Making a difference in martial arts...
Most martial arts are a system, and if you study a system for long enough you will find its weakness and be able to exploit it. There really is no one best art, just best art for best circumstance.
Often you hear people say "it doesn't work"
referring to a specific art they have seen or tried, or maybe studied.
But i guarantee there will be one great practitioner in that art that CAN get it to
work. It's not the system, it's how it is practiced.
Of course everyone needs to have structure or guide to get them started, show them "the ropes" and learn a basic skill set, but after this process, the student should be encouraged to grow, experiment, research and study both the system and their own experience both in and outside of their dojo.
Having "grown up" in JKD with Guro Bob Breen as my main
instructor I have been fortunate enough to have been both in and out of
systems, pushed on my own, and brought on by others. Guro Bob is a
genius.
In Karate my main influence and sensei for many years
now has been Matt Price Sensei, another pioneer and someone who
encouraged me to train in other styles and systems, and who himself has
developed a unique coaching style where he very much absorbs what is
useful from as many sources as he possible, letting go of those things
that are no longer relevant, allowing him to be progressive and current
in his teaching at the highest level.
While in Brazilian Jiu
Jitsu my own professor Kev Capel, a Black Belt under the world famous
Roger Gracie, found his roots in boxing, Judo and JKD, before exploring
and falling in love with BJJ, passing a world of passion, understanding
and knowledge on to his students.
I have been fortunate enough therefore to have gained a real mix of knowledge and experience, different views and ideas from my broad minded instructors and coaches that have allowed me to grow on my own journey in martial arts.
Late last year CDMA was privileged to host Sifu/Guro Phil Norman, who came up to teach our eager students about Ghost, an elusive striking method, and then a little bit of firearms awareness too - fantastic.
Guro Phil is one of the rare martial artists who have studied a system
to understand its principles, and then applied them to function in the
realms of combat in which they train/play/compete. All too often I have
found people follow a system verbatim, taking the training methods as
fighting methods, missing the concepts the art's founders have tried to
convey. This is just one reason you should come and train with Guro Phil, it's mind expanding!
This time Guro Phil will be teaching some of his JKD/Kali Combatives programme, along with a little elusive Ghosting too. Put a date in your diary for Sunday May 21st 2017. Experience one of the best coaches out there, improve your knowledge of the arts and gain a unique insight into the world of JKD.
Sunday 21st May, Abingdon Dojo.
11am - 2pm
£35
book at office@candomartialarts.co.uk