4D Combat and Guro Bob Breen - a life’s work
Having begun martial arts training in 1966 after what he described was an early life involving frequent fights brought about by circumstances rather than intent, Bob began studying Wado Ryu under Tatsuo Suzuki in the early part of 1967. He earned his black belt in Wado Karate in 1970. He then went on to pass his second degree in 1972. Bob continued to study Karate and associated arts, and moved to Japan in 1974 in order to train under a number of Senior Masters. He competed for Great Britain in Karate captaining the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team who beat the Japanese in 1974.
In 1979 Bob is credited with bringing JKD to Britain by hosting the first ever seminar with Sifu/ Guro Dan Inosanto, Bruce Lee’s friend, senior student and training partner. Bob was one of the first people in Europe to be qualified as a Full Instructor in JKD and Kali, and is regarded as the godfather of JKD/Kali and Filipino martial arts in the Europe.
Bob is considered to be one of the foremost experts in knife-defense and close quarter combat, and was the team captain and a competitor at the 1989 World Stickfighting championships and Coach of the British Eskrima team that won 13 World Championship medals, including four gold medals in 1992.
Bob works in training film actors in martial arts and fighting techniques, including working on spear and sword fighting with Michael Fassbender and other actors for the 2007 film 300, and the latest smash hit Dead Pool, where he coached actor Ed Skrien for his role as Ajax, Dead Pool’s nemesis. Bob has also released several informative and inspiring instructional DVDs and Books over the past few years - check them out! http://bobbreen.com/#publicationssection
In early 2012, Bob started to redefine his understanding and concepts around JKD/Kali and distill his 50 years of experience in martial arts looking to create a system that people could easily understand and implement quickly and effectively.
His evolutionary approach gave rise to the creation of what is now widely known as 4D, or 4D Combat. 4D combat uniquely uses a mapping system to help the student rapidly break down the process of fighting, give them a fluid set of combative parameters that work under all conditions of stand-up fighting, and an impressive arsenal of weaponry they can deploy against aggressors be it individuals, groups or a weapon based attack.
I am fortunate enough to have trained with Guro Bob since 2004, where I ventured in to his world famous Academy in Hoxton, London. For 3 years I studied intensively at the Acacdemy and was privileged enough to train privately with Bob during my time there, an experience I will always cherish.
Bob will be visiting Can Do Martial Arts in March this year, to host another inspiring, action packed and humorous martial arts course, where he will be showcasing more of his 4D Combat programme. You can find out more about Bob Breen and 4D at www.4dcombat.com
