September 2007

Idai Makaya looks at Technical Conditioning - The importance of Periodisation for martial arts training.

Technique is one of the most important aspects of martial arts training. Martial arts training focuses largely on technical development because the physical side of martial arts relates to the use of specific techniques to control and neutralise opponents.

In my previous article I looked at conditioning of the legs/lower-body and identified some of the major aims a martial artist will have when looking at a holistic programme to address these aims. I then described exercises which would progress the aspect of leg strength conditioning.

This article will look at ways of improving Technical Conditioning with particular emphasis on Periodisation. Periodisation refers to the segmentation of an athlete’s full training history into phases. There are different training recommendations for the various phases of an athlete’s development and an awareness of this principle is extremely valuable for anyone who aims to extend their training career for as long as possible.

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Your views and queries.

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This month, the jumping spinning front kick using a whirlwind style take off.
By Justyn Billingham.

With the Jumping Kicks section now complete, this part of the Martial Arts for Beginners programme focuses on the Jumping Spinning Kicks. These kicks are possibly some of the more difficult ones to master and yet it is these that are the most impressive. It’s probably only right to say though that the Jumping Spinning Kick is more commonly found in demonstrations or in the movies and the reality is that in order to successfully use these types of kicks in competition (and let’s not even talk about the street) takes an incredible amount of speed, timing, ability and understanding - but it is possible with hard training.

In this section we will focus on the more basic of the jumping spinning kicks and save the complex kicks until the final section. And once again I will introduce you to rarely seen kicks complete with a full breakdown and training tips to ensure you train them correctly and get the best out of them.

Finally, don’t neglect your basic techniques

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It's Just Fighting.

In a fantasy world I wanted an art that could, in the best James Bond or Modesty Blaise tradition, despatch opponents with ease and at the same time be realistic whilst taking into account weaponry and multiple opponents. I always thought this was an idealised fantasy, though I saw glimmers of it whilst training in Japan. I got the impression that the late Don Draeger was searching for this same synergy when I met him in ‘74. Training in a lot of different arts from a traditional basis was good but I got the impression that you were training in a library or museum where there where lots of techniques to learn but a lack of resolve to functionalise it in a fluid way.

Then In 1979 I saw a tour de force exhibition by Dan Inosanto and Jeff Imada at a seminar I hosted in London’s Ivanhoe Hotel. All of us who were there that evening were blown away. We were treated to an exhibition of skills that flowed seamlessly from double sticks to single stick to knife to grappling to empty

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Our panel of experts answer your questions and queries regarding the complexed study of the martial arts.

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Chris Boughey continues his look at the use of focus mitts. This month Evasive Skills.

I hope you found last month's article informative and are getting used to the numbered pad drills. If you prefer a different order for the pads then change and adapt the drill to suit your needs.

Up to now, you have learnt how to hold the mitts and what punches go where. Now it's time to feed the focus mitts to your partner so that they can learn to move their head and body.

Evasion, slipping - whatever tag you like to put on it, is an art form. It is the ability to simply not be there as a punch or kick makes its way to you. They say that if you throw ten punches at a boxer he would evade six, block two and get hit twice, this is really what it's all about.

In this drill we are talking about the ability to move your head inch perfect out of the way of the focus mitts. As I always instil in my students, economy of motion is the key here. As 90% of punches in boxing are head shots, the evasion drill I'm concentrating on here is head orientated. You m

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In this month’s ECS Column, Paul Elston looks at Close Quarter Knife Defence.

There are countless ways in which you may counter a knife attack. In this month’s issue on self defence we are taking a look at close quarter methods. Of course you should react before this ever happens, notice that hand reaching into that pocket or that stranger who has made a bee-line for you, understanding your boundary.

Let’s assume for whatever reason he has got past your boundary, he has got close to you, and now you are left with a close quarter situation, an ugly situation, that knife pressed up against your neck perhaps already cutting you as he makes violent verbal threats or attempts to lead you away.

We want to grasp a closer picture of what occurs; is he trying to lead you away from one location to another, perhaps is he demanding cash. Whatever the situation you some how need to stay focused and calm. Do not argue or agitate your aggressor, what is his present mental state after all; verbal defence can distract him, it can help calm matters, it c

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Meet The Team.

Before I began martial arts I loved to play football. I played for my school, the boys’ brigade and on any kickabouts I could get involved with in between the main games. Even now, over thirty years later, I can still feel the thrill of the victories and the disappointments of the losses. The biggest memory for me though is of the camaraderie between the players and the feeling of belonging to something bigger than myself which gave me a feeling of security and safety.

When I stopped playing football and turned my attention to martial arts I was of course part of a club with a lot of other practitioners but I did not have the safety net of belonging to a team that would help me if I played badly or would praise me if I played well. Martial arts essentially I found was an individual pursuit in which I needed other people to gauge how well I was doing and who I could use to help myself get better. Unlike playing for a team with ten other players though I had only myself to blame

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In this month's Journeymen, Bob Sykes talks to controversial self protection legend, Dave Turton.

Bob Sykes: Dave, it’s been a long-time, what have you been up to since we last spoke?
Dave Turton: Yes it has been, mate; I used to enjoy our sessions at the Academy. Well quite a lot has been happening, some good some not so good.
For one, I had a longish spell of health problems a couple of years back. I was diagnosed with Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (which I wouldn’t wish on Bin Laden ,, well yes, I would). Then I found out I had Type 2 Diabetes, and to cap it all, High Blood Pressure. As I was in my mid-fifties when all this happened, it felt at one point like I would have to pack it all in. But that’s not my way, so I did what the docs said, rattled with the tablets they pushed into me, and slowly recovered about 70% of what I had lost. Now at least I can still ‘perform’ as well as teach.
Mind you I am nearly sixty and if I thought I was going to live this long I would have took better care of myself - ha, ha.

Mainly though, I have been nurtur

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Steve Rowe talks to Shi Kon martial artist and night club doorman Dennis Jones.

Dennis Jones: Last month I made a passing comment about General Ariki, the Education Minister who introduced Bushido back into pre-war Japanese culture. This conversation started three months ago and if I remember correctly it had something to do with ‘reality’. I suppose reality is: ‘what you are doing in your life’ and the more important it is, the more ‘reality’ it occupies in your head. So I reckon it has something to do with your state of mind, and your mind is always concerned with yourself.

Anyway, Bushido must be a state of mind, but can there be two types of Bushido? I believe this question is important; well important enough for the JKA (Japan Karate Association) to publicly state on their site:
‘...More importantly, the JKA is the preserver of the soul and spirit of the art of kokufu-bunka Karate do-karate based on the ancient Japanese tradition of Bushido (The Way of the Samurai)’.
Their mission statement goes on to inform the reader tha

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“Was that ‘waving hands like clouds’ or ‘waving hands like clowns’?” By Steve Rowe.

We were working on the ‘Yang Chen Fu 108’ tai chi form, the most commonly practised form in the world, passed down through the Yang family for 4 generations. It takes around 20 minutes to complete and is a workout in its own right.

We were about half way into the second of three sections and doing the first of 3 sets of the technique ‘waving hands like clouds’. The first set contains nine repetitions, the second seven and the third five. The technique involves a weight shift, a turn of the waist, a step and a press down with one hand and a rising peng strike with the other.

We all stopped....
“It’s a difficult technique, Sifu...” said David.
“It’s a good technique..” replied Sifu.
“It’s hard....”
“We don’t have ‘hard’ or ‘can’t’ in this kwoon, we only have ‘I haven’t practised enough yet, Sifu’...”

Sifu continued “I appreciate that it might not be easy to get it right, t

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For as long as he can remember Mike Selvey has been fascinated by stories of extreme feats of human endurance. One such test of mind over body seems to be regularly explored by martial artist looking for answers; meditation under a freezing waterfall.

Like the Buddhist sect that walks a forest path to the top of a mountain every day in all weathers to test the power of mind over physical pain. Or the Indian Holy men who walk across burning embers with skewers piercing their skin. Or the Native Americans who perform the sun dance where they Pierce their chests with hooks attached to a line which in turn is attached to a tall pole, when ready the warrior would dance until the hooks ripped from their skin. Or indeed the stories of Samurai in battle who were horrifically injured but still managed to fight on to their last breath.

After 36 years of martial training I have a lot of unanswered questions, probably more than I had when I was new to the path of the warrior. We train our bodies to the point of physical exhaustion and on occasion suffer severe trauma to perfect our art. But what of the mind? It is said the body must be disciplined for the mind to be set free, what does this mean? Well after practising a set form over and

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There’s always talk about being tough up north and in parts that can be true. One man helping to keep the fighting rep strong there is Craig Jose. Craig is a tough as nails, come forward, pressure fighter, but is also technical with it.

That’s a good mix! He has a reputation for toughness and a killer instinct. This 27-year-old born and bred Geordie loves nothing more than a battle in the ring. This has made him a big fan favourite. He knows how to get the crowds going, either loving him, or in the case of the opposition crowds, hating him. Pete Irving, a fellow knuckledragger, got Craig to stop training for a few minutes to talk to MAI.

Sor Thanikul is a tough no nonsense gym run by Kru. Barry Norman, from which Craig is released from time to time to get in the ring. It is a very well established club, with over 25 years of experience and a gym based in Newcastle upon Tyne. They provide the highest quality training.

Craig has been busy in the ring of late with his last 4 fights, he beat opponents who all were holding world titles! His record is now 26 Wins - 1 Draw - 5 Losses.

Pete Irving: Let’s get started by talking about your background in martial arts. What got you into fi

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Steve Cross has enjoyed studying martial arts since the age of 8. He has tried many styles but his personal affection is for Kung Fu. He has studied Wing Chun, Lau Gar and Tai Chi and has always been interested in Chinese culture. He has always wanted to tour China and find a good Kung Fu school and in the summer of 2006 his dream came true when he travelled there with his good friend Stuart Adlam.

When we arrived in China we both got jobs teaching English in a college in Zhaoqing (Guangdong province - formally known as Canton) in South China.

I found a Kung Fu school on a website that would accept me on 20th of September and so travelled to Yantai in Shandong province to the Kun Yu Mountain Martial Arts Academy where I trained for 3 months. I met some amazing Masters (Master Du and Master Wong) and other students from all over the world.

I made good friends with a guy called Dave Hendry from Glasgow. He was very proficient in Mantis style and planned to stay with his Master for the next few years!

The Kunyu Mountains were only a walk away, so we often went to train. It was very quiet and tranquil there. You could concentrate on your training, especially good for Tai Chi and Qi Gong.

Every Friday we had to run up the steps to the Taoist cave at the top. There was a Taoist monk who lived up the mountain, this was interesting to

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Steve Cotter is a hardcore martial arts practitioner of the Chinese arts with endless knowledge of functional conditioning. He is a seeker of the truth and in many ways walks the walk. He commands a level of skill which is only for the few who put in hours of hard work. Alan Orr finds out more.

Every once in a while you meet someone who you know will have an impact on your training and development. When you have been training as long as me this happens less and less, but when it does it’s normally a big impact!

I met Steve at his Kettle Bell workshop arranged by Jonathan Lewis and Jason Dean. I had talked to Jonathan a few times and could tell he was someone interested in bringing good people together. So I had a feeling it was going to be a productive weekend.

Training with Steve Cotter was an honour at many levels. Not only is he a hardcore martial arts practitioner of the Chinese arts, but he also has an endless knowledge of functional conditioning. Steve is a seeker of the truth and in many ways walks the walk. He commands a level of skill which is only for the few who put in hours of hard work. Therefore you highly respect him from the start and you soon learn about what it takes. I always tell my students that if you want respect you have to give

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John and Gordon Warfield are founders of Goshinkwai Yawara and original students of Master Kenshiro Abbe. Later in life Gordon was awarded a sokeship. This was then passed to is daughter, Sian Warfield. Sian is said to be the only female Soke in Europe, maybe outside the Orient. We find out more.

Gordon and John Warfield were born in 1932 and 1934 respectively. They lived in Ebbw Vale, Gwent with their sister Pat and brother Colin. Christmas 1944, the brothers were given a book on Judo and boxing. Gordon became fascinated with the principle of being able to throw an opponent with ease. This interest remained throughout his teens and in 1952 he discovered that there was a Judo class in the neighbouring town of Merthyr Tydfil. Gordon persuaded John to join the class with him.

In order to train more regularly the two brothers rented an old ambulance hall and between them bought a 24ft sq. mat. They shortly heard of a prison warden by the name of Jim Langford, a one time student of the legendary Ju Jitsu. The brothers instantly preferred Ju Jitsu.

Through contact with the Amateur Judo Assoc. the brothers heard about a Japanese Buda Master, Kenshiro Abbe. John wrote to Abbe and it was his secretary Bill Reeve (himself a highly skilled 4th Dan Judoka) who replie

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A look at dealing with sudden acts of unprovoked aggression, which can be psychologically overwhelming if not prepared for properly. These types of attacks can leave you feeling shocked, over adrenalised and physically weakened.

Sudden acts of unprovoked aggression can be psychologically overwhelming if not prepared for properly. These types of attacks can leave you feeling shocked, over adrenalised and physically weakened. Take verbal attacks seriously (as they are in the eyes of the law) and prepare for them with the same diligence you would a physical attack.

Be aware these types of attacks are more likely to occur in certain types of environments. Often fuelled by drugs or alcohol.

Photo 1: The first thing to do is to accept the fact that you are being attacked. Many people try to bury their head in the sand at this point and go into denial about the level of threat being posed, hoping that the aggressor will go away or pick someone else.

Photo 2: Ego driven, aggressive male to male dominance games in humans often manifest in this “drill instructor” position. Eye ball to eye ball, chest to chest, at an uncomfortably close range the aggressor dares you to make eye co

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Ian Fox says that no matter what your current level of flexibility, he can help you improve far beyond anything you’ve achieved in the past - if you do one thing, do exactly as he says!

For me, flexibility is not about how old you are or if you’re male or female, I really don’t care about that. It’s not about which stretching machine you use or don’t use - although they can sometimes have a benefit. It’s not about what martial arts style you choose, although some focus on stretching more than others. Neither is it about natural ability nor being double jointed which, I hasten to add, is a complete myth.

The purpose of this article is to achieve one thing and one thing only; help you improve your flexibility. I should know, I have been famous for my incredible flexibility for over 20 years - ever since I jumped in the ring at a Kickboxing show in Birmingham, which seems like a life time ago now (no funny comments, please). The fact is I became the world’s most flexible martial artist without having any natural ability or special gift - and you can learn my many secrets inside this article.

I am not about wasting your time with fluff an

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Sensei Chris Perry’s interest in the martial arts began at the age of seven when he was introduced to the sport of Judo. Since that time the arts in general, be they from Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, or our own Western Boxing, have been his all consuming passion. His seemingly boundless enthusiasm is only matched by his sense of humour and the ability to see the funny side in most situations.

Alan Meade interviews Chris Perry, author of ‘Surviving The Martial Arts’, a new book that combines his experiences of the martial arts together with excellent cartoons, humorous stories, practical, sound advice and relevant historical facts that culminate into a ‘must have’ book for the serious martial arts collector.

Chris has also trained with some of the greatest martial artists alive today. At present, amongst his other grades and titles, Chris holds the position of 6th Dan, Rokkudan, in Jui-Jitsu and is senior instructor to the Western and Oriental Fighting Arts Association.

Alan Meade: Chris, can you tell us a bit about the book and what inspired you to write it in the first place?
Chris Perry: It would be a pleasure. The book itself, even though it is filled with over 50 cartoons, is believe it or not intended to be a useful as well as practical guide to the martial arts in general, only presented through a lighthearted and humorous approac

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Top team win gold at the European Championships

After six weeks of intense training, The WEKAF Great Britain Eskrima Team were ready for any challenge that was to be thrown at them. The first challenge for this team of players was the European championships in Italy. The event was to take place in Terracina, which is on the coast about 90 minutes drive from Rome. The event would run over 4 days starting Thursday 14th June until Sunday 17th June 2007.

Team GB had some of the most talented stick fighters to come out of Great Britain so we expected great things. On the team was Neil Mcleod former world champion, John James former world champion, Roger Barnes world champion, Emar Alexander British champion, Sean O’ Boyle European champion. Other talent were Sasha Ridgway GB ladies champion and Rachel Mcleod GB ladies champion.

The team consisted of 24 stick fighters, 2 coaches and a referee. So we were off to Italy to bring back as many trophies as humanly possible. After the success in The European Championship

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Silvio Dokov reports on the 8th Open Taekwondo World Championships

The sheer professionalism of the TAGB was amazing with the officials working so hard over the two days. All the overseas competitors said it was the best and smoothest run championships that they had attended, and it was nice to see other competitors from the ITF and WTF associations within the United Kingdom taking part. In the men’s WTF sparring section the Korean team proved once again to be dominant, winning 3 gold and 1 silver in the four weight divisions that they entered. Whilst in the semi contact that man Warren Vice claimed his 5th World Title in the middle weight division to put himself into the TAGB history books. Another outstanding performance came from Amy Truesdale, who won gold in the WTF sparring, gold in the semi contact sparring and was a member of the victorious England ladies team.

The TAGB England teams did the double in the blue ribbon event: The International team sparring with England ladies beating Argentina ladies in their final and England men’s

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Sport, as ever, is a ‘funny old game’. Whilst English Karate at top level flounders outside of world recognition, with power struggles in its aspirant management, the Welsh Karate is enjoying a golden period. Martyn Skipper reports on the Southwest Open Karate Championhips.

The AMA’s national kumite coach, Simon O’Brien, has his ideas and is prepared to put his money where his mouth is to put them into practice. “There are not many competitions”, he told me, “between club level tournaments and national or regional events to prepare the up and coming competitor for what competition Karate is really like. Too many competitions are run on tatty mats held together with gaffer tape, in school halls with flip-over hand-written scoreboards and officiated over by the instructor’s brother-in-law”. Simon’s vision is to give novice and up-and-coming athletes the same quality of management and presentation they can expect when they hit the big time, so there are no surprises when they progress through the ranks. He certainly delivered with this tournament. Five international standard tatami, sporting electronic scoreboards were officiated over by National qualified referees and officials. The event was staffed by uniformed personnel looking after secu

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Steve Fan talks to Brazilian fighter Otavio Sousa who, at only 20, is already making a name for himself in the martial arts world.

Otavio Sousa first graced the UK shores when he came over with Ze Radiola, instructor to Braulio and Victor Estima amongst many other Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champions, less than a year ago to stay in Birmingham with the Estima brothers.

In a short period, Otavio has made his mark, by fighting at the 10k challenge against UFC and ADCC veteran Geoff Monson and winning silver at the recent Panam championships, watched all the way by Rickson Gracie. The standard and level of BJJ instructorship we have been lucky to have in the UK from Brazil over the years is world class. Otavio is no exception - at only 20, he is understated and very experienced, and is a humble and general nice guy.

Steve Fan: Hi, Otavio. First of all a warm welcome to the UK and from the readers of MAI. It’s great to see the UK being blessed by another BJJ champion from Gracie Barra.
How long have you been in the UK and how are you finding it here?
Otavio Sousa: I’m here for a

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In our last article we talked about Brothers in Arms, which was all about how in our opinion mixed martial arts and traditional martial arts go hand in hand. We strongly believe this to be the case. However, out on the street, which is our main focus (self protection), it doesn’t seem to matter what art or tradition you study, it comes down to the individual involved.

The most successful street fighters I have ever met had never done any type of training or at least not to any great degree.

So what makes a good street fighter?
There will be lots of different opinions and answers to this question. But without doubt the people I have met and fought and trained with over the years, the likes of Geoff Thompson for example, would all say those who strike first.

The pre-emptive strike is king out on the street. Peter Consterdine is constantly saying that an action is quicker than a reaction. I have seen him demonstrate this many times. He gets someone at his seminars, usually a good standard martial artist, to try to block his strikes. Without fail the unfortunate participant fails to block a single strike. Now add adrenalin and fear to this cocktail and you have a recipe for disaster, at least for the person trying to block or counter an action (strike) with a reaction (block).

In the master classes we are now

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