Peaceful Fight Recommended Clubs
Warrior Eskrima
Sad to say but Eskrima suffers from the preconception that it's all stick fighting. Having observed the local club in action (run by Pete Lewis), this is certainly not the case. Pete has a long history of martial art training but has found a spiritual home in Eskrima. Although it is possible to see the development of open hands from stick forms (and vice versa), the variants available lead to numerous open hand techniques being incorporated. The one thing that you do notice about Eskrimadors though is their speed of movement. If you think you've seen it all, you probably haven't seen it at this speed so be prepared if you go in thinking you know it all ! The other thing you'll notice is the rapid rate at which students achieve effectiveness both with and without the sticks. Even junior students are competent which is often not the case within other arts. The only thing that seems to hold students back is if they have done some other martial art before and are trying to merge the two !
Pete's club is one of the only clubs that I have visited where I thought the students would have an uneven fight if confronted by a good, martial Kung Fu exponent. Sadly, the unevenness was in favour of the Eskrimador so I had to reevaluate my strategies for this type of attacker. Think I've got it right but I hope I never have to find out ! 'Phone Pete on 01905 616251. More recently, the Warrior Escrima group have set up a website which gives much more detail about the scope of eskrima, training methods, clubs etc. Find it at http://www.warriors-eskrima.co.uk.
A second Eskrima club which I would recommend would be one run by Pete's student, Dave Hand. I trained with Dave a number of years ago in Crane Fist and was an outstanding student of that style. However, he found the Eskrima was better suited to him and he has far outstripped his potential that he showed in Crane Fist. In a nutshell, Dave's dedication to Eskrima have lead to the two being inseparable which is the ultimate aim of nearly all martial artists (ie where the practitioner and the art merge together). Dave was kind enough to invite me to visit the opening night of his school (at Holy Trinity School, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster : Thursday night 7:00- 8:00) and this school should be a threat to all other martial arts schools within the Kidderminster area which claim to be "martial" or "street effective". Very few could deal with the intensity of Eskrima (which shows combat in a realistic way / speed / feeling) and this might make instructors think about the limitations of their own styles. If this happens, it can only be good for the quality of martial arts in the area as a whole. Dave's standard is a credit to Pete's instruction and Dave's dedication : go to see him and you'll see what I mean. Contact Dave on 01562 820957 or visit his website at www.kidderminstereskrima.com
As time goes on, new branches of the Warrior Eskrima school are slowly spreading out over the local area. This is very good for students of the martial arts, regardless of their main art, as Escrima has something to offer everyone, regardless of background. The newest club (June 2003) is based in Malvern and is starting in July of this year. The instructor in charge will be Marcie Harding who is an expert in "prefight" strategies and various life issues as well as the "rough and tumble" of the numerous fighting forms covered in the system. A formidable fighter, very much in the mould of all senior Escrimadors and with the patience and technical ability that all of the breed display.
Marcie also runs a specialised course called WASPS (Women's Awareness and Self Protection System) for businesses and individuals to help people live peacefully in what is an occasionally violent world. Contact Marcie on 07940 224451 or visit the websites at www.malverneskrima.com or www.waspsworkshops.org
The UK "Grandmaster" for Warrior Escrima in the UK is Guro Krishna Godhania who I was lucky to meet once (at Dave's instructor grading). He came across as a very nice man and easily likeable and with a very dynamic and fluid style of combat. Very accomplished, and his 20+ years of study have helped push back the frontiers of Escrima and his students. Visit his website to find out more about the history, lineage and development of Warrior Escrima.
Worcestershire Advanced Motorcyclists group
You'll notice quite a lot of input to Peaceful Fight from Ken MacKay and this website gives details on one of his other passions, motorbikes. More exactly, this club helps anyone who wants to improve / understand bike driving so that they can ride more safely (and possibly faster !). There is even a picture of Ken on the site so all of you who have been wondering what he looks like can at last see him. I don't ride but even I can tell that his bike is a truly beautiful machine (and I'll let you make up your own mind about Ken's aesthetics !).
http://lionsclawkungfu.co.uk/
Lion's Claw Kung fu was founded by Sijo Lee J with his first club starting in January 2001. Sijo Lee has a long tradition of pursuing martial arts throughout the World but has returned to Worcester to start his teaching career. The Lion's Claw system has been based upon the concepts of the late 19th / early 20th century system called Lion's Roar and this is what Sijo Lee has researched in an attempt to resurrect the ethos of the system. I was asked to advise Sijo Lee in the early days of syllabus and concept formulation and believe that we initially devised a "complete" system at that time from the ashes of the Lion's Roar style. My involvement with Lions Claw stopped in mid 2001 and Lee has changed the system a lot since I left. Lee had a bit of difficulty with students from Crane Fist trying to sabotage his club in the early days by posting items on his federation bulletin board. I wrote a reply to "calm the waters" which gives a bit more detail of my link to Lions Claw. If you want to read it its on the "articles" page. Reading the Lion's Claw website, the style seems to have become a bit more "instructor" centred over recent months with a bit of unnecessary confrontational posturing going on but student numbers and quality appear to be good. The objectives / ideas / motivations of the style couldn't be much more different from Peaceful Fight so if Daoism isn't for you and you want a more "Western" view of Kung Fu, Lee should be on your list of possibilities. Make up your own mind about which path is best for you. Talking to Lee, a lot more of the Shaolin style long arm techniques have been incorporated and there has been a greater emphasis on competition (San Shou) fighting than when I was there. I enjoyed our time together but we now don't have much direct contact (but I keep up to date by reviewing the Lions Claw website or occasionally 'phoning Lee for an update). Lee opened a full time martial arts academy in May 2002 and has recently got a grant from the Lottery commission to expand the equipment / facilities at the centre. Hopefully this will be the start of continued success for the style.Visit Sijo Lee's website to learn more about the system, training times and his goals or 'phone 01905 763609.
The Pathway to Spiritual Development : Harmony, Peace, Respect and Practical Kung Fu
I first met Sifu Anthony Rushton at a Tai Chi seminar late in 1999 and was mightily impressed. He has the air of being a "natural" which really means that after all these years of concerted effort he has achieved that position where all the difficult bits seem easy for him ! All of us still struggling to reach this point in our martial art careers know how much work this will have taken in reality. At least Sifu Rushton proves that it can be done ! He has more recently stopped running a formal Kung Fu club but still has a close group of students who all learn together and can ask Anthony for guidance on any aspect from basic self defence to the highest levels of Qi control and meditation. Anthony's main work now is running classes in meditation, internalisation of the World and self discovery an he is soon to release a book and various "self help" tapes. He is based in Malvern in the UK. Anthony is one of those inspirational Sifus who are ambassadors for the martial art community and so should be a "must" to visit in the local area. Telephone Anthony on 01684 578315 or E-mail him on pathway@whsmith.net.
Black Dragon Karate
As you've probably noticed, I'm a Kung Fu man at heart so you might wonder why I'm recommending a Karate school. Well, it all comes down to the instructor, Sensei Alex "Mac" Gilmour. When I left Crane Fist, Mac was one of the people who helped me to see my way clear to my future and I'm greatly indebted to him for that. He has been in the martial arts "game" ever since learning his first system when he was stationed in the Far East when he was (very much) younger. His principle art is Kinjitte Ryu ("The Unforgiving Way") but he holds a total of 7 black belts in various Oriental arts. As a consequence of his dedication to the arts, he has mastery of many systems with a real overview of how fighting arts are built up. If you ever need to see what fighting spirit and the martial arts really mean, Mac is one of those people to meet. He is generous with his advice and knowledge but stands for no pretentious messing about. Prance about like a fairy at your peril !
However, Mac isn't included here just because of his martial prowess. He's very much a straight talker and managed to cut through a number of things which were clouding my mind about what to do with my future. Without his intervention, Peaceful Fight might not have been devised and ultimately, I would not have reevaluated, perfected and rescrutinised my Kung Fu into the form which it is today. He will try to help all students whenever possible, even casual / short lived ones like myself, and that is admirable in itself. So, even if Karate might not be to your taste, visit Mac anyway. You'll be surprised at what you find and be impressed by it's diversity (request the line dancing bits which he throws in to the aerobic session and he'll really get you moving !). 'Phone Mac on 01886 833105
Sunswallow Tai Chi
Through a friend at work, I was invited to a Tai Chi / Qigong seminar at a local training hall late in 1999. There I met Sifu Bill Dancock who had organised the seminar and Sifu Nick Madely who was running the sessions. It was interesting to compare their two styles as Sifu Dancock is very much at the healing end of the Tai Chi spectrum and Sifu Madely more the martial end. However, even after all of my years of training, I came away from the seminar with a number of questions and issues to try discuss with my Grandmaster. Sadly, I never got to do this as I left Crane Fist before being able to discuss these with him. However, the issues which the seminar had raised acted as a "springboard" for the development of Peaceful Fight. The questions it had raised I now had to pose to myself about how the Tai Chi ethos should be incorporated into my Kung Fu studies. As such, the timing of my having to leave Crane Fist could not have been better timed : I had questions to answer and was sufficiently inspired to chase the solutions. I was no longer restrained in my objectives of continuing the purity of Crane Fist and glorifying my Grandmaster but could find my own way. This is what Sifu Dancock and Sifu Madely, unbeknown to them, did for me.
Sifu Madely lives in Denmark so is seldom in the UK but if you get the chance, definitely go and take part in his seminars. Like Sifu Rushton, he has that "natural" look and his form and movement is, for the want of a better word, "beautiful" to watch. However, if you think Tai Chi is all wishy washy soft movements be in for a shock. It's hard work when done right and Sifu Madely shows you that "right" way (so be prepared !).
Sifu Dancock teaches all over the West Midlands and Worcestershire under the Sun Swallow banner. He has prowess in a number of healing systems so can "mix and match" treatment to any illness. Contact Bill on 01299 825868 or E-mail sunswallow@hotmail.com
Circuit Training
A schoolfriend of mine (from many years ago now !) is starting a series of circuit training classes in the Kidderminster / Worcester area in the near future after completing his academic training in the subject. Fair to say that his level of fitness puts me to shame and so I'd certainly recommend attending his classes if this is your sort of thing. I last met John when he was teaching Sistema and I know that this has been a very useful basis for his new venture. To find out about your nearest club, give him a ring on 07899 956907 and ask for John Holton. As soon as I can get over to see his classes I'll write a more detailed review of what his classes cover.
Brazilian Ju Jitsu
Brazilian Ju Jitsu has made a very good name over the last few years due to its superiority in the various "ultimate fighting competitions" that have developed over the past few years. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a lesson held by Dave Bennett who works with my friend Mitch. As you would expect with the lineage it has, it is a very fluid feel and the instruction of ground work is very good and technical. If this is your kind of thing, then contact Dave on his E-Mail
The history page says where I used to lie within the structure of this club and I enjoyed my time within it. The website gives an overview of the system but surprisingly gives no contact details so, unless you are local, you cannot get any further items if you are interested in pursuing the style. As such, it seems the website has missed a good opportunity to give the club a wider exposure. The background article given is one I wrote on Grandmaster's behalf just before leaving the club and in some ways reflects more what I thought the club was rather than what it actually is. Looking back, the article overplays the effectiveness of both the knife and ground work that is taught as I have now encountered many systems (both traditional and modern) that have superior techniques in this areas. The article also suggests that pressure point and energy work is covered in detail but, now I've met other masters of these arts, it has become obvious that I was mistaken about what I thought these concepts meant when I was doing the write up. Hindsight is such a great skill ! However, even with these limitations, Hok Koon is a fine traditional system and well worth visiting. However, as with all things, make up your own mind on the validity of the clubs objectives / effectiveness or completeness of the system etc if and when you visit. Grandmaster Fletcher can be contacted on (44) 01562 69107.