PHIL DOHERTY: Thank you Soke Dossett for allowing us to interview you...
BRIAN DOSSETT: Thank you

PD: How long have you been training in martial arts? Who did you start training with and where was this? What system was your first martial art?
BD: I started boxing at the Isleworth Boxing cub back in the late 40's aged nine-years-old and then Judo when I was 12 years old.

PD: What styles and system have you trained in over the years? Why did you choose those particular systems? What is the one system you enjoy the most and why?
BD: During my teens I joined a Karate club and later continued in with Sensei Abbey, Nakazono and Harada including Aikido and wrestling. I always had a question mark on Karate based on waking up and down striking at imagination rather than somebody so continued Boxing and Judo. I had no best system, I just dabbled and used my own brains on what would and would not work. 

BD: I have no hero and don't know why. I watched great fighters and tried to use techniques that were successful for them. 

PD: What grades do you hold? And which one means the most you and why? Of all the different systems you’ve trained in which is your favourite and why?
BD: I hold several grades but they mean very little to me other than 'image' or 'self promoting'. However, I always have and will do my promoting by what I do and not what's on paper. In other words I am whatever grade people want me to be recognising qualifications and experience are very different. I try to put my qualifications and grades into action but at 72-years-old I can't do what I used to do. But I can't teach it if I don't know it. I have no favourite technique system but created my own to ensure it includes both soft and hard ways and allow the student to choose. I do both.

PD: Why did you begin Spirit Combat? Can you explain how it differs from other forms of Ju-jitsu?
BD: My system differs from others as it is based on a syllabus for the kids and a syllabus for the adults. In addition, it must be and is exciting. It becomes confusing when you reach black belt because that's where the beginning starts. All other grades within Spirit Combat is 'sucking at life's dummy'. 

BD: The critics died out very quickly based on my challenge 'put up or shut up'. All I did was to question, not knock traditional ways, but several traditional minds failed to understand what I was doing and allowed their blinkers to remain stuck. They listened but failed to hear and looked but failed to see and my ideas came to life and many followed the same path by creating free-style themselves. I opened the door for self-imagination and an opportunity to open one's own mind resulting with having one's own identity. I did not plan it, it just happened and we have what we have today, MMA, which I am also putting a question mark on. MMA is not all about 'martial art' because there are other sports within MMA such as boxing, wrestling and even a rugby tackle. I have created a new title called MACs, Mixed Amateur Contact Sports, because that is what it is. However, anyone wanting more info on that must contact me.

PD: What is the highlight of your martial arts career and why?
BD: The highlight of my career is every day because I receive new clubs and students joining me daily so I must be doing something right. It's not all about insurance and membership it’s about the service one gives and communication skills. Once you have your people, you have to serve them and that's what I do.

PD: If you had your time again what would you do different and why?
BD: If I had my time again and knew what I know I would have got married later in life and give myself the time required to do what I have done. Time is our enemy and once you are married and got kids the majority of your life goes to others. I am now what others want me to be and sometimes it’s not what I want. One thing I have learn in life and that’s knowing the difference between 'wants' and 'needs' because we all fall into the temptation of going for the complicated wants rather than the simple needs.

PD: What are your ambitions for the future?
BD: My ambition for the future is 'only God knows'. I have managed to get through 72 years of all kinds of experiences and with five kids, fourteen grand kids and twelve great grand kids I still go in the ring to show that age is just a number. I have been liked and disliked and recently been called an asshole because I want to be the boss. All I can say to that great brain is as follows: When God made man, all the parts of the body argued over who should be THE BOSS. The brain explained that since he controlled all parts of the body, he should be THE BOSS. The legs argued that since they took the man where ever he wanted to go, he should be THE BOSS. The stomach countered with the explanation that since he digested all the food he should be THE BOSS. The eyes said that without them, man would be helpless so they should be THE BOSS. Then the ASSHOLE applied for the job and remember recently I was call an ASSHOLE. Other parts of the body laughed so hard that the ASSHOLE became mad and closed up. After a few days the brain went foggy, the legs got wobbly, the stomach got ill, the eyes got crossed and unable to see. They all conceded and made the ASSHOLE THE BOSS proving that we don't have to be anything to be the boss, just an ASSHOLE. So my future is to continue being an ASSHOLE. Hope this helps those who still want to be a BOSS.

PD: Thank you very much Soke Brian Dossett...
BD: Thank you Phil. See you all soon but you can rest assure my body parts all make harmony and my asshole works like it should making harmony with my brain, legs, stomach and eyes.

VIDEO INTERVIEW FROM CAGE AMATEURS UK

For further information about Spirit Combat visit:

By Phil Doherty

BILL Lowery has been training in Escrima for years and opened his Laban Baston Eskrima Club, in Heaton, Newcastle in 1996.

He is a 5th Dan in and was awarded his grade by Danny Guba and also holds a 5th Dan, supreme graduate, under the Canete family.

He talks to Martial News Editor Phil Doherty about his love of the Filipino stick and knife fighting art of Escrima...


(Caption): Escrima expert Bill Lowery with the Filipino bullwhip...

PHIL Doherty: Hello Bill, thank you for allowing us to talk to you...
BILL Lowery: Thank you.

PD: Shall we start with a little of your martial arts background and how came in to the art of Escrima?
BL: I was training in Lee Style Tai Chi and training in weapons such as the Long Sword as I was always interested in weapons. Then I read an article about Dan Inosanto and I wanted to train that system. I started with instructors Ian Andrew in Sunderland and with Jimi McAvoy. After training them I started studying under Danny Guba in Luton and Percival Pableo who came across in 1996.

(Caption): Bill with Escrima legends Danny Inosanto and Danny Guba

PD: What is it about Escrima that made you follow its path?
BL: What I like about it is that it is a full system and that covers all ranges of fighting with weapons while having a complete open hand capability. In the UK it was at its height of popularity in the late 1970's but its starting to rise again. But Escrima is a great way to keep flexible and fits and really improves eye and hand coordination, so there are great properties to the system as well.

(Caption): Bill at the famous statute to national hero Lapu Lapu who resisted the Spanish invasion of the Philippines that started when Portuguese-born Megallen landed on the islands and claimed them for Spain...

PD: Escrima at a basic level is quite a simple system but is that's one of its strengths...
BL: We have single stick and knife and then double stick and knife. You can use the principles and techniques to defend open handed or with a weapon, use locks and disarms, strikes and kicks, staff and swords...its covers all aspects. I love Escrima for its realism. I loved Tai Chi but you need a long time to become proficient in it. Plus its more angled towards fitness while with Escrima you can really defend yourself.

PD: ...and in any situation...
BL: Yes. The stick locks teach how to do locks which then you can apply empty-handed, and the other way round...

(Caption): Bill (right) with Cano Canete in the Phillippines...

PD: Have you trained in the Philippines? How does the culture differ in terms of martial arts and self-defence?
BL: It’s very different in the Philippines to the UK. We went to a MoalBoal Beach restaurant in Cebu, and then visited the city centre, then back Moalboal. We were found out that someone had been shot in the head. We saw on the TV than some one had shot him in the head with 45. dum-dum bullets in the restaurant we had been in. They have a knife culture so if you get into a confrontation with them there is a chance they will pull out a knife.

(Caption) Bill training at Kawasan Falls, Cebu

PD: How does Escrima view the knife?
BL: The knife is a tool, another tool in the Escrima arsenal. It’s a different culture here in the UK compared to the Philippines. There you see young children learning knife and defences from a very young age. It has a weapon culture and part of that is the blade. It’s been invaded on a number of times and the only defence historically the common people had was their Escrima skills and a knife has always been a valuable self-defence weapon in an armed society

PD: What other weapons does Escrima have?
BL: It has staff as well as sticks and knives and also a number of bullwhips as well, called Latigo. This whip has a wooden handle. You can move the bullwhip around in different ways around you head to do different techniques. The technique is only correct if the whip cracks on impact. Its very good for body mechanics and it improves your fighting skills because you have to turn your waist to get the correct level of power. Its the same hip action that is found in the stick, knife and open hands.

(Caption): One of Bill's former instructors Jimi McAvoy in a classic Escrima knife defence stance

PD: In escrima there is great emphasis on "defanging the snake" first disarming or damaging an opponent's weapon arm, whether cut or strike, while other systems say go for the person themselves. Why is that?
BL: Stick and knife disarms become inadequate if you focus on the person and attack them. If you attack the person instead of the arm you will fail. Better to defang the snake...take the weapon arm out or disarm. When I did Tai Chi I had to imagine they had a knife in their hands, in Escrima they will have a knife in their hands. You can see the principle in Doce Pare, using angles allows you to strike, block and evade all in one flowing action.

PD: What is coming up at the Laban Baston Eskrima Club and where is it based?
BL: We are currently looking for more new members. We are holding a beginners class over the next few months. The new class is on from 7 to 8.30pm on Tuesdays. We are based at the St Theresa Church Hall, Heaton Road, Heaton, Newcastle. Anyone is welcome to come along and try this unique and different martial art…

PD: Thank you Bill for the interview. I really enjoyed talking to you...
BL: Thank you, I enjoyed it too...

For further information phone Bill on: 07834 465817

Or email:

STREET COMBAT SEMINAR SUCCESS

(Caption): The seminar attendees with instructors (Sittiing left to right) John Barrass, Phil Doherty, Gary Sansom and Tony Blanco

DFM Martial Arts has held a street combat seminar with guest instructors from the Evasive Self-Defence Combat System, the Burns School of Black Belts and Tony Blanco, a former Spanish special forces soldier, who is trained in Japanese Ninjutsu and Korean Hapkido. 

The seminar was held on Sunday, August 14th and was held at the Willowburn Sports Centre, Alnwick Northumberland.

More than 25 people attended the course, travelling from as far as Yorkshire and Manchester  to train with instructors John Barrass of the ESDCS, Phil Doherty of Directional Fighting Method, Gary Sansom of the Burns School of Black Belts and Tony Blanco of the Adavanced Fighting Centre.

Organiser Phil Doherty said: "It was a great day and it was fantastic to meet new friends as well as old old ones.

"I taught basic flinch movements and techniques you can use from these natural movement, Gary - who stepped into the breach after instructor Rick Burns had to pull out due to a family emergency - taught techniques from the Self-Defence Federation syllabus, and John Barrass demonstrated his ESDCS street combat system. The whole day was capped off by Tony Blanco who showed how principles from traditional fan and kubotan can be directly transferred over to using a newspaper or a pen in a street confrontation."

Below is selection pictures from the day taken by numerous friends...

The Usual suspects...

Phil Doherty teaching passive flinch movements...
 

and aggressive flinching...


Matt Chadwick flinches away


John Barrass training with Victor


Phil Doherty showing where to strike on the neck


Matt Chadwick striking Steve Mclaughlan


Martial News blogger David Macintyre strikes


Flinch...


Strike...


and throw in one flowing action


Students practising the moves


Matt Chadwick and Steve Mclaughlan


How did I end up down here?




Got yer...


No you don't...


Getting the knee into those pain points

have a look at me foot







Have that...


and that...


and goodnight...


Gary knows who's boss...his wife Simone drops him


Ah - the family jewels!


Have a look at the ceiling




Phil demonstrating where to put your hands


to show David Macintyre how to apply a head roll takedown




getting the knee in...




Instructor Gary Sansom telling student to put his back into it




Let's get close and personal...


And have a nice tight squeeze...

before I lay you down and put you in a world of pain


let's have a hug!


You're going down whether yer like it or not




Come here! Gary Samson and Victor Shamov

Tony dishing out the punishment


Have some of that!

Going down hard...


This story stupid...


Its a knockout


Hah - didn't see that until it was too late did you


And they all fall down


Steve in a word of pain care of big John


another one bites the dust


John Barrass and Victor Shamov enjoy as Tony Blanco dispatches fellow club mate Matt Chadwick


Tony showing the nerve hold to add that extra bit of pain


Oh no - not again...John and Matt


Finishing the day on a fun note...instructors adopt their usual poses...

John Clarke is one of the best Sambo exponents in Europe.
Having trained under his father Martin Clark, 8th Dan and President of the International Budo Federation UK, and his grandfather the great Judo exponent Nobby Clark, from a very young age, John has been emersed in the world grappling his whole life.
He has represented Great Britain and won top international medals in Judo, Sambo, Kuresh wrestling and freestyle wrestling as well as other styles.
But recently he had to retire after due to a knee injury.


(Caption): John Clarke has spent his life in the grappling arts

Phil Doherty, editor of Martial News, talks to John about his life in grappling...

Martial News: Hello John, thank you for taking time out to speak to us
John Clark: Hello and thank you.

MN:  You come from a  family famous for grappling - your father Martin and Grandfather Judo legend Nobby Clarke - was it inevitable you also go into the arts?
JC: Mr grandfather Nobby Clarke was still teaching Judo but unfortunately I never got to see him compete. I wanted to follow the family footsteps and I really enjoyed competing from a young age right up until I had my knee operation. I had to end my competitive career as had torn the knee cartlidge and the surgeons simply couldn't repair it. Its was basically bone on bone and it forced me to retire. However, I still teach and I watch my students competing which I get a lot of satisfaction from.

MN: How old were you when you first stated training, and what was it like back then?
JC: I started training in Judo from around the age of five. At that time there was thousands and thousands of children doing Judo and my father Martin had three classes running with at least 30 youngsters training in each one. I loved it because they were youngsters and you get some good play in. When I was 14-years-old I moved over to the senior mat and spent years getting mashed! But when I got older, bigger and stronger I turned the tables on them and did some mashing of my own. But that's the way it was in those days, no-one took it easy on you just because you were a kid. But you learned a lot that way.

(Caption): John competing in a major Sambo competition

MN: Do you think the training today is not as tough as it was when you first stated in grappling?
JC: Yes, nowadays the kids don't seem to want to be taught in a tough way and the parents just want to hear how great their kid is. I'm a real strict person and when I was teaching youngsters if their belt came undone then they'd get sit-ups and press-ups. After all your belt if tied properly should never come undone.

MN: What arts have you competed in? And what were the highlights of your grappling career?
JC: I've fought in competitions, not only in Judo but Sambo, freestyle wrestling and Uzbekistani Kuresh as well. Some of the highlights of my career were fighting in the British team in Kuresh where I came second in the 90kg section, and winning the Open British Championship. Judo was my first art and I'm now a fourth Dan in that and a 5th Dan in the IBF. Then my old man got into Sambo and I got into freestyle wrestling at around ten-years of age. But I then broke my elbow in a competition, completely snapped it in two.

MN:How did that affect your Judo career?
JC: I had to completely change my Judo and I had to learn how to fight left handed and that became a real advantage because most people learn how to fight against right-handed people. It took me a long time to adapt and relearn the basic techniques using my left hand. In 1990 I went to the big London Open and won that and then went again the follow year and won that as well.

(Caption): John Clarke (Blue jacket), practising Sambo

MN: When did you start doing Sambo?
JC: it was around three years after I broke my elbow that I started Sambo. When I went back to Judo they couldn't handle it. Sambo is a 100pc different to Judo and its a lot harder that Judo. Sambo is what I love the most and although I cannot compete anymore I get a lot of satisfaction watching our club lads fight in competitions. I won five major Sambo competitions including the school level, youth, espire, intermediate and more recently the world senior masters competition. I was honoured when I received a special medal from the President of Sambo for my contribution to the sport.

MN: How does Sambo compare to Judo?
JC: Sambo is a far tougher sport than Judo as in judo you can't picked them off the floor and throw them to get them to turn like you can in Sambo. Also there is no restrictions on grabbing the belts or legs and the points system used in Sambo is easier to understand as well for those watching. This makes it a far better spectator sport. The throws are a lot more crisper as well and there are no restrictions. I think Judo is finished as a major grappling format. If you grab their legs in a Judo match its a foul. I believe that MMA is taking over with the young people now going into that instead of Judo. But if I've got a criticism of MMA is that its involves a lot of ground work but it seems that the youngsters doing it don't seem to want to be thrown hard anymore, instead they rely on soft takedowns such as shoots.

(Caption): John with his 5th Dan IBF certificate

MN:What is your most memorable young experience in Sambo?
JC: It was when I went to the USSR to fight in Sambo before the Berlin Wall came down. I was around 15-years of age and at the time it was a massive experience for me to take part in such a competition. Back then the big countries in Sambo were all east European with Russia, Latvia and Bulgaria all being in the finals. 

MN:So - what does the future hold for you and UK Sambo?
JC: I cannot compete anymore but I'm the UK national Sambo coach and I just want to push the sport as much as I possible. Most of the people who train at my gym in Sittingbourne prefer Sambo to Judo because of its less restrictions. Our gym also teaches Kuresh, Pankration and MMA as well as Judo and Sambo. Its my passion and we are trying to get it into the Olympics. We have 48 countries competing in international competitions and you have to have at least 52 before they will consider it. But won't be long before we reach that and in a few years we will be looking to have Sambo placed into the Games as a demonstration sport. If it does make it into the Olympics then I believe it will take over from Judo as the Games wrestling spectator sport.

MN: Thank you john for taking time to talk to us...
JC: Thank you for giving me the opportunity

WING CHUN WORLD RECORD - PIC FEATURE

(Caption): Grandmaster Samuel Kwok and Mark (centre) with students from other clubs from the UK, Malaysia, USA and Mauritius

STANDFIRST: WING Chun practitioners from across the world descended on a Chinese village to set a world record for the number of people training in the art at one time.

Amongst those 3,170 students, instructors and masters of the system who went to Luo village, Nanhai, Foshan, was North East Sifu Mark Beardsell.

Mark describes the event for Martial News.


By Mark Beardsell

THOUSANDS of Wing Chun practitioners have set a new World Guinness Book of Records for the highest number training at one time.

The successful attempt was held in the home town of Master Ye Wen who taught Bruce Lee the fighting system.

Those who took part in the event, held on September 25, ranged in age from the old to youngsters.

I travelled to China with my Grandmaster Samuel Kwok. We had also visited the Ip Man Tong in Foshan. We were with colleagues from London, Malaysia, the United States and a couple of Grandmaster Samuel Keok's student who come from Mauritius.

It was amazing to see so many people in one place to demonstrate wing chun

I was hoping to see Grandmaster Ip Chun there, but alas he could not make it. I had seen him a few days before, when he said since the release of the third ip man movie "The Legend is Born" he has become more famous playing the part of Leung Bik in that movie, and now everyone wants to learn wing chun from him.

Because he could not make it he had recorded a message that was played over the PA system at the event but it was in Cantonese so there was no way of knowing what was said as I only know a few words.

(Caption): The wall where the participants signed their names

When we arrived we entered via the red carpet, we than signed a big wall poster we were shown some front row seat and given a programme and a T-shirt and water, it was very hot that day and an hour's sun left me sunburned.

(Caption): Grandmaster Samuel Kwok with Mark

There was the sound of drums all around and several lion dances were going on, it was very colourful and something to remember, the evening before we had visited the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu school to pay are respects and share each others Kung Fu, outside they were practising a routine for display, it was not till next day at the event that I realised why, it was for the demonstration we were now attending.

(Caption): As well as Wing Chun there was a display by a Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu school

Flying around are heads was a helicopter and film crew the lady next to me gave them a wave and they waved back.

There was a platform where all the dignitaries were sat, there were Chinese film stars making announcements, there was a herd of ground camera crew hovering round taking photos, an English speaking report came and sat down and started asking about us and asking detail of why we came to be here, a local TV presenter was stood right next to me recording a broadcast, it was really cool.

(Caption): The event was covered by the media

On the surrounding roof tops there were people looking down watching, and just to are right was a wide area which was just a sea of heads doing Wing Chun lead by Rose Chan I know she is a celebrity but not sure what for, she was leading everyone doing the Wing Chun demo form made up of siu lim tau, chum kiu and biu gee.


(Caption): Rose Chan leads the practitioners

The guy who stood in for Ip Chun was his head teacher Leung Chung Wai whom I had met before and gave me the thumbs up to say hi, it goes to show you that a language is not always a barrier between nations.


(Caption): Thousands turned up to take part with the crowd stretching back beyond this picture

There were also other Wing Chun schools sat around, some I did not know but everyone was friendly and as you know the record was broken from last year, along the sides of the main stage were flags of all the different Wing Chun schools and also along the side were a number of Wing Chun dummies.


(Caption): Practitioners using the wooden dummies during the successful attempt

Nearing the end my Sifu Samuel Kwok was spotted by a TV crew and said a few words then demonstrated Ip Man Wing Chun, it truly was an amazing afternoon and it was clear to see that so much work had gone into the day by everyone taking part.

or email:

(Caption): Doctor Ceri Sutherland with Louis' teacher Happiness Khanyile

By Phil Doherty


A TAEKWONDO practitioner is holding a charity auction to raise cash for a school in a poverty-stricken part of South Africa.

Doctor Ceri Sutherland, 42, of Littlehoughton, near Alnwick, Northumberland, is holding the event to raise cash for the school her son Louis, 8, attended while the family worked at the local hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.

With schools in South Africa usually being fee-paying and relying on family, they struggle with basics such as decent classrooms, books and teachers’ wages.

Ceri and her husband Dr Riaan Swanepoel, 42, who also is trained in Taekwondo, moved to the KwaZulu-Natal in 2008 to help at the local Manguzi hospital, near KwaNgwanase, which has huge problems with Aids and HIV among the local population.

Ceri said: "KwaZulu-Natal was one of the so-called black homelands under the apartheid regime and the local people there, the Tonga, live in rural poverty.

"There is a lot of HIV and aids and one in three pregnant women there have the disease and we were helping with the drive to stop this being transferred to their children through what is known medically as vertical transmission. More than 70pc of those who live there are described as economically inactive.

(Caption): Louis with Happiness at the John Wesley Kosi Bay school

"My son Louis went to the local church school called John Wesley Kosi Bay and the children there came from very poor backgrounds. The schools fees are a big dent in the family income.

"I feel very strongly about the school as it is very well run by the head teacher Mrs Tembi and her staff.
The children are taught in old pre-fabs and we are hoping to raise cash to help them build brick classrooms, help them pay better wages for the teachers and also provide small bursaries so some of the brightest children can go on to better senior schools in places like Johannesburg.

(Caption): The cash raised will go towards replacing these porta-cabin classrooms with ones made of brick

"These children have aspirations like anyone else, and they have a high respect education but they need the basic condition to be able to reach their aspirations. The school's has great aspirations to become a leading school in the area with a best facilities for their pupils.

"The area they live in is one the most beautiful places in South Africa and is a world heritage site and hoping that people will back this auction by attending and donating so these kids can have the education they deserve."

(Caption): The children of Kosi Bay school take real pride in their education

Ceri’s husband Riaan is South African born and the family lived there for nearly two years before moving back to the UK. Ceri is an anaesthetist in South Tyneside Hospital and Riaan is a GP who works in different practices across north Northumberland. Riaan trained as a doctor in the South Africa and he wanted to give some thing back.

Kosi Bay, in the Manguzi (KwaNgwanase) area, is in the far north east of South Africa and is only 10-miles from the border with Mozambique. Johannesburg is 370 miles away and Durban is 250 miles away.

The school was established in 2000 and is on land given to it founders by the local chief. Its first classrooms were left over pre-fab buildings left behind by a road building company. The prefabs are old and dilapidated and are very hot in the summer.

The local authority, Umhlabuyalingana Municipality, built one new classroom and a toilet block for the school, and since its foundation , the school itself has managed to build seven more.

Parents take their children's education very seriously in the area and there now 660 learners now on its enrollment.  But the school is in desperate need of new buildings to help develop and give the children in the area the best possible start in education they can provide.

John Wesley Kosi Bay School has 24 full-time dedicated teachers, and six assistants - who all take substantially less in salaries than in state schools -  and gap year students.

The school has a long term ambition of building 16 more classrooms to cope with the increasing numbers of enrollments, two new toilet blocks, a media centre, sports field, cricket nets, covered area for creche, staff accommodation and a school hall, a tuckshop for the children.

Ceri and Riaan are holding the auction at Rock Hall School, Rock, on Friday 9th July from 6pm. Items up for grabs include a weeks holiday in France; a day’s fishing; a month’s worth of free martial arts training; a round of golf at Dunstanburgh golf course; a day out at The Alnwick Garden; pony rides and a sailing boat trip to the Farne Isles plus much more.

For more information email: ceri.jane@virgin.net

---

++++CLUB FEATURE++++CLUB FEATURE++++CLUB FEATURE++++CLUB FEATU

DFM REIVERS MMA - NORTHUMBRIA'S FIGHTING TEAM

DFM Reivers MMA is one of the top fighting clubs in the region and is rapidly gaining a reputation for producing quality fighters. 

Part of DFM Martial Arts the club is run by DFM head coach Robert Currah, a former Karate England squad member who has trained in Kickboxing, Brazilian Jui-jitsu, Judo and Aikido.

It is based in Alnwick, Northumberland, and is named after the feared border raiders - The Reivers - who were at the forefront of the 300 year border wars between Scotland and England.
 
Fighters from the club regularly compete in MMA competitions across the region including DFM's Cage Fight Nights, the Northern Fight league, Cage Kombat and Total Combat.

(Caption): DFM Reivers MMA Club is based in Alnwick - the flag is the flag of Northumbria which covers the Scottish Borders, the North East, old Cumberland and Yorkshire

Martial News: Hello Rob, thank you for taking time to do this interview.
Rob Currah: Hello Martial News, it my pleasure.

MN: Can we start by explaining what DFM Reivers MMA Club teaches?
RC: The club teaches kickboxing, a bit of Judo, Brazilian Jui-jitsu, submission wrestling and a mix of Karate and Taekwondo kicking. We train four days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. All the fighters are dedicated and train between three and four times a week, which is great as we like the fighters to train as much as possible as they are training in more than one art and there is more to learn and to take in.

(Caption): DFM Head Coach Robert Currah teaching a class...

MN: What does a normal session consist of?
RC: A session usually starts with a warm up with 10 to 15 minutes of skipping, a lot of stretching and 20 minutes of conditioning and circuit training. Then afterwards we go through pad work and ground work practice. The we split the class up into two groups; with the pro and semi-pro training on one side and amateur on the other.

MN: Why do you separate the two groups?
RC: The pro and semi-pro do the same routines and drills including stand up and ground work. Because we train them together the semi-pro fighters learn from the more experienced pros. This has a good effect on the club because it provides a learning curve to help the semis and, becsause the pros have to break down techniques for the semis, they themselves get a deeper knowledge of the technique themselves.

(Caption) DFM Reivers Dave "Diddy" Brown, Liam Holborn and Ryan Copland

MN: Does this approach produce a tighter, closely knit team?
RC: Yes it does because because it means that there is an atmosphere of friendliness and helping one another. This creates respect and friendship between the fighters and the team have bonded well and help each other as much as they can.

MN: How old is the club?
RC: The club has been running for around three years. It takes a long time to build up a team from scratch but already we have some very promising fighters coming through. There is usually at least one of our fighters competing somewhere in the region in a month during the fight season.

(Caption): DFM Reiver Ben Warner in action at the Alnwick Garden Cage Fight Night

MN: So who are up-and-coming fighters from the team?
RC: Ben Warner, Robbie Weir and Callem Bell. They're young and eager to learn. Then there is Shaun Phillips who looking to be a very promising semi-pro, as well as our top fighters such as Ryan Copland, Liam Holborn and Dave Brown. But there are others...

MN: DFM teaches more than just MMA doesn't it?
RC: Yes, we also have a DFM Kickboxing club which has been going for seven years. Some of the top fighters from that club include Chris Faulkner who likes to fight K - 1 and Lisa Williams who is also a DFM  instructor...she loves fighting.

(Caption): Lisa Williams, DFM Kickboxing Instructor and fighter

MN: Are finding more females are becoming interested in MMA?
RC: We are getting more females joining the club for fitness but not wanting to compete yet. They might fight in the future, however its up to them. Wherever possible the females partner each other during groundwork so they don't feel uncomfortable.

MN: Where do you see the team in the future?
RC: All the lads put in 100pc and have good prospects if they keep on the pressure and train regularly. I can see at least two of our fighters having a chance to get into the UFC in the future. What we are are after is a good reputation for building up good fighters and excellent competition teams. We have had a lot of success and we compete regularly. Although we are a fighting club we don't push anyone into taking a bout as the fighters always decide what they want to do. The club will hopefully go from strength to strength and gain a good reputation on the fight circuit for producing skillful fighters."

DFM REIVER "SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR"


(Caption): Liam Holborn with his Cage Kombat Cruiserweight belt

DFM Reiver Liam Holborn has been named as sports personality of the year by readers of the Berwick Advertiser.

Liam, who is part of the Alnwick-based DFM Reivers MMA team, but comes from Berwick, won the Cage Kombat Pro Cruiserweight title late last year.

Early in 2009 he held a charity event where he fought for 100-minutes non-stop to raise cash for the haematology and oncology ward 2 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children - Edinburgh, and the Schiehallion Unit at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children - Yorkhill, Glasgow.

Liam also helps kids with anger management problems with kickboxing sessions and is an assistant DFM instructor with the Reiver team.

He will soon be taking his 1st Dan Black Belt and full-instructors test for MMA.

For more information on DFM Reivers go to: www.dfmmartialarts.co.uk

Email: robert@currah35.wanadoo.co.uk

Phone: 01665 510634

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THE BRAZILIAN WORLD KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS


(Caption): GB team in action at the World Kendo Championship which was held in Brazil

By Sean Starr (GB Kendo Manager) and Alan Thompson (Vice Captain of GB team)

Pics by Kohjiro Kinno


THE World Kendo Championships have been held in Brazil.

Held every three years, the championships were held over three days in the Brazilian cities of Sao Bernado do Campo and Sao Paulo.

This was the 14th championship under the International Kendo Federation (FIK) and were hosted by the Brazilian Kendo Federation.


A total of 149 men and 104 women competed from 39 countries.

 

The program consisted of the following:

August 28, 2009 (Friday)
Adib Moysés Dib Gym – São Bernardo do Campo
(Av. Kennedy, 1155, Bairro Anchieta, São Bernardo do Campo)
9 AM - Opening Ceremony
9:30 AM - Men’s Individual Championship
5 PM -Commendation Ceremony, Goodwill Keiko

August 29, (Saturday)
Adib Moysés Dib Gym – São Bernardo do Campo
(Av. Kennedy, 1155, Bairro Anchieta, São Bernardo do Campo)
9 AM - Opening Ceremony
9:30 AM - Women’s Individual Championship and Women’s Team Championship
5 PM - Commendation Ceremony, Goodwill Keiko

August 30, 2009 (Sunday)
Adib Moysés Dib Gym – São Bernardo do Campo
(Av. Kennedy, 1155, Bairro Anchieta, São Bernardo do Campo)
9 AM - Opening Ceremony

9:30 AM - Men’s Team Championship
5:30 PM - Commendation and Closing Ceremonies

Sean Starr said: "The majority of GB team arrived on the Monday 24 August, meeting up with Stuart 'Gibbo' Gibson that evening. Having rested Tuesday began at 5am up and ready for breakfast at 6am. We then had a brief meeting and at 10am left for two hours training.

 "Friday the 28th had arrived; the entire first day was dedicated to the Men’s Individual Championships. 

"There were 149 competitors who had to battled through an initial three-man pool to decide who would enter the formal tournament rounds. 

"A random drawing was conducted to decide the three-man pools resulting in many tough head-to-head matches of some of the most highly praised competitors.  

"The main draw had resulted in Teramoto of Japan, 2007 All-Japan champion, W. Kim of Korea, also a national champion, and Chris Yang, American national champion and captain of the US team. 

"The individuals for the GB team both men and women proved to be challenging and as expected the level of opponents was extremely high with most GB members facing formidable opponents.

"First to fight was Gibbo. He fought a determined I Iassic from the Dominican Republic.  It was not until encho did Gibbo dominate and score a men. 

"He then met up with R Jastack from Poland.  Again the fight went to encho, and in a momentary lapse of concentration from Gibbo, a debana kote was score against him. 

"Andrew Fisher, had to beat T Miranda from Chile.  This was an intense fight, in which no one particularly dominated, however, Miranda scored an early kote. Andy fought admirably to gain control of the fight, but in the last minute Miranda scored a kaishi do. Unfortunately Andy’s other competitor did not show and therefore Andy’s competition came to an end. 

"Max Davies, as with Andy, only had one competitor to beat proceed to the next round. T Vigburg, from Flinland, a very strong Jodan player. 

"He unfortunately, scored a men in the dying minutes of the fight, not allowing Max time to get a point back.  

"Alan Thompson made it through to the second round having won his pool by defeating the Czech Republic’s M Kovak, with a guyaku dou, during encho. Then New Zealand’s Dong Ho Choo. In fighting to get to the last 16 Thompson met the USA’s Danny Yang a WKC experienced player and the last WKC’s finalist. Yang succeeded 1-0 in a truly entertaining bout."

Saturday the 29th was women’s day, with both the individual championship conducted in the morning and the Women’s Team Championship in the afternoon. 

There was 104 women challenging for the top position.  

The GB team took two women. Emily Knight and the Captain Geraldina Mattsson.

Emily met C.Kobayashi, from Austrialia and A.Nakamura from France. In both fights Emily fought hard and did not give anything away, easily. 

Unfortunately, both players who had significantly more experience prevailed, beating Emily 2-0.  

Geraldina, fought A.Kuwabara from the USA. This was quite an evenly balanced fight, and with many occasions Gelaldina coming close to scoring a point and at one point the shinpan twitched and she nearly scored a kote against a very strong player. 

Within the dying minute of the fight Kuwabara scored, allowing no time for Geraldina the opportunity to come back. Geraldina’s other opponent did not show and her competition had come to an end.

"This year, as in the past, the Japanese women were favoured for top places and they did not disappoint; their kendo was truly a textbook performance. Hopefully and invitation could be sent out to see some of them perform in the UK.

"The tournament culminated on Sunday the 30th. Perhaps the most highly anticipated WKCs ever, with the entire kendo community looking at this WKC’s Men’s Team Championships to see the spectacle of Japan fighting for the first time as a challenger, against a Korean team ready to defend their WKC title, and the United States team, last WKC’s finalists working harder than ever.  

"Not limited to these teams, the increase in experience and skill in many of the power-house teams, European champions France, Italy, GB, Canada, Brazil, and so forth, made this tournament the toughest ever.

"The WKCs has finally become a true international event in which no country can claim total domination.  

"The atmosphere in the arena was electric and the silence before a bout was extraordinary. Within the team the silent contemplations began with individuals touching their wife/girlfriend/friends blessed charms and then the moment of years of training came down to this instant.

"BKA members had contributed to our participation; the GB flag was wafting in the wings, we had to perform. 

"At this juncture we truly appreciated the gentle healing/massaging hands of Narendra Arjan the GB osteopath who performed miracles with his bone setting techniques to straighten us out and indeed totally relax all and sundry.

"First up was the Malaysian National team. We had not been able to obtain any information of the standard of Malaysian Kendo; we did however know one thing, they were here and defeating the GB team would be a worthy scalp. 

"The match was nervy as expected but we prevailed 5-0. 

"Next up was the Nederland’s team. The Dutch were in one sense a simpler proposition we knew most of the team, however in the second instance they were indeed experienced and of a very high standard kendoka. This proved evident when we lost our first two matches, 2-0. 

"The team had their back against the wall. The third match was critical, lose and we go home. Mark Halls affectionately christened ‘Scarface’ carried the weight of the BKA on his back. 

"Mark lost the first ippon, we were on our way home, then Mark pulled one back it was 1-1, but not enough we were already 2-0 matches down. 

"Max Davies and Alex Heyworth screamed instructions; Mark advanced, blocked a sure men and completed the sweetest Kaishi-Do, 2-1. We had won the decisive match. 

"Next up was Thompson, one glance at Gibbo who yelled '2-0 and nothing less'. Thompson’s first ippon was less than 30 seconds a perfect Men. The GB teamed screamed instructions to finish the opponent, the bout nearly lasted the full five minutes until Thompson received a Hansoku for time delay.

"Seemingly angered Thompson came straight out with a signature Kote, 2-0. 

"Next up was the Taisho-Sen, Gibbo. Who else would you turn too at this moment; two glorious Men later it was 2-0 we had beaten the Dutch. 

"Next up was the USA. We lost to the USA 3-0 and apart from their defeat in the final to Japan we had performed the best against the USA with Jon Fitzgerald drawing and Gibbo winning, 2-1, with some awesome kendo. 

"He deservedly got the WKC fighting spirit award, for his performance of such a strong player.

"Now on to the European championship...  As Kendo World commented ‘The efforts of all the individual competitors, their combined struggle as teams, the combination of both men and women striving to improve themselves, all based on the precepts of traditional Japanese kendo: to respect each other, to seek self-improvement, to become a positive force in the society, these things will surely contribute to a better world’.

"Thank you to Matsumoto Sensei, Honga sensei and all the BKA members. I hope we made you proud."

Written by Sean Starr (GB Kendo Manager) and Alan Thompson (Vice Captain of GB team)

Women’s Individual Championship Results - August 29, 2009
1st Place:  JPN 7   - YUKIKO TAKAMI
2nd Place: JPN 5  - SACHIE SHOJIMA
3rd Place : BRA 9 - ELIETE HARUMI TAKASHINA
3rd Place : JPN 6 - CHIKANO SHINZATO

* Fighting Spirit Award

USA 6   - Grace Lee
ITA 1     - Mirial Livolsi
BRA 8   - Aline Lie Kimura
KOR 3  - Yun - Yeong Lee
CAN 8   - Misato Hamanaka
KOR 6  - Ka- Hee Jeon
FIN 2    - Mia Raitanen
KOR 8 - Sun - Young Park

Men’s Individual Championship - August 28, 2009
1st Place:  JPN 5  - SHOJI TERAMOTO
2nd Place: KOR 8  - BYONG HOON PARK
3rd Place : KOR 9 - CHUL-KYU CHOI
3rd Place : KOR 2 - KANG-HO LEE

* Fighting Spirit Award

HUN 2  - Norbert Kiraly
JPN 7   - Tsuneomi Furusawa
HUN 4  - Gabor Babos
ITA 2   - Frabizio Mandia
AUS 1  - Kirby Smith
USA 8  - Jason Brown
JPN 10 - Daisuki Wako
USA 2  - Daniel Yang

Women’s Team Championship Results - August 29, 2009
1st Place:  JAPAN

(JPN 1 - Shoko Otsuji; JPN 2 - Keiko Kondo; JPN 3 - Yoko Sakuma; JPN 4 - Mika Shimokawa; JPN 8 - Yuka Tsubota; JPN 9 - Shinatsu Murayama; JPN 10 - Mariko Yamamoto)

2nd Place: KOREA

(KOR 1 - Youn-Jung Park; KOR 2 - A-Reum Byeon; KOR 3 - Yun-Yeong Lee; KOR 4 - Hye-Rim Lee; KOR 6 - Ka-Hee Jeon; KOR 8 - Sun-Young Park; KOR 10 - A-Ram Lee)

3rd Place : BRAZIL

(BRA 1 - Elzami Miwa Onaka; BRA 2 - Lilian Natsumi Miyazawa; BRA 3 - Maria Carolina Kyouko Takeuchi; BRA 4 - Cristiane Lie Toida; BRA 5 - Izumi Honda; BRA 6 - Mariana Harumi Cruz Tsukamoto; BRA 7 - Erika Keiko Ashiuchi)

3rd Place : USA

(USA 1 - Shannon Mikuni; USA 2 - Kaori Kikunaga; USA 3 - Mistuyo Sakae; USA 4 - Sachiko Tamura; USA 5 - Michiye Cabral; USA 6 - Grace Lee; USA 7 - Nishiki Sano)

Men’s Team Championship Results - August 30, 2009
1st Place: JAPAN

(JPN 1 - Ryoichi Uchimura; JPN 2 - Daiki Kiwada; JPN 3 - Kenji Shodai; JPN 4 - Sussumu Takanabe; JPN 5 - Shoji Teramoto; JPN 8 - Tadaomi Hojo; JPN 9 - Shinsuke Matsuwaki)

2nd Place: USA

(USA 1 - Christopher Yang; USA 2 - Daniel Yang; USA 3 - Marvin Kawabata; USA 4 - Brandon Harada; USA 5 - Sandy Maruyama; USA 6 - Kevin Huh; USA 7 - Simon Yoo)

3rd Place: BRAZIL

(BRA 1 - Jogi Sato; BRA 2 - Julio Kenji Toida; BRA 3 - Ernesto Eisaku Onaka; BRA 4 - Vitor Zen Moreno Tachibana; BRA 5 - Coichi Urano; BRA 6 - Heiji Kariya; BRA 7 - Alberto Massumi Takayama)

3rd Place: Korea

(KOR 1 - Sung-Hong Jang; KOR 2 - Kang-Ho Lee; KOR 4 - Du-Hwan Baek; KOR 5 - Wan-Soo Kim; KOR 7 - Yong-Chul Kim; KOR 9 - Chul-Kyu Choi; KOR 10 - Jin-Yong Jo)

* Fighting Spirit Award

ROM 1 - Mihai Dutescu
CHN 1 - Ting Yu
FRA 4 - Jean Nicolas Heurtevin
POL 1 - Mariusz Wial
HUN 2 - Norbert Kiraly
GBR 5 - Stewart Gibson
CAN 3 - Shigemitsu Kamata
ITA 2 - Fabrizio Mandia

To learn more about Kendo, Iaido or Jodo visit: www.kendo.org.uk

For more information about the photography work of Kohjiro Kinno visit:  www.kohjirokinno.com

Every Friday
Willowburn Leisure Centre
Alnwick, Northumberland
both 7.30pm
Newcastle College
Ryehill
Newcastle
Every Monday
7pm
 
phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk

www.dfmmartialarts.co.uk

The home of the world's
largest orchard of its kind of
Japanese Great Cherry Trees

There’s so much more to explore at
The Alnwick Garden

Acres of fascinating plants,

water sculptures and 

our infamous Poison Garden

for a start

Not to mention one of the world’s

largest wooden tree houses

It’s a wonderful garden, and an

even better day out

01665 511350

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Party Balloons
Fancy Dress
Face Painting
Party Decorations
Tricks and Treats
Wigs
Saucy Fun Oufits
Bouncy Castles
01665 606656
www.onestopfunshop.co.uk

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MARTIAL NEWS




The House of
Budo

www.martialnews.co.uk

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John Barrass
Founder/Chief instructor
U.K.E.S.D.C.S

ESDCS was founded by John Barrass, and launched on June 2006 after three years of research into self defence and combat systems effectiveness in stressful street combat situations

John holds high grades in Aikido, Wado Ryu Karate and Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship) John is also a highly experienced
practitioner of the Goshinjutsu and unarmed combat systems

www.esdcs.co.ukk
john@kurinami.wanadoo.co.uk

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The Way of the Sword
George Allison Community Centre
Byker, Newcastle
Saturday 10am to noon.
john@kurinami.wanadoo.co.uk

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Zanshin Aikido
Sunderland University
Sundays 6 to 8pm
and
Fridays 7 to 9pm
The new Cityscape Centre
Chester Road Campus
Chester Road
Sunderland
psethp@yahoo.co.uk
www.zanshinaikido.co.uk
0191 5226294

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DFM Martial Arts is an organisation that teaches mixed martial arts,
modern combat systems, submission grappling, self-defence, kickboxing, and kickboxercise.

DFM hold classes in Alnwick, and Berwick, Northumberland and in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Beginners and experienced martial artists are always welcome at all of our classes.


A Mixed Martial Arts Academy open to all aspects of Martial Arts from MMA, BJJ, Wrestling, K1, Kickboxing, Boxing

Instructors Robert Currah, Liam Holborn

Assistant Instructors Sean Phillips, Dave Brown

28-34 Main Street, Tweedmouth, Berwick, Northumberland

Phone: DFM head instructor Rob Currah - 01665 510634


A Kickboxing class that blends together western boxing and karate kicking and striking to form an explosive fighting system.

The DFM Kickboxing school caters for students who want to compete or want to use the rigorous training regime to get fit and toned.

Instructors Donald Robinson and Steve Mclaughlan

Willowburn Sports Centre, Alnwick, Northumberland

Phone: Co-chief Instructor Donald Robinson - 01665 510953

Directional Fighting Method is a modern, reality-based self-defence and combat system, designed so students cover all the areas of self-protection and self-defence. It has no sport element to it.

DFM uses modern theories such as flinch and freeze and body language techniques and blends these with old martial theories such as the centreline, three point touch, the power of the circle and high-low theories.

Instructors Phil Doherty, Donald Robinson and Steve Mclaughlan

Phone Co-chief Instructor Phil Doherty

For more information visit: www.dfmmartialarts.co.uk: