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JANUARY 2008
Vol. Vol. 34 34 No. No. 11 £3.50 £3.50
KUNG FU
LUN KAI - A hidden treasure BRUCE LEE - New book released
TAEKWONDO
ITF’s OLYMPIC MEMBER - Prof. Chang Ung KYTU DANG - Europe’s 1st poomse champion!
FULL CONTACT
CAGE RAGE 24 REPORT - ‘Feel the pain!’ ELBOW STRIKES - Muay Thai’s lethal weapons
KARATE
IN DEFENCE OF THE GI - Strength in tradition DEVELOP REAL POWER - Authentic karate weight training
MEDIA
BACK TO THE 80’S - The Golden Age of martial movie magic HUMAN WEAPONS - History channel’s new martial arts series
LIFESTYLE
BURN 500 CALORIES IN 1 HOUR - A New Year... A new you! INJURIES - Dr Cheung’s guide to prevention and management!
PLUS!
FREE!!! - Masters of Martial Arts poster! 01 9 77095 5 95 1 085
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COMMENT As we go to press, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards have just honoured some of the Country’s most deserving sports players. The awards are often seen as a good barometer as to which sports are doing well in the public eye. So what a delight it was to have two boxers named in the top three, with Ricky Hatton fresh from his defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather taking third place. I don’t think there will have been many who would argue with the overall result; Middleweight Joe Calazghe crowned number 1; great to see the fighting arts riding high. Interestingly, Formula One Superstar, Lewis Hamilton, who was named in 2nd, place has said in his recently released autobiography that it was only through his karate training that he was able to deal with the bullying he suffered at school. It currently seems that that there is a huge revival going on in the fighting arts; a recent report claims that there are now more people belonging to boxing gyms in the UK than to either Rugby Union or Rugby League clubs. Much of amateur boxing’s success is down to the huge sums of money put into the sport by the government, who see boxing at grassroots as a way of directing inner-city youngsters away from crime. So, perhaps the benefits of youngsters training in martial arts is at last being recognised, as recently a politician stated that the nation would be better off if we got disruptive youngsters into a martial arts programme, rather than give them ASBOS. So perhaps it’s time to start lobbying the government for funding for martial arts clubs, similar to that given to boxing. Congratulations must also go to Stacy Cadman, the diminutive actress and kickboxer came runner up on Sky’s gruelling Cirque de Celebrite. Rumour has it that Stacy who, when not away on set, teaches kickboxing at the London PKA club, has been offered a contract to tour Europe with the Cirque. Finally, it’s new, bold and needs our support, the European Festival of martial Arts is set to take place in Disney Land Paris, in September, so if you fancy martial arts with your Mickey Mouse, this should be a great weekend. STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS... Swords, Katana etc., are to be banned! Although only just announced, it has been proposed (and we believe now passed) that the import, sale or loan of swords, katannas etc will result in prosecution. Apparently, if you can justify the ownership of the above then you will be okay, however if you import, sell or loan your “offensive weapon” you will be liable for prosecution. Our weapons expert, Mike Finn will detail the full implications in an article in next moth
COLUMNISTS Mike Finn Dan Docherty Michael Tse William Sanders Simon Hazeldine Dr. James Fisher Anton Van Thomas Chris Samuel Keith Gilliland Dan Green Don Heatrick Brian Dossett Andy Hopwood Andy Bryant John Graden Nino Bernardo
Sean Viera Paul Allen Richard Dimitri Helen Stranzl Mark Cortnage Kerry Louise Norbury
CONTRIBUTORS Paul Burkinshaw Matt Sylvester Frank Mensah Tom Hibbert Patrick Rault Carl Fisher Mic Clark Rob Nutley
Neville Wray Jim Fung Leon Dogan Peter Lewis Paul Hennesey Iain Abernethy Alfie Lewis Iain Armstrong Julian Dale Danny Guba Richard Thomas Rhee Ki Ha Steve Proctor Neil Holden Gavin Mullholland Ross Iannocarro Cris Janson-Piers Jeffet Jenkins
CONTENTS
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VOLUME 34 NUMBER 1 JAN 2008
REGULARS 12 19 20 37 56 58 74 152 -
FEATURES 6 -
HUMAN WEAPONS Martial Arts hits the History Channel
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INJURIES Prevention and Management!
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GOVERNING BODIES Who needs them and what is their role?
26 32 -
EUROPEAN FESTIVAL OF MARTIAL ARTS
ROBBING THE KIDS LIVES By Brian Dosset
40 46 -
BRENDAN CARR INTERVIEW
48 54 -
WAKO 16TH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
MASTER LUN KAI Profile by Derek Frearson
SHI YANMING Shaolin Kung Fu Master
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LETHAL WEAPONS Muay Thai Elbow Strikes - Part 1
68 84 -
MICK COUP INTERVIEW
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EDITORIAL TEAM 0121 344 3737
SENIOR DESIGNER Mark John Davies 40
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CALENDAR 48
HEAD OFFICE:
CLUBS DIRECTORY Advertise your club, school, group, Association or classes for just £5.00 per word for 12 months!, Simply layout your details (using the current advertisers as an example) including a good example of your logo/emblem if required and send it together with a cheque to the Head Office. Please mark the envelope “Clubs Directory” or E-Mail: combat_clubs@martialartsinprint.com
WADO RYU KARATE IN BRITAIN A definitive history of Wado Ryu Karate - Part 2 TAIRA MASAJI SENSEI
ADVERTISING DETAILS 66
TEENAGE KARATE CHAMPION Scoops top Sports award
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IN DEFENCE OF THE GI President Shito-Kai Scotland
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THE WAY OF SANCHIN KATA Crescent step - Part 3
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TOOLS OF THE TRADE
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MASTER CHOI JUNG HWA A Man on a Moral mission. Part 3
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SHARON SWORDS Ever seeking perfection
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WALL STREET The Korean connection
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PROFESSOR CHANG UNG ITF President/IOC member interviewed
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PUTTING SCOTTISH TKD ON THE MAP A year to remember for Master David Bailey
138 140 -
MASTER TONY VOHRA
143 144 150 -
WORLD POOMSAE CHAMPIONSHIPS KYUTU DANG INTERVIEW TRAINING IN KOREA Real applications to the ITF patterns. Part 8
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DISCLAIMER COMBAT is published by Martial Arts Publications, Regent House, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham. 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.
KARATE AND WEIGHT TRAINING
CHANG HON HAE SUL Real applications to the ITF patterns. Part 8
If you have a forthcoming event that you would like published in COMBAT Calendar. Send your entry, giving dates, times, and contact numbers, to “CALENDAR” COMBAT Head Office. COMBAT, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham. B42 2ET. Tel: 0121 344 3737 Fax: 0121 356 7300 E-Mail: combat.magazine@btclick.com
CAGE RAGE 24 Event report by Joe Holroyd
TERRY CONNELL President Shito-Kai Scotland
GRAPHIC DESIGN Kevin Thompson Matthew Riches
500 CALORIES How to lose 500 calories in one hour!
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Paul Clifton
JOE LEWIS The Champions Champion. Part 2
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PUBLISHER/MANAGING DIRECTOR
THE OFFICIAL BRUCE LEE COLUMN KEYBOARD WARRIOR COMBAT FILM BOOK REVIEW MIKE FINN - Koryu, part 4. THE NEGOTIATOR - By Aran Dharmeratnam. MARTIAL ARTS NEWSLINE CLUBS DIRECTORY & CLASSIFIEDS SECTION
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WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 5
Human We
Martial Arts Hits the History Channel
From now and until the 27th of February 2008 Wednesday won’t be the same! As the History Channel is set to broadcast a 13 episode series of programs called, The Human Weapon. The series is based around the exploits and journey of two martial artists, Jason Chambers and Bill Duff and their quest to find true masters of martial arts. Their search for true pugile masters takes them around the globe and lets them experience some fascinating arts. Combat has joined forces with the History Channel to offer you an insight into their experiences ands this article offers you a brief insight. All you have to do now is watch the series... n the UK Premiere series, Human Weapon, two martial arts adventurers take us on a mission to find the masters of the different martial arts from around the world. Their quest takes them on a global journey to extreme and exotic places from the fighting rings of the Philippines to the dockyards of Marseille. Each hour long episode follows Jason Chambers, America’s fighting Welterweight Champion and Bill Duff, former American Football Player and Wrestler, as they train with international hand-to-hand combat masters and learn the history behind the world’s most fascinating forms of combat before testing their ability against a master of each fighting style – and these fights are for real!
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Muay Thai: Ultimate Striking Wednesday 5th December at 9pm
Karate Wednesday 12th December at 9pm
The fighting pair journey to Bangkok, to the home of Muay Thai, one of the world’s most devastating martial arts. After witnessing beat-downs and knockouts at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium, they travel across the country perfecting the moves of the fighting style known as The Science of Eight Limbs. From ancient killing techniques in the jungles on the border of Burma to weapons training among the ruins of a Buddhist temple, they master all aspects of this ancient martial art in the hopes that one of them can survive a fight against an international Muay Thai champion.
Next stop on the combat quest is the island of Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of one of the most deadly hand-to-hand martial arts in the world, Karate. Our host’s journey across this legendary island teaches them all aspects of the martial art Okinawan’s created to help battle invading Samurai warriors over 400 years ago. After practicing Iron Body Training in a castle, mastering heart-stopping vital point strikes in an ancient temple and putting themselves through the rigorous training of ancient masters, one of the combatants will step onto the mat to face a black belt and Okinawan Champion, in a true Karate battle.
Eskrima Stick Fighting Wednesday 19th December at 9pm Jason and Bill travel to the island of the Philippines, where the indigenous fighting style, Eskrima, was formed. From ancient forts in Cebu City to a military base in Manila, our hosts learn the stick and knife techniques that were used to destroy a terrorist cell in the 1990’s. Along the way, they attempt to take down a water buffalo using techniques developed on the rice patties at the foot of the Manalanga Mountains and perfect Eskrima stick twirling techniques on bamboo rafts beneath the waterfalls in the jungles of Badian. Finally one of our hosts enters a gritty cockfight ring for an Eskrima stick fight against a five time world champion.
Krav Maga of the Israeli Commandos Wednesday 26th December at 9pm Israel is home to one of the deadliest hand-to-hand combat systems in the world. Designed for the Israeli Defence 6 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
apons Forces in the 1940’s, Krav Maga is a dirty; anything goes fighting style that is used to disarm and destroy assailants carrying weapons. Travelling to some of the most sacred religious locations in the world our hosts learn to escape deadly chokes, deflect weapons and perfect ruthless counterattacks in their quest to become true human weapons. Their journey ends with a fight against an entire unit of elite-level Krav Maga professionals.
Pankration: The Original Martial Art Wednesday 2nd January 2008 at 9pm Jason and Bill plunge into the cradle of civilization, Athens, Greece, to explore what some think is the world’s original mixed martial art. Literally translated as “all powers,” Pankration is the ancient Greek martial art. Made famous by Spartans and ancient Olympians, Pankration has recently been revitalized as a modern sport, one that Jason and Bill will experience first hand in the ultimate test; a legal Pankration match with a World, European, and six-time national champion Pankration fighter - a true Human Weapon.
Judo: Samurai Legacy Wednesday 9th January at 9pm Our adventurers are in Japan to understand the techniques and history of Japan’s national martial art; Judo. Derived from the battlefields of feudal Japan and Jujutsu fighting styles of the Samurai, Judo has an illustrious past of deadly skills and honour. Along their journey, our hosts travel through the cultural centres of Tokyo, Kyoto and Okayama. A world champion Judoka shows our hosts special, match-winning techniques and the descendent of a 400-year-old line of Samurai teaches them the differences between the deadly art of Jujutsu and the gentle way of Judo. Jason and Bill’s journey eventually leads them to Tokai University, where one of them musters the strength and newly acquired Judo skills to take on a world-class Judo champion.
To read the rest of this article make sure you get your copy of combat available from WH Smiths & all good newsagents
OFFICIAL BRUCE LEE COLUMN By S. Kerridge
LEGENDS OF THE DRAGON “The preparation and subsequent filming for The Way of the Dragon was a labour of love for my father as recounted and represented in these detailed volumes by Steve Kerridge” - Shannon Lee here have been many books over the years covering the life and times of Bruce Lee. In this issue of Combat, the Official U.K. Bruce Lee column offers an exclusive preview of the upcoming book series BRUCE LEE LEGENDS OF THE DRAGON. This three volume series has been officially endorsed by the Bruce Lee Estate with the foreword written by none other than his daughter, Shannon Lee. Exclusively published by the Tao publishing company, the first volume is due for release in mid to laterthis month, the sec-
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ond volume in March and the final volume to be unveiled on April 26th & 27th at the SENI ‘08 event in London’s EXCEL centre, where they will hold for the first time in the U.K. the Bruce Lee Museum with guest Shannon Lee (look out for further details in Combat over the next few months). Being the first book series to be officially endorsed since the John Little series some ten years ago, this work covers a period of creativity in Bruce Lee’s life from 1972 upon the end of his initial two picture deal he signed with Golden
Harvest studios the previous year. The timeline of April to August 1972 is not only interesting due to his recently acquired fame in South East Asia, but also the fact that this was the period in which he had total control over his destiny under the banner of his newly formed company Concord productions. Although strongly touted as being just a ‘The Way of the Dragon’ book, it actually covers this period for another reason. It shows how The Way of the Dragon developed from an idea, to actual location shoots and finally onto the finishing studio works. We see how people around Bruce Lee experienced working alongside him, from co-stars to assistant studio workers. We see the politics surrounding Bruce Lee at the time, with many a producer trying to manipulate the Little Dragon for their own ends. Due to the enormity of the project, (which has been three years in the making) the book had to be split into three volumes, which in complete, total over eight hundred pages and around fourteen hundred photographs. Interviews were conducted with many people that worked alongside Bruce at the time from the U.S.A, Italy, and Hong Kong. Chaplin Chang, who was at the time Golden Harvest production manager, speaks in detail of their time in Rome during location shooting on the streets of the eternal city. We also hear memories from Ricardo Billi, the Italian location manager who was employed to work alongside the Golden Harvest team in Rome. Malisa Longo, who was to marry Ricardo Billi some years later, recalls her small role in the movie and several incidents that occurred during the two weeks of filming there. Many anecdotes from co-stars Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Bob Wall, and Jon Benn to name a few are well documented throughout about their time in Italy
and Hong Kong beside Bruce Lee. We also hear from the many newspaper reporters who were witness to this period in Bruce’s life and the interviews they conducted. This trilogy, more than anything, displays not only the innovative vision Bruce Lee had of producing a movie of his own creation, but of a man that continued to grow and expand as one of the greatest martial arts minds of all time. Producing the work over three volumes, gave a chance to savour the various moments throughout the five months in 1972 in detail. Volume one covers the preliminaries and preparations in Hong Kong and his meeting with friend, student and top Hollywood scriptwriter Stirling Silliphant. We travel on location to Europe and the Italian capital of Rome and finally back to Hong Kong and the T.V. appearance on the popular variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight. In volume one HKTVB host Josiah Lau speaks to Bruce on the show “Bruce, I learn from the newspapers that Norris and Wall are your students, and it also said that although you instruct them they have been Karate champions for many years .... I think your Jeet Kune Do must be very powerful!” Bruce waved his hands, “No, don’t play that game with me, I have never told anyone they are my students. We are friends and when we have time, we get together and discuss martial art”
book by HKTVB Executive producer Robert Chua “This was the first ever TV charity marathon held in Hong Kong. It ran for more than twenty four hours and the sum it raised was fantastic. Never was such a huge sum of money raised in Hong Kong over a twenty four hour period.” With many a producer and movie studio at the time trying to entice the Little Dragon, the final volume unveils the politics that surrounded him as Bruce told one reporter “There are too many temptations. Recently for instance, I was offered HK$250,000 to appear for a few moments in a commercial. “There are also many movie offers, but I feel that it would not be fair to anyone if I start shooting a dozen films a year. I can’t possibly give any of the films the full attention and concentration that it requires. “I want to limit the number of films which I appear in each year. These tempting offers are making life more and more complicated.” As with the previous two books, the final volume displays the many scenes from The Way of the Dragon in beautiful photographic detail including the famous double nunchaku sequence, which as throughout
the three volumes include many unpublished photos from the archives of the Bruce Lee Estate. Finishing with the post production alongside Bruce and the Hong Kong movie making machine, his directorial and choreographic skills at not only Golden Harvest, but the Unicorn Palm movie set are shown. Several social events are also covered throughout, including visits to the rival Shaw Brothers movie town. What really intrigued me about this particular timeline was the fact that Bruce Lee was unbecomingly on the edge of international superstardom with Hollywood about to knock on his door. Over the three volumes, the book hopes to convey the message of exactly how hard Bruce Lee worked to achieve what he did. Shannon Lee sums it up best in the book when she wrote “The Way of the Dragon is my father from beginning to end - not only did he imagine it, write it, direct it, star in it, and produce it, but the film is full of his sense of humour and playfulness, and it is also the first time he really was able to express some of his beliefs and ideas with regard to martial arts and Chinese culture. My father understood very well what resonated with Chinese audiences”
Volume two covers not only the many studio scenes, but also the location shoot in the New Territories. The volume ends with the Operation Relief benefit show for HKTVB as recalled exclusively in the
EXCLUSIVE TO THE READERS OF COMBAT MAGAZINE! BRUCE LEE BOOK COMPETITION! Just answer these three questions:
1) Where was Bruce Lee born? 2) What is Bruce Lee’s birthdate? 3) What is Bruce Lee’s martial art called? The first ten correct answers will receive signed copies of volume one softback Send your answers to; BRUCE BOOK COMP, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2ET or email us at brucebookcomp@martialartsinprint.com BRUCE LEE, the Bruce Lee likeness are trademarks and copyrights of Concord Moon LP. All Rights Reserved.
WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 13
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KEYBOARD WARRIOR
He knows what’s going on! CAN MARTIAL ARTS HELP KICK DRUGS OUT OF BRITAIN? Currently there are a couple of wellmeaning projects that are looking to use martial arts to combat drugs. Aside from the question as to whether it’s possible to actually combat drugs properly when they are almost a part of mainstream culture, that is another question. This question deserves well-considered debate, especially as these projects will impact upon martial arts as a whole should anything go wrong. The question is: Do drug addicts really need to be taught techniques that will make them better at their ‘job’? You are most likely wondering why I’m asking this question. I’m asking it because no doubt there is a story-hungry journalist out there looking for a subject to prey on. And if a welltrained drug addict uses the skills that were taught at this project you can well imagine the headlines. Answers on a postcard please. There’s no prize.
WHY IS JUDO FEATURED SO HEAVILY IN THE PAPERS? Putting together the news line I’ve noticed an interesting fact. Judo stories are printed a lot more than any other martial art. Why is this? Go around any town and you’re guaranteed to find any number of Karate and Taekwondo schools, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a corresponding number of adverts for Judo schools. So either Judo schools are better at putting their stories (no matter how mundane) into the local newspapers, or there is a bias against other more ‘violent’ martial arts. It would be most interesting to find out.
BIG RUCTIONS IN TAEKWONDO DOWN-UNDER Due to Taekwondo Australia turning away athletes vying for Olympic selection from its training bases in Melbourne and Canberra, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has advised Taekwondo Australia that it no longer officially recognises the body. The Australian Sports Commission is now trying to organise a training camp for the athletes ahead of an Olympic qualifying tournament in December. The AOC cut Taekwondo Australia’s funding earlier this month after the body refused to operate under a constitution that was acceptable to the Olympic Committee. I wonder if we can expect any British Taekwondo bodies that are constantly acting unconstitutionally to be penalised in such a way? We can only hope. Strangely enough,
the TA terminated the services of its head coach, assistant head coach, junior development coach, CEO, high performance managers and two independent selectors. Now there’s a thought ?
MARTIAL ARTS ARE LINKED TO A MURDER ... AGAIN A 15-year-old has been killed at a ‘Pimps and Hookers’ party. Police suspect that the weapon used was a pair of Nunchuks. Another boy aged 16-years-old was also injured and taken to hospital. Unfortunately there will no doubt be a backlash against martial arts and the use of weapons in martial arts. Although listed as offensive weapons, it is still legal to buy Nunchuks, as long as you use them in the correct places. If their local paper is anything like mine, I fully expect an over-eager journalist to tar martial artists with the same brush i.e. pyjama-wearing weapon-wielding psychos and try to have Nunchuks banned outright. Rather than doing what is often deemed to be popular in the eyes of the public, perhaps Journos and Politicians should do what’s right! It would make a lovely change to see them examining a way of preventing non-martial artists from purchasing such weapons. In fact, why not have courses that result in the participants being licensed to use them. You have to have a licence to drive, so why not a true licence to use martial arts weapons?
YET ANOTHER PERVERT SLIPS THROUGH THE NET A court has been told that Paul Rudwick, 42, raped a schoolgirl and threatened to hit her if she told anyone. It was alleged that Rudwick, who taught at schools and church halls across Worthing and Littlehampton, also forced the girl to give him oral sex in front of other children. Rudwick, of Seaton Park, Wick, Littlehampton, denies one count of rape, one of indecent assault, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of actual bodily harm and two counts of intimidating a witness between March 2004 and April 2006. For those that don’t know, Rudwick has made a number of videos and DVDs on the subject of Karate for children and is a high-ranking black belt in Shotokan Karate International. If the charges are proven this yet again raises the question. What on earth can we do to stop people like this having access to children? If the charges aren’t proven we
have to seriously consider how to prevent such things being raised in the future. I personally know an instructor who was put through the ringer by a female (and a minor at that) student who made a number of claims. After two months of stress and having all his students being made to give statements, the girl admitted that she was lying. Such things can well and truly destroy an innocent person’s life and need to be seriously looked at.
UNDERSTAND THIS: LOSERS DO DRUGS Drug users, especially those that use drugs to cheat are, in my mind, stupid. Not ignorant or lacking commonsense, but just plain stupid. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. It’s even sadder if the people who are doing it are role models for parts of society. Whether or not they want to be role models, or even set out to be a role model doesn’t matter. Through their positions they are role models. They’re very good examples of what not to do. I’ll start with MMA fighter Jennifer Tate who tested positive for marijuana following her first-round submission loss to Shayna Baszler. I’m not sure if it was ever explained to her but marijuana is a relaxant and tends to make one want to hit the snacks rather than give you bigger muscles (unsightly on women anyway), faster or more aggressive. News of the positive test added injury to insult for Tate, who tapped out to a textbook armbar in less than a minute. Definitely a case of ‘heinous dude’, and not ‘most righteous win dude’. The second dimwit is another MMA fighter, Jason Winter who is the second mixed martial artist to test positive for anabolic agents and drugs of abuse in California. Again, Winter tested positive after losing his fight. Not only did he have methadone (a heroin substitute!) and morphine in his system, but he also tested positive for stanozolol (the drug that Ben Johnson used) and trenbolone metabolites. These last two are anabolic steroids and the latter is not even approved for human use (it’s used on cows of all things). Unfortunately small fines $4000 for Winters and a paltry $150 for Tate, coupled with short bans, 3 months for Tate and 21 months for Winters, are not the solution. Ban them for life, and make sure that every organiser out there is aware of it and helps enforce it. Only then will we see people playing fair and see the sport that we know and love be truly accepted. WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 19
GOVERNING
BODIES
By Andy Davies
Who Needs Them & What Is Their Role? For me Taekwondo, indeed Martial Arts as a whole, including my studies of Judo, Karate and Kung-Fu are very much what defines me. It is who I am and by which many people know me. In essence it is my life. How then can I quantify this lifestyle into something which is gauged simply by the name on the badge fitted to my uniform or the licence in my pocket? lmost forty years of training can be judged not by what my skills and knowledge are, but by who I choose to associate with. If such an affiliation is not deemed politically correct, by the beaurocrats in councils, schools and government departments then I become a pariah, an outlaw, someone who has dared to step outside of prejudicial views and practices and has failed to
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be kowtowed by a very narrow vision of what embodies competence. On a regular basis I am asked to deal with the likes of schools, councils and other agencies who define competence, based on prejudicial perspectives and who in real terms are far worse than many bullies, found in the school play ground. What is their crime? To blindly insist that they can only ascertain an
instructor’s credibility and competence if they are part of a Sports Council National Governing Body, an organisation which in real terms often only represents a small part of the overall industry. What then is the anomaly called a governing body? One definition given states: “in relation to a representative body, means the group of persons (by whatever name called) who are responsible for the executive
tive decisions of that representative body.” Being representative, in terms of a body can ‘only’ relate to those who elect to be represented by it, and outside of which, that body has no substance or remit. It has already been confirmed by the Ombudsman that NGB’s as most people now refer to them, are not legislative and are not regulated or policed. In effect they are non-authoritative. Therefore the term ‘Governing’ is a misnomer as it implies an exclusive, authoritative and regulatory role beyond its own confines. Regardless of such confines any relationship between those who exercise governance and those who are governed, is two sided and can only work effectively on the premise that the membership accepts this authority. If you do not accept it, the so-called mantle of governance breaks down.
BTCB Recently there have been various articles regarding the BTCB and what is occurring within that organisation. As a former Executive Committee Member of that body, I am not disinterested in what is happening, although I have removed myself from that structure, but continue to be affected by certain things that the BTCB are involved in. Hardly a week goes by without someone asking me for advice or assistance in dealing with issues which are sometimes directly or indirectly related to NGB’s like the BTCB or the BTC or other governing bodies.. The fact that I help lead an independent body (British Council for Korean Martial Arts) representing 23,000 members has not gone unnoticed by the NGB’s and I was pleased to be invited to recent talks with the CEO of Sports Coach; (the Coaching Arm of Sports Councils regarding our role and development within the industry), albeit that we steadfastly refuse to join the NGB. It was however pleasing to hear Sports Coach UK acknowledge that, for various reasons, many sports men and women in the UK operate outside of the Sports Councils system of recognition under their National Governing Body (NGB) structure.
Loans or equity are given to enterprises at certain “interests”. The society can not govern the companies. Collectives-employees govern the enterprises in the name of society to increase the income of the firm (after their social responsibility is fulfilled). Management conducts the co-ordination in favour of the collective and of the society. Employees-“citizens” are highly motivated, not by salaries and wages which are becoming hygienic factors, but by self-fulfillment and being useful to others, to the society. They themselves govern the company in the name of society and at the same time they execute part of the co-ordinated labour. Why should there not be, in line with all the other changes going on, also a change in governance? Should we not crown all our talks on empowerment, self-management, knowledgebased management, self-development motivation, social responsibility, and ethics, with self-governance? If all the other changes are mere cosmetics, the cosmetic changes in governance will take place. If there are, as we are convinced, revolutionary changes going on, what will happen to governance: will it be conducted by many stakeholders, or by employees themselves in the name of society, or will a third solution prevail?” It can be seen from the article that the role of ‘governance’ is an issue within the industry and that people are looking for solutions to move forward. Most importantly Rozman asks: “Why should there not be, in line with all the other changes going on, also a change
in governance?” Now there is a bold question, one that I now put to Martial Arts as something to ponder... Rozman goes on to say that: “Plenty of others confirm more or less unanimously, not only that governing bodies are not functioning properly, but also that the main problem lies in the very small power of governance to influence decisions of the enterprise.” One of the reasons given for this failure to function properly is: that the role of the chairman of the Governing Body and/or the role of the CEO are often integrated into one person which additionally decreases the role of others within that body. As the bearer of the decisions within an NGB the Chairman/CEO may endeavour to fulfill their own interests by the way in which they govern…. Interesting or sound familiar??? Solutions given by Rozman, who goes on to say; “The question of what changes will bring to governance arises. There is no doubt that integration between units will be tighter and there will be more co-ordination in the short run and in the long run. I believe that this co-ordination will be a mutual one and not enforced by a supreme authority.” Now there’s a thought! ‘Mutual’ coordination and co-operation not enforced by a supreme authority!...
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Rudi Rozman As i’m always looking for solutions, the other day I came across an article by a Rudi Rozman entitled “The Organisational Function of Governance; Development, Problems and Possible Changes.” which I thought could also be relevant, in part, to Martial Arts. In it Rozman says: “Let us speculate (let us have a vision), that there exists only one institutional owner - society. Hence, companies have to behave in a socially responsible manner. Companies are parts of networks; relationships among them are based on trust, too. WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 23
The European Festival of
Martial Arts 2008 The Challenge Has Been Set... Get Excited and Be a Part of It Today! ver the weekend of the 26th to the 28th September 2008 the first ever “European Festival of Martial Arts” is being held at Disneyland( Resort Paris. Launched at Seni 2007 the actual event is fast growing into a fantastic celebration of everything that is exciting about the martial arts as a whole. This includes competitions, seminars, demonstrations, live entertainment and much, much more. In association with some of the most respected names in martial arts EFMA promises to be something special for whether they are a competitor, spectator, seminar instructor, student, retailer or a supporter of any description. This really is an un-missable event - set to be the martial arts annual event in Europe - and here’s your chance to be a part of it.
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Get Involved The ethos behind EFMA is the enjoyment of everyone who takes part, giving an event that is designed to embrace as many aspects of the martial arts community as possible. EFMA is designed to give something back to the martial artists themselves. And that’s why we want you to be a part of the event - Why not host a competition? perform a demonstration or compete in front of capacity crowds in state of the art venues? At this stage the opportunities are endless. EFMA is open to your input, your enthusiasm and your valued ideas. This is it! This is your chance to work at an international level and be aligned with one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. So get in early! What do you want to see? How do you want to compete? Who do you want there? What would get you really excited? With the input of the people who really care the most about martial arts, you, together we can build an event where you are the star attraction, your demos are what people are getting excited about and your club and the competitions you compete in are in the limelight on a European level.
Competitions Already in the pipeline is a selection of fantastic competitions including open Karate, TaeKwonDo, WuShu, Kickboxing, 26 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
Capoeira, Grappling and Brazilian JuJitsu. For further details of these and how you can compete and get involved please register your interest at our website www.efma2008.co.uk detailing your preferred discipline and we will then point you in the right direction of competition organisers. But that’s not all: EFMA is looking to embrace as many disciplines as possible, including both classical and ‘modern’ martial arts styles, so register today or contact us with your ideas and you might just see it come to fruition at EFMA 2008.
together the people that really matter to you. In every discipline we all have someone to aspire to, whether they are instructors, competitors or celebrities, they can provide us with that bit extra that we need, that piece of advice or inspiration that makes us want to go that extra yard. Not to mention their endless experience and knowledge. EFMA’s seminars will reflect the people that are visiting, providing activities for all levels and ages. Let us know today your ‘heroes’ and we’ll see what we can do to get them there!
Venue Information
Entertainment
Disney’s Hotel New York “Times Square” Convention Centre The Convention Centre at Disney’s Hotel New York provides up to 5,000 m2 of floor space, part of which we will be turning into a Warrior’s Arena. Located centrally within the Resort it is within easy reach for you to be able to dip in and out of the competitions and seminars.
EFMA after all is a festival to celebrate every aspect of the martial arts culture, and that wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of showmanship. Join us in the Disney Village as we celebrate the history of martial arts with live performers, demonstrations, themed shopping and restaurants. All designed to add to the enjoyment and atmosphere of EFMA and everyone involved. Browse around the ‘Martial Arts Market’ with enclosed stalls selling merchandise and offering information on so many things from the world of martial arts.
Demonstrations EFMA is putting together a structure of demonstrations, which will excite and showcase every aspect of the martial arts. But the best demonstrations are always by people who live, breath and love their art. And that’s you! How would you like to see yourself, your team or club showcased at the highest level? Help us put together a show to “wow!” on every level. Imagine the thrill of giving your all in front of crowds that really appreciate the hard work that you have put in, that know the level of dedication and practice that you have had to attain to get to the level you’re at. And that can be any level: EFMA is all about showcasing talent from beginners to experts. If you’re interested, then register today at www.efma2008.co.uk giving us full details of you and your art.
Special Events EFMA will also see spectator events set at a new level with numerous ticketed events at your disposal. This includes live shows and full contact events and explosive demonstration spectaculars from the finest teams in Europe. All these will be hosted in the Disney Village Marquee: a unique, entirely modular designed purpose built venue with up to 3,000 m2 of space that will be packed out with tiered seating and spectacular lighting and effects. Watch this space for exciting developments coming soon that you will not want to miss out on!
Disneyland(r) Resort Paris Seminars - Who are your ‘Heroes’? Want to train with the best? Then EFMA is the place for you! We will feature a full itinerary of world-class instructors and athletes; all hand picked to reflect their commitment to their art. Who would you like to see? Who do you want to train with? Give us the feedback and we can put
Disneyland( Resort Paris provides the perfect venue for the European Festival of Martial Arts. Not only is it the ideal place for a short family break, but it incorporates impressive facilities unrivalled in Europe. World-class Disney attractions, shows and parades combined with Disney’s legendary service will all provide an excep-
tionally unique setting for this spectacular martial arts event and with specially created accommodation packages, you can’t help but choose to stay in one of the Disney hotels to enable you to be right in the heart of the Festival. Each hotel has an individual theme and a high standard of accommodation that you’d expect from Disney and with prices starting from £675 (a price based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing including 2 nights accommodation at a Disney’s Sante Fe(r) Hotel with breakfast, 4 person car ferry crossing via P&O Ferries, event admission, admission into both Disney parks for the duration of your stay and an exclusive ‘EFMA 2008 visitors pack’ only available with EFMA packages visit www.efma2008.co.uk for more details, terms and conditions). You will need to book early to avoid disappointment! As well as the Disney Parks and hotel facilities, there is a whole host of Festival atmosphere and entertainment within the Disney Village which is simply a short stroll from the Parks and Resort hotels. The Disney Village boasts an IMAX / Gaumont cinema, NEX fun bowling and games venue, Disney shops and restaurants and there’s even a nightclub!
Event Organisers and Partners
Exclusive Retail & Exhibition Outlets Available!!
which we have secured for this event. The outlets will be centrally located within the Disney Village, which forms the gateway between the Parks and Resort hotels. They will be near to the restaurants, Disney shops, cinema complex, bars and recreational areas - guaranteed and continuous footfall past your outlet where you can promote, exhibit and/or sell your company, organisation, product or merchandise. The Disney Village attracts not only those staying in Resort for their Disney holiday but the local French market and daytrippers from all over Europe too, offering a unique opportunity to reach a diverse audience. To secure one of these outlets or to discuss other merchandising or sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail sponsorenquiry@efma2008.co.uk Or visit our website www.efma2008.co.uk for more details.
With 7,600 hotel rooms available in and around the Resort, Disneyland (Resort Paris welcomes over 12million guests a year from around the world. If you have a specific product to sell and want to reach a wider audience utilising a brand alignment with the European Festival of Martial Arts and Disney, what better opportunity to showcase your company or organisation than to rent one of a limited number of retail & exhibition outlets
For further information on the European Festival of Martial Arts at Disneyland(r) Resort Paris please visit www.efma2008.co.uk. You will find full details of the event along with contact information and booking details. Register on-line to receive the latest information via email or post. For email enquiries please send to: enquiry@efma2008.co.uk.
Complemented by youth educational workshops from some the highly respected children’s awareness systems such as C.A.T.S and traditional displays from Lion Dance and The Shaolin Monks the Disney Stage at Seni08 is set to be a budding martial artists dream. Contact Seni08 to get involved on some of the stages activities on 0845 125 9627. Seni will be held on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th April 2008 at Excel London. Tickets can be obtained online at www.senishow.com or via Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1699 EFMA will also be going on tour throughout the UK in spring 2008, if you would like an EFMA representative at your event visit www.efma2008.co.uk for more details.
EFMA is putting together a who’s who of martial arts talent, organisers and instructors to help make the event the best in Europe. These include some of the most respected names and companies within the martial arts circle.
EFMA on Tour! - SENI 2008 There’s no better place to get your first experience of the EFMA Disneyland(r) Resort Paris event than at the annual Seni show. Next year Seni celebrates 10th years as the world’s leading martial arts fair and have they got an event planed for this anniversary event! One of the best new features though at Seni08 will be the “EFMA 2008 at Disneyland(r) Resort Paris Stage”. Located next to the 2012 Youth Zone the stage is set to be a fantastic children’s experiential performance arena that will showcase some of the top martial arts talent from across the UK and World. At the heart of the stage will be the EFMA 2008 Disneyland(r) Resort Paris Demonstrations Championships! Anyone can enter so whatever your style, be it freestyle forms, traditional Kata, weapons right through to stunt displays, enter this event to win a trip to the EFMA at Disneyland( Resort Paris! This mini talent show will have an individual competition on Saturday 26th April & a team event on Sunday 27th April. As well as the interaction of this open talent event, part of the promotion for the EFMA Tournament Series, The stage at Seni08 will also feature children’s wildcard individual tournaments in Karate, Freestyle, Capoeira, Taekwondo and Judo. There’s only room for a few competitors so contact Seni now if you or your club would like to enter. WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 27
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VAN DAMME COMPETITION! The Van Damme Collection Thrilling one and all with his 360-degree leaping and flying karate kicks, it’s easy to see how the Belgian-born action superstar Jean Claude Van Damme captured the imagination of moviegoers worldwide. Now see the man they call The Muscles From Brussels at his adrenalin pumping best in a pulsating new four DVD box set from Universal Pictures. Comprising No Retreat, No Surrender, The Quest, Hard Target and Sudden Death, The Van Damme Collection is released on 12th November with an RRP of just £19.99.
No Retreat, No Surrender (Dir. Corey Yuen Kwai, 1986) This groundbreaking film was not only one of the first American movies to have a predominantly Hong Kong influence in director Corey Yuen Kwai and producer Ng See Yuen, but it also gave Van Damme his first big break. Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney) is a self-confessed Bruce Lee fanatic. When his karate teacher is run out of town by the local crime syndicate, Jason refuses to stop training and, guided by the spirit of his hero, unlocks the secret of success in martial arts. Jason enrols at another gym only to find that it too is under threat from the same syndicate. What’s more, the bad guys have a secret weapon in the formidable shape of Ivan the Russian (Van Damme). Jason realises that he must fight back or he’ll be running for the rest of his life.
Hard Target (Dir. John Woo, 1993) With Van Damme paired with action maestro John Woo (Face/Off, Mission Impossible 2), it’s little wonder that many regard this as his best movie. Van Damme is the target of an evil mercenary who recruits homeless combat veterans for the ‘amusement’ of his clients bored tycoons who will pay half a million dollars to stalk and kill the most challenging prey of them all - man. Laced with dark humour, packed with electrifying action and boasting a terrific baddie in the shape of Lance Henriksen, Hard Target is a thrill a minute.
Sudden Death (Dir. Peter Hyams, 1995) Van Damme teams with Powers Boothe in a tension-packed thriller set against the backdrop of a major hockey match. Led by a villainous madman (Boothe), a group of terrorists takes over a sports arena during the sold-out Stanley Cup finals, holding the Vice President of the United States hostage and threatening to blow up the stadium if they don’t receive $1 billion by the end of the game. A fireman (Jean-Claude Van Damme), whose daughter is one of the hostages, must conquer his fears and race against time to save his child - and thousands of innocent spectators - before the terrorists carry out their deadly threat.
The Quest (Dir. Jean Claude Van Damme, 1996) Jean-Claude Van Damme directs and stars in this fast moving and exotic adventure that takes him from the slums of New York to the mysterious Lost City of Tibet. The year is 1925. On the run from the police, petty criminal Chris DuBois (Van Damme) ends up enslaved on a cargo ship. Freed by a mercenary Englishman, Lord Dobbs (Roger Moore), he ends up being bartered to an island native who trains fighters for the Ghan-Gheng. This legendary, ‘special invite only’ tournament pits the world’s deadliest fighters against each other in a winner takes all test of skill and courage. Forced to compete, DuBois faces the ultimate test - one where one wrong move could cost him not only the competition, but his life.
Prizes: We have 4 copies of The Van Damme Collection to give away to our lucky winners! Title: Boxset Details: Certificate: Combined Running Time: Release Date:
The Van Damme Collection 4 titles on 4 discs 18 384 minutes / 6hr 23 min approx 12th November 2007
To win one of these prizes, all you have to do is answer the simple question below; What job did Jean-Claude Van Damme to when he arrived in the USA, New York?
A) Mechanic
B) Taxi Driver C) Street Fighter Send your answers to;
COMBAT MAG - VAN DAMME COMPETITION, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2ET or email us at vandamme@matrialartsinprint.com
An Interview With A True Living Legend
JOE LEWIS
The Champions Champion!!! Part two In the field of physics, there was Albert Einstein. In boxing, there was Muhammad Ali. In the martial arts, there’s Joe Lewis. In a career spanning more than four decades, Lewis has won more competition titles and instituted more innovations than anyone in the history of martial sports. In this one-of-a-kind interview, you’ll discover the champ’s views on important subjects such as the science of confidence, ‘heart,’ spirituality, achieving greatness, honesty, mixed martial arts and conditioning. These topics will stimulate your thinking and impact your training in a way that taps into your soul. Interview by Rob Colasanti Joe, you may be a fighting icon, but you’re human just like everybody else. Is there anything that Joe Lewis fears? A lot! I learned from a military general that all courage is staying one step ahead of fear. Fear is an emotional signal. Fear doesn’t make you weak or meek. You should learn to embrace your fears. That emotional signal is telling how much of reality is a value or disvalue to you. I embraced fear every time I was preparing to fight. If I didn’t feel fear, then I wouldn’t do well in that fight. You want to feel that fear; it’s your partner. Fear tells you who you are. Fear allows you to tap into your inner passion. Passion is that strength that I use to do great things. Without passion, you can’t tap into mental energy. Without that energy, your actions are impotent. If you’re troubled, you don’t want to go through the hardship. In the long term, the hardship of trying to suppress fear will do you more damage and it’ll be more agonizing than actually facing it.
bunch of the next ten guys might get lucky once in a while. The other eighty were lousy. What’s happened over the years is that the middle bunch is much bigger; and that’s what’s happening in mixed martial arts. In the beginning, there were one or two top guys, and then that middle bunch grew. When these MMA guys learn how to strike, I think a couple of superstars will emerge as famous as baseball players. I think then the sport will skyrocket. It will become more than a sport; it’ll become entertainment. I don’t think mixed martial arts is super entertainment yet. It’s a super sport, but it’s not quite as big of a force as entertainment. It’ll have some mega-superstars.
When you’re watching these MMA events, are you thinking, “I wish I were there?”
I do wish those events had been around. We had backstreet, underground stuff. I was offered ten-thousand bucks to fight a guy in It’s hard to teach people to embrace fear, especially if you Los Angeles. I remember this one guy I was supposed to fight had work with a young kid, and he’s sparjust one technique. He was real stocky, ring. I had two kids sparring and one he had no neck; and his favorite move started crying. I put my arm around to get in real close and bite your Some qualified researchers had studied was him and told everybody how proud I ears off. Imagine fighting somebody was that he had the courage to cry in several top people throughout history to like that! front of the class, and how important I like to watch MMA for the it was to be able to accept and identify scientifically the definitive reasons entertainment value; I want to see express your feelings. contrast. If I see a good grappler why they are great. The only common His father was an attorney who a good puncher, then I think attribute they discovered was vocabulary against was watching the class, although I that grappler can’t take that striker didn’t realize it at the time. Years down unless he can first get two later, he represented me in a court hands on him. It takes just one hand to case for free just because of what I had done for his son. drop somebody or cut him, so always look at the striker as having the advantage. There were many great fighters during the ‘70s; fighters I remember that, back in ‘93 [when they held the first Ultimate that became legends and who are still talked about today: Fighting Championships], the word was, all fights end up on the you, Jeff Smith, Bill Wallace, Chuck Norris, Mike Stone and ground. Yeah, Sparky, but they all start from a standing position; a host of others. Do you think that the current mixed mar- and if you’re smart, they’ll end that way.
No. You don’t want to live your life that way.
“
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tial arts (MMA) craze will spawn a new generation of fighters who will create similar legacies? Yes, it has to. When I was fighting, of the top one-hundred fighters, the top ten could beat you on any given day. That middle 32 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
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When you think about hardworking British actors, naturally you think about the Robert Carlyles, the Ewan McGregors or Huge Grants of the world. You may even think of Danny Dyer or Jason Statham. But how about Brendan Carr? No? Think again... rom Steven Spielberg’s ‘Band Of Brothers’ and advertising MTV’s ‘Pimp My Ride’, from straight to DVD films like ‘The Purifiers’ and ‘Left For Dead’, to the more recent theatrically released ‘Rise Of The Foot Solider’ Brendan Carr is one of the busiest actors working the UK Indie scene at this moment. Carr is now taking on his biggest role yet, as the lead actor in Independent British action film TEN DEAD MEN. Combat recently caught up with him as he filmed his final scenes for this action packed martial arts movie, to find out what drives someone that is destined to be the UK’s next big thing. You’ve been working in this industry for several years now. Tell us a bit about your martial arts and performing history... Brendan: I started training in martial arts on and off as a wee nipper. As I got older I started to get more and more into it after seeing movies like “Enter The Dragon” with my dad who was a jiu-jitsu instructor and used to teach the police force self-defence. He was serving with them at the time as armed response in the Suffolk constabulary. My Granddad’s stories of boxing and combat along with my dad’s stories from the police force inspired me heavily and I then decided to take up TaeKwonDo with Senai Don Tanner, who was also in the air force with my dad. I went on to get my black belt in 9 Animals Kung-Fu with Sifu Neil Axe and Sifu Michel Graham, and later a black belt in Kickboxing and freestyle Karate, and covered a vast range of martial arts. While attending stage school I started to realise how ruthless this industry was going to be and learned from a very young age that its a “Dog Eat Dog” industry to work in.
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Who inspired you growing up? Easy! I was MASSIVELY inspired by who I also consider real LEGENDS - Billy Blanks, Jalal Merhi, Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Keith Cooke (in “China O’Brien”, OH MY GOD!), Loren Avedon, and Bolo Yeung. There’s probably a few I’ve missed out but it was these guys who REALLY did it for me. And these guys are the reason I am here doing what I am doing today.
depending on what I’m filming, sometimes I’m just an ACTOR, I guess. To date I have played several leading roles including Moz in “The Purifiers” alongside Kevin McKidd and Dominic Monaghan, Taz in “Love Struck” which won the best film award in 2005 at the London Portobello Film Festival alongside Nathan Clough, Joey Ansah, Gordon Alexander and Kate Eden, and more recently I played Jason in “Rise Of The Footsoldier” which was released in cinemas nationwide in September this year. So although I have worked in martial arts films, I have acted in almost as many that weren’t.
This year sees you filming TEN DEAD MEN for director Ross Boyask. How did you get involved with this project? Well I was up for playing the lead role in one of Ross earlier films called “Fixers”. I had met Ross a long time ago after working on a short film with him called “Pure Vengeance” where I played the villain Eddie. “Fixers” fell through though and up came “Ten Dead Men”. Ross asked me if I would be interested in playing the lead role Ryan, so I asked for the script. I took a look at it and loved it and, after hearing who else was going to be involved in the movie, I COULDNT SAY NO. The only problem was that I was also scheduled to start work on “Rise Of The Footsoldier”. Scheduling became difficult.
So what was it that drew you to the script? This is actually a hard one, because it wasn’t AREAS that drew me to the script, it was the script as a whole. I felt it had so much potential to make a great movie, and I could see how good the film was going to be. The script was a billion times better than the scripts for “Fixers” and Modern Life’s previous film “Left For Dead” and seemed to be better than any script I had looked at over the past few years for most Brit-Indie movies. In fact Indie movies aside, the script seemed better to me than any other Brit movie full stop.
How would you describe yourself? Is Brendan Carr an actor, martial artist or ‘martial arts film actor’?
TEN DEAD MEN is an action film through and through. Let’s talk about some of the key set pieces in the movie. Let’s start with the fight between your character Ryan and that of Bruiser, played by Cage Rage’s Tommy Gerald:
I don’t class myself as a “martial arts film actor”, I class myself as an actor who has an extra special skill in the martial arts. I like to think of myself as an action actor but,
Well this was a complete disaster, I will never, ever work with Tommy Gerald again EVER! No just kidding, Tommy is great, and has so much enthusiasm and adds so much character...
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BRENDAN CARR Action Packed! by Phil Hobden
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WAKO 16th World Championships 2007
By Dwyer Evelyn t was another early start at Heathrow airport for the WAKO light contact kickboxing team. After a pleasurable two hour flight, we arrived in Belgrade, in Serbia for
I
the 16th WAKO World Kickboxing Championships. We had finally reached our destination for our ‘weighins’ at the stadium. For once, the team was in and out fairly smoothly with
l to r: Ted Wolf, Evelyn Dwyer, Lucy Wolf, Gavin Williamson, Diane Cameron and John Morley
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everyone making their weight. So for us, it was time to relax and catch up on some well needed sleep. As was the next day where we rested and did a bit of sightseeing. The championships began with the opening ceremony, with 109 countries represented for this 16th World Championships. After the opening ceremony, the competition began with three two-minute rounds (under WAKO Light Contact rules). To kick off the competition and for team GB was Audifax Kinga fighting Dejan Cepic for Croatia in the under 69kg category. Unfortunately for us, Audifax wasn’t on form on this occasion and was beaten in the 1st round of the competition. Next up, new to the WAKO team, was Nicholas Gardener, in the men’s under 79kg category, taking on Mirzad Vukalic from Slovenia. Nicholas was on top form and won this fight 3-0, taking him into the next round, to face Ruslan Ishmakov from Russia the following day.
Lucy, Gavin and Diane - All medalists!
Gavin gets silver in the mens -89kg category
Nick was clearly the stronger fighter in this match, with better techniques and in the lead with two clean rounds under his belt. However, with 30 seconds left to go and being pushed off the mat in the 3rd round with the 4th exit, he was disqualified controversially. Also fighting this day was Richard Phillips in the under 94kg category, and Andrew Gallagher in the 84kg both not quite making it through the quarter finals. Next up in the competition, Barry McGinlay (men’s under 57kg) was up against Graf Clemens from Austria, with 3-0 giving GB another win. This took Barry through to the quarter finals where unfortunately he met Dezso Debreczeni (Hungary), who was on his way to his 7th WAKO World Championship title. Next up, GB had a loss with Christian Thompson in the men’s under 74kg, fighting Kieran Ryan. Also losing out to Ireland was Kevin Guy fighting against Anthony Fallon in the men’s over 94kg. At this low point, a couple of the girls also lost out. These included Stephanie Toal up against Diana Campbell from Ireland in the over 70kg category, and Louise Dixon against Trimmel Nicols from Austrian in the under 65kg. Both of these bouts were close and could have gone either way, unfortunately not ours. Staying with the girls, we did have some successes starting with Lucy Wolf in her first time out with the WAKO
team. She fought Johana Schafberg from Germany in the under 50kg. Lucy won this fight 2-1 taking her through to the quarter finals to meet Patrycja Kotlarz from Poland. Lucy won this fight decisively 3-0, putting her on the medal table and into the semi-finals where she met Reke Krempf from Hungary. For a while, we thought we would be going through to the finals with Lucy. But it wasn’t to be as Reke Krempf won this match and Lucy Wolf ended up with a WAKO bronze medal. Next up, for the ladies in the under 70kg, was Diane Cameron fighting Austria’s Binz Sandra. Diane also made us proud, winning 2-1 and taking us into the quarter finals where she lost out to Karin Edenius from Sweden, but still brought home a well earned bronze medal. Last but not least, in the men’s under 89kg, was our very own WAKO European 2006 Champion, Gavin
Williamson, back on track to improve on his last World silver medal. First in the firing line was Michal Sedlacek from Slovakia with Gavin winning 3-0. Next in the cross airs was Sebastino La Spina from Italy. Then, in the quarter finals, Gavin met friend and foe from Austria, Prosic Juso who was determined to beat Gavin but failed, putting Gavin in the final and in reach of the gold medal. The final commenced with Gavin against Fabian Fingerhurt from Russia. After a very close 3 rounds, Fabian Fingerhurt got the decision and Gavin won another WAKO silver medal. Not being biased, but we all thought it should have been Gavin’s gold. Well done to all the medal winners: Lucy, Diane and Gavin and the rest of the Light Contact team who made this trip memorable and enjoyable. I would also like to thank for their help, Ted Wolf and John Morley! A big thank you to all the WAKO team!
ll to to r: r: Gold Gold Medalists, Medalists, Diane Diane Cameron, Cameron, Lucy Lucy Wolf Wolf with with Coach Coach Evelyn Evelyn Dwyer Dwyer and and Silver Silver medalist medalist Gavin Gavin Williamson Williamson
The official line-up
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Stephen Thompson Proudly Presents...
THE ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART BUSINESS SEMINAR Is it possible for a single school to gross over £30,000.00 in one month every month? One man does, and has done it for years. For the first time Stephen Thompson, owner of a chain of schools in the UK is sharing his PROVEN strategies and reasons why his schools are one of the highest grossing in the UK.
What can S-M-A-R-T do for you? There is no better job out there than being a Martial Arts Professional. Teaching martial arts has always been a passion for me. As a younger man competing was everything. I could not wait for the next tournament to come around. In my tournament career I have travelled all over the world, but I do not want to bore you with that, I just want to assure you, I am a real martial artist. I Love Martial Arts and what is had done for me and my family. I always wanted to teach full time, and tried. My first clubs went well, apart form, of course summer, when things would slow up, and I was back doing my trade, being a poor carpenter.
I have had a decade of building systems! You see there is not one system out there that tells you what to do from the start, well, there is now. Over one weekend, I am going to tell you how I run my schools and how I have been so successful.
What will you learn? If you are thinking of opening a school, or if you have one already, it does not matter. The systems that you will learn on the seminar are the same ones that my staff use every day to generate £30,000 a month from one location. In actual fact you will be able to see the schools in action if you wish to visit one of my locations as a V.I.P. I will even share with you the running school numbers!
“Martial Arts should not be about making money” I have heard this so many times, and you know what, I was once like that! But the gift that God gave me was the ability to do martial arts. It just made sense to me. But I can tell you, having to put my hand in my pocket to pay for hall rent because I did not have enough students to pay it, hurt more than any punch or kick I took on the mat. If you have been in Martial Arts for any length of time you will probably have seen some great martial artist. But all to often, these people had to stop teaching because they could not afford to carry on. I believe martial arts is a wonderful sport and has so much to offer everyone, so this is why my martial art schools must run at a profit. This way I can make sure they stay open, and I am giving a great career to my instructors. Whether your goal is to build a massive organisation, or just to make sure your school is paying for itself, do the S.M.A.R.T thing, and ask for more information.
Instructors = £45K a year? My Instructors wages, that’s right not the owner - the instructor running one school Listen. I know you can go along as you are, hey, who says I have something better than the next guy. BUT, you have to wonder, if you had my systems; systems that work; that have enabled me to grow from 1 school that was out of a church hall twice a week, to now running 4 full time locations with hundreds of students.
WHAT COULD YOU DO? S.M.A.R.T SMA001/02
Martial Art Business Systems
START-MARKET-ATTAIN-RETAIN-TEACH
Phone and request an information pack and CD
Call 0800 011 2223 www.smart-martial-arts.co.uk
If you do decide that the information is not for you then you have lost nothing, I am even paying for the call! What have you got you lose?
Welcome to...
WAKO WORLD ASSOCIATION OF KICKBOXING ORGANISATIONS 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 ama/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 / 01628 784254 or Fax: 01332 280286 WAK001/11
www.wakogb.co.uk
BURN 500 CALORIES! Using tvp(tm) boxing workouts to get fit and become a better fighter - Part 1 by Rocky Sondhi and Tommy Thompson of The tvp(tm) Institute Introduction The tvp(tm) training method is designed to help you lose 500 calories in one hour. I can personally vouch for that as I have been doing the workouts myself to test their effectiveness. These workouts have also been tried out on complete fighting novices i.e. my wife to see the progress that can be achieved. I discovered after one workout I had lost 5 pounds in weight during the workout and one percentage point. Admittedly, some of this did go back on through the day, but the feeling of losing weight was quite exhilarat-
ing. From my wife’s side, she discovered that her ability to move and punch was enhanced many times over after just four sessions. She found that she also got a buzz from the workouts. We have tried to create the right balance in the workouts to ensure motivation is maintained. We have also tried to produce a progression in the 10 workouts depicting an improvement in performance level as you go through the 10 workouts. We must emphasise that you do not skip intermediary workouts as the development will not be maximised.
ELEMENT
VARIATIONS
Boxing styles
Short boxer Tall boxer Crouch and weaver boxer Counter puncher Rusher swinger
Workout variables The workouts are based on a number of variables. These are duration of rounds, rest period between rounds and complexity of movement and technique. The more advanced the level, the longer the rounds, the shorter the rest and the more complex the techniques. If any of the terms for the exercises are not familiar, video clips can be seen on our website www.martialboxing.com. The following table shows all the variations that have been built into the 10 workouts: The workouts presented assume that you are training on your own or at best with a coach. However, the workouts can be made more challenging by doing the following: Basic footwork skills
Footwork
Linear movement - stepping, pushing, skipping, switching Lateral movement - stepping, sidestepping Circular patterns
Quality of punching
Breaking off Relax and acceleration
Attacking tools
Jabs Rear hand Hooks Uppercuts
The quick foot ladder
Change in movement Slow, fast speed Tempo changes Directional changes Changes footwork patterns
LEVEL
DESCRIPTION OF COMPETENCY LEVEL
EXPERIENCE
0
No competency
Complete novice
1
Basic punching and moving ability in straight lines, both linear and lateral
0-6 months
Basic punching and moving ability in linear, lateral and circular direction
6-12 months
Intermediate punching and moving ability, with stepping and skipping.
12-18 months
Intermediate punching and moving ability in all directions
18-24 months
Advanced punching and moving ability
24 months +
2 3 4 5
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The floor The floor ceiling ceiling ball ball
The punchbag The punchbag
1. working jointly with a training partner, pushing you to greater levels of performance 2. working with a coach who acts as a pad holder offering you different targets as you go through the different exercises Please ensure you are comfortable with one workout before progressing to the next level. This will ensure you maximise the skill development opportunity. WARNING: If in doubt please check with your doctor that you are fit enough to carry out an exercise regime of this nature. Make sure you keep a bottle of water with you during the workout. You will need it!
Workout objectives
WORKOUT 1 2
SKILLS Simple, single punching in a forward, backward and sideways movement Simple, single and double punches in a stepping and skipping motion forwards, backwards and sideways Simple, single and double punches in stance in a circular pattern. Multiple combinations. Moving in and out of corners. Punching and moving as a form of defence. Punching with power Speed jabs and defending against a crouch & weaver Developing unpredictability Developing variety in combinations Full tvp workout
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME (MINUTES)
EXERCISE
SPECIFICS
0-5
Dynamic Flexibility
30s walking on toes 30s gentle jog 30s ankle flicks 30s knee raises 30s butt flicks 30s higher knee raises 30s skips 30s skip with knee across chest 30s raising ankles and touch 30s touch ankle on outside
5-10
Dynamic flexibility Walking stretches
Gentle jog with arm circles - inside and outside, across chest Walk stretching arms across chest and tricep stretch Touching toes while walking Lateral side steps, carioca
13-15
Quick foot ladder
15s walking forward 15s walking backwards 15s running forward 15s running backward 1m running forward and backward with punches
17-19
Quick foot ladder
30s lateral side step both ways 30s lateral with punches 30s hopscotch 30s jump and walk back
21-23
Quick foot ladder
30s Single leg hop and walk back 30s single leg and punch 30s single leg side to side and change 30s side to side with punch
26-29
Shadow boxing slow
1.5m Single punch moving forward and back, change stance 1.5m Stepping forward single punch, double punch and three punches
31-33
Shadow boxing fast
As above (but only one minute), with walk back
36-37
Footwork
Forward and back with punch
38-39
Footwork
Side to side with punch
40-42
Punch bag
Step and punch and change
44-46
Floor ceiling ball
Step and punch and change
48-50
Punch bag
Step and punch with 2 punches
52-54
Floor ceiling ball
Step and punch with 2 punches
55-59
Shadow boxing slow
Stepping forward and back with single punch Sliding forward and back with single punch
59-60
Cool down
Walk and stretch
The objectives of these workouts are as follows: -
lose weight in one hour (all workouts are one hour in length) improve the level of physical fitness in one hour to improve both aerobic and anaerobic capacity to improve the physical attributes needed by a good fighter.
Workout levels The workouts are divided into levels, depending on your experience and level of performance in combat sports. The levels are shown below:
Workout equipment A variety of equipment is needed to carry out the workouts. This is to ensure that there is no boredom with the workouts and also to maximise the ability to develop the necessary attributes in the fighters. The equipment needed is: - one quick foot ladder - one punch bag - one floor ceiling ball - a pair punch bag gloves. - Stop watch The workouts build on competencies built in previous workouts, making the programme a ten workout series, which will probably take 6 months to one year to complete. As you progress through the workouts, new fight skills are introduced, increasing the level of capability, Workout 1 Areas of focus The first workout develops the basic stepping movement in a forward, backward and sideways manner. Workout 1 Level - 0-1 Training time - 60mins Areas of Focus - Linear and lateral movement
This book ‘tvp(tm) - Comprehensive Boxing Concepts’ is available, priced £19.99 plus p&p from Matrial Arts Publications Ltd, 135 Aldridge Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B42 2ET. Tel: 0121 344 3737. Rocky and Tommy are also available for workshops, consultations and private sessions. WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 55
SHI YANMING Shaolin Kungfu Master
Many people remember the first time the Shaolin Monks came to this country to perform demonstrations of their Kung fu skills. I was studying Kung fu at the time, and clearly remember students coming to the lessons saying how they were so inspired by what they had seen at the demonstrations. You could see, just from the way they were so amazed, enthusiastic and to be honest desperate to travel to China to study, that these soldier monks must be truly, exceptional martial artists. ome four years later I, myself had the opportunity to attend a demonstration. The whole theatre filled with people which, to be honest spent the vast majority of the time literally covering their eyes or sat on the edges of their seats! The monks performed precise, mastered techniques which demonstrated their extremely high level of expertise. I ran out after the show, as many others did and purchased the video of ‘The Wheel of Life’ so that I could watch the show over and over again. It was at the demonstrations and on that video that people admired the Shaolin master who balanced on five sharp spears. All the times I had watched that video and never in a millions years did I expect to ever train with him! However I and many others were to become very fortunate when the Abbot of ‘The Shaolin Temple’ in China sent him to England to set up a school and teach here. I came across it quite by accident, when a friend of mine trained at the school and then dragged me along too. I say dragged because I had trained for so long with the school I was in, was an instructor and to be honest thought I couldn’t be that lucky!
S
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I now train with Shi Yanming (not to be confused with Shi Yanming in America who has the same name, but is a different person) and considering I was an instructor with another club when I joined him, I realised that my skills were very amateur in comparison. His school spreads from Poole in Dorset through to Portsmouth to the east and Winchester to the north. He regularly travels to teach seminars for other clubs, many of whom just want to give their students a taste of a different art. At the yearly martial art awards he appears as a special guest and teaches workshops. These are always very popular and include people from every martial art style you can think of. He never tires of teaching new people. What I always perceive as amazing is that he will give everyone a chance. If you go to a beginners class, he is there teaching it, patiently teaching the first form, a form which he must have practised a million times. He teaches it with the same enthusiasm as he would any advanced form. For him
there is no snobbery where he only teaches the best few students. He likes to teach and assess everyone himself, merely, as he puts it, because he wants to preserve the reputation of the Shaolin Temple and the art taught there.
Shi Yanming, amongst the Shaolin Monks that came to this country to perform demonstrrations of their Kung Fu skills.
So where has he come from? He started training in Shaolin Kung fu at eleven, at his local school. When Shifu was twelve, the Abbot travelled around the various schools, looking for their best students, those with amazing skills and inviting them to join the temple. Shifu was invited to join ‘The Shaolin Temple’ by the Abbot at the age of twelve and became one of the thirteen monks chosen to further the popularity of Shaolin Kung fu throughout the world through the demonstration shows. During all of his time in the temple he studied furiously and was initiated into the temple as a Buddhist monk. To this day he still has to return to China to visit the Abbot and train. It has been a long road from being in the temple to being able to run his own school. When he first landed here with the instructions to further Shaolin Kung fu, he spoke no English, knew no one and had no real concept of our culture and our lazy ways! However with help from new found friends, he set up
‘Shaolin Temple School of Kung fu’ (now renamed ‘UK Shaolin Temple’) and began the life long journey of not only teaching hard, high quality skills to people who quite frankly gave up after the first lesson because it was too hard, but also promoting Buddhism and integrating into British culture. Now after such a huge change in his life, he is greatly respected, has many good students and a sound, very high quality school. Through all of this, all the autograph signing, all the attention and despite being one of only three Shaolin Masters in this country, he still has time for everyone. He performs demonstrations for many occasions. When he gets up and ‘does his stuff’ every sceptic in the room is converted. You can see he is ‘the real thing’ the moment he steps on the mat! What is nice for his students is that he has time for each one of them. He answers questions, shows moves and spends time with the everyday, ordinary student and this is something which often causes him to be under rated. The fact that he doesn’t boast about what he does, he doesn’t slag off other styles or instructors means that people often don’t know he exists, or think he can’t be real because he is prepared to spend his time with the low grades as well as high! Due to this I decided to write this article so that people can read for themselves about this unassuming, humble man who is teaching in their midst and really does have the talent of a master!
Next month read about the first British born Shaolin monk Matthew Ahmet. WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 63
LETHAL WEAPONS Muay Thai Elbow Strikes - Part 1 with Derry McCourt and Kru Nai
Welcome to my monthly discourse on Muay Thai Elbow Strikes. I have spent nearly ten years in Thailand training, fighting and researching Thai boxing techniques. As Muay Thai is the national sport in Thailand I was fortunate to attend shows once or twice a week and observe top standard boxers on TV nearly every night, I am able to speak Thai to a reasonable standard and so it was possible for me to communicate with many coaches and fighters over the years and as a project I put together the following information on my favourite type of strikes.... The elbows. realise that there are many knowledgeable coaches in the West but I feel that the elbow strike has not been taught in great detail so I am happy to divulge with you the knowledge that I have acquired over the last decade The vast majority of this knowledge was derived from my long time coach “Kru Nai” but credit should be given to my original coach Ajarn Kom - deceased (Akhom Payak), Km Yoi, Kayjak Kietbusaba, Kru Pong. Arian Van de Kruip, Kru Churii Lek (Rangsit stadium),Master Lek (Nottingham), Kru Nais father and the various guys I met at shows
I
Kru Nai Champ 1991
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across North Thailand and at the PayaKarun Gym in Chonburi, Singpraset Gym, Wat Kate Gym and Kietbusuba Gym in Chiang Mai. Kru Nai (Pongpan Supersorn) had a distinguished fight career in Northern Thailand, he won his first bout at the age of 7 and at a considerably lighter weight than the minimum permitted by Thai law nowadays of 100lbs (47kg). Kru Nais father was a Thai Boxer from the tough “E sarn” area of North Eastern Thailand where most of the Thai champions come from. He taught his son the old way and Kru Nai became a well known fighter by the time he was 15. When he was 19 he won the Northern Area title at Light Flyweight and added the Flyweight title the same year. Kru Nai was then transferred to the famous “Datelat” gym in Bangkok where he went on to fight 80 times in the famous Rachadamneon and Lumpini stadiums ranked in the top ten at Rachadamneon for more than 2 years before finally becoming Thai Champion (Rachadamneon Stadium) when he was 23. Today he coaches at the Fan Muang Neua Muay Thai Camp in Sangkhaempheng North Thailand and he has agreed to show me the elbow strikes that are to be detailed in depth over the next six issues of combat magazine. Realistic techniques have been highlighted in recent years, with the advent of the phenomenally successful UFC systems. I feel the Elbow strike has been underused and could be included as an attack option for MMA fighters. In the
UFC the only instance that the elbow is selected as a weapon is during the “Ground and pound” phase. Surely if we better understood this strike it could be utilized during the Stand up elements of MMA fights. As a sports coach I am in no way an Ultimate Street Fighter but I hope to show you the elbow strikes that we employ in Muay Thai as I feel that they are amongst the most practical techniques available, I hope that over the next few months every martial artist, not just the Thai Boxers amongst you, can benefit from these very special strikes. If you enjoy my column but don’t have a coach remember, there is only so much that you can learn from a written article. These articles are far more likely to benefit those amongst you who train already and can apply a little extra knowledge to the techniques that you already possess. Over the coming months I will show you the 12 elbow strikes that I have been shown as well as jumping and flying elbow strikes. I will also discuss the various classical Muay Thai techniques that use the elbow as well as exploring options for combinations that involve the elbow. I will not only show you the technique as it was shown to me but I will also look at how to practise, counter, and defend against the technique been discussed. It would serve us all to remember that there may be more than one method of employing each technique, in Thailand each area, each Master and even individual camps have different ways of using the same technique, none
1
2
3
4
5
6
of them are wrong, its possible for a technique to be effective when used in a variety of ways. If it happens that you have been shown an alternative method of employing a strike this is not due to any faulty teaching it is simply the rich variety of Muay Thai. There is no other body part that can do as much damage as the Elbow, Known as “Sawk� in Thai language. It is renowned as a potentially Lethal Weapon due to its sharp and bony point. The Elbow will easily cut your opponents skin, even when only light contact is made. If used with a perfect combination of timing, speed and power it can cause very serious damage. It is because its such a violent weapon that it is greatly respected in Muay Thai, quality fighters savour these techniques and have a mutual respect for each others ability to throw elbow strikes. They will not begin to use elbows if the significance of the match does not command it, and they will rarely use elbows in the opening rounds. However, once one fighter uses the elbow
it is a signal to the other that the fight from that point will include as many elbow strikes as the strategic situation will permit. Next month I will begin to explain the different varieties of elbow strikes used in Muay Thai but for now here are some golden rules that apply to nearly every type of elbow technique;
Nam tok huey Keaw water fall
Coaching
1. Open your hands when you strike with the elbow as this makes the point of the elbow sharper. 2. Rise onto the balls of your feet, dig them into the ground and bear down onto your target when you strike. 3. Elbows need to be thrown with confidence. You need to be brave to move inside your opponents guard showing no fear of reprisal. If you have practised the technique have faith in it. 4. Brave and fearless yes.... But not stupid! Always protect your chin with your non striking arm. Be patient when
looking for the opportunities to execute an elbow strike. 5. Keep your feet apart, about a shoulder and a halves width. They should support the body completely so that you can not be easily displaced. 6. Never use Elbow Strikes in sparring as even the slightest error of judgement can cause injury to your training partner, Next month I will talk about the Basic Elbow Strike. www.combatmag.co.uk will be showing DVD footage of most of the following monthly discourses on Thai elbow techniques so check out the website. I can be contacted via website www.martialartsvohra.com Any Thai Boxing promotions that I am involved with can be found at www.ringevents.net Happy and safe training... until next month.
Wat Doi suthep temple
Defending the elbow strike
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MICK COUP
ithin what we loosely call the ‘reality-based self defence’ sector, Mick Coup is one of the most well-known and respected names, constantly sought out for seminars and courses, with an international client-base. He has been regularly interviewed and has written numerous insightful articles on his chosen field, so I made a conscious decision to steer away from questions about his past history to concentrate more on his personal thoughts on key issues within the ‘RBSD’ world. In the flesh Mick is an imposing physical specimen and this reflects the way he teaches, as he is conscious of the fact that the person who needs his help is seldom built as impressively and rarely has the myriad ‘tools of the trade’ that he has at his fingertips. With this in mind he dispels self-defence myths with a brutal honesty and during the course of this interview another myth was clearly dispelled, namely the old-chestnut that you can’t have brains and brawn - so here is Mick Coup in his own words on...
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Self-Defence and Martial Arts. “Personally, I’m not a martial artist, not any more at least, and I’ll go on record as saying that. It (self-defence) doesn’t have to come from martial arts but it’s not a bad thing when it does, if it’s done properly. Martial artists will decry a guy and say “he’s not trained”, but in truth, so ****ing what! The hospital is full of victims put in there by people who haven’t trained, so using force effectively is most certainly not the preserve of the martial artist alone. The reality-based self defence tag that gets put on everything these days - they miss out on the ‘reality-based’ element all
too often - learning how to defend against a martial arts assault rather than a street fighting assault, and looking at unrealistic attack formats that don’t actually occur. They still train in a manner that limits what they’re doing as opposed to expanding it into another arena. For a basic example, people practice punching heavy-bags and target dummies and become extremely proficient at it, but if you watch CCTV footage of actual fights, a couple of simple fact stand out - people put their arms in the way and they don’t stay in one spot, they don’t like getting hit and will try to stop it happening. This needs to be dealt with and in doing so it gets messy, it doesn’t look as good as the drills worked on the bag or pads, but that’s what the situation dictates, it can’t be avoided - unless you’ve worked out some special deal beforehand! Train all you want against compliant and receptive targets that give a clear shot each and every time, but stand-by to get a big surprise when they change their minds... If you look at John Smith in a street fight it’s not much different to the proMMA fighter in the cage. Obviously the level of technical skill, physical ability and tactical delivery cannot be compared - this isn’t what I’m getting at, not at all. The similarity lies with the basic tactical models utilised. Look at the following template as an example - closing the distance fast, using a barrage of blows against the other guy to force him into a defensive mode, then either take him to the ground or immobilise him against a backdrop and then hold, control and repeatedly strike him to finish. Ever seen that outside a club at 3am? Same as in an octagon cage, barring the previously mentioned huge skill and attribute disparity of course. I’m most def-
initely not using this to down-sell training hard, or to take anything away from trained fighters - quite the contrary, but it’s a good thing to be shown which direction to take. If you want to go the furthest, you swim with the current - not against it. It’s no surprise, to me anyway, that even the top combat sport athlete’s fights never resemble their training sessions - all the combinations and complex drills are replaced in the heat of the moment with the most basic and simplistic high-percentage tactical formats, that their unfit, unskilled and untrained street counterparts also adopt under stress. To a point, humans will fall back to a base default level of fighting with many common denominators, these being those techniques and tactics that fit in with our physical and psychological make-up the best, which are ergonomic. You can learn a lot from an untrained man because they will default to the most efficient means because they haven’t trained (in martial arts) with this as inspiration, you can refine and fine tune it as a concept.”
The different interpretations of ‘reality-based’. “I hate the term ‘RBSD’ because I think it’s irrelevant. You can have a reality-based martial art certainly, but selfdefence can only be based on reality if it’s to be called self-defence at all. It’s becoming an extremely political stylebased environment just like the martial arts that it sometimes tries to look down upon. For instance, I use the term ‘combatives’ as an adjective, just a descriptive word, but other people use it rather over-zealously as a style, a noun, as in “I don’t do Karate, I do Combatives” but you can have Karate that is combative in application, in the same way you can have Karate that is sportive or creative, so ‘RBSD’ or ‘Combatives’ should really be a descriptive term, not an entity in itself.”
Structured regular classes or intensive courses? “I teach (initially) a very small skillset and any successful operationally-based model out there will use virtually the same small skillset, it’s no surprise that groups such as the military use as few techniques as possible that are capable of as much versatile application as possible in turn. I do believe there’s room for both the weekly training and the intense course although I prefer the latter personally, along with private tuition - I prefer to teach not train people - the training is best done by the person, he’s got more time available and ultimately this is what it’s all about.” 68 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
“
Anything is possible but not everything is probable, and I only deal with what is
”
Drilling multiple techniques or drilling few techniques. “The best analogy I can use here is America and guns. A gun collector might have forty or fifty guns - several of the same gun with different finishes, various grips, all kinds of calibres - he’ll collect them and love them but he’ll never shoot them ‘properly’ apart from on the firing-range. An ‘operator’ on the other hand will probably only have two guns, a pistol and a carbine all the finish will be worn off of them and they’ll be ugly and functional in form, there will be little to no gadgets attached but they will fit him perfectly - because he uses them all the time, for real as tools not ornaments. There is a very real and distinct shift in emphasis to what is outwardly the same thing. A street fighter doesn’t have a problem with technique that a martial artist has a martial artist has too many techniques, he’s spoilt for choice and that’s why he falls
victim to street fighters all the time.” Human beings generally want to learn more and more - but only those that aren’t putting their necks on the line every day really follow this approach with regard to fighting - the guys that are in the thick of it want to learn less and less. Look at MMA fighters, boxers, Thai-boxers; they’ll consistently use the same techniques, devoid of frills save for individual specialities and, dare I say it, these are ‘only’ sports. In class you add and add, and add even more, but when you need to use it you take it away and boil it down, whatever survives the heat, whatever is left in the bottom of the pan - that’s it, that’s what you need...
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t’s the usual Cage Rage affair: glamorous-girls, bruising beefcakes, savage stoppages... and drunk journalists armed with nothing but a Dictaphone and a clutch of clichés and alliterations. Having already offended (I mean interviewed) Dizzy Rascal, an Eastenders hard-man and (real!) East-End hardman Dave Courtenay at ringside (see next Months ‘Cage Side with Joe Holroyd’ feature), I was gazing through my whiskey-haze as another blonde glamour-girl strutted into the cage. But something was wrong with the picture. Sure, she’s got the obligatory blonde hair extensions. Fine, the costume leaves little to the imagination. Ok, Mark Epstein can’t take his eyes off of her. But why is she sporting a beard... and why are her biceps bigger than my legs??! Oh, ok, the blonde wig comes off, the dress is discarded and Tom ‘Kong’ Watson has arrived in the Cage. And that’s why Epstein was glaring! Watson ‘The Beauty’ is here to tame Mark ‘The Beast’ Epstein... or so he tells us. But Epstein’s mad... he’s having none of it! Moving round one-another cagily at range for the first two minutes Watson’s K1 and Boxing pedigree immediately evident - the alwaysaggressive Epstein drives Watson to the ground, finds guard and looks to pound. Watson neutralises, goes for the trian-
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Berry vs Grove
gle, Epstein wriggles-out and it’s back to stand-up. A relatively even first round, with Watson perhaps edging the last few seconds as he finds some success pounding from guard. Round 2 starts with Epstein driving in hurtful-looking haymakers which - if not quite connecting squarely - facilitate a take-down. Epstein looks to capitalise: finding full-guard he looks to ground n’ pound; Watson proves canny on his back however and these wellmatched fighters find themselves facing one-another in another stalemate. It is similar fare throughout the round: wary of one-another’s power at range and neither quite finding the edge on the ground. Watson finds the take-down in the opening seconds of round 3, but this is soon reversed by Epstein. Later-on in the round Watson attempts an arm-bar, but the brute-force of The Beast powers him out of danger. A very close fight ends with Epstein getting the nod. (Full Epstein Interview next month!) In his fight against Marius Zoromski, Ross ‘The Gladiator’ Pointon’s gurad looks to be a little bit low, given the speed and power of Zaromski’s kicks. Pointon looks unfazed however as they trade kicks at range for the first minute. Pointon mixes up the punches and kicks well as they stick at range for the second Rua vs Poukam
by Joe Holroyd minute. Zaromski shows a flash of the brilliance that secured him the spectacular knock-out at his last Cage-Rage outing: scoring with a knee to the head of Pointon. But Pointon is truly a Gladiator and, with a shake of the shoulders, powers on. Scoring with a second knee, Zaromski attempts a spinning-crescent kick, which Pointon manages to just move inside of: negating it’s power and countering with blows of his own. Pointon works the low kicks to quite good effect... but every time he is countered by a razor-sharp right-cross from Zaromski. Zaromski’s footwork and precision is silky-smooth as usual, and he just edges these exchanges. But we can’t forgot Pointon’s power, and as he marches unstoppably forward Zaromski starts to feel it too. Pointon rocks him with a sharp straight-right to the chin as they move inside the last 30 seconds of the first... and from here on it becomes his fight. The bounce leaving his footwork at the end of the first, Zaromski gets on his toes at the start of the second: keeping well clear of pointon’s power. Pointon minimises his work and maximises his hurt - cutting down the ring, dominating the centre with Zaromski running around him. Scoring with several left hooks, zaromski then finds himself on his back as Pointon finds the take-down followed by full-guard. And then... disaster strikes for Pointon! Breaking them up to check a cut above Pointon’s eyebrow, the ref decides it is too-deep to continue (it ain’t pretty!) as Zaromski scoops a (lucky?!) early victory. Pointon is not the only one disappointed: this was shaping-up to be fight of the night, and we will all look forward to the re-match as much as Pointon! Mark Weir’s fight with Fickett was a classic Striker versus Submission specialist face-off... with the all-tooincreasingly inevitable conclusion...
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Weir vs Fickett
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