MARTIAL ARTS... ...We’ve got it
COVERED!
MAY/JUNE 2011 Vol. 36 No. 9 £3.95
PLUS..
Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Dr Mak Yuree, Robert J. Ott, Brandon Stumpf Stumpf, Danny Trejo Cynthia Rothrock, Darren Le Ferve & Guy Bloom
@ THE NEC BIRMINGHAM WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT
visit us at www.
combatmag.co.uk
VOLUME 36 NUMBER 08 MAY/JUNE 2011 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Paul Clifton paul@martialartsinprint.com
SENIOR DESIGNER Kevin Thompson
WEBMASTER Nick Harley
ADVERTISING/SALES EXECUTIVE Jan Harley 0 2 35 6930
HOW TO GET WORK PUBLISHED
To have your submission published in COMBAT couldn’t be easier. Supply your written material either on disc (ASCII), typed or on audio tape. Send it together with a covering letter and some good quality photo’s (digital photographs must be 300dpi) to the Head Office (address below).
NEWS ITEMS
For all news related items, simply mark your envelope “COMBAT NEWSLINE” and together with a photograph (if required) and a covering letter, send it to: COMBAT, Head Office. or E-Mail: combat_news@martialartsinprint.com
CALENDAR
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.
HEAD OFFICE:
COMBAT, Unit 20, Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 BE. Tel: 0 2 35 6930 E-Mail: combat.magazine@btclick.com
CLUBS DIRECTORY
Advertise your club, school, group, Association for as little as £ 5 per month. Simply layout your details (using 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
ADVERTISING DETAILS
If you would like details about advertising in COMBAT please write, telephone or email the Head Office to obtain details, deadline dates and costs etc...
DISCLAIMER
COMBAT is published by M.A. Publications ltd, Unit 20, Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 BE. The publishers reserve the right to reject editorial and/or advertising material as they see fit. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. However, the Publishers will endeavour to return such matter providing that it is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Any material accepted by the Publishers shall be revised or altered should the Publisher deem it necessary to do so. The act of submitting manuscripts and/or materials shall be considered an express warranty that such material is original and in no way infringes upon the rights of others. It is expressly forbidden for any part of the magazine to be reported whatsoever without the permission of Editor / Publishers. The views or comments expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the editor or Publisher. Distribution by COMAG, Tavistock Works, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE.
ADVERTISING DETAILS
To take out a subscription to Combat magazine, just send your cheque for the correct amount made payable to M.A. Publications Ltd. to: Subscription Dept. Unit 20, Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 BE. or telephone: 0 2 -35 6930 2 issues = UK @ £44.95 EUROPE @ £75 (Airmail) REST OF WORLD @ £90 (Airmail)
COLUMNISTS
Aran Dharmeratnam Gavin Mulholland Joe Hallett Kerry-Louise Norbury Mike Finn
PHOTOGRAPHY Carrie Austin 077 6266854 Film Media Phil Hobden Mike Murphy
CONTRIBUTORS KUNG FU Brian Dossett David Wing Guy Holland Mick Clarke Peter Browne Rich Hinchcliffe Richard Thomas Stuart Rider Tom Hibbert
Derek Frearson Iain Armstrong Jeremy Yau Michael Tse Simon Lau Vince Hinde Yap Leong
2 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
COMMENT This month, as I am sure you will have gathered by now, sees the return of The Martial Arts Show Live at The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham and following lasts years event and as it is now the only event of its kind, the show has grown into a monster, it is a great deal BIGGER and promises to raise the bar to a completely new level. Calling on some personal friends of senior status, like Cynthia Rothrock, Joe Lewis, Ernie Taylor, Gok Wan and Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace not to mention the Shaolin Warriors to name but a few, you can be assured that this is one show you will not want to miss!
Live
THE NEC BIRMINGHAM 7TH & 8TH MAY 2011
Talking of Cynthia Rothrock, Joe Lewis and Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, we caught up with all three to hear their thought’s about the show and what we can expect to see from them over the weekend of May the 7th and 8th. We also talk to Dr. Mak Yuree or ‘Thunder shin Man’ as he is also known ahead of his appearance at TMAS Live, about his world record shin bone conditioning system.
There really is far too much for us to detail in this space and the article inside, so make sure you visit the site (www.themartialartsshowlive.com) to see who is involved as well as to check out the full itinery for all the areas within the two hall show and book your FREE place on any of the TMAS Live seminars or workshops. We will be at the show on our central stand so be sure to come and say hello, see you there.
Chris Jackson return’s with another column that once again offers food for thought, quite literally. He offers some invaluable information and let’s us in on a few secrets about how to improve our diet’s and aid us to become better martial artists. Jake Ogden talks us through some of the challenge’s that lie ahead of every martial artist and how you can set about meeting and overcoming both the physical and mental obstacles.
Ever wanted to train at the world famous gym, ‘Jacksons’ MMA’? Well Combat columnist Rob Devane was lucky enough to do just that recently. Rob tells you how he got on and shares a few tips he brought back with him.
This month we also welcome a new columnist, Dave Lomas. Over the next 2 months, Dave will be asking be asking several questions of you, such as do you really want to learn martial arts and will be talking you through the many stages of becoming a true martial artist. Also in this issue we have a story that should be an inspiration to us all from chief master Robert J. Ott. Robert lost his sight in a terrible gun attack many years ago but he did not let the horrific incident hold him back though as he continued to study his beloved martial arts and rebuilt his body and skills to become a more rounded martial artist than he was before. The motto which Robert exemplifies must surely be - Never give up and having spoken with him at length I can vouch for his very positive outlook on life! As usual there’s a great deal more in this issue for you to get your teeth into, so I will leave you to do just that.
As this is a double month issue (due to the workload of the show) the next issue will go on sale on June the 23rd, so until then, Oss. Paul. cliftoncombat@aol.co.uk
KOREAN ARTS Dave Oliver David Allerton Hee Il Cho Keith Evans Tony Vohra
KARATE
MARTIAL ARTS SHOW the
Chris Denwood Mike Finn Neil Horton Peter Allen Rannoch McDonald Ronnie Colwell Steve Arneill
THAI BOXING Dan Green Richard Smith Shaun Boland Tony Myers
SPORT MARTIAL ARTS
BOXING
Humphrey Broome Joe Hallett John Swift Neville Wray Peter Edwards
FULL CONTACT
HEALTH/ STRENGTH/ FITNESS
Luke Calvert Mark Wilson-Smith Bill Wallace Cris Janson-Piers Dean Sugden Joe Lewis Kerry-Louise Norbury Paul Hennesey Steve Humphries
Drew Price Gavin Sibson Neil Rosiak Philip Malin Silvio Simac Jon Watson
SELF PROTECTION/ DEFENCE
Aran Dharmeratnam Kevin O’Hagan Morne Swaenopal Peter Browne
PHOTOGRAPHY Carrie Austin Martyn Skipper
MMA
Carl Fisher Dave O’Donnell Gavin Mulholland Rob Nutley
We are on the look out for enthusiastic martial arts fans that would like to become area/regional reporters. Fancy yourself as a team player? genuine and ‘real’ martial arts fans call now on: 0121-351-6930
24
CONTENTS REGULARS 614 22 24 28 -
50
30 34 36 42 44 46 142 -
MARTIAL ARTS NEWSLINE COMBAT FILM - With Phil Hobden BUNBUN SERIES - With Mike Finn FOOD FOR THOUGHT - With Chris Jackson ZEN & THE ART OF TRAINING INTELLIGENTLY With Shifu Yan Lei COMBAT HELPLINE - With Master Jake Ogden THE MAN SPEAKETH! - By Robert Devane WANT TO LEARN MARTIAL ARTS? Written by Dave J. Lomas THE FORMS FORUM - With Joe Hallett LESSONS FOR THE CAGE - By Gavin Mulholland SHINOBI SOLDIERS - An Investigation Into The Ninja CLUBS DIRECTORY & CLASSIFIEDS SECTION
FEATURES 50 -
58
58 60 64 67 68 73 74 80 82 86 -
120
91 -
92 94 100 106 110 -
THE MARTIAL ARTS SHOW 2011 The Perfect Recipe For a Perfect Martial Arts Extravaganza Showcase! CYNTHIA ROTHROCK @ - The Martial Arts Show 20 JOE LEWIS @ - The Martial Arts Show 20 CATCHING UP WITH 'SUPERFOOT' By Guy Edward Larke FISTS OF RAGE COMPETITION GUY BLOOM - The Next Big Thing! SONY TV & BLU RAY PLAYER COMPETITION THUNDERSHIN MAN World Record Shin Bone Conditioning System THE D2 - A Training Revolution! BRANDON STUMPF Actor, Model, Art Teacher & Martial Artist FACING THE DARKNESS The Story of Chief Master Robert J. Ott A LIFETIME OF MARTIAL ARTS & A BEATING HEART Associate Master Kevin J. Mills & His Family NINJA COMMANDO UNITS The Harsh Truth Behind The Ninja SKY IS THE LIMIT - Sky High Report HAGANAH'S ISRAELI TACTICAL KNIFE FIGHTING Part - With Darren Le Ferve THE EVOLUTION OF A MARTIAL ART SYSTEM A Training Revolution! THE MARTIAL ARTS SHOW LIVE Tournament Series - T2 TRADITIONAL
136 120 126 -
THE E.S.K.K. COLUMN - With Chris Denwood CAN MIGHT & PEACE LIVE TOGETHER By Sagi Melamed
132 136 -
TANG SOO DO - By Master David Allerton THE EVOLUTION OF 5000 YEARS OF MARTIAL ART TRADITION Enter Teuk Gong Moo Sool - Part WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 3
COMBAT FILM/FEATURE By Phil Hobden
Danny Trejo stars as the titular character in the new grindhouse action release Machete. Trejo is one of Hollywoods most recognisable stars, Combat Film sat down with Trejo to talk grindhouse, Hollywood and his time behind bars.
4 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Machete is out now on Blu-ray, DVD and Download, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
What was it like to have Jessica Alba as your love interest in Machete? God, she’s gorgeous. I kissed her and then all my friends wanted to kiss me. At this age! How many knives do you carry under that jacket in Machete? Actually that’s a secret, but there’s between 20 and 40. Did you have to carry them all? Well, in the jacket, they were in the jacket. Otherwise, Machete just carries six, I think, and two machetes, six small knives and two machetes. Did you cut yourself during filming? No. Thank God. How many litres of blood did you spill in the movie? A lot. But the good thing about Robert Rodriguez is that he comes from like a cartoon background, so even the blood is funny. It’s comical and it’s gross all at the same time. I cut three guys’ heads off and people were laughing. They were like, “Go, go, go!” My mum is 83 and she hates violent movies, but she was at my premiere and she loved it. She loved it. What was the most outrageous and challenging scene to do? When I was crashing through the window holding onto some guts. When I read the script I was like, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.” But then I was like, “Okay, that sounds really good.” And now I think the guts really took it, like, “Wow! That’s awesome!” That was fun and that was challenging. Do you regret any of your tattoos? No. I love tattoos. I literally love tattoos. I think body art is great, but some people can rock them, some people can’t. Some people look silly in them, other people, they just fit. You’ve just got to find out. These days I see a lot of girls with ankle tattoos, or something cute, and that’s great. When I was growing up, you never saw a girl with a tattoo. So styles go and styles come, but tattoos are forever, so once you put it on, it’s there. I’ve had this one on my chest since 965. My tattoo, it’s the most famous tattoo in the world.
How many years did that take? About three. Maybe two and a half years. But I’ve got a plaque at home that has a picture of it on, which says, “Most Recognisable Tattoo in the World” by International Tattoo magazine. Is it based on an actual woman? No, it’s just a picture we drew. A senorita with a hat. You call them “charas”, they used to ride with Pancho Villa, they carried the guns and cook and do all that stuff. But they weren’t servants, they were fighters, so goes Mexican folk-lore. What do you remember most about prison? The fact that there are only two kinds of people: there is predator and there is prey. That’s it. How much worse are prisons these days, compared to when you were on the inside? Well, I know about California that there are so many more people in prison, so since there are so many more people in prison, they are all over-crowded because of a lot of the ridiculous laws, so a lot more people are going to prison for less and less reason. If your boxing career had continued, would you have hit the big time? It was said that I was pretty good, but boxing is management. A lot of boxing doesn’t have to do with skill, it’s management. And so I think that’s about the best way to say it. I know a lot of great fighters that can’t get good fights. Could you have been such a success if you weren’t so scary looking?..
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
It’s in every movie that you’re in, but I never thought it was real. [Looks outraged] It is. [Shows chest] That was done in prison by a friend of mine called Harry ‘Super Jew’ Ross, and we started it in San Quentin and then I got kicked out of San Quentin and I went to Folsom. It was almost a scene from West Side Story, because I was on the bus in chains being shipped up because of the trouble I had got into, and this was Harry’s first tattoo, so he’s going, “Don’t. Wait. Nobody touch it. I’ll go to Folsom, I’ll go to Folsom.” So about six months later, he showed up and did some more of it. There was a big riot in Folsom and I got sent to Soledad and he got sent to Vacaville, and he came down afterwards from Vacaville and finished it.
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 5
FOODFORTHOUGHT With Chris Jackson
Eat Right Fight Easy!
Discover the secrets that could unlock your hidden abilities and untapped strengths! Following on from last month’s article on the importance of nutrition for optimising your martial arts training (whatever your level or training goals), this month we take a closer look at Metabolic Typing as a nutritional concept; how it works and why it makes sense. As many of you will be aware, there is a huge amount of dietary and nutritional information available today; much of it conflicting and confusing. Many of you may already have tried various diets for a number
of reasons ranging from weight loss, an attempt to improve your energy levels or because you’ve been training for a competition or grading. Some of these diets may have worked up to a point while others
may have made no difference (or even made you feel worse), despite seeing them work well for a training partner. While something as important as nutrition shouldn’t be left to guesswork, how do you work out your own specific needs?
What is Metabolic Typing?
Simply put, Metabolic Typing is a means of understanding the foods and nutritional needs that will best work for you as an individual. Because no two people are the same genetically, physically or mentally, so no two people have the same dietary requirements. It is for this reason that a diet that works well for one person may have no effect, or indeed a negative effect on another person. Get your diet wrong and you risk low or inconsistent energy levels, fatigue, poor recovery, mood fluctuations and increased risk of injury and illness; especially at key times such 6 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK 2 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
as pre-grading and pre-competition when you are pushing your body that much harder . Get it right and you can benefit from: � Fat loss and lean muscle gain; � Improved energy & recovery time; � Reduced fatigue & risk of injury; � A strengthened immune system; � Improved focus and confidence, to name but a few.
How does it work?
Metabolic Typing provides you with a picture of your own individual metabolic profile based on research and extensive clinical experience over the last 25 years. Although more complex tests are available, the simplest way to get accurate results is via an online questionnaire. This assesses your dietary, physical and psychological traits to determine your dietary requirements. From here we can fine tune your diet with you further, to ensure that you get the best for your training needs Metabolic Typing looks at the two main Fundamental Homeostatic Control Systems (FHCs) relating to metabolism and energy conversion, the Autonomic Nervous System and the Oxidative System. From here it seeks to address imbalances and weaknesses to support your body’s specific nutritional requirements rather than assuming that everybody needs exactly the same diet.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The Oxidative System
Sympathetic Type Balanced Type Parasympathetic Type Sympathetic Fast Sympathetic Mixed Sympathetic Slow
Metabolic Type Dominance
Slow Oxidiser Type Mixed Oxidiser Type Fast Oxidiser Type
Balanced Fast Balanced Mixed Balanced Slow
Within each of these two Control Systems, there are 3 possible Metabolic Type(r) categories, see table 1. This leaves nine possible Metabolic Type(r) combinations involving the pairing of the Autonomic and the Oxidative Systems, see table 2. Within each pair, one FHC will be dominant, either the Autonomic or the Oxidative System. For example, in the first pairing, either the Sympathetic Autonomic System will dominate, or the Fast Oxidative System will dominate. This is significant because it is the dominant control mechanism that dictates how nutrients will behave in your body. Every food and nutrient can have opposite biochemical behaviour in the different FHC’s. Any food can be stimulating or sedating, acidifying or alkalinizing based upon the effect of the food on the dominant control mechanism rather than due to the inherent quality of the food itself. It is these different influences that make
Parasympathetic Fast Parasympathetic Mixed Parasympathetic Slow
nutrition so confusing. Without Metabolic Typing you are just left guessing. Unless you match your nutrition to your metabolism, you’ll only be wasting your time and money! These control systems also impact our own individual traits. While you can’t work out your dominant control mechanism or your metabolic type simply by looking at the below list, you may well find that you identify with some of the descriptions contained in the tables below. You may also find that you have traits from both sides of the chart. This is entirely normal as they represent extreme ends of the spectrum and the closer people fall to the middle the more traits they will find from both sides. It’s also worth bearing in mind that there are other factors at work within your body which also impact upon your individual traits, such as the endocrine system, which we’ll look at in a later article.
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/backissue
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 7 WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 3
COMBATHELPLINE With Master Jake Ogden
Are you up to the
Challenge? Welcome back to my column. Thank you for all of your responses from last month, your emails have been over whelming. This month I want to try and give you as much information as possible about enjoying the more challenging side of martial arts. Challenging in terms of physical challenges and mental challenges. I started to really think about this side of things as I often bump into people that I used to train with along the years and many of them are no longer training. They didn’t quite get as far as they wanted to or didn’t quite reach their goal. The majority of them gave up through lack of time or motivation and also because martial arts generally becomes more difficult and more in-depth as a student progresses through the grades. This led me to ask the question “what is it that causes people to lose interest?” To answer this question I thought why do people start martial arts in the first place? May be to gain confidence, to be able to defend themselves or loved ones if they were to get attacked or maybe to improve health and fitness. People start for many reasons and I guess if they are not getting what they want they will leave or stop. It may be lack of time, not progressing as quickly as they would like to, the syllabus becomes too demanding, not feeling motivated by the style of martial art or maybe the instructor is not the right person for them? 8 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
What is important to realise from an early point in your martial arts training is you get out what you put in. If you turn up with the right attitude you can reap remarkable rewards from martial arts but if you turn up with the wrong attitude and continue to have the wrong attitude you will begin to find your learning is thwarted and hindered through clouded vision which may lead to low motivation and lowered self esteem. Hopefully I will highlight a few thoughts that will help students to keep a positive approach to martial arts training, whilst also making them aware of potential negative approaches to martial arts. The idea is to maximise the benefits and opportunities that training has to offer as often as possible. When something becomes hard, generally it will have become hard or harder for a reason. In order to master something you need to apply yourself and rise to the challenge. The old saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” fits very well here. To become proficient at a martial art takes time and dedication, much the same as becoming proficient at any thing else like playing the piano or learning to tap dance. As explained above, attitude is the determining of where we go. Our attitude determines our altitude. When people start martial arts most of them want
to become good or proficient. If they don’t achieve this as quickly as they would like they become despondent, leave and don’t reach their goals or full potential. This happens to lots of people but lets really look at why. Genetics play a part in terms of determining you size, strength, coordination, speed, body shape and natural ability. But there are many proficient martial artists out there that were not overly gifted with an abundance of genes conducive to martial arts activities. Research proves in many different disciplines that good, high quality practice is the vital ingredient towards success. There is no substitute to high quality practice and correct repetition. Having strong foundations through the mastering of basics is the key. This is attained through deliberate well-disciplined practice. Many people do not master the basics as they find them boring. However, basics are the foundation to excellence...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 9
The Druid Speaketh! By Robert Devane
Training at Jackso How’s it going for everyone this month? I’m recently back from 2 weeks of training at the World famous Jacksons’ MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the good old U.S. of A. I thought you might be interested to hear how I got on. Arriving:
2 weeks after Christmas I landed in Albuquerque. I had hoped that it would be warmer than home but it was probably just the same. The only saving grace was that it wasn’t as wet. At this point I need to tell you that I had a great Christmas so I weighed in at a portly 215 lbs. I fight at 85 and normally walk around at about 200. I had kept training going prior to my arrival but not at a major pace. Everyone had told me that the area wasn’t safe and a bit run down. They were right but it did remind me of many parts of my home town of Dublin! The next day I immediately got into training because I wanted to climatise as quickly as possible. The first thing that you definitely notice is the high altitude. I wasn’t at my fittest but when it felt like I had asthma and couldn’t get my breath, I really did start to doubt my fitness. I felt better when the fighters told me that
0 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
everyone feels like that for the first 2 weeks and it’s another major reason why people train there.
Greg Jackson:
Everyone wants to know what Greg Jackson is like. I’d be lying if I said I was hanging out with him day and night as he had his hands very full with the amount of top fighters that were at the gym while I was there. From all my communication with him I can safely say that he is as super nice as he is perceived to be. He told me it was an honour to have me at his gym and I’d say he says that to everyone. He has very down to earth teaching methods and he really cares for everyone. One of the days he gave all of us in the pro sparring class a lecture about not retaliating if our sparring partner hits us too hard! Keep in mind that Keith Jardine, Jon Jones, Andrei Arlovski, Rashad Evans and many others were in the class.
The Gym:
I’ve been in bigger gyms but it is a well used medium sized gym with everything you need. I was surprised to see that the majority of classes are for beginners and they mainly teach kickboxing. This is the same as my own gym so I felt at home. It is also run like a family martial arts gym and not the military style. It’s the friendliest fighters’ gym I’ve ever been in. There were some top names in training there while I was there and everyone seemed to have a fight coming up. Pro training takes place every morning at 9.30am.
ns’ MMA Nice and early sessions of sparring with some of the best fighters in the World! I also attended wrestling, bjj and kickboxing classes. Mike Van Arsdale is the wrestling coach, Mike Winklejohn is the striking coach and Greg Jackson is the mma coach. 3 of the best coaches in their fields in the World.
How I got on:
Nearly every day there was some type of sparring or grappling. I got to spar with Diego Sanchez and Carlos Condit amongst many others. It seems like the gym attracts the best fighters from around the World because everyone was good. They do focus more on striking than other gyms I’ve been in so that really suited me. It was an amazing experience for a lower level mma fighter like me to be able to train with some of the biggest names in the sport. Hopefully their success rubs off on me.
Tips if you want to train there: *
*
* *
Arrive as fit as you can so that you get the most out of the training as you will initially find the altitude tough. You’ll need some type of transport as everything is far apart and there isn’t much in the area - I bought a cheap bicycle at the nearby flea market. Don’t venture too far at night and avoid the side streets. Bring all your sparring gear!
A big thank you to Jacksons’ MMA for having me and also a big thank you to www.stituning.net for sponsoring me. Talk to you all again here next month. Have a great one. Robert ‘The Druid’ Devane is a professional instructor and fighter. He runs Martial Arts Incorporated which has 2 full time Dojos in Dublin. Robert can be contacted through the website: www.robertdevane.com
To read more articles like this make sure you get the next issue of fighters available from WH Smith & all good newsagents WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT
WANTTOLEARNMARTIALARTS? Written by Dave J. Lomas (7th Dan Black Belt in Kung Fu) retired.
Getting Started The practice and study of the martial arts has always captured the interest and attention of people from all walks of life. The fascination, often aroused by the spectacular fighting skills portrayed in the movies, has resulted in its world wide popularity. Movie stars, fashion models, in fact anyone and almost everyone regardless of who they are or what they do, at sometime or another, have tried their hand at the ancient oriental fighting arts of the mystic east. All financial and social barriers, all distinctions of class or elitism are broken down when taking part together but no matter who you are we all have to start somewhere and getting started is the most difficult of all the things the new beginner must face. After following the adventures of the TV series Kung Fu for a number of weeks my father came home from work one evening and asked me if I had ever heard of a kung fu movie man by the name of Bruce Lee? When I said I had no idea who he was my dad said that he was mentioned in the news paper and that he had died. Although I thought the TV series was brill I was completely blown away when I saw Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon. At the end of seeing this never to be forgotten film I had made my mind up to learn the combat arts but
2 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK 2 COMBAT WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK
I never thought when I first started learning the martial arts all those long years ago that I would end up writing for one of the most famous martial art magazines in the UK some 37 years later. I was only 17, (1973), when I took my first nervous steps into the training hall and watched with eager eyes as the two main instructors practiced a range of kicks and strikes with awsome power and speed. The first thing that they taught this brand new beginners class, we were all first timers, was the traditional kung fu bow and then without any introduc-
tion to what we had let ourselves in for they then made us do loads of fist press-ups that seemed to last forever. One hour later after doing various basics and some simple self defence it was all over and I staggered home with those memories stuck in my mind forever. Training was hard and fast back in those days and the thought of giving up was a temptation of the highest level but then a few months and two student grades later a new martial art magazine came out with good old Bruce Lee on the cover - Combat had arrived. Combining my physical training within the classes that I attended and my educational learning through the feature articles in Combat Magazine the start of my martial art journey had truly begun, and there was no going back. For hundreds if not thousands of years people from all over the world have practiced one form of combat or another, some have become legends in history while for many others attending just one training session was all they could take. Often these one-off would be Bruce Lee experts made the wrong choice when attending a club for the first time or they did not realise just how hard it was, in any event, the reasons why taking those first steps into the world of martial arts must be
done in the right way is vital if you are ever going to do it right. Your first contact with the martial arts will often be through films or television programs that depict spectacular fighting sequences and fighters that are near unstoppable. The urge to try your hand at these remarkable skills however could lead to disappointment and a lot of wasted money if you do not know what to look for when attempting to join a club for the first time. Unlike the good old days when the potential new beginner was only bombarded with advertisements in the local news paper to join their club along with all the promises of being trained under the best of the best or a small poster in the local shop window offering instruction in the most deadly or effective of all the various combat styles the new would be beginner now is also faced with a never ending range of all singing all dancing websites that look more like a blockbuster movie than a promotional website giving details of classes for the new beginner. Today the would-be new beginner is faced with a large selection of martial art styles and disciplines, each with their own distinctive good and bad points depending on what type of martial art they are looking for. It is often the case that someone wishing to join a club for the first time will look for a club that is local and at a time and day that suits their lifestyle, and although this is a practical thing to do, it is not always the best way of finding a good martial arts club in the long term. Many new beginners to the fighting arts have very little idea or understanding of the various martial arts that are on offer and can end up joining a club that was local but finding out after a few weeks that the type or style of martial art in question was not really suitable for their needs, or the club itself was not that good, with regard to the teaching and training standards. There are a few simple steps to take when selecting a club for the first time that can in the long run save you time, money and effort. First find out what types of martial arts are available and visit these classes to see how the training methods, and style of combat, are done within the class. Many martial arts
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
clubs today are focused on the sport competition aspects of the fighting arts and will train their students in competition fighting techniques and sport combat rules rather than the practical aspects of self-defence and streetwise unarmed combat. If your main interest in the fighting arts is the competition area then there is no harm in joining that type of club but beware the fact that learning this area of the martial arts could result in being injured in competition, despite all the safe guards and rules, and will not prepare you for a street fight conflict if that was your original intention. Over the years the various martial art styles have gone in and out of fashion with karate being the more popular one year and some other combat style the next. These fashion trends towards the different fighting styles have often played a part in which club to choose but it is always wise to resist joining the first club that you go to, on the basis and often wrong belief, that joining the latest martial art fashion trend is the one for you. In the 1970’s kung fu became so popular, due to films like Enter the Dragon with the late legendary Bruce Lee, that kung fu clubs was opening up all over the place. At that point in time karate was no longer the in thing to do and was regarded WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 3 WWW.COMBATMAG.CO.UK COMBAT 3
The Perfect Recipe for A Successful Martial Arts Extravaganza Showcase! Well, it’s finally here and despite the fact that it has (the past 12 months) totally taken over the lives of all the behind the scenes crew (myself, Kwoklyn, Jan and Adam), there’s only one criterion that you must obey and that is to make sure that you stage the best possible event of its kind! You must also remember that it takes time to get it right and that you better know what your audience wants because if you don’t, it will fail as we have witnessed in the past. The Martial Arts Show Live however has been a labour of love that has surpassed ALL our expectations as well as gaining the trust and very much appreciated support of an army of helpers, performers, contributors, promotional agents. It has also been responsible for bringing quite literally thousands of martial artists together to present what will truly be “The Greatest Martial Arts Show EVER”!
The TMAS Models
Following on from last year’s first Martial Arts Show and the lessons learned from it, The Martial Arts Show Live 20 is set to be THE Best, THE Biggest and THE most enjoyable event of its kind to ever be staged in the UK. With an army of staff, exhibitors, demonstrators, visitors and fans of Martial Arts set to descend on the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, The Martial Arts Show Live will, on the 7th and 8th of May, provide not only a perfect platform for the many demo’s, fights, exhibitions and fascinating displays of martial excellence to show case their talent, it will also play host to thousands of real martial arts fans and followers to witness hundreds of genuinely unbelievable feats of skill, strength, stamina and amazing talent!
Meet The Martial Arts Show Live Team!
The Directors: In 2009 a NEW team formed with the sole purpose of bringing martial arts into the MAIN STREAM. Mr Paul S Clifton probably the UK’s most reclusive but highly driven & hard working publisher/publicist (Combat, Fighters magazines), joined forces with Mr Kwoklyn Wan, the larger than life martial artist who created MAFUK in 2009 and who’s little brother is none other than Gok Wan. The tech guy behind the team is Adam Jeffery who has an ability to bring 4 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
to life the images and the vision of Paul Clifton & Kwoklyn Wan on your computer screens. Least but most certainly not last, is Jan Harley who for the past 8months has looked after the administration, scheduling, accounts and has dealt with all of the Exhibitors, Performers and Guests. After a lot of feed back from the 20 0 show we concluded that the audience should have a lot more interaction with each of the area’s. This sparked the idea to have presenters on each of the area’s who’s responsibility would be to draw and entertain the crowds on each zone, interacting with the audience and in some cases invite them to join some of the many performers on stage. The Presenters: The search began and the application forms were dropped onto the website under the banner “GETTING INVOLVED”. The applications came in, in there droves. We had at this point already appointed our main presenters these being: Zara Phythian (Lady Dragon): One of the UK’s most recognised female martial artists, who has worked in Film, TV and Stage, holds several world titles and is a Guinness World Record Holder. Zara will be on our Main Stage & Catwalk for the entire weekend co presenting with Mr Fashion himself, Gok Wan.
By Paul Clifton
Kate Solomons: The Miss England Jim’ll Fix It, Kate has a vast amount of experience in presenting, especially catwalk and model competitions being one of 20 0 Clothes Show Live’s presenters. Kate can be found on the Main Stage and Catwalk and will also be co presenting with Gok Wan. Lee Charles: Lee has a natural ability to make you laugh and pulls you into his quirky but very funny sense of humour. Lee still competes/ fights in the UK and you will find him at The Cage Zone. Ben Loyd Holmes: Ben has had roles in pretty much every program ever made for TV and has also been in several Films. He joins Lee Charles over at The Cage Zone.
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/backissue
Julian Dale: An Eagle Claw disciple, Julian has been a martial artist for over 5 years studying in Hong Kong & China. One of the most knowledgeable people in the UK in Chinese martial arts he could not be anywhere else other than The Lei Tai Zone. Carl Thomas: Taekwondo Champion Carl, started his martial arts career at the tender age of 8. He now holds a 4th degree in TKD and is currently working on a New TV production developing martial arts for children. Carl will be presenting on The Tatami Zone...
See Cynthia Rothrock (above) Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace & Bob Sapp
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 5
Cynthia Rothrock @
MARTIALARTSSHOW the
THE NEC BIRMINGHAM 7TH & 8TH MAY 2011
Live
A Few Moments with the Queen of Martial Arts Movies Who hasn’t heard of Cynthia Rothrock? She is undoubtedly the World’s most famous gweilo (foreigner) in HK movie history. Her tournament and film credits would take an entire article just to list. Being a fan of hers since watching Righting Wrongs, on a friend’s satellite TV connection in the late 80’s, I was hooked. Following that, I saw a plethora of her non-HK films hitting the video store shelves in the city I lived in. When paired along her long time friend Richard Norton, they seemed to be the team no human could beat. So, when my friend Paul Clifton gave me the opportunity to interview her I didn’t hesitate at the chance. Here are a few pearls of wisdom from Sifu Rothrock: As everyone knows by now, you are attending The Martial Arts Show Live in Birmingham, over the weekend of May the 7th and 8th. How long has it been since you have been in the UK and in what capacity? CYNTHIA: The last time I was in the UK was about seven or eight years ago when I did the martial arts show for Paul Clifton. I look forward to returning to Birmingham to see some friends 6 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
from the past and to meet lots of new ones at what’s going to be a MASSIVE show. What projects have you been involved since your last trip to the UK? CYNTHIA: Yikes, that’s a lot of time that has passed. I did a few movies, Outside the Law, Sci-Fighter; I did a reality show called “Faking It” for The Learning Channel. I have been teaching a lot of seminars around the world for the past two years, and just completed being the martial art trainer for the upcoming Charlie’s Angels pilot. I am working with Dean Meadows on a new project to be shot in the UK next year, and also two scripts with my good friend Richard Norton. I know that Richard wanted to come to the show this year but couldn’t make it although he has already confirmed for next year as have I. You are appearing alongside two other American martial arts legends, Bill Wallace
and Joe Lewis in this upcoming event. How did you initially meet them? CYNTHIA: I’ve known Bill for a long time, I first met him when I was a teenager competing at a competition in New York City. He was a body guard at the time for Jim Belushi, from Saturday Night Live. He came up to me and told me I had great kicks.
By Guy Edward Larke
I’ve met Joe Lewis over the past few years. He was already off the tournament circuit when I was competing, but I always knew who he was because of all the martial arts publicity in magazines such as Combat. I knew he was a great martial artist and fighter, so it was a pleasure getting to know him at the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and through that event we have become friends. So going back a bit, are you planning on returning to the screen in the future? CYNTHIA: Yes, I plan on returning as an actress and I hope to be a trainer to some actors for martial art movies. It was different teaching someone how to act and look like they know martial arts, I really enjoyed that. Can you describe briefly the subject of your presentation? CYNTHIA: I will be doing a FREE to attendees seminar but that could be on anything from stunt fighting for films, to advanced stretching. I will be signing autographs and having pictures taken with fans and I believe I will be on a Q&A panel discussing martial art movies. I think I am also going to be involved in the Martial Arts Fashion show too. So, if you want to meet me, have photo’s taken with me and train too, I will be there for the whole weekend – call 0 2 35 6930 or visit www. themartialartsshowlive.com for more details or to book tickets...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 7
Come & Meet, Greet and Train
w
Joe Lew i
@
MARTIALARTSSHOW the
THE NEC BIRMINGHAM 7TH & 8TH MAY 2011
Live
When you think of the Golden Age of the martial arts of the Western world (1960’s) a few names come to mind: Bruce Lee, Ed Parker, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace and Mike Stone. Another legendary figure was the undisputed Heavyweight Karate Champion of that period, and perhaps all time, Joe Lewis.
This North Carolina athlete turned Marine earned a black belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate in Okinawa in an unheard of 7 months. After returning to America he amassed untold numbers of trophies in Point Karate and stood shoulder to shoulder with best in the industry. He went from the ring to the movies in projects such as Jaguar Lives. Following that till now he has been trainer, mentor, motivator and inspiration to thousands upon thousands of martial arts from all over the world. His words may seem curt and blunt, but they also sting of the truth. In many ways he’s like an uncle or old high school coach you revisit to kick your tail back on the right path. Unlike many retired champions of many sports, he has no interest in reliving the past. He only looks to tomorrow; his classes are painfully real and alive and are as much mental as they are physical. Following is a brief conversation with the man. To find out more you will have to attend The Martial Arts Show Live in Birmingham on the 7th and 8th of May (this month) www.themartialartsshowlive.com
How familiar are you with the other special guests and seminar instructors that will be at TMAS Live? JOE LEWIS: Well Bill obviously is a very old friend of mine. We even went to the same school, Shorin-Ryu, which you can see if watch our early fights. Our stances and the tendency to fight off the lead leg are very similar to one another. Now I am primarily a striker whereas Bill is a kicker but there are similarities. Plus we also share a wrestling and grappling background. Cynthia is a very nice lady. Everyone loves Cyndi, its hard not to. Again we’ve known each other for a long time. Lamar Davis I know fairly well, I believe he’s going to be covering JKD trapping. You are famous for being a teacher, coach, and mentor to numerous martial artists. Could you talk a little about that and your approach to the martial arts? JOE LEWIS: My primary focus is on mental energies. You may compare them to parapsychology or neuropsychology, I don’t believe in that chi stuff at all. There are five basic energies I deal with. I won’t detail them here, you’ll need to attend my seminar or buy my manual. I will however give you a situation to consider that’s related.
0 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Combat May 0 .indd 0
/ / : : PM
with...
is
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/ backissue
By Guy Edward Larke
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 9
To read more articles like this make sure you get the next issue of fighters available from WH Smith & all good newsagents
20 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Catching Up With
Superfoot You would think that one slows down with age. It’s obvious. Physically, psychologically, spiritually you almost want to rest and enjoy your time. That is except for the elite few who live what they do. They get busier every year. People like Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. Like Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris and a few others he heralded and brought in the Golden Age of martial arts to the Western world. In the 970’s he became even more of a legend when he switched from Point Fighting to Full Contact Karate, blurring through his opponents with his left leg. Roundhouse-Hook-Side-Hook... No one realized that the champion took a serious liability and turned it into the most ingenious advantage. The ring led to a film career, a multitude of magazine articles, books, videos and seminars. Now he even has his own system due to popular demand. He is among the unique group of individuals Paul Clifton has carefully selected for his upcoming event. He may be a bit grayer but his trademark grin and contagious sense of humour has remained the same. I hope to be among the many who greet him in Birmingham.
It’s been a little while. I heard you just got back from another seminar. BILL WALLACE: Yes, I did a four day seminar in Fairbanks, in the middle of Alaska. It was with some Taekwondo people who just joined my system.
When was the last time you were in the U.K.? Where exactly?
BILL WALLACE: I believe three years ago I was in Essex. It was a three day seminar for some Taekwondo folks that were supposed to join the system. Sadly there were too many differences stylistically for their liking and I was a bit too far away, but we still had a good time.
How often do you go on seminars in a year? BILL WALLACE: Every weekend practically. Right now I’m booked up to August.
What’s in highest demand, your kicking techniques, sparring, self-defense, or your actual system itself? BILL WALLACE: I would have to say kicking with flexibility to develop speed. That’s useful for everyone.
What will you be doing at the Birmingham show? BILL WALLACE: Primarily what I mentioned before. I will also be in Manchester and Liverpool.
How has your seminar style has changed over the years? BILL WALLACE: Well over the years and through experience I’ve learned how to make things clearer, easier, and more efficient. Basically how to get the job done better and in a shorter period of time. More importantly I’ve made it more fun. Not just for them but myself as well. Everyone has to enjoy the seminar to make it work.
What part of the show are you looking forward to? BILL WALLACE: (laughs) Sadly, I’m not sure. I haven’t had the chance to go to the site. I guess I’ll wait and see and let it be a surprise. I have never been to one of Paul’s events before.
By Guy Edward Larke WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 2
Guy Blo The Next Big Thing!
Guy is the creator of the Defiance Combat Flinch Response Self Defense System, He has been training in the martial arts for 30 years and has brought 26 years of Wing Chun, 15 years of Thai Boxing, 20 years of human psychology through his career as a leadership coach for international companies and a lot of stuff along the way; into a three day Foundation and Advanced instructor certification programme that operates as a stand alone offering or as a bolt on to your current system. The Defiance Combat Flinch Response Self Defense System, is designed to enable you to survive Primary Threats through the Detect, Deter, Defuse, Disengage, Defend, Don’t Die road map. Hi Guy, thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. So first things first as many people will not know you, who is Guy Bloom? First of all thanks for inviting me to talk with you, Combat magazine is iconic; so it means a lot to be here. So who am I?! Well of course I am at Combat today because of the Defiance Combat Flinch Response Self Defence Certification Programme that I am launching this year; so in many respects that’s what people will be interested in; but of course that’s the most recent thing, that sits on top of few decades of experiences.
On that note before we get to present day, what’s been your journey to date?
I think journey is a good word as it has been and continues to be so. I started training in Wing Chun after watching Enter The Dragon (how’s that for a cliché) at 14 yrs old, in what now feels like a Vietnam flashback, in Sheffield with a chap called Martin who was one of Sam Kwok’s instructors. He had a dragon on one forearm and a panther on the other (and that was cool!) and of course he was fast, tough as nails, precise, had a really strong presence and at this point I fell in love with the martial arts. I trained religiously and frankly became obsessed but then Martin closed the club as I think he moved abroad for a while.
What then?
Well I knew he was trained by Sam Kwok, so got his number and I was about 5yrs old then I think, I remember going to a call box and calling him (no internet or email really back then), and basically with a level of naivety that comes with being 5 yrs old asked if I could 22 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
come and train with him. So to cut a long story short I started training every Saturday, travelling to Blackpool from Matlock, Derbyshire, getting 2 buses, then a train changing half way and then getting another bus to Lytham St.Annes, just outside of Blackpool.
Give us a sense of your training?
Well you have to remember that most of the people that Sam was training were instructors or training to be, so I was at first a practising resource, I’d really be given a bit of a form to practise and then everyone would work out on me! Back then everyone was bigger, stronger and more experienced; I used to come home black and blue…..I loved it. They say if you want to get better at a thing train with people better than you, so for me that was the basis of my formative years in Wing Chun, everyone was better than me!
I’ve known Sam Kwok for a very long time, has been around for ever in the Wing Chun field what do you think of him and his ability?
He’s exceptional at what he does end of debate as far as I am concerned. Back in the day I went on workshops with people such as William Cheung and Wong Shun Leung, trained with Yip Chun (whenever he was over) and later went to Hong Kong to train with Ip Ching and though they all had their areas of excellence Sam is head and shoulders above them. He is the fastest, most precise and capable exponent of Wing Chun I have ever seen…..period!..
Part 1
om By Paul S Clifton
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/backissue
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 23
By Mark Hayes
Thundershin
Man
World Record Shin Bone Conditioning System Introducing Proven Method for Most Devastating Shin Kick “Introducing Vajra Jhanga the South Asian conditioning methods passed on by Legendary Masters of Martial Arts of the east were developed through thousands of years and now being revealed to you. It is a time tested method, but the instructions have to be followed accordingly for the appropriate result.�
24 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Have you ever banged your shin and felt that sharp numbing pain? Ask any footballer they wear shin pads for protection and soon learn that the hard way! This point of your leg has little flesh covering it and is easily bruised, skinned, grazed or gashed. From the pages of the history Shin conditioning is prominently found to be a great way of equipping oneself for real advantage in physical engagement or combat. Specially Muay Thai and Burmese Bando and many other Asian systems have been developing amazing ways of shin conditioning methods for greater advantage in combat and self-defense. Many masters developed human body conditioning methods which convert human limbs into defensive weapons like the ancient Indian Art of Vajra Musti or Thunder Fist. Similarly different parts of the body like fist, forearm, palm and shinbone were also conditioned through rigorous training combining different herbal remedies to use as weapons. World record holder Grand Master Dr. Yuree, also known as “The THUNDERSHIN MAN” for his pair of tough shins has set his new world record at the Martial Arts Show at NEC,20 0. He has been breaking multiple baseball bats, hockey sticks, thick wooden bars with his deadly strikes of his shinbone. Here we will share the glimpse of his amazing world record secrets and behind the scene techniques in the ThunderShin Training Program. Thunder Shin Man’s training program will take you through a journey into a world of a shin bone conditioning system revealing the secret methods of his conditioning passed down by generations based on the traditional Masters’ doctrine and techniques from the Eastern part of world.
Muscle, Joint, Ligament (by exercises) connecting the bone to the body that can ultimately be trained to deliver devastating shin bone kicks. This process gradually develops resistance to pain and shock when kicking. Basically this conditioning process has been defined by scientific findings of “Julius Wolff” in the 9th Century which is called ‘Wolff’s law’ stating that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading.
Benefits of Shin Conditioning:
There are many mentionable benefits of Thunder Shin Training from modern day point of view:(a) It is unique for Demonstration in martial arts tournaments and exhibitions (b) It is very effective for use in competition and tournaments (d) It is a marker of personal achievement (e) It is a very powerful tool of selfdefense (f) As low level kick it has very special effective characteristics and huge advantage against all most all kinds of opponents (g) It adds great confidence and extra power in defensive combat – which one can soon feel even after only a few weeks of training h) Great advantage in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions having an outstanding ratio of low kick power. i) Your leg can become much stronger than before giving you a healthier body.
j) After completion of your Thunder Shin program, you can become a distinguished member of the World Thunder Shin Master’s Club, and also you can attain instructor’s certification for the “Thunder Shin System”.
Methods for Shin Conditioning
The conditioning of the bone is achieved through striking and repetition of kicking on various surfaces:
Tana Ghath (Striking Methods):
This specialized techniques based on specific body mechanics teaches correct striking method with greater force , desensitizing the shin bone and enhances its endurance and power same time...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
You will learn how to deliver the most powerful shin bone strikes which can even break baseball bats, hockey sticks, wooden bars etc not to mention human bone. This can become your most powerful weapon in your martial arts arsenal.
How Thunder SHIN conditioning works?
The aim of Thunder Shin bone Conditioning is a process to condition your shin bone and strengthen
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 25
The
D2
A Training
Revolution! Vision and coordination are two of many traits all good MMA and martial arts athletes must have in order to be great. Look at the best athletes in the sport - they all possess an innate hand-eye coordination that allows them to think quick and act quicker. A Canadian-based company called Dynavision Sports has created a device that is becoming popular in all sports, especially the martial arts. The Dynavision D2 contains a sphere of buttons that light up in random succession and is designed to measure, track and improve reaction time, peripheral awareness, hand-eye coordination and other visuo-motor skills. “The D2 is the ultimate reaction training machine,” said Phil Jones, president of Dynavision Sports and inventor of the D2. “This stimulating and challenging device evaluates and trains dynamic visual skills,
26 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
such as eye-hand coordination, visual reaction, multi-level processing, concentration and peripheral awareness. Using extensive measurement allows the athlete to become totally aware of their central focal and peripheral visual fields.” The D2 has multiple levels of application. On the most basic level, athletes will stand in front of the board and stare straight ahead at a focal point (a little screen). One by one, buttons will light up around the board and by looking straight ahead, athletes are forced to use their peripheral vision; meanwhile, their reaction time and handeye coordination are being
tested as well. This training is measured. The number of buttons hit is tracked, along with the athletes’ speed and more. According to Jones, athletes find that their scores improve over time, as their visuo-motor functions improve with increased practice. That is the simplest way to engage the D2. “The D2’s ability to gradually and incrementally raise the cognitive load takes the user to increasingly higher levels of mental abilities such as concentration and decision-making under rising stress levels,” said Jones. “The tracking and
building of each user’s history provides a unique tool to monitor these gains and track your evolving history. The positive reinforcement of having a score and feeling the positive effects makes the D2 a favorite in so many environments including the field house, medical (concussion monitoring), police/tactical training.” One of the biggest proponents of the technology is two-time karate world champion Peter Lee, who is the fastest user to date of the D2. He holds the record for the D2 including highs of 20 hits on a full board in minute, 220 hits on the inner board in minute, and 830 hits on inner board in 4 minutes, and 756 hits on a full board 4 minute run. His training can be viewed on YouTube. “The D2 helps train your reaction time and enables you to see the play developing before it gets there,” said Lee. “It is very enjoyable and a great upper body workout. It trains your ability to react to situations on the fly even faster, which in turn makes all other fighters seem slower -giving the person using the D2 the ultimate edge.” The next level of interaction of the D2 adds a cognitive element. Instead of simply hitting every button that lights up, athletes must decipher between red and green buttons. Users can program the training session to have a certain distribution of each color and essentially, their job is to only hit the red buttons. By doing this, athletes are not only testing their reaction time, peripheral vision and hand-eye coordination, they are testing
these things while having to cognitively process the colors of the buttons and whether or not to hit them. An even more advanced level of interaction includes numbers. Athletes can program the focal point (screen) to show six-digit numbers. While going through the test, and choosing between red and green lights, athletes also have to read the displayed number out loud. This inevitably complicates the training. Some athletic programs, like the University of Cincinnati, have created training regimens where the athletes are expected to actually add the digits while engaging on the D2. Dynavision technology can be found at the University of Cincinnati, University of
Phil Jones & Melissa Tippet from Gatorade
Central Florida, IMG Performance Institute, Gatorade Sport Science Institute, Manchester United, Baylor University, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, WestPoint, the Air Force Academy, NASCAR racer Kasey Kahne’s facility and several other athletic programs around the world...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 27
Brandon Stu Actor, Model, Art Teacher and Martial Artist
By Fred M. Grandinetti
Ask Brandon Stumpf what color he frequently finds himself encountering and the answer is dark red. By day he uses the color as a full time art teacher at Londonderry Middle School in Manchester New Hampshire. At night blood usually splatters his uniform portraying Chief Greg Buxon in the horror thriller D.I.D. (2008) or Detective Steve Ryan in the blood bath BEG (2010). Both roles required a lot of physical activity for the thirty four year old actor and model. His martial arts training began when he was young at The Shaolin Kenpo Arts Association. At twelve years of age he received a black belt in Kenpo Karate. While attending high school Stumpf’s fighting interests leaned towards folk, Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling. Upon graduation he joined the army and trained in hand to hand combat. One of his specialties was the handling of several assorted weapons. These included the Beretta 9mm, M 6, M203 and MK 9 grenade launchers, SAW, .50cal machine guns and different forms of demolition including TNT and C4 Plastique. Stumpf recalls, “When I began teaching I rekindled my interest in the martial arts. Thanks to a student I was coaching, who was an avid MMA fighter, I joined the Myo-fuan dojo grappling team. I competed in a few submission tournaments run
28 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
by NAGA. I joined a stunt group in Boston called The Redeemer Stunt Team which was headed by Leo Kai Angelos. I have performed much of my own stunt work in films. For Bridge Crusader (20 0) I performed a lot of sword, grappling, hand to hand and falls training. Working on this film was a surreal experience. The cast went through a lot of costume changes. We were recreating an entire battle with very few actual combatants. I was adapting my fighting style to accommodate whom I was portraying. It was either the more brutish swordsmanship of a crusader or the lithe and agile physically of Persian assassins. I understand camera angles and how they come into play when filming various types of battle scenes. How to create the illusion of real combat and contact through camera manipulation and to make it look convincing. I
was able to use my weapon’s training to get hired as a solider in the movie Shutter Island (20 0) starring Leonardo DiCaprio. More recently I have posed in combat positions as the cover model for a series of Kindle books by Jon F Merz. These titles include The Fixer and The Destructor where I portray Lawson. He is a commando with an attitude who has been alive for over 40 years.” To stay in shape the actor varies his work out routine. “I have learned over the years that someone in good physical condition can quickly become accustomed to a set regimen of exercise. In my opinion variation is the key to success and growth. Being of average height and weight I train for endurance and tone rather than girth. In various routines I will do anything from an intense plyo circuit to a fast paced weight training circuit without rest, to a lengthy yoga routine or pilates workout. I like to keep my body guessing as to what comes next .With age I have learned a lot of stretching is important than torturing yourself on a daily basis. If you do not care for and stretch your muscles you are destined for injury. This will severely cut off your effectiveness in training and longevity. As with any efforts to keep your body in shape nutrition plays an important role. I do have a high metabolism but found it is important to know ones limitations and how much to splurge on those special occasions. I certainly do not subscribe to the party like rock star routine with a mediocre physique.”
mpf Stumpf decided upon an acting career after his younger brother went to New York and attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. “My brother started taking film, screen and writing classes, all that kind of stuff. He became involved with fun projects and I decided this would make a fun side hobby. I did a photo shoot and brought the head shots to local casting agents. I began modeling for Arnold Palmer’s clothing catalog, Bose, Vermont Teddy Bear, Boston Magazine, Newport Life Magazine and Hasbro. I did an exercise shoot for a commercial called The Future of Fitness for Latitude Sports which won a Communicator’s Award in 2009. With the modeling career going well I wanted to pursue film work and was cast as background characters in several major motion pictures. These films included 27 Dresses (2008), Revolutionary Road (2008), The Game Plan (2007) and Ghost of Girlfriend’s Past (2009). As far as actual acting is concerned I have made a mark in Independent films. These movies are a real tricky creature but this is where you gain real experience. We don’t work the typical Hollywood shooting schedule...
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/backissue WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 29
Martial art attracts people from all walks of life, cultures, and personalities. They (the arts) are blind to who embraces them and conform and adapt themselves to the individuals who pursue them. There are the champions, the dedicated students, the weekend musul-in (Korean for martial artists), the recreational students and the survivors. It seems the world, in general, is in love with the champions. They are the ones who find everything easy, especially their chosen styles. They are the heroes and heroines of our fantasies. Moreover, they are who, we, as children strive to be. These noble warriors are often tall, attractive and have an almost regal bearing. What happens when our heroes fall? Usually the public revels in their shame and moves on to the next cultural icon. Humanity is very good at rejection, sadly. But what “really” happens to these people when they fall? That’s a very hard question. A lot depends on the nature of the events that befell him or her. In life, and especially, for those who study martial arts, more importantly, is the character of the martial artist in question. What possible fates could humble a martial artist? The possibilities are endless. Imagine what a bullet could do... right in the temple and out an eye. That’s what happened to young Bobby Ott, a promising young Hapkido master in New Jersey. As a result of defending a worker at his father’s place of business, a thug blindsided him and shot him. The 30 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
horror story of what happened next and his slow recovery needs to be read to be fully understood. Overcoming the psychological effects of the terrible attack was more difficult than the actual physical damage itself. Bobby went from being a young, handsome martial arts competitor and instructor, with his entire life ahead of him, to being like a broken doll - who weighed as much as a sack full of wet rags. His previous masters, family and close friends helped him go about the slow road to recovery and to dealing with the loss of sight, smell, and taste. Being “pushed” back into teaching the martial arts, gave him new insight into what the arts and he really were. Through rediscovering the martial arts as a blind man, he had rebuilt his body and his skills, in ways that he never could have previously imagined. Gone were scissor kicks and flying side kicks. Flowing circular moves and short decisive linear strikes replaced them. The Korean expression of pilsung (certain victory) began to hold new meaning to him. As Hapkido was about controlling your opponent he in turn controlled his destiny in the same
way, moving and adjusting every decision as if he was performing a self-defense maneuver. My father told me several times growing up with my own adversity, that the best way to “get even” was to be successful and happy. So I moved to Korea. Bobby moved to the other side of his country and called himself Robert as part of reinventing himself. Finding vision in his life actually became clearer after his disability. As a young man he was not nearly as focused or determined. He lived his life, a day at a time and took a lot for granted. Years later, he truly grew into a man, in the more figurative sense of the word. Upon moving from his old life, he leaped into his new life, like a man possessed. He accomplished more than he had ever dreamed. Here are just a few of the things this survivor has achieved: * * * *
Chief Master - Temple of Certain Victory President/CEO - Flowering Warrior Enterprises LLC President/CEO - Certain Victory Food Services Inc. Official Chairman - WA. State Business Enterprise Program...
By Master Guy Edward Larke Edited by Ann M. Damerau
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 3
Co
BIG
Wh
ich
we
Sc
mp
ree
eti
n T
V (5
tio
0 in
now To en plus t Blu A) B n ma er sim Ray ruc rtial ply a /Dv eA arti n s dp lmig st s wer laye th hty. ta r an B) B rred e follo da ruc in th wing sele eL e q ctio ues ee. Gre no e t C) i o n f 10 n Bru Hor . DV ce net .. D’s For ? /blu syth e ra . ys
ll k
TM
n
ch)
?
AS
@m
art
E-m
iala
ail
rts
you
inp
ans
rin
we
rs t
t.co
m
o
you can also enter this competition in person on the central stand at...
32 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
A Lifetime of Martial Arts
& of a Beating Heart ASSOCIATE MASTER KEVIN J MILLS & HIS FAMILY TREK THE INCA TRAIL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION Registered Charity Number: - 225971
Kevin Mills, 8 th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo & Head of the British Kenpo Karate Union will make a very personal journey in September of this year, trekking the Inca Trail in Peru to the Machu Picchu (the Lost City of the Incas) to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, a charity very close to his heart (excuse the pun!). Joining him on this Trek will be his son, Scott and his daughter, Leah-Marie. Kevin and his family have chosen to do this very personal challenge now, to combine his 50th birthday, with the 50th anniversary of the British Heart Foundation. It is also very poignant that tragically and as an only child, Kevin lost both his parents to heart attacks (both in their early 50s) within four years of each other, in the late 970s, early 980s, whilst he was still only in his late teens. They never got to see the phenomenal skill he has acquired
through his martial arts training, his worldwide reputation as a first class Instructor in American Kenpo and hence the life and path that he has carved out for himself in the martial arts world over the past 30 years. It was also with some irony that some 5 years ago his wife Jenni, who is herself, a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Many families have experienced the pain and trauma caused by the indiscriminate onset of Heart Disease and the loss of those they love, which is why Kevin and his family have set themselves a personal target to raise
of ÂŁ 5,000 to help the British Heart Foundation continue their incredible work into preventing and treating heart disease. If you would like to help support their phenomenal efforts and donate please visit www.justgiving. com/millsfamily or keep up to date with their fundraising efforts and events at www.bkku.com/ bhfmillsfamilytrek20 Following the Trek there will be a full report and photographs of the Trek itself in a future issue of Combat magazine.
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 33
Ninja Commando Units THE HARSH TRUTH BEHIND THE NINJA
By Antony Cummins MA Author of “The True Path of The Ninja”
The ninja, or shinobi as they were known in ancient Japan were not the pale image you see in the media today. In harsh fact the ninja were professional mercenaries that represent some of the worlds best trained soldiers for hire, soldiers that were feared and used for their unique skills. These men were the true commandos of ancient Japanese warfare and they left an inferno of torture, hell and destruction in their wake.
At the basic level you can divide the ninja into two sections, war time shinobi or commandos and scouts and peace time shinobi, who concentrated more on espionage and spying. To add to this you must understand that being a ninja was a job, a description of what your profession entailed, which means you must see the ninja as warriors or samurai with unique skills. The term given to the ninja by the army commanders was Ninpei which translates as Ninja Troop and we know from historical documentation that 20 such commandos would be allotted to an army of 4000 strong. The main requirements of these wartime mercenaries was to perform as army scouts who would clear the army’s path of ambush troops, suicide squads and snipers. In addition to this they would plan tactical routes and map geographical locations out for the army tacticians. Once the army was encamped and fortified the 34 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
ninja would protect the camp lines and lead strike teams into enemy camps with the intention of keeping the enemy harassed and stressed. Night after night they would enter the enemy lines and leave bodies for the morning dawn and for the opposition to see. Lastly, if an army was laying siege to an enemy castle the commander would call forth his shinobi commando team and have them scale and infiltrate the castle walls in teams or as single infiltration units. The aim of this was to set fire to strategic targets which would throw the defenders into anarchy and allow the attacking force to drive the hammer of their might at this critical point which normally resulted in the fortress being taken. The counter measure for this was a team of defending shinobi or at least shinobi trained guards which the besieged used as defence. Their task was to establish an elaborate password and identification system and to conduct the skill of “ninja detection methods” which constituted regular search patterns and the inspection of all dark areas, from castle eves to the drainage system. This method was carried out about eight times a night with a series of fires along the external walls to illuminate the entire area of the grounds, just to keep these dangerous infiltrators at bay. The reality of wartime shinobi was one of extreme skill and an unmatched level of training, starting from a young age, these mercenary soldiers were trained in the mountain retreats of places like Iga and Koka, the “ninja villages” of their day. The ninja were trained in a vast curriculum of skills including: Explosives such as hand grenades, fire rockets, signal-
ling, traps and ambushing, sharp-shooting, mine-laying and demolition. Also; torture, interrogation questioning, tracking, “criminal capture” scaling, psychology, disguise, espionage, water-craft usage, metrology, cryptography, geography and the martial arts among may other subjects. The wars of Japan ended in 603 with the “reign of peace” which followed. At the start of this era, three of the major ninja manuals were written, one of which was by a samurai named Natori Masatake and its title translates as “True Path of the Ninja”. For the first time this manual has been translated into English and concentrates on the espionage and spying sections of the ninja curriculum. The Squire Masatake was in the employ of one of the three Tokugawa families, the premier samurai family in Japan at that time. His book was a secret manual to aid the instruction of future shinobi and was kept as a family heir loom, this manual contains instructions on disguise and on how to infiltrate the enemy ranks as a spy incognito. Divided into three major parts this manual deals with the tools and equipment needed to be a ninja, infiltration methods with investigation skills and finally the psychology of lying and how to deal with duress while working behind enemy lines. While this manual is nearly 400 years old its secrets hold an amazing relevance today as they did all that time ago and it displays how ahead of the times the
ancient ninja of Japan really were. Some of the skills found in the “True Path of the Ninja” are as follows:
Arson:
The ninja needed to carry fire at all times to cause confusion and to commit arson. They used a copper tube packed with slow burning material which could be used to ignite gunpowder and start anything from castle fires to a scorched earth policy. This manual shows how two or three men teams can cause distractions and allow other members of a ninja team to enter houses and prepare the locks and windows for later “break-ins”
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 35
36 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
y
B
Jo e
s
le tt
rt
po
ie t
R
the
L h im
ig
H
al
H
ky
S
yi
Sk
It has been the talked about event for the past 2 months on Facebook and network sites, with the quick teasers put together by Team Resurrection and students of Infinity Martial Arts. Being the first of its kind, offering anyone the opportunity to learn Tricks, Kicks and Flips under the supervision of World Forms Champion Joe Hallett. If that wasn’t enough to get you there, the chance of trying out the new range of equipment from UK gymnastic equipment company Tracks 2000 was. If I have lost you already then I am sorry but I am reporting on the 3hour seminar hosted by Infinity Martial Arts which was christened “Sky High” Saturday 5th February was the day and pm was the time that the Martial Artists, Trickers, Forms Competitors, Free Runners and School owners from the country arrived in Yeovil for the event. When you entered the doors of Infinity you could feel the energy in the room with everyone so keen to get started, already busting moves out on the free floor. Joe Hallett gathered all 40 participants together to give them the low down on the day and introduce the assistant instructors they were Team Resurrection members Ruth Hallett, Joe Pitman, Matthew Lightfoot, Josh Lewis and Alistair McDonald. They were then split in to groups and were giving a high jumping warm up, using all products from Tracks 2000 this showed everyone these training aids are so versatile and can be used in many ways. From tuck jumps on the Launch Pad, to butterfly kicks on the Sweet Spot to handstands on the Bungee Incline and dive rolls on the Air Pad the warm up was over. Ruth Hallett took everyone though a long stretch making sure no one was going to pull any muscles throughout the session. Straight in to learning their first flip, using the Launch Pad, Sweet Spot and Air Pad everyone was instructed on how to execute a front summersault correctly and safely. Each group was mixed abilities and some people were moved on swiftly to harder variations of the front summersaults including Xins and Baranies, others had the move broken down and were supported on their first attempts. By the time everyone rotated and tried the move on all three pieces of equipment they were attempting the move on their own and were very close to landed it.
Moving swiftly on from Front Summersaults to Backward Summersaults; this move is one move most of the attendees were most scared off as it is unknown territory and takes a lot of will power. But everyone put 0% in to it with some landing the move comfortably. The instructors broke the move down into three parts one a straight jump, two a straight jump leant back and tucking the knees while rolling over the instructors shoulder and third attempting the full rotation with the support from the instructor. This is the safest and proven way to teach backward summersaults to beginners. After a quick break everyone was back on the training area ready to learn some more. This time the Air Pad was deflated and the Air Floor replaced it and the Launch Pad was taken away and out came the apparatus everyone had been waiting for the Bungee Incline straight from the USA. Joe Hallett explained to everyone they would be trying Handsprings and Forward Walkovers and Websters. Each move was demonstrated and explained in full and everyone was off with their instructors trying to get their feet on the ground before falling on their bottoms. The Air Floor is a really good tool for learning these moves on as your get a cushioned landing and helps prevent wear on your joints. The Bungee Incline is even better as students are aided with the wedge shape so they can slow down their rotation to concentrate on their leg positioning. Another quick break and change of moves on the Air Floor Kicking Master Joe Hallett took everyone though 540 Kicks, Cheat 720 Hook Kicks, Backside 900 and Raiz. While the other side the Bungee Incline
was used in a different way being laid against the wall and everyone was supported by two instructors while running up the incline and back flipping off also known as a wall flip. At first many students were hesitatant to attempt a wall flip but after a few took up the challenge, all 40 attendees from ages of 5 to 40 attempted it with fantastic results. It just proves how fantastic the equipment can be and offers students a safe way of learning moves they could only imagine happening in the movies. After everyone had a flip up the wall and a kick on the Air Floor the two hour seminar came to an end. Meaning there was one hour remaining for everyone to try out the moves they have learnt and more freely on all the equipment. While the open session took part Combat Magazine took the time to ask attendees how they found the whole Sky High experience this is what they said. “After attending Joe Hallett’s ‘Sky High’ today I have come away on what can only be described as, well... a High! The level of instruction given to both children and adults was faultless! Whether you wanted to perfect a trick or start learning, the help was there. By far the most popular of the equipment was the ‘Bungee Incline’ and it’s easy to understand why...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/ subscribe WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 37
Haganah’s
Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting
part 1
Late 2010 saw HaganaH’s Head instructor Darren Le Fevre return to Mike Lee Kanarek’s South Florida HQ. This time the theme of the training was Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting. This is his story. “What is the best knife in a knife fight?” We look at each other for inspiration. Some with personal preferences sing out the brand names of a few well known tactical knives. Some remain silent. “The one that got deployed first is the best knife!” is the reply. Those who spoke, glance at each other with grim realization, then back at Mike with a volley of humble, “should have known that” type looks in an attempt to mask their awkwardness. I’m just glad I’d said nothing.
“It makes no difference who made it, what it looks like, how expensive it was or how good an edge it will hold. If it got deployed quickly, took out the enemy and saved your life it was the best knife.” “That $200 tactical knife you own is worthless if you got killed before you had a chance to deploy it.” growls Mike.
Once again I find myself at HaganaH HQ in South Florida to train with system founder Mike Lee Kanarek. As anticipated, the training is as intense and hardcore as it was for my certification in the F.I.G.H.T. programme element of the HaganaH System.
This puts things into perspective. You can have the best weapon in the world to hand, but if you didn’t get the chance to use it, it is irrelevant. If the enemy killed you, basically, your deployment was very bad. Terminally bad. This is the reality of a knife on knife engagement.
This time the skill sets are Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting (ITK) and Ground Survival. (look out for more on Ground Survival in later issues) The skill-set of Israeli Tactical Knife fighting, although relatively concise & easy to learn, is highly technical, with a mindset that is nothing short of brutal. “Once you are in the “pocket” (fully engaged at close quarters) there are no second chances”, You must be decisive, aggressive and dominate the position! Contain, control, demolish! You mess up here in a knife fight, even for half a second & you are dead! Period!” explains Mike.
38 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Given my previous experience, I had expected things to move up a gear. This time however, nothing short of the will to prevail will carry me through. On arrival at Miami International Airport I am informed that In addition to ITK & Ground Survival, Mike has organised a special “One Off” session he expects all his Instructors who are in town to attend.
In Mike Lee Kanarek’s world there is a tendency for the same kind of spontaneity you would expect in a real life combat situation. Of all the teachers & instructors I have studied with in a 30 year martial arts career, Mike is the only one I have trained under who never seems to do anything twice the same way. Every training session is geared to push boundaries to the extreme, always presenting a test or challenge to take you to that point beyond what you thought was possible. You never know exactly what to expect, or what you are walking into. This blend of psychology & mild but constant stress induction is his trademark, always keeping students sharp and “on their toes” so to speak. It is Mike’s Spartan-like attitude to training, combined with his incredible ability to both motivate and extract the very best from the individual which makes him entirely unique. ”I train to see who has the most guts, to see who can keep the pace in the rough trenches where you truly get punished...and then at the end, to see who will still stand beside me, when most have stopped training” explains Mike. This is his ethos. As anticipated, the company on the mat is again of the highest calibre. (including a Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army) Several of my fellow instructors are
again from the law enforcement and military communities, back again to enhance their HaganaH/F.I.G.H.T. programmes with the skill-sets of ITK & Ground Survival, Two of them are Vic and Ed. (Whom I will refer to as such for security reasons) Vic describes himself as “essentially a pilot”, although I have my suspicions he maybe something more akin to an Air Marshal than anything else. “Vic”, is a former US Marine who used to fly F14’s. Working with him on the mat it is obvious he is just as adept at taking someone out as he is behind the controls of an aircraft. His knowledge of some of the more brutal hand-to hand combative skills at least, is far greater than one would expect from your standard 747 pilot. “Ed”, works in law enforcement and describes himself as working somewhere between a US Marshal and the Federal Government. He is involved heavily with the US Federal prison service and in the past has
been responsible for transporting high profile prisoners across the US. (in one instance Mafia Don, John Gotti Jnr) Over lunch one day Ed tells me his team recently stormed a US prison to re-gain control following nearly two weeks of rioting. “What was that like?” I ask naively. “Well, we were given impunity to do whatever was necessary to get the job done, so we went in and shot 7 of them” Ed replies with a calm, matter-of-fact demeanour. I almost choke on my pastrami sandwich.
Modern Combat
Israeli Tactical knife fighting (ITK) & Israeli Combat Shooting (ICS) are without doubt the specialities of the house in the HaganaH system. As a military based system we believe that without good practical knife fighting skills, all of your self defence techniques will be incomplete. We now live in an entirely new era, this is modern combat and knife use has become a common part of modern society...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 39
T2
Photos by MMA PUNDIT
TOURNAMENT IS THE FUTURE!
Once again the TMAS Live tournament series was a HUGE success! On the back of T1 in November of last year, T2 had a lot to live up to but once again, a fantastic turn out with over 500 entries, as well as 200 spectators headed to the wild cat’s arena in Nottingham for a full day of martial art competition and entertainment. Once again the “Lady Dragon”, Zara Phythian,(Tournament Director) handed the reigns of running the tournament on the day to Juliet Marke as Zara was going to be busy all day herself, as the TMAS Live presenter. The atmosphere was electric from the very start, the stage was set and to kick the day off there was an amazing opening ceremony which included David Grahams Dragon dance, The TMAS Live performers (Trey Drysdale and Raven Wright) who bought the house down with their mix of martial arts performance and urban dance. Special celebrity guests Kate Solomons and Ben Lloyd Holmes were in attendance and enjoying every minute of the mornings competition before they themselves along with Zara could get involved as part of the TMAS Live Auditions and forms competition. ITV Central turned up to film the mornings proceedings and Red Scar 40 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
Productions and MAMuk Productions were there capturing the whole event as part of an upcoming documentary. The standard of competition was very high on all levels, from novice, intermediate, advanced, junior grades and of course the Black belts. With six areas running all day and the large screen covering most of what was going on, it was time for the special event, the TMAS Live Forms Championships and the Performers auditions overseen by Kate, Ben and Zara giving their feedback to camera as the judges Sifu Rob Ho, Sifu David Graham and Shihan Lee Martin were busy scoring the competition itself. After a full on day of competition and auditions, congratulations to Chloe Michael and Luke Scott who not only won their divisions but were also successful in their auditions to now join the TMAS Live performance
team at the Martial Arts Show at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham over the weekend of May the 7th & 8th. Juliet Marke did a remarkable job keeping the areas running, and one of the many positive comments from spectators and competitors alike was, “the ability to keep the areas clear, all day so that everyone could enjoy what was a truly spectacular day of competition. Continuous chief referee (World Champion) Lee Charles was also celebrating the day as it was announced he would join Zara, Kate, and Ben as a TMAS Live presenter, at the martial art show Live. The actual tournament (T2) finished earlier than T , another highlight considering T2 was a lot busier with a lot more divisions and competitors to get through. This in the main, was due
to Juliet and ALL the referees, time keepers and tournament staff who all stuck to their guns, to help make the TMAS Live Series the fastest growing European circuit in the UK. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event and we look forward to even bigger plans for T3 in October, watch this space.
Boys Light -5ft BLACK 1st Daniel 2nd Callum
Continuous BELT Balch, Glover
Boys Light Continuous -5’4’’ INT/ADV 1st George Smith, 2nd William Woodhead
TMAS – T2 RESULTS LIGHT CONTINUOUS
Boys Light Continuous +5’4’’ NOV 1st Tegan Holehouse, 2nd Jonte Gales, 3rd Joshua Gower
Boys Light Continuous -4’4’’ NOV 1st Lewis Erasmus, 2nd Shannon Waddingham, 3rd Morgan Williams
Boys Light Continuous +5’4’’ INT/ADV 1st Ellis Wedgbury, 2nd Alistair Metcalfe, 3rd David Draper
Boys Light Continuous -4’4’’ INT/ADV 1st Ethan Noton, 2nd Iovan Taylour, 3rd Tanguy Billet-Masters
Boys Light Continuous +5’4’’ BLACK BELT 1st Scott Eales, 2nd Logan Dodeman
Boys Light Continuous -4’4’’ BLACK BELT 1st Aryan Singh, 2nd Ahmad Salem Boys Light Continuous -4’8’’ NOV 1st Joshua Macgregor, 2nd Tom Symons, 3rd Adam Gower Boys Light Continuous -4’8’’ INT/ADV 1st Ben Goode, 2nd Ethan Kilby
Girls Light Continuous -4’8’’ NOV 1st Seren Meredem, 2nd Megan Clarke Girls Light Continuous -5ft INT/ADV 1st Lauren Lang, 2nd Jessica Street, 3rd Ellie Jo-Ford Girls Light Continuous -5’4’’ INT/ADV 1st Sky Smith, 2nd Amy Benson
Girls Light Continuous +5’4’’ INT/ADV 1st Lauren Woolfe, 2nd Toni Jenkins, 3rd Karan Rehill Girls Light Continuous +5’4’’ BLACK BELT 1st Casey Marshall, 2nd Bethany Worne, 3rd Lauren Williams Men’s Light Continuous -65kg NOV 1st Minoj Singh, 2nd Michael Baross, 3rd Les Race Men’s Light Continuous -65kg BLACK BELT 1st Callum Bodman, 2nd Stephen Bond, 3rd Mikey Singh Men’s Light Continuous -70kg NOV 1st Tom Hensley, 2nd David Malion Men’s Light Continuous -70kg BLACK BELT 1st Daniel Bowen, 2nd Danny Turner, 3rd William Allen
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag.co.uk/backissue
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 4
Fists Of Rage
competition
This month we have more goodies to give away in the form of 5 copies of the latest martial arts blockbuster ‘Fists Of Rage’ starring none other than K- legend Remy Bonjasky. We also have a brand new DVD player with built in Freeview to give away! All this to 5 lucky readers.
All you have to do to stand a chance of winning one of these great prizes is answer the following question... what is Remy Bonjasky’s nickname? a) The Flying Scotsman b) The Flying Gentleman c) The Flying Dutchman email your answers to... fistsofrage@martialartsinprint.com please include your name and telephone number so we can contact you if you are one of our lucky winners.
42 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
THE ONLY MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO ALL KARATEKA THE ONLY MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO ALL KARATEKA
TRADITIONAL TR TRAD ITIONAL
Vol. 23 No. 11 Vol. 23 No. 11 May May 2011 2011
An Impartial Guide to Buying a Kettlebell...
For Martial Artists!
Can Might Can Might & Peace Live & Peace Live Together? Is there enough room in the world for both to live in harmony
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 43 Visit the Traditional Karate Magazine website @ www.karatemag.co.uk Visit the Traditional Karate Magazine website @ www.karatemag.co.uk
The E.S.K.K® Column With Chris Denwood
An Impartial Guide to Buying a Kettlebell... For Martial Artists! With an increasing number of fitness equipment companies in the UK jumping onto the kettlebell ‘demand and profit’ bandwagon, I’ve received a number of emails specifically from martial artists asking for some ‘unbiased’ advice on buying a KB for supplementary training, how much they should spend and what design or quality to opt for. I initially responded to these queries by writing a short piece for my newsletter subscribers that would hopefully help individuals make an informed decision. It is now evident that more and more martial artists are beginning to appreciate the functional benefits associated with KB lifting due to their high transfer effect of the dynamic principles used in both disciplines. Furthermore, in response to a couple of news/promotional pieces on KB’s published in Combat Magazine throughout 20 0, I thought I’d dedicate this month’s column to revise and update my original newsletter piece in order to share with Combat readers. After a few years of teaching people how to lift KB’s and even longer lifting them myself, I’ve been exposed to, experimented with and invested in numerous designs. In addition to my own experiences, I’ve also received a great deal of feedback from other E.S.K.K(r) instructors and workout participants who regularly attend our classes and seminars. I’ve learned (usually the hard way) about KB choice, main things to consider and how a huge difference in quality can compare to what may be only a small difference in cost.
44 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
So below is a concise review of the main options that martial artists may wish to consider when thinking about spending some of their hard-earned
cash on what is essentially a lump of metal with a handle on the top and where relevant, the inherent features, benefits and drawbacks of each. And just to set the record straight, my view is completely independent. I’m not receiving any commission or benefits for this piece. I’d just like to share with you my honest opinion, based on my own personal experience.
Traditional or pro-grade?
The very first thing you need to decide is whether or not to buy a ‘traditional’ or ‘pro-grade’ KB. These are the two main types and I’ve listed the main differences below: Traditional: * Overall physical size increases in proportion to weight. * The handle is generally thicker. * The horns (the parts that join the handle to the mass) are angled outwards. * The base is less stable. Pro-grade: * The overall physical shape does not alter with variance in weight. * The handle is thinner and more ergonomic. * The horns are vertical and blend into the mass. * The base generally has a greater diameter & is therefore more stable. Similar to many pieces of competition sports equipment, the ‘pro-grade’ KB has been designed such that athletes can all work to identical bench marks and when progressing up through the weights, will experience a similar ‘feel’ against the body. This is due to the fact that the physical shape and dimensions of the KB don’t alter. So there is no need to ‘re-learn’ the minor specifics of a particular technique, which may have been honed for many years. In addition, these KB’s have naturally been designed with the two main lifts of girevoy sport (snatch and jerk) in mind and in particular, ten minute ‘high rep’ endurance sets. By comparison, the ‘traditional’ KB is based on a much older design and is in my opinion more appropriate for general all-round functional strength and fitness training. The thicker handle really helps to work the grip and the angled horns allow for more gripping options, meaning a greater variety of exercises are possible. In addition, the
less stable base makes movements such as the renegade row or plank more challenging through an increased demand on the stabilisers and deep core muscles of the midsection.
Fig.2: As well for health and fitness, kettlebell lifting is also great for body awareness and structural alignment.
As a traditional and pragmatic martial artist, my personal aim for KB training is to help enhance the attributes associated with my own system (karate). Although I greatly admire the difficulty and challenges of what is without doubt a very demanding sport, my own KB lifting is geared less around high rep endurance sets and instead focussed more on swift, explosive and high intensity rounds of anaerobic conditioning, which is ideal for self-protection training. If you’re looking to delve into the realms of girevoy sport then the prograde design is a must. Otherwise, for martial artists looking for functional training to supplement their art, I would advise that you choose a good quality traditional spec KB, simply because it will provide more versatility through a greater range of exercises, options and variations. Now that we’ve covered the major design, you’ll also need to consider the following to ensure that the investment you make can provide a loyal training partner for many years to come.
on something that’s built from a quality material so it will be guaranteed to last you many years of hard training.
Finish
The ‘finish’ on the KB is quite important. Not because of how good it will look in your front room, but because this is effectively what you’ll be physically touching with your hands during every exercise. In my opinion, the best finished KB’s are those that have been smoothed, polished and apart from the handle (which should ideally be clean) have only a single coat of paint...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a Most quality KB’s are made out of either cast iron or steel. Watch out for subscription, visit www. plastic and those really cheap concombatmag.co.uk/subscribe Material
crete/stone ones - from experience, these are prone to breakage. You should spend an extra few pennies Fig.3 & 4: The double KB overhead press from the ‘racked’ position.
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 45
Can Might & Peace
Live Together?
After returning from reserve duty last December, I was inspired to write an article addressing the challenge of how to turn peace into something more exciting, engaging and fashionable. In that article, entitled “Peace Duty”, I raised a number of questions. Assuming that a state of peace between individuals, communities and peoples is an ideal situation, that serves basic human needs such as survival, health, nutrition and protection, then why are so many physical and emotional resources invested in preparing for and making war, while so little are invested in making peace? Can the answer be found in the “prisoner’s dilemma”, taken from game theory? In that scenario, while cooperation to achieve peace better serves the interests of the sides on both (or more) sides of the conflict, and even though they both are aware of the advantages inherent in direct cooperation, the players choose a strategy of non-cooperation and getting ahead at the other’s expense, out of the suspicion that the other side will adopt the same approach.
Is this a matter of human nature? Perhaps violent, oppositional, noncompromising behavior is more natural to human beings? And if this is a matter of human nature, then could this be the reason that the experience of war and violent conflict (as it is expressed in films, games, books, mythology, etc.) stimulates and excites us so much, while peace is conceived to be pathetic, banal and dull? Has anyone ever seen a child playing computer games that are oriented towards achieving peace? As a result of that last article, I received many fascinating responses. I thank everyone who took the trouble to share with me their thoughts and insights on the subject of peace. Most of the responses I received could be divided into two main camps: A. Many of the readers of my article focused on the Arab-Israeli conflict. The prevailing sentiment was that the chance for peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors is remote, and this is not because the people of Israel don’t want peace, but because the Arabs are determined to gradually take over all of the land of Israel, and thus, no compromise or resolution is possible between the peoples. Many of those who responded to the article claimed that making movement towards peace sends a message of weakness that the other side can take advantage of for its own gain.
46 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
B. The second line of reasoning was that the chances to transform our world into one that is more harmonious and oriented towards peace are almost nil. Human nature leans towards war and violence, and not to peacemaking and compromise. War and violent conflict play a critical part in a person’s identity. People need to identify with a group that is “good”, which is opposed to an opposing “bad” enemy, in order to define themselves. In short, they argued, peace is contrary to human nature. According to these assumptions, any situation of peace is temporary and against human nature, problematic, boring and depressing. With this disheartening prospect, I looked for other insights from the world of martial arts. Perhaps there I could find an answer to the question of how power, courage, willingness to fight and determination to go to war, can coexist with mutual respect, pursuit of peace and a desire to avoid violent conflict. In short, can the mighty and the peaceful exist side by side? In karate, the Japanese martial art, not only is there not a contradiction between force and avoiding aggressive conflict, but the values of karate and traditional martial arts actually call for the integration of force on the one hand and preventing violent conflict on the other, all while protecting the honor of the opponent. According to the value system of karate, the most exalted victory is not subduing the enemy but avoiding a battle entirely.
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of modern karate, in his book “Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate” connects between the world of karate and the challenges a person faces when trying to achieve a full, secure and satisfying life. The first three principles that Funakoshi describe in concise and clear Japanese style, are the obligation to integrate between lethal force in training to kill an opponent with one’s bare hands, and an uncompromising attempt to prevent violent conflict, while committing one’s self to honor and justice. According to the first principle of Funakoshi: “Karate Begins and Ends with “Rei” (respect). In karate there is no contradiction between the obligation to honor one’s enemy, grounded in a strict moral code, and the motivation to overcome him in a battle, using defensive and offensive techniques, both physical and psychological. In karate competitions, after the traditional bowing one to another, expressing mutual respect and the commitment to the values of karate, the two opponents move to a position of fighting and at the sign of
the judge, begin combat, where they use their hands and feet as weapons. Immediately following the fight, the opponents return to face each other, bow in respect and signal that the fight is over and honor is maintained. An Arab saying goes “if you push a cat into a corner - it will turn into a tiger”. Disrespecting and holding one’s enemy in contempt offers no advantage, and reflects weakness and a lack of confidence. According to karate, it is imperative to honor and esteem one’s opponent, yet even so, in the event of danger, also strike or even kill - if push comes to shove and that is the only remaining option. “Never strike first in karate” is the second basic principle: karate is intended first and foremost for self defense. In the first lesson in martial arts, the karate student commits to using his abilities only for positive purposes. Almost paradoxically, the purpose of martial arts is to achieve peace. When people hear about my involvement in karate, they almost always comment “it’s dangerous to be next to you”. And I always clarify their misconception. Those who practice
karate (and other martial arts disciplines) and are committed to its values, are the least dangerous people. A true karate practitioner will not use his skills for a bad cause. He/she will choose the path of peace and avoid violent conflict as long as he can. And now to our neighbors. Israel has always taken pride in its commitment to going to war only if it has to. War in self defense. It’s no coincidence that our army is named the Israel Defense Forces. When it went into wars “of choice” (for example: the First and Second Lebanon Wars), Israel became mired in the Lebanese mud and its citizens and soldiers lost faith in the ability of the army and the government to protect them. In the commitment of war only as a last resort and only for self defense, there is tremendous power, beyond the moral strength. “Karate stand on the side of justice” is the third principle. There are those who claim that “in the Middle East, there is no alternative - you have to ‘play dirty’, because the accepted norms of behavior don’t work...”
To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, visit www.combatmag. co.uk/backissue
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 47
More interested in Full-Contact? Why not try our sister magazine...
m
a
g
a
z
i
n
e
Covering all aspects of the fight game -
Thai, MMA, Kickboxing, K-1, Boxing and more! Read full-contact news, reviews, interviews and insights from camps both home & abroad every month!
Off the page
& Online... w w w . f i g h t e r s m a g . c o . u k
Covered! We’ve Got it
Don’t miss it!!! available from w h smith, all leading stores and newsagents 48 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
TAEKWONDO
& KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE VOLUME 15 ISSUE 06 MAY 2011
THE ANCIENT THE ANCIENT ENERGY EXERCISES ENERGY EXERCISES OF TANG SOO DO OF TANG SOO DO With Master David Allerton
The The Evolution Evolution of 5000 Years of 5000 Years of Martial Art Tradition of Martial Art Tradition
WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 49
Visit the TKD-KMA magazine website at www.taekwondomag.co.uk
The Evolut of 5000 Years of Martial Art Tradition Enter Teuk Gong Moo Sool (Part 1) The debate of what are better, traditional or modern martial arts has been a heated topic for a few decades now. Few actually address the need for the unity of the old and the new. Traditionalists firmly stand their ground in legacies and place their faith in time honoured traditions, philosophies, and ritualized forms. They scoff at modernized systems as crude, barbaric methods of street fighting with no sense of spirituality. Many practitioners of modern systems see the world as an urban jungle. There can be no room for niceties such as uniforms, pretty dances, and outdated weapons. Their arsenal includes quick and dirty close combat techniques and street weapons. Another group is the innovators who attempt to mix the old and the new. The results are mixed as it could result to a hodge podge of ideas and experiences. In a few cases the opposite can be found. Devastating arts such as Kenpo, Anshu Stephen K. Hayes’ To Shin Do and Chun Kuk Do (the Chuck Norris System) are among a few of the success stories. These success stories are the culmination of great people’s minds, skills, research and constant development. In my 2nd home of South Korea the amount of actual real traditional art forms can be counted on one hand. Everything else seems to be modern revisions and adaptations of other 50 COMBAT WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK
arts... even other contemporary arts. In some cases school owners make their own program just to avoid the politics and high costs of being connected to controlling forces of associations.
his mind. While in middle school and high school he would subtly practice motions with his fingers rather than pay attention in class. Needless to say he got scolded for that a few times.
As in our own cultures a few masters decide to carefully develop and structure a system that can do everything it should. One of the rare few is Grandmaster No-Won Park, the founder of Teuk Gong Moo Sool.
He studied like that for 0 years practicing 7 days a week, rain or shine. Soon after he started formulating his own system in his mind as it was taking too much time in his schedule and there was so much repetition between the academies. That attitude became one of his mottos in his life. “Take everything you know and make something new.” It now means anything in your life, not just the fighting arts.
History in Brief: GM (Grandmaster) Park was born in Iksan, South Korea on April 9th, 956. The young boy quickly showed an aptitude for athletics and throughout elementary school competed in track and field events. In addition he started practicing Taekwondo at the age of nine alongside his uncles who were close in age to him. He was enthralled with it. When he began middle school he traveled to a nearby town and visited 3 separate martial art academies a day. Like most young men he thought whatever he was doing at that moment was the universal truth and encountered any plateau with earnest. So completely immersed in the arts he spent every waking moment going through combinations in
In September 977 he enlisted into mandatory military service and was placed into an elite special guard unit until May’80. There he learned sniper skills, bodyguard techniques, advanced pressure points, survival skills, etc. In late ‘78 the Korean government wanted to develop special martial art techniques for their counter terrorist agents. They needed a system that was quick to learn and efficient. The desperate urgency was due to a hijacked plane in ‘77.
ion
By Master Guy Edward Larke
As fate we have it a tragic event happened on October 26, 970 President Jung-Hee Park was assassinated. This postponed the actual systemization of the art now known as Teuk Gong Mu Sool. On April 2 st, 98 it became an official subject in the Korean military training regimen. It encompassed eight internal and external arts that GM Park researched extensively. In 986 it was actually set enough to be put into a textbook format. The real test came during the mid ‘80’s when the South Korean military arranged a sparring match between five 4th and 5th degree black belt officers and five North Korean spies. The S. Korean officers were humiliated to say the least...
To read the rest of this article why not take out a subscription, visit www. combatmag.co.uk/subscribe WWW.COMBAT.CO.UK COMBAT 5