May 2009

A week in the life of a KFM top team member. By Tony Davis

Wednesday
Arrival in Valencia and training in the new s2c8 program
Another day and another airport, one thing about being a KFM Instructor, you get used to travelling pretty quickly. This time it is a trip to Valencia, a trip that is now almost second nature, a short haul flight to Spain, never much of a problem, and to be honest getting up and braving early UK mornings and trips to the airports are always easier when you know that you are flying to sunnier climes.
As always is the case, we arrive to weather that is much better than in the UK and have that sudden realisation that Andy Norman definitely had the right idea leaving the UK and moving to the beach. Not that we are jealous or anything!
Arriving mid-afternoon it is just enough time to have a shower and get settled at our hotel before it is time to get a bite to eat. Eating in Spain is always a pleasure and allows the chance to catch up and socialise which is an important part of the Spanish cultur

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This month asking Niddar Singh. By Harjit Singh Sagoo

Niddar Singh is well-known, particularly in the Sikh community, for introducing the ancient and rare Indian battlefield art of Shastar Vidiya to the public for the sake of the art’s preservation.

He is no stranger to the pages of MAI. A few years ago, he was interviewed by Krishna Godhania who wanted to get an insight into this ancient art. Niddar Singh later wrote an article which explored the Talvaar, an Indian sword.

I wanted to know a little more about the art of Shastar Vidya and Niddar Singh himself, so I contacted Teja Singh who then kindly invited me to the Shastar Vidiya akahra (gymnasium) in Cranford. We talked constantly for over two hours and I was shown incredible unarmed and blade skills. I was truly fascinated by Niddar Singh’s skills and vast knowledge of the martial traditions of India.

Harjit Singh Sagoo: What was it that attracted you to martial arts?
Niddar Singh: As a child I grew up in India with my grandpa

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MAI’s search for Britain’s best. By Pete Mills

My name is Pete Mills and I am the founder of MartialEdge.net, the fastest growing online martial arts community on the planet! As mentioned in the April edition of this magazine, MartialEdge.net and MAI are teaming up in search for the Rising Stars of 2009.

For the past twenty years MAI have strived to showcase the best of the martial arts scene, not only in this country but around the world. Back in 2005 my vision for MartialEdge.net was to help martial arts students across the world by creating an online platform that offered the resources and community to help learn more not only about our chosen art, but about ourselves as martial artists.

Rising Stars is an extension of that vision in that we want to unearth the top talents coming through the ranks in the UK martial arts scene today. In searching for the emerging 16-21 martial arts students – whether they are Taekwondo, Judo players or whatever style or variation of that style, we are putting the

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This month developing the kick part 5. By Justyn Billingham

More experienced students can now start customizing their home training sessions by taking parts from previous columns and splicing them into these new columns in order to get a fuller, all round workout. Simply decide what you want to achieve from each training session and build a workout based on this (i.e. targeting, strength, power, balance etc). You can now start to customise what you do, adjusting the length of your drills, rest and even how long you train for if you need to. Over to you…..

The warm up
Remember, the warm up is the most important part of your training so failing to warm up the body properly greatly increases the risk of injury. My suggestion here is to run one of the warm ups from a previous column or use one of your own. Aim for about 5-10 mins depending on how hard you intend to train and ensure you are loosened off, feeling warmer and breathing slightly heavier once you have finished this stage of your training.

If you nee

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Rounding up all the latest action from the world of WKC. By Peter Lewis

Well the new world body is getting off the ground amazingly well, another seven countries have added their names and flags on to the members’ list and are bringing teams to the first world championships in Dublin. The website took more than a thousand hits within the first week, and remember it was all word of mouth as it was too soon to Google the WKC. So, when certain quarters voiced their ‘Oh no, not another World body’ diatribe, one has to ask a certain question. ‘Why was it needed in the first place?’ If all is well it is not necessary, but as many saw, all wasn’t well. And who suffers in the end, the sport and ultimately the competitor.

The four basic ingredients in our sport for turning anything on its ass is money, greed, power and politics The combination of any two are a recipe for disaster, when you get all four together, you had better duck. Anyway, enough of that and on to points more positive. A final say though, the annual world championships a

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All things Bruce Lee. By Andy Staton

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All the latest hard-action movies on release. By Andy Staton

This month in the fighting film review, we look at what movies have been released into in the shops to tempt the martial arts movie readers. We look at offerings from the likes of Donnie Yen, Mark Dacascos, Dolph Lundgren and Steven Seagal, and follow up with reviews that must not be missed by any fighting film fan, so they can find out what is hot and what is not. So till next month, keep on kicking.

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The lowdown on the new and exciting column by Mark Noyce. By Mark Noyce

Mark Noyce’s martial arts career started at the age of 6, studying Lau Gar Kung Fu and by the age of 10, Mark was training 7 days a week and winning National Kung Fu titles. At 13, with 7 years Kung Fu experience and amassing many major titles, Mark began studying Iwa Kai Karate. In 1990 and after 4 years away from the competition scene he capture both British and European titles, then went on to become 3 times World forms champion.

As the current British, European and World Champion, Mark announced a decision that surprised the martial arts world, and retired from competition. He continued with his training even though he wasn't competing and during this period has become a regular theatre performer and choreographer and played a wide range of characters.

Along with his theatre roles Mark has taken some TV work and been offered numerous film roles. However, as a happily married man he chooses to shun the film work and stick to performing live. He is rar

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Conditioning the mind for battle is more important than learning how to fight. Training the body is far easier to achieve because you actually see and feel the results whereas the mind is a hidden vessel upon which we imprint the emotions, experiences and memories of our martial arts actions. Continuing the Blood Sweat and Tears articles with sparring. By Ian Fox

BLOOD
Here is why you should never be afraid to spar with
better people.
We all know that the only way to grow is to be challenged. Having said that, you need to ensure you choose your challenges well. Yes, I realise life is what happens to you whilst you are doing something else but there are lots of decisions and choices you can make to give an element of control to your growth process.

The only time you should not spar with a better person is when your sparring partner is crazy or something or does not have any respect for your safety because they are under the spell of egoic gratification. It’s better then to walk away.

But for most part picking a better opponent can be a good thing. Sparring with someone better is all about G.R.O.W.T.H. Here is an acronym that will help you understand there is no change without challenge.

I use the acronym “ G.R.O.W.T.H “ to describe each of the necessary steps you should be

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What is happening in the world of martial arts? Is it my imagination or is a great divide opening up between the traditionalists and the mixed martial arts guys? And if so why and what can we do about it? By Tony Somers

What is happening in the world of martial arts? Is it my imagination or is a great divide opening up between the traditionalists and the mixed martial arts guys? And if so, why, and what can we do about it?

I have said before that one system could not exist without the other, they fit together like a hand in a glove.
As someone who has a foot in both worlds I am surprised and disappointed at the rift that is so obviously present.

The UFC came about so that people from different arts could challenge each other in a controlled environment to see who was supposedly the best. Now we have a MMA system, which has spawned some great fighters but seems to have lost what the traditional systems were all about. Which is very sad when you think that in the early days the UFC was full of traditional martial artists pitting their skills against each other.

The strengths of the traditional systems used to be that not only did you learn the physical

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After looking at The Approach stance, body mechanics and body alignment, now a look at The Approach the entry system. By Eddie Quinn

Have you ever thought “what technique” you would use to defend yourself if you were attacked? I have, especially in the early years as a rookie martial artist; over the years I have lost count of the amount of martial artists who have asked me that same question.
Self defence, self protection whatever you want to call it has to be effective, quick and easy to learn.
If someone threw a punch, what would you do to defend yourself? Block, parry, slip, duck, evade, catch? All of these options just add to the confusion and doubt.
What would you say if I said I could teach you a few basic principles that incorporate The Approach and put to bed “what technique syndrome?”
Whether you are attacked with a punch, kick, knee, head butt or shoot, The Approach entry system will work for you. Here are some basic principles for you to practice:

I would like you to think about a propeller, which transmits power by converting rotational motion into thr

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Paul Bax has interacted with and interviewed many of Bruce Lee’s original students and unearthed a wealth of information, personal and technical. Here he discusses his book, Disciples of the Dragon. By Andy Staton

John Overall: What sparked your interest in Bruce Lee?
Paul Bax: The year was 1983 and I was visiting a former girlfriend’s house with a friend and the movie The Chinese Connection came on. I had already heard of Bruce Lee but could never figure out what all the hype was about.
This movie changed all that. I was on the path of discovering everything I possibly could about the late Bruce Lee and his art of Jeet Kune Do. I was a student of Tae Kwon Do under the late Charles Roth. I had no doubt Sensei Roth was a tough man (especially when he cupped both his hands and slapped my ears when I would not let go of a grab) but as with most TKD classes, we were all just following the motions. When you stick thirty people on a basketball court and teach forms with occasional sparring, you can’t expect much. Why was it though that Sensei Roth had such a deep disdain for Bruce Lee? I would ask questions and the answers were blunt and normally ended up with the same answer, “You

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Punch ups, muggings and even fatalities are frighteningly common in a society making skills in self-defence almost a pre-requisite if you want to get from the pub to the Indian and home again in one piece. By Geoff Thompson

In an attack situation, options - from avoiding a confrontation with guile right through to swapping some leather - are useful; the choices are varied and subjective but when your adrenaline is racing and your legs are doing an involuntary bossanova the choice (as they say) will be entirely yours.

I’m sure you have already seen - and are tired of - the wristlocks and shoulder throws that garnish just about every article and video on self-defence. They only work in Bruce Lee films and on police self-defence courses so I’ll spare you the embarrassment of a photo-shoot-re-run. If you don’t mind I’ll stick to the stuff that works when the pavement is your arena, and there are no referees with whistles and bells to stop a point scoring match turning into a blood and snot debacle.

My premise is basic but empirical (I have as they say, ‘seen the elephant’) and at some point it might prove life saving.

Whilst some situations actually s

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With 40 years in martial arts, Hans Hesselmann is a journeyman with a varied and colourful career ranging in studies from Shaolin Kempo and American Kenpo to Ninjistu and Tai Chi Chuan. By Matt Follain

Matt Follain: Wow, Hans, 40 years…it must have been some journey…what brought you to the arts?
Hans Hesselmann: It was in 1967 while in the Dutch Army that I attended a day of extreme sports with the military Commandos. During that day I was confronted with a super hard style of fighting and later on they told me that it was Master Oyama’s Kyokushinkai Karate.
That demonstration triggered me to find out about training at the place were I lived and within the year I was practising for three nights a week in a local Shaolin Kempo school.

MF: Was it very different back then?
HH: If you compare the possibilities for training we have nowadays, we can choose from dozens of different styles and systems in the martial arts or sports. Back then it was more like the classical styles from Japan, Korea and Indonesia only. Like some of the major Karate styles, Kyokushinkai, Wado Ryu and Shotokan. Also Judo, Jiu Jitsu and Aikido. Taekwondo from Korea and t

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An interview with Britain’s first Taekwondo Olympic medallist, Sarah Stevenson. Originally of the Doncaster All Stars, she now trains full time with the national team at the Feat Factory in Manchester. Lesley finds out about life after Beijing and that dramatic day in August. By Lesley Jackson

Lesley Jackson talks to Britain’s first Taekwondo Olympic medallist, Sarah Stevenson. Originally of the Doncaster All Stars, she now trains full time with the national team at the Feat Factory in Manchester. Lesley finds out about life after Beijing and that dramatic day in August.

I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Britain’s first Olympic medallist in Taekwondo, Sarah Stevenson. This quiet, articulate and pleasant young woman is as down to earth as she is hard working and determined. Behind the polite and feminine exterior lays one of Britain’s most recently renowned martial artists with a devotion and passion for her sporting art that leaves many of us training wanting. Sarah explains: “You can’t do a sport full time and it not be your life. Taekwondo comes first before anything that I do.” Even during a serious injury such as Sarah is currently nursing, her motivation is still at the fore, “I’ve always done Taekwondo and I don’t k

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The members of the newly formed Junior Top Ten Team hold a combined list of championship titles, medals and trophies that would leave many adult competitors green with envy. Here we talk to the boys and their instructor Lee Matthews about talent, team work and making it to the top. By Jacqueline Smith

The members of the newly formed Junior Top Ten Team hold a combined list of championship titles, medals and trophies that would leave many adult competitors green with envy.

They burst onto the competition circuit in November 2008 to compete in Neville Wray’s Fight Night, an event which brought together all the top junior teams from around the country. The seven members of the new team; Elijah Everill 10, Tom Evans 11, Ryan Marlow 12, Jordan Simmons 14, Daniel Cartwright 16, Jack Evans 16 and Chris Aston 18 are all members of Lee Matthews’ Black Belt Academy which is based in Telford, Shropshire. The competition was fierce on the night and Top Ten beat out many long established teams to earn a place in the final where they were beaten in their last fight by just one point.

The new team’s instant success will come as no surprise within the martial arts community as the boys’ names are well-known on the competition circuit. Between them they have n

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John Woo Yu-Sen is a critically acclaimed international Chinese film director and producer. Recognized for his stylized films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion. By Fiaz Rafiq

John Woo, one of Hollywood’s top action film directors famed for films such as Face Off, Broken Arrow, Mission Impossible II and Van Damme’s Hard Target, is never shy to face a challenge. His recently released South East Asian produced movie Red Cliff focuses on the famous battle on Red Cliff which took part 2000 years ago. This is Asia’s most expensive movie to date and the story is set in the final days of Han Dynasty.

John Woo is a very down to earth person with a great passion and commitment for his craft. As a child growing up Woo’s family had to overcome many hurdles to survive. They fled to Hong Kong from China when he was 5 and struggled to the point where they became homeless. After many years making movies in Hong Kong, he made a transition into Hollywood in the early ‘90s and brought his innovative action concepts and skills to Van Damme’s Hard Target. From there his career has blossomed to a point where he is in demand both on the Western and Asia

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Pele Nathan’s latest Thai Boxing extravaganza - the much anticipated Pele’s Fight Night. By Peter Lewis

The first bout was a 3 x 2 min, 67K contest between local boy James Wells (Pele’s Gym, Altrincham) and Russell McAvoy (SMTC, Scotland). The first round of cautious tit-for-tat kicks and combinations had been a good warm-up for both men. As the bell sounded the start of round two, McAvoy came out flying, launching a tirade of punches into Wells who handled it well and managed to turn his opponent and trap him against the ropes. After intervention by the referee, Wells attempted a sweep into McAvoy, but he remained standing and replied with a sharp leg into Wells’ abdomen. The final round saw the flying Scotsman launch into his opponent once more with knee strikes and punches and Wells hit the canvas. Both men sensed the urgency of time and really went for it in the dying seconds. The final verdict was a draw.

Next up were John Davies (Failsworth Thaiboxing) and Shaun McNabb (Kirby Thaiboxing) for a 3 x 2 min, 70K bout. McNabb has been off the scene for the past t

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The FSK Grand Championships has been established for over twenty years and stands as the longest running tournament on the martial arts circuit, its reputation therefore speaks for itself. By Peter Lewis

The FSK is responsible for launching the fight careers of a large percentage of today’s luminaries and has given credibility to anyone or anything associated with it. Little wonder then competitors of all ages made their way to the George H. Carnall Sports Centre, Urmston, Manchester, for this year’s Grand Championships.

As well as the possibility of gaining the kudos of a Grand Championship title, this tournament for many was a dress rehearsal for the W.K.C. British National Championships which are two months away. An opportunity to size up the competition, note strengths and weaknesses and improve skill and technique as required. Because anyone who qualifies in first place and grabs the Gold may get to join the ranks of those already part of the W.K.C. England squad, which this year promises to be larger and more successful than any other National squad ever to leave our shores.

It was interesting therefore to watch those who are already part of thi

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Cocksmoor Woods Leisure Centre, Birmingham was the venue for the ISKA British Open Championships.

The Championships were well attended from all over England and Wales with healthy entries in Semi-Contact, in the ring Light-Contact and the ever expanding Forms and Kata divisions.

The competition arena was well laid out and looked professional. Admin and the weigh-ins ran smoothly and after a short delay the competition got underway.

The matted areas started with Kids Semi-Contact on 3 mats and with Forms and Kata for Adults getting under way on mat 4.

The Juniors 13-17yrs kicked off the in the ring, Light-Contact. using 3 boxing rings. This system works well for ISKA as more and more competitors are doing multi categories and it alleviates clashes in disciplines.

The standard of competition was very high with competitors competing fiercely in all disciplines.

ISKA promoters and officials worked hard to ensure everyone had a fair and enjoyable day and were very pleased with the whole event, and judging by th

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Cage Fighters Championships is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with their 5th show Sudden Impact. By Alan Orr

Cage Fighters Championships is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with and their 5th show Sudden Impact was one of the most exciting nights of fights so far this year. With a card of two halves both amateur and professional fighters had the opportunity to show their skills on the ground and upright. By far the fight of the night was Henrique Santana versus Yasubey Enomoto as they both showed off their phenomenal Jujitsu skills.

Co main event was a British Middleweight title bout between submission wrestler Darren Guisha and Tsunami fighter Jack Mason. This fight in some ways was marred by a controversial referee decision that did not soil the fact that this was a war that favoured Mason’s ability to control his opponent after a takedown that saw Mason make the transitions around Guisha’s defense.The second round started much the same with Guisha a little more aggressive, he was able to attempt a guillotine submission that Mason avoided before moving to work for

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An interview with UFC title contender Kenny Florian while in the UK teaching a weekend of seminars. By Duane Harper

Kenny Florian was a Senior Project Manager for a Harvard based Translation Services Company with a Bachelor's Degree in Arts & Sciences from Boston College before being lured into the world of MMA style combat.

Since then he has gone on to be a Pan-American BJJ medallist, NAGA BJJ Superfight Champion, Grapplers Quest Superfight champion, 2002 US Grappling Pro 8-man champion, 2002 Copa Atlantica BJJ Champion and 2x Mass Destruction MMA Superfight Champion.

Duane Harper: Hi, Kenny, great seminar! Tell us, what was your first experience with martial arts?
Kenny Florian: That was Kempo Karate and Shaolin Kung Fu when I was around 12 or 13 years old.

DH: Did that transpose well into what you do today?
KF: Not so much, I think the first thing I did for that was BJJ when I was around 20, so I started pretty late!

DH: Do you think the traditional arts are coming to the fore more now with the advent of fighters like Mach

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Alan Orr and his BJJ teacher, world champion Leo Negao, show you MMA striking, submission techniques. By Alan Orr

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A three in one special of the latest UFC action. With so many UFC events in the last few months we bring you a selection of some of the best fights and most interesting results to review. By Alan Orr

This month we have a UFC round up or you could say catch up! We have had so many UFC events in the last few months we thought it would be good to choose some of the best fights and most interesting results to review. The growth of MMA is non-stop and it shows as the UFC keep planning more events in more countries around the world.

UFC 94 features the UFC welterweight title fight between champion Georges St-Pierre and UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn in what many say is the greatest MMA matchup of all time. Former welterweight champion BJ Penn, who dropped a controversial split decision to St-Pierre in their first matchup, looks to become the first fighter in history to hold two UFC belts at the same time.

UFC 95 heads across the pond for the fourth time where champions Diego ‘Nightmare’ Sanchez made his debut in the lightweight division against Joe ‘Daddy’ Stevenson. UFC 95 also features pivotal bouts in the middleweight and welterweight divisions

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