would not be as popular & European wide as it is today. ~ Doug James 8th Dan, Chojinkai Karate Association WIKF clubs in Wales have been associated with Sensei Suzuki since 1966 and have remained loyal to him ever since. This long association indicates the huge respect and admiration that we had for him and therefore the great sadness that we now feel. Whilst only small in stature, he was a giant in terms of his vast knowledge of Wado karate, his amazing technique and particularly the power he was able to generate in these techniques. Another legend of the karate world

has been lost but at least we have very many years of memories to fall back on and also a duty to pass on his teachings as best we can. ~ Keith Thomas 7th dan, WIKF Wales. I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki, he was a true legend of karate and one of the people who was responsible to getting me interested in the martial arts. I remember watching him do a demonstration in the Crystal Palace at the National karate championships when I was only a yellow belt in tae kwon do and it inspired me. I would like to send my condolences on behalf of myself and the whole of the TAGB, he will be sadly missed. ~ Dave Oliver 8th Dan, Chairman TAGB I am really sorry to learn of death Sensei Suzuki I first came into contact with him around 1962/3 when Brian Crossely my instructor in Darlington brought him to the North East for a seminar in Darlington. At some point my smattering of Japanese made him focus his attention on me and from then on I was mesmerized by his whole approach to martial arts and life. Perhaps I could add a few lines from the Art of the Samurai (HAGAKURE) by Yamamoto Tsunetomos ‘The time we cherish them the most is the time they fall The things of this world If its flowers then flowers; if its people its people’ ~ Mike Ilderton 5th Dan Wado Ryu The loss to the martial arts world of Master Tatsuo Suzuki, one of the truly notable Wado Ryu names, as well as karate-do at large, is major, as Suzuki Sensei was the epitome of a leader in the arts. Motivating, determined, precise and focused.

A truly sad loss of a highly respected Sensei. He was the very first Japanese I had the honour to spar with and although nearly 50 years ago I can remember it like it was yesterday. Wado ryu and indeed all karate would not have developed as it has without his tireless dedication and willingness to help everyone. ~ Dave Sharkey 8th Dan English Karate Organisation I am sorry to hear that Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei has passed on. Although I never met him personally, I only heard good things about him - a leading light for his style of karate-do - and a man who earned the respect of karate-ka both within and outside of his organization. My sincere condolences to members of his family and those close to him -Stan Schmidt, Shotokan Master, Australia Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki first came to our Dojo in Wakefield on the 24th June 1968, at the time he was head of the United Kingdom Karate Federation and we were about to take our first grading in Wado-Ryu Karate Do, I passed my 8th kyu 3rd class and never looked back. 45 years later the influence Mr Suzuki had on my early Karate development cannot be underestimated or forgotten. Throughout the changing fashions and latest fads in the martial arts over these years, Sensei adhered rigidly to the true essence of Wado- Ryu as taught to him by

His personal dignity and style was always a mark that many of us only dreamed of attaining. Even as a Goju man, I continued to be impressed with his work, his quest for further knowledge in and of the various arts and ways, and his very simple but impressive demeanor. He will truly be missed. ~ Steven A. Berkowitz, World Goju Karate Alliance, USA

Mr Suzuki and Ohtsuka Sensei

his teacher the founder of WadoRyu O-Sensei Hironori Ohtsuka. He will be greatly missed by his family, his students and all who came into contact with his expertise. All our kindest thoughts at this time are with his family. ~ Josh Johnson 8th Dan, Anglo Traditional Karate Association (Chief Instructor & Examiner) Eds Comment; Mr Suzuki will always be remembered for the fact that he always gave 100% and only expected the same from the students that he trained and taught. He was known for his strict ways but ALWAYS applied the same attitude to his own training, ways which gained him the admiration of several generations of students that he spent his life teaching. He will be greatly missed and will forever be remembered as a legend by all who had the pleasure to get to know him, myself included. Paul S Clifton – Publisher.

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The E.S.K.K® Column With Chris Denwood

Structural Alignment in Karate

At its very core, traditional karate could be described as a method of transmuting energy. With your body acting as the instrument or conduit, energy is either issued or absorbed using the ground as a general reference. The shapes we make (techniques) and the core principles we use are simply an expression of this overarching way. Generally speaking, there are two components that combine to form the physicality required to efficiently transfer energy either from or to an opponent. These are (1) structure and (2) dynamics, which are also referred to as ‘stationary efficiency’ and ‘movement efficiency’ respectfully. Correct structure and alignment is the subject of this article and a key requirement to help construct correct pathways within the body for energy to flow and thus, develop effective application. Practicing to obtain appropriate connections and alignment for energy transference is both an integral and fundamental part of traditional karate that is unfortunately very seldom practiced in modern dojo. Indeed, the performance and testing of root forms such as Sanchin and Naihanchi, along with auxiliary training such as makiwara (striking post, lit. sheaf of straw), chi-ishi (strength stone) and nigiri-game (gripping jars) purposely help to enhance the body awareness and structural connections required to progress. This can take some time, especially since many people often find it difficult to even isolate specific muscle groups. However, to enhance close-range effectiveness, a healthy attentiveness to structural alignment, coupled with good dynamics and correct mental intent, can combine together to produce very effective application.

Here, I’d like to share with you a fundamental static exercise from my dojo called ten-chi-tai kamae. This translates as ‘heaven and earth body posture’ and can be used by all karate-ka (practitioners) regardless of style, to help increase general body awareness and basic structural alignment. Since there are a number of different levels to this exercise that are practiced progressively according to experience, to begin with I will explain the first, along with some key points for consideration. Even if this exercise is practiced for only five minutes every morning, it can have a profound effect on your structural body awareness and you will find that these positive results will also naturally begin to permeate into your overall kata performance and

application. The aim of the first level of ten-chi-tai kamae is to feel the effects of gravity through the body and towards the ground. This idea can be completely alien to some because from the moment we get up out of bed in the morning, we are constantly resisting this inescapable gravitational force. If this wasn’t so then we’d simply relax, collapse and fall to the ground. As a result of this, we also tend to ease this physical burden placed on us by naturally disconnecting the body into smaller segments through the evolutionary ‘S’ shape of the spine. Most noticeably, the pelvis is tilted back slightly, which has the effect of disconnecting the top half and bottom half of the body. During the process of ten-chi-tai kamae, the spine is gently straightened and lengthened, the joints of the body are manipulated so that you become

more consciously aware of gravity and then this force is used to ‘test’ the alignment of posture through the body being used as an effective ‘conduit of energy’, i.e. a straight hose without any kinks. To begin the practice of ten-chi-tai kamae, stand in heiko dachi (parallel stance) with both feet pointing straight forwards, comfortably placed between hip and shoulder width apart, with the knees unlocked and slightly flexed. The arms should be relaxed and held to the side of the body with the eyes looking forward. When you feel ready, close your eyes, breathe calmly through the nose with the tongue resting on the upper palette and relax for a few moments. This is the reference posture we use from which all the manipulation of joints takes place so it is important that you become comfortable assuming it. From this posture, the first exercise is to simply take your attention to your feet and specifically, the place at which your feet meet the ground. Take a mental note of the pressure experienced at

this point, as well as where on the feet that pressure is felt. The next part of the exercise is to sequentially bring your attention to the major joints of the body and then subtly but purposefully manipulate them so that they better align. After each adjustment, take your attention back to the ground and check again the pressure exerted by your feet. If you feel as though the pressure has increased (even just slightly) then make a mental note and then move on to the next joint. If you feel as though the pressure has decreased then return back to the same joint again and manipulate some more. The aim is to increase the gravitational pressure felt at the feet through correct alignment of the joints along with efficient relaxation of the body. Following are some of the key points to consider during this basic ten-chi-tai kamae exercise. The body should be straight and the feet should be relaxed with the weight of the body distributed over the whole of the foot, focussing through the Kidney 1 (K1) on the sole

just behind the ball, so that potential can be projected slightly in front of the body (i.e. not deadlocked). In martial arts circles, this point is often referred to as the ‘bubbling well’ or ‘bubbling spring’ (named after the sensations felt there when properly grounded) and is thought to be where earth energy enters and leaves the body. There should be no curling of the toes as if ‘gripping the ground’. This only serves to push the foot away from the ground and counter the effects of gravity. Instead, try to imagine the feet melting into and becoming one with the floor. The knees should be unlocked so that the weight is aligned through the centre of the joint. Locking the joint straight will cause restrictions and flexing the joint too much will cause the musculature of the leg and the knee cap to take the full load. Always make sure that the knees flex in the same direction as the feet are pointing (in this case straight forward) and don’t travel vertically over the

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The hips should be square and horizontally aligned. If an uneven pressure is felt at the feet then it may be that the pelvis is misaligned. The iliac crests on each side of the body should form a straight line that is parallel to the ground. It’s also important that the coccyx is ‘released’ and dropped as if attached to a heavy weight. This will help to align the lumbar spine and is the main juncture for connecting the top and bottom halves of the body. The chi (earth) part of ten-chi-tai kamae refers to this sensation of dropping towards the earth. The shoulders should be relaxed and rolled ever so slightly forwards so that they sit comfortably and become an integral part of the girdle. Under no circumstance should the chest be protruding and the shoulders held back in the typical Western ‘attention’ posture. This pulls the joints out and up, which is again counter-productive to the exercise. Finally, the head should be as if suspended by the crown. This will

naturally bring the chin in, straighten and gently stretch the cervical vertebrae. The ten (heaven) part of tenchi-tai kamae refers to this sensation of being suspended from above. Fig. 3 and 4: Applying the structural alignment lessons learned through the ten-chi-tai kamae exercise. Note that the picture on the left shows a deadlocked and un-rooted posture with numerous joints being misaligned. In contrast, the picture on the right shows a more functional posture with potential projected outside of the body and in the case of the technique shown, into the fist. In addition to the structural connections gained through the practice of ten-chi-tai kamae, the exercise also helps to subtly stretch the whole of the spine from the coccyx to the crown. This is very beneficial for the body and helps to counteract the compression forces experience through everyday life. Practice for a few minutes each morning and gradually you will begin to become more aware of

much smaller movements within the joints and the effect these can have on the transmutation of energy through the body. In part two of this piece, I will cover some progression exercises, explain some key points for structural alignment of the upper limbs for striking and discuss how the lessons learned in these static exercises can be more pragmatically applied. Chris Denwood is Founder and Chief Instructor of the E.S.K.K®, as well as a senior instructor with the British Karate-Do Chojinkai. His two-disc DVD ‘Acorns to Oak Trees’ and recently published book entitled, ‘Respecting the Old, Creating the New’ are both available NOW from www.eskk.co.uk. For further information and seminar enquiries, please email info@eskk.co.uk or call 07801 531 914. You can also visit the E.S.K.K® on Facebook and YouTube or join their monthly newsletter for updates, articles, videos and special offers etc.

Stances part 2 : Kokutsu dachi (back stance)

Last month I talked about stances and how they can be broken down into two categories. Formal Zenkutsu dachi Kokutsu dachi Sochin dachi Kiba dachi Hangetsu dachi

Informal Neko-ashi dachi Renoji dachi Teiji dachi

Formal stances and their application Strong, deep and regimented, as the description suggests you should feel all of those things confident that your stance will hold under extreme pressure from your opponent. General use would be for defending against powerful attacks meeting your assailant with a brick wall approach.

Informal stances and their application Lighter and faster used for deflection and evasion. Due to the nature of the stances you should be very fluid in these positions allowing very sharp

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balanced moves to be executed. Having covered the basics for Zenkutsu dachi forward leaning stance, this month I would like to move on to the fundamental basics of Kokutsu dachi back stance.

Kokutsu dachi Once again we are looking at length, depth, and width, of stance. Having read last months article you will have a good understanding of these terms and what they mean, I will reiterate the information as it becomes relevant to this particular stance. Kokutsu dachi is a strong formal stance often coupled with the technique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; shuto uke (open hand knife hand block). Weight distribution between front and back legs should be for the most part 50 / 50 this as in most cases for the lower grades is a great way to get them to feel the balance and strength of the stance. A great training aid is to use a chair, get them to sit in

it assume the correct feet position then remove the chair. (Hoping they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall in a heap on the floor)! Head and body position remain back out of the danger area with the shoulders off square Once an indepth understanding and feeling are acquired the weight can shift back slightly over the back leg allowing you to load and unload the weight placed on the front leg. This then gives you the tactical advantage of being able to dig your stance into the floor to defeat a sweep technique or lighten the leg to allow you to execute a kick without giving the game away thus having the element of surprise on your side. There are a number of common problems when executing a back stance one being to let the knees flop inwards this removes all the strength and ability to lock down the stance to the floor. You must push both knees out maintaining a 90deg angle mirroring the feet positions. Second common fault is to stick out the glutinous maximums your (bum) for some peculiar reason this becomes more of a common issue for female

practitioners than male, probably due to the biological structure of the female hips and pelvis. You need to make sure that your bum is tucked in to maintain a straight back posture. A point I missed from last months article always stand proud and confident in your stances giving an aura of self belief, but not arrogance.

Length of stance (How far apart your legs are measured from foot to foot.) As with all stances this varies with the individuals build, flexibility, age, and even sex In last months article on zenkutsu datchi forward leaning stance I went into detail on how to determine the best depth of stance. The same rules apply to Kokutsu dachi use the formula length of stance equals half your height as a rough guide line.

Depth of stance (How far down you are, measuring from floor to groin.) One of the primary aims in producing good quality kata especially for competition is to make each transition of stance as smooth and for the sake of a better way to explain it, bump less as possible. So no bobbing up and down as you step through. Understanding this makes deciding the depth of stance much easier to attain. Whether you are in forward leaning or back stance the depth (measured from floor to groin) remains a constant.

Width of stance The positioning of the feet for the most part is very straight forward you are trying to make an L shape with the feet. Using a line on the floor place your front foot so the line dissects straight through the centre of

your foot from toe to heal. Then place your back foot at 90 deg so that the line runs through the heal of your back foot making the L shape. So technically there is no width as the feet are in line. For Black Belts the front foot can move to the left of the line this will allow for much smoother transitions between stances but as always you must fully understand the advantages, disadvantages and implications of these actions.

Need help or advice Please feel free to contact me with your questions or problems. Remember Life is for living so live it. Sensei Paul Smith Chairman and head of the M.S.K.F. Phone: 07977697689 Mail: paul@mskf.co.uk Mail mskf@mskf.co.uk

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TAEKWONDO

& KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE VOLUME 15 ISSUE 07 OCTOBER 2011

GRANDMASTER JAE CHUL SHIN

The Tang Soo Do Interview

Use the Force Visit the TKD-KMA magazine website at www.taekwondomag.co.uk

Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin

(9th Dan)

The Tang Soo Do Interview part 1

Around 15 years ago a student gave me a signed copy of Traditional Tang Soo Do by GrandMaster Jae Chul Shin. Apart from those written by GrandMaster Hwang Kee very few Tang Soo Do books have fired my interest or imagination but this one did. Most publications follow the same theme with a brief history, photos of basic technique and positions from each hyung, in fact nothing more than you could learn in an average class. This, however, was different, a real insightful and detailed study of the art including Philosophy, Um/Yang theory, vital points, breathing techniques and Ki Gong finishing with the intriguing Tang Soo Do Parables. I have read the book many times over and became an instant fan of GrandMaster J.C. Shin. I am now extremely fortunate to be in a position to ask in depth questions of this great GrandMaster. He trained during the early years of the Moo Duk Kwan under the founder Grandmaster Hwang Kee until 1968 when under the auspices of the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association he travelled to the USA and established the United States Tang Soo Do Federation in Burlington, New Jersey. Grandmaster Shin, it is indeed a privilege to discuss Tang Soo Do matters with you. Firstly, I would like to add my own appreciation and congratulations on your personal achievements in Tang Soo Do. It is now 27 years since inception of the WTSDA and I believe you were recently awarded your 9th Dan. GM Shin - I am very proud of my achievements. It is not the number of the rank but what has been accomplished that is important. 138 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

When an individual has contributed, developed and helped people; changed someone’s life, it represents an amazing accomplishment. That is the true meaning of what rank is about. There are over 100,000 proclamation signatures requesting I accept this honour, which I can no longer deny. It is also the 25th Anniversary of the GBTSDA which has gone from strength to strength under your guidance together with the hard work and dedication of the UK Masters and Instructors. What factors do you feel are responsible for this success? GM Shin – First of all I must recognize Master Khan’s firm belief in the WTSDA principles. He has carefully followed that. When there is a problem, he doesn’t bend or surrender, but just keeps moving on. Also all the Masters in Great Britain believe in the principles of Tang

Soo Do and trust that the WTSDA is carrying on the original essence of the art. Of course, any organisation can satisfy a few followers. However, Great Britain Tang Soo Do keeps growing at an impressive rate through strong, firm unbending leadership. Now to the Art itself. What does Tang Soo Do mean to you personally? GM Shin - Personally, Tang Soo Do has been my guide; my roadmap that I have followed my whole life. Tang Soo Do taught me how to live, and how to die. Some people are born in to a family culture but I learned Tang Soo Do at a young age and that is all I know and believe in. I continue to apply the essence of Tang Soo Do, its principles and philosophy to my life. Without question this has ensured that I have lived a clean and proud life. Sir, Can you give some words of advice and encouragement to

TANG SOO DO By Master David Allerton (5th Dan)

UK students regardless of their association? What attributes should they strive to achieve in 2011 and beyond? Often I feel the Gup/Dan ranking system fails students unless the Master Instructor has a clear vision of each student’s individual needs. How do you monitor personal progression in your own students? GM Shin - Any culture or country has many different ideas and all organisations strive to achieve their goals. The same thing applies in Tang Soo Do studios. All of our studios strive to achieve the principles and quality that is recommended by World Tang Soo Do headquarters. We are all uniquely different human beings. Everybody has likes and dislikes; however, we have to teach the essence of Tang Soo Do and its true purpose. That is our duty and commitment as instructors. The Great Britain Tang Soo Do has been a strong organization for two decades. I agree, a good instructor must have a clear vision of each student’s needs. Everyone is unique, and an instructor

should know the student’s limits and capabilities. It is not solely about passing or failing a rank test. Our Tang Soo Do training must focus on Improving on each individual’s capacity. That is our job. I do not have a right to tell someone whether to practice Tang Soo Do, it is in itself a culture. There are many small groups, or organisations that proclaim that they are teaching Tang Soo Do, and yet, they fail to teach the essence . Unfortunately, this will result in confusion and will not produce the real value and purpose. Traditional Tang Soo Do has value in its hundreds of years old heritage. Therefore, all students should be trained to develop a better life. I saw many self-made alleged Tang Soo Do schools and associations fail. True traditional Tang Soo Do has lasted centuries. My wish is for anyone o follow the path of pure Tang Soo Do. Train traditionally, from the heart.

It has often been said that in Tang Soo Do our aim is to be one with nature. I appreciate this is an ideal given the right conditions and perseverance on the part of each student. Can you give some guidance on how this can be achieved in practise for those who live in a large town or city, work long hours and have the pressure of family commitments ? GM Shin - Yes, the ultimate goal of Tang Soo Do is to become one with nature. It seems very difficult to understand this concept but as in Um - Yang we must strive to live our life harmoniously and in a balanced way. That is the way to live the healthiest life, both physically and mentally. We are a creature of universe, and we must become a balanced part of it. We should not deny this fact, but rather work with it. Our training focuses on how to achieve this balance; how to breathe; how to move; how to think and so on.

WTF World Taekwondo Federation, 4th Fl, Joyang BID 113, Samseong-dong, Kukkiwon, 635 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea. Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea, 135-908. Tel: 82-566-2505 / 557-5446 Tel: 82-2-567-1058,9 www.wtf.org/wtf_eng/main/main_eng.html Fax: 82-2-552-3025 Fax: 82-2-553-4728 www.kukkiwon.or.kr/english/index.jsp E-mail: wtf@wtf.org

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Comments to – allertondavid@yahoo.com

Ask nature the answer. Through training, we can be a part of nature, as long as we are aware of it and accept it. It can be done anywhere and any time. Sir, how do you feel the current trend of Mixed Martial Art impacts on a traditional art like Tang Soo Do.? Clearly each has different aims and objectives but do you feel it is positive or negative? Does it demonstrate our technique and syllabus is effective in combat or reveal gaping holes which need to be filled? GM Shin - I saw TV shows of Mixed Martial Arts and it is exciting and very untraditional, that I know. In the past, I have seen many individuals create various versions of so call Martial arts. After a few years they tend to disappear, and no one ever remembers them. Newly popular Mixed Martial Arts seems to appeal to many, but to me, it is not any form of ART. It is purely a physical sport . I wish they would not call it “Martial Arts,” but rather create a new name for it. I do not see any thing that can be learned from its training, except how to fight brutally. A true martial art must offer much more! In this modern era, which is high tech with computers etc, it is called the information age and it is quite different. It is easy to accept other styles, other techniques, which can easily be acted out in your living room. But, I am afraid this will eventually lose the essential values and heritage of the martial arts as everybody seems to be chasing after instant excitement, or other incentive, such as financial gain. I am sorry that this kind of thing has appeared. In the World Tang Soo Do Association we have kept the traditional art passed from century to century, and under my leadership, we will continue to follow the principles of a traditional martial art. How do you teach Self Defence? Do you interpret movements

from our Hyungs or advocate a separate catalogue of techniques? Where does one step sparring fit into the equation? GM Shin - The basics and Hyungs offer the perfect grounding for self defence. Of course, one step techniques, sparring, and self defence are only the practical application of the basics and personal experience. I believe that hyungs enable us to use combat techniques, and teaches us to build our techniques with certain moves and angles which will help us with unusual circumstances where we have to defend ourselves. Compared with the non-training individuals our efficiency and accuracy is much better and this is why in the older days we did not teach self defence as separate classes. Sir, the WTSDA sword form looks very similar to Kuk Sool Won. Can you share the origin of this hyung? I had always believed the basic aim of Tang Soo Do was to be a weaponless art and forge hands and feet, etc as weapons of protection. When did this philosophy change? GM Shin - Yes, when I was training I only learned and trained in Dan Gum Hyung, (short dagger) . Gradually the WTSDA students demanded weapon training so at our Board of Directors meeting we adopted additional weapons including three sword Hyungs. The first two hyungs we created our own way with a Technical committee adopting techniques introduced by Baekchae Dynasty warriors and the third form was adapted

TANG SOO DO By Master David Allerton (5th Dan)

from Kuk Sul Won forms with many changes that were made at out Master’s Clinic. GrandMaster Shin, many thanks for sharing this information and the benefit of your considerable experience. In the second instalment of this interview I shall explore some more advanced concepts including Ki Gong training , meditation and the role played by the Tae Kuk Kwon hyung in the history and development of Tang Soo Do.

Use the Force By Chris Airey email: chris-airey06@hotmail.com

I was out of breathe, soaked in sweat and my knuckles were red raw, but it still wasn’t over yet. My first experiences of taekwondo had pushed me to my limits, but when taking my first steps into the world of martial arts, I wasn’t expecting to hear the words “can I use the force?” A junior was enquiring if this was a technique involved, to the disappointment of the child QuiGon-Jinn was busy for that week’s session. But the sci-fi loving kid had a point; no one really knows what taekwondo or what any combat sport really consists off. I really did not have a clue what I was letting myself into In a notoriously intimidating environment, and with my heart racing, I entered the sports hall to a surprisingly serene atmosphere. For such an active sport I was expecting more of a buzz, but this was just the calm before the highoctane storm began. I was immediately thrown into the warm-up; little did I know that this included numerous laps of the hall, doing multiple press-ups and carrying a large man on my back. Not easy for someone who hasn’t done any exercise for almost two years. I was now expecting the instructor to slow the pace down, get some mats out and everyone would gather round while he showed us techniques which I would then practice on my own in a corner where hopefully no one could see me. Sadly I was wrong. 142 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK

Loitering at the back of the class like a naughty child, I was told to find a partner. Panicking slightly, I ended up being paired with Ross Kynaston, an experienced black belt.

“I was standing in the middle of a ring facing an adult black belt, who I thought was going to knock my head off. The instructor shouted ‘GO’ and I just froze waiting to get hit.

I suddenly became very conscious of what I was doing, even before I threw my first punch. I’m the kind of person who wouldn’t hurt a fly, even if it took a bite out of my favourite Granny Smith apple. Whenever you do something for the first time, you always worry about how you look, and in my case, when I take part in a martial art, I could only look silly.

“However to my surprise, and great relief, I was not pummelled to the floor, but encouraged by the black belt to try and hit him.”

With my limbs flying within inches of my partner’s face, I was constantly concerned about hitting him. Despite him encouraging me to do so, I couldn’t, it just wasn’t in my nature to hit a complete stranger. But this quickly became the least of my worries. My partner was throwing pinpoint precision punches narrowly close to my nose, which made me very nervous as sweat continue to run from my forehand, now only due to fear. But Ross told me that even he was scared when he first started. He told me: ‘I remembered witnessing my first sparring matches. Seeing two of the black belts fight each other was quite a daunting experience. “Then my worst nightmare happened as I was invited to enter the ring. My legs immediately turned to jelly, I could barely walk, but I entered to see a giant standing opposite me.

Ross, now the giant standing opposite me, was also encouraging me to hit him, but I never quite felt comfortably to do so. We learnt more taekwondo techniques, but now in organised rows as part of some sort of robotic line-dance with the instructor acting as the chirographer, just thankfully without the spandex. Thoroughly knackered, we once again got back into our pairs, just time using pads, and I got the chance to talk to Ross again about how he got starting in the sport. At school he was bullied and subsequently lacked confidence. In an attempt to change his life, he turned to taekwondo and never looked back. “I was introduced to the sport when I was 10,” Ross told me while throwing punches narrowly close to my head. “I had tried out different forms of martial arts before such as Karate and Aikido but I did not enjoy them. “I tried out one class of taekwondo and was hooked. The classes were great fun and covered many aspects such as self defence, cardio and technique.

“It was great for fitness and a real confidence booster for me when I was younger. It teaches you discipline, self control and many other key qualities.” It was almost the end of the session, I was exhausted, soaked in sweat and my knuckles were soar, but it wasn’t over as I was told that I now how to spar, with Ross. I know exactly how he felt on his first lesson, nervous, anxious, worried and most importantly terrified of what was about to happen next. But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. Yes I got hit in the head a few times, but its part of the sport and I really enjoyed the physical aspect of sparing, something I thought I would never say. Taekwondo is an enjoyable sport, it may include a lot of physical exertion, and you may want to bring a towel to stem the flow of sweat dripping from your forehead, but nevertheless I would recommend it to people who have never thought about trying it before. And if you’re lucky, Qui-Gon-Jinn may even be available to teach you a few things.

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(7/11)

‘The Strongest Karate’

www:

www.martialartsinstructionalvideos.co.uk

(11/11)

(6/10)

KYOKUSHIN

(3/10)

Members of the NAKMAS Governing Body

Email cgidley@live.com

(12/08)

Japanese

K A R A T E

Send your Clubs Directory entries to: Combat Clubs Dept, Unit 20, Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 1BE Email: combat_clubs@martialartsinprint.com

Alan Mynett

(6/10)

(10/10)

WING CHUN KUNG FU ACADEMY

Trained and certified in Hong Kong by Grandmaster IP CHING Member of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association Hong Kong Venue: Vestry Hall, 54 Cemetery Road, Sheffield, S11 8FP Lesson Time: Monday & Wednesday 7pm - 9pm. Saturday 10:30am - 12:30pm

Private or group tuition available (7/10)

Tel: 01709 370 268 Mobile: 07958 047 651 www.wing-chun-kungfu.com

Dr Zhao Jian Wang

Other Arts

ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS

Bando San shou Eskrima Silat Krabi Krabong Lerdrit Muay Boran Muay Thai Qwan Ki Do Savate Systema Krav Maga Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Capoeira Kombato Luta Livre Maculelê Vale tudo Jeet Kune Do Kickboxing Mixed martial arts Shootfighting Arnis Buno Cinco Teros Dumog Eskrima (Kali) Espada y Daga Jendo Kali Sikaran Kombatan Modern Arnis Pananjakman Pangamut Sikaran Suntukan Yawyan

THE FOREMOST MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY IN

SOUTH EAST ESSEX Karate � Kickboxing � Bu-Jutsu

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M: 07765 357 186

(9/10)

To book an appointment call

H: 01384 371 836

Clubs throughout Essex:Grays, Corringham, Horndon, Pitsea, Basildon, Southend, Rochford, South Woodham Ferrers, Brentwood.

(6/10)

Chinese Traditional Medicine Grandmaster Yang Tai-Chi Chuan Shaolin Chi-Gong & Tai-Chi Weapons. Swords, Staffs, Spear & Chinese Wrestling. Over 40 years experience. Acupuncture and Herbal Treatments available. Private Tuition / Blackbelt Instructors Sessions. Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 2HQ.

THE JIM McALLISTER

� � � �

Junior, Adult & Beginner Classes Female & Male Instructors Fully Equipped Private Dojo Private Lessons Available

All Instructors operating within The Academy are Fully Qualified to the Highest Standard Beginners Welcome For details of your local club contact:website: www.mcallistermartialarts.co.uk e-mail: jamesgmcallister@yahoo.com

ACADEMY DO-JO: 01268 412044 MOBILE: 07752 298237 (7/10)

(7/10)

(7/11) • • •

Essex and the South East’s Premier Martial Arts Centre for Study and Certification in the following arts: KALI, JUN FAN GUNG FU, JEET KUNE DO, MUAY THAI, KICKBOXING, BOXING, JIU JITSU, SOMBO, JUDO, SELF DEFENCE

To arrange a free tour contact Laurence Sandum - 01245 467680 www.blackbeltmartialarts.co.uk www.thefitnessacademy.co.uk

JKD KALI & SILAT

Group Classes - Private Lessons Training Programmes SE London & Kent Certified by Guro Dan Inosanto Qualified to the highest International standards

www.karasackali.co.uk

(6/11)

10/10

• • • • • •

National Centre of Excellence for Martial Arts Enrolling New Beginners each week Essex’s best-equipped full time academy for the study of martial arts Friendly welcome and equal treatment for everyone Martial Arts Gym of the Year National Award Winning Martial Arts Academy Weekly beginners group and personal classes Regular seminars and workshops in all arts Nationally Recognised Instructor Training Program available

07906927770

1-2 church Road Boreham Chelmsford Essex

(7/10)

CLUBS LISTINGS Bristol Martial Arts Association, Chris Beaumont, Karate & Kickboxing, 08456434074, bristolmartialarts@live.com, Cobra Martial Arts Association, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9BZ Martial Art World, Master Bonthuys, Tae Kwon Do & Korean Kickboxing, 0800 0217712, inquiries@martialartworld.co.uk, United Kingdom Black Belt Schools, Andover, Hampshire, England ATEA-Association of Traditional Eastern Arts, Keith Edwards, Shaolin Kung Fu & Tai Chi (Yang Style), 01727 858469, keith.edwards@ atea.org.uk, AMA, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Black Mountain Kung Fu, Simon Griffiths, Mohando Short Fist Kung Fu, 07976526408, mswkungfu@hotmail.co.uk, Unlimited Martail Arts Association + Self Defence Federation, Neath, Port Talbot, South Wales Karate Leadership UK, Nathan Marsh, Karate & Kickboxing, 01634323850, enquiries@karateleadershipuk.co.uk, Leadership UK, Medway Towns, Maidstone Greavesend, Ashford Chang’s Hapkido Academy, Tammy Parlour., Hapkido, 07951 535 876, info@ChangsHapkidoAcademy.co.uk, Grandmaster Gedo Chang, Korean Hapkido Association Wol Ge Kwan.., London

Bandong Ryok Taekwondo, John Reeves, ITF Taekwndo, 07834169020, infro@ banongryok.org.uk, GTI Taekwondo, Andover/Hampshire/England Byrne Black Bel Academy Full Time Club, Edd Byrne, Sport Karate, 07816649179, mastereddbyrne@eddbyrne.co.uk, ITO, St Columb,Cornwall South East Freestyle Karate Do, Mike Harwood, Self Defence Karate based, 07727117029, sefkarate@yahoo.com, Cobra, Chislehurst, Kent & Avery, Eltham Chorley Shotokan, Chris Robinson, Shukokai Karate, 07854270569, cskcinfo@ googlemail.com, SSK, Chorley Lancashire

CLASSIFIED S

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Mobile: 07906876371 Fax: 08712420269 (11/09)

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CALL JAMES BOARDMAN FOR INFO & FLEXIBILITY SERVICE TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS 07931373149 02087159955 WWW.GMATT.CO.UK (6/10)

Training Holidays Visit: www.eight33n.com/training-holidays/

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CLUBS DIRECTORY & CLASSIFIEDS

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Clubs/Classifieds listing

Martial Arts Books and

magazines for sale. New and second hand editions. Eastern and Western Arts. Visit: www.combatbooks.co.uk For latest catalogue send 2 1st class stamps.

(9/11)

Combat Arts Archive, 12 Berkeley Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 5ED. TEL: (01325) 465286

(1/10)

Full lion dance kits, Heads, Cymbals, etc. Dit Da Jow and a huge range of Chinese martial arts equipment. Buy on line: www.kungfusupply.co.uk Other contact information: Email: sales@kungfusupply.co.uk trade_sales@kungfusupply.co.uk

(8/08)

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Example Advert sizes:

Women Extreme Wrestling ........................................£7.00 Ju Jitsu Beginners to Blackbelt................................£12.99 Becoming a Better Boxer volume 1........................£17.99 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques and tatics ................£18.99 Ultimate Martial Arts Championship Kick Boxing ......£9.99 Ultimate Martial Arts Championship Oyama Knockdown Karate ......................................................................£12.50 Best of British Boxing: Featuring Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Frank Bruno, Steve Collins and many more boxers: Five Disc Box Set ............................................£25.00 Mike Tyson Boxers Collection Featuring three fights Mike Tyson V Michael Spinks 1988. Mike Tyson V Berbick 1986. Mike Tyson V Bruno 1989 ........................................£7.99

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Films Bruce Lee Enter The Dragon two discs special edition Version 18 certificate ..............................................£12.99 The ultimate Bourne collection: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy The Bourne Ultimatum. All three films for....................................£14.99 David Carradine Kung Fu the complete First Series ..........................£13.99 Kung Fu The Complete Second Series ..................£13.99 Black Belt Jones 2 Kung Fu film................................£3.99

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