A Big Congrats to CFS Associate Instructor Carl Jackson(a personal student of mine for over 10 years and one of only 4 people awarded the rank of Guro by me in the Filipino Martial arts FMA).
He Travelled to Poland in July for the 9th WEKAF European Stickfighting Championships where after solid performances, he secured Silver in Adult Welterweight division (single stick), Bronze in the double stick and Silver in the team event!!
The team event is open weight with 5 fighters from each country selected to fight one round each of non-stop carnage. The UK team beat Hungary and Germany losing only to Italy.
I understand there was a great showing from the UK team with a large presence from the 'Strike Team', now led by Damien Mills but taught by the fallen warrior, World, European & British Champion Guro Roger Barnes (deceased)
First of all, Guro Carl Jackson, the defending British Stickfighting Champion fought again in the British championships, but this time in the veterans division which is much harder as the fighters are exactly just that...veterans and seasoned champions.
Carl took Gold in the Double stick division and Silver in the Single stick division, which in fact was a repeat of his success last year. Very well done adding to his earlier success in the Mexico World championships earlier this year.
There was also success at the English BJJ Open which took place at Dartford over both days with fights at all belts. The competition was very well attended and very well run as usual. Congrats to the principal organisers Blackbelts Dickie Martin & Simon Hayes.
White belts Jesus Lopez Lara & Darren Owen took their first steps in competitive BJJ. Darren fought first facing a tough opponent who mangaged to pass his guard which was later replaced and then just missed completing a very close armbar. He then fought in the repercharge where he also lost to a memeber of our sister team at mill hill bjj, but tried hard.
Jesus had a very tough first fight and got kicked in the mouth whilst passing guard. He secure an advantage for an X choke attempt from guard but couldn't do much more thereafter as he popped his already injured rib in the fight. He won the fight but I wihdrew him from fighting further due to injury.
Next up was my old training partner Andrew Nugent who although a Brown Belt, was making his first step into the competitive BJJ arena. He fought veteran BJJ player Austin Gardner also from the Checkmat team. It was sad for me to see 2 people I know well to have to fight but fortunately for them they did not know each other. Big props to Austin who normally fights at under 76kg for taking on Andy who weighed in with the gi as a 'light' Middleweight at 79kg. It was a close fight with Austin locking onto Andy's ankle but Andy managed to tough it out and dominated mostly from the top after an excellent footsweep. Congrats to English Champion, Andy Nugent!!
As always it was good to see so many friends at the tourney with Blackbelts galore present.....my how times have changed. I can't count how many were there but even allowing for the 4 that fought in the superfights, in no particular order I saw:
Jude Samuel Edwardo Azevedo Marco Canha Luiz ' Manxhina' Ribeiro Neto Dickie Martin Simon Hayes Nilton Garcia Jackson Fortunato Felipe Souza Arlans Siqueira Luiz Tosta Nick Brooks Marc Walder Eamon Madden Ivam Marciel Marcus Nardini
My apologies if I missed anyone out because I forgot or didn't know them.
What was also good was that whilst there were a number of different gis out there on the mat, Tatami fightwear gis seemed to be everywhere! Clearly the choice of champions :)
I want to send out a big thank you to all the guys who put it on the line this weekend, as whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I would like to offer my congratulations to CFS and Bob Breen academy Blackbelt Carl Jackson for his Silver medal in the single stick section of the WEKAF World Championships in Mexico this weekend gone. We were of course aiming for the Gold but his achievement was nothing short of excellent and we are all proud of him.
Another great session and good turnout. This week we covered some of the striking techniques and strategies as found in the Filipino Martial Arts (Panantukan) that are able to be utilised in MMA.
We covered:
Jab catch drill - basic
into the cross
catching the jab
parrying the cross
catching the jab and cross leaving a free hand
We also carried out the continuous jab cross drill with the power emphasis on the first and fourth strike........the sound was...........boom tap tap boom tap tap boom tap tap etc
The vid below is that particular drill being practiced. Enjoy!!
Congratulations to Corey Donoghue - The new British BJJ Open Champion 2010.
Corey did himself, his team and I proud at the tournament on Sunday 28th March 2010.
He fought in a division of 19 fighters where the standard was high. He had 5 fights dominating everyone and never lost a SINGLE POINT or ADVANTAGE.
He swept four out of his 5 opponents and racked up over a total 45 points, beating one opponent 19-0. What is equally as impressive is the fact that he seriously injured his knee and ankle in the second fight and the medics told him not to fight any more.....but they didn't know Corey very well as he had 3 further fights. He wanted to fight the Absolute division too, but as his coach I had to think of his safety and called it a day.
As a team we thank all our friends and supporters who are always there for us :)
This week, I covered both the empty hands class as well as the weaponry class. The video material below only covers the empty hands section.
In the first video, I am explaining my theories on striking and what I look out for in an exchange. In essence, I explain that try to concentrate on the holes given to me by my opponent when they attack, rather than becoming pre-occupied with defending their attack
In the second video, I advocate training your striking and countering by staying in range. This means that you cannot run away and thus it helps you to focus on fighting in a realistic fashion.
Those of you who know me are well aware that Rodrigo 'Brucutu' Cabral (now in back in Brazil) was one the prominent UK BJJ Instructors based in london and he headed the UK Checkmat team from the London Fight Factory.
I started training with him privately with the blessing of Roger Brooking sometime in very late 2004/early 2005 and that relationship continued until he returned to Brazil in late 2007.
He was awarded his Blackbelt in London by Ricardo Vieira on behalf of leo Vieira on 19th August 2006. My Brown belt which was given to me in March 2008 by Ricardo Vieira and Eduardo Azevedo was endorsed by Rodrigo as my principal BJJ Instructor for many years.
Whilst I continue to be grateful to all the BJJ Instructors who have since passed some of their knowledge onto me, I still regard Brucutu as my teacher and he still regards me as his student. We remain in regular contact.
Late last year, he was awarded his 1st stripe on his Black belt at the same time that Leo Vieira was awarded his 4th stripe. Parabens to them both.
Below is a match he fought in 2008 in Brazil agains World Champion Sergio Moraes in the Absolute division of the Rio Open. Whilst he did not win, you will quickly get an idea of the level of this BJJ practioner fom whom the best is yet to come.
In the past year or so, he has been training his BJJ whilst teaching at Ricardo Vieira's Fightzone academy and has been training MMA with none other than Anderson Silva. Lyota Machida and last but not least the beast Nogeira!!
For those who know me well, they know that I have a long association with the often misunderstood art that is called Wing Chun.
I first became involved with WC in 1983 when I was introduced to Sifu's Martin Ruiz and John Sahakian who were teaching in Ealing. I had only heard of the art through a good friend of mine Asari St Hill. I discovered that their lineage was Sifu Simon Lau and I would describe it as a 'hard' style. I trained with them for approximately 3 years, until they closed down.
I continued to train with fellow students and friends generally thinking I was much better than I really was, which unfortunately is often the case with martial artists. In early 1986, quite by accident, whilst I was at college I was asked to start teaching a group of ladies who wanted 'self defence'. This led to the 'Womens school of martial arts and self defence' taught by yours truly.
In 1988, I had 'a visit' from representatives of Sifu Nino Bernardo, who encouraged me that perhaps I need to learn more WC. I did want to go and study with Sifu Nino but I could not afford it at that time. However it did start me researching alternative places to train.
In April of that year I joined Sifu Eddie Yeoh's school (Grandmaster Lee Sing lineage) where I trained until I met Sifu Michael Louison in October 1988. He was visiting our school. I learnt he was starting a new school in Greenwich and made an open invitation.
At that stage, Sifu Michael was one of a small handful of students who had completed the entire system under Sifu Nino and he had also trained with Master Wong Shun Leung and Si-bak Ng Chun Hong.
I studied with Sifu Michael as his first student from 1988 through to 1993 and was one of his most consistent students. I had the pleasure of travelling with him to Italy in 1990 to teach a seminar and I would cover classes for him in his absence. I also managed to train with Si-bak when he came to london a few times to teach and also on trip to his school in Hong kong maybe 9 years ago. That was an amazing experience training with such a talented group. They did their best to make sure that I knew their Wing Chun was the best!!
Back in London, I did get involved in some challenge matches defending my style and I am pleased to say that fortune favoured me in those outings!
Funnily enough, my first introduction to the filipino martial arts came through training with Sifu Michael and training at the 'Basement' becaause at that time, Sifu Nino was an apprectice instructor under none other than Guro Dan Inosanto. That was in 1990.
So far as WC is concerned, in my opinion, Sifu Michael's interpretation and understanding is of the highest level.
Here is a video I have found of him training along with a good friend of mine whom I introduced to WC & Sifu Michael maybe 12 years ago.
See what you think
The WC, that I use now has influenced every aspect of my martial arts!
Carl and I stick sparring at the Bob Breen Academy last year. Sorry about the poor quality but it was great fun. Carl has got a lot better since and picked up some national and international medals since....hmmm...I could be in trouble now.........maybe...... :)
Congratulations to Carl Jackson who fought in the WEKAF British stickfighting championships on 8.11.09. Fresh from his recent Silver medal success in both Single and Double stick in the European Championships, this weekend, he took GOLD in the double stick and Silver in the single stick.
