About
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I established the Bob Breen Academy in the Hoxton area in 1970 and from 1989 we’ve been in our current building in Hoxton Square, London. The club has grown to be a major centre for martial arts tuition in the UK.
Our aim at the Academy is to turn out excellent martial artists. Our programme is open to the complete beginner as well as experienced martial artists of either sex and offers interesting and enjoyable classes, from novice to black belt and beyond. Our training is aimed at producing rounded and effective martial artists capable of reacting to whatever they have to face: from self-defence through to international competition.
I personally have over forty years of training and teaching experience and still love both. I am supported by a team of excellent instructors who have an international reputation for their skills, both in teaching and fighting. We have a great time training in a variety of martial arts disciplines and hope that you will join us.
COME AND DO A FREE INTRO CLASS!
THE BOB BREEN ACADEMY IS A CROSS TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS CLUB SPECIALISING IN STAND-UP FIGHTING.
The training is focused around three main arts. These all have a kickboxing basis. Firstly, Jeet Kune Do an art developed by Bruce Lee that is a principe led approach. This gives great freedom of expression at higher levels but is soundly based upon training in Lee’s earlier expression called Jun Fan Gung fu.
Second, we also teach the Filipino Martial arts, also called KALI. This is another complete art based upon both weapons and empty hands. We specialise in Filipino Boxing (also called panantukan a sort of dirty boxing ) plus World class stickfighting and some of the best knife defence skills in the World.
The third art we teach is Thai boxing an essential aspect for any serious student of martial arts. The teachers here are both renowned champions and some of the best around.
What makes both JKD and KALI unique and very functional is their emphasis on the ‘ flow’ and on being instinctive. There is a still a huge emphasis on technical skill and quality of movement, striking and footwork however the emphasis is on making it work for you. These fit seamlessly with Thai boxing into a very functional whole.
We aim to be the experts in STAND-UP fighting skills with some ground skills where appropriate. This we believe is what really happens in a street confrontation and is a hugely fun area to train . From Boxing and kicking, to locking, throwing and tripping. If you’re interested in ‘stand up combat’ come and join the experts.
A unique individual in the martial arts world, Bob Breen is renowned for his teaching abilities and his knowledge. He has captained his country in international competition in two differing martial arts and has been at the forefront of martial arts development throughout his career. To many, Bob is an inspiration; despite a double hip replacement he is still in training, fighting and having fun and leads a superb team of staff and Instructors.
Bob is renowned as a Master teacher. He teaches a synthesis of empty hand, stick and knife work, using integrated principles for all three areas that creates a uniquely functional system whatever the challenge whatever the weapon. He is regarded by many, as ‘The Guru’ and has received many lifetime achievement awards for his services to Martial arts
Bob began martial arts training in 1966 and from early 1967 began studying Wado Ryu under Tatsuo Suzuki. He continued in Wado Karate for a number of years and passed his black belt in 1970, passing his second degree in 1972. He continued to study Karate and associated arts, moving to Japan in 1974 where he trained under a variety of Senior Masters.
Bob competed internationally in Karate on a number of occasions. He was captain of the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team which beat the Japanese in 1974 – a new thing then. Bob then moved into boxing and groundwork and was one of the pioneers of full contact in Europe, both fighting and promoting.
In 1978 he started Eskrima with Jay Dobrin and in 1979 hosted the first Dan Inosanto seminar in the UK. Since this inspirational look at Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts, he has been a disciple of Guru Dan Inosanto, a student of JKD and Kali concepts, and their use in combat. He is qualified as a Full Instructor in JKD and Kali under Dan Inosanto.
Bob is regarded as the father of JKD and the Filipino martial arts in Europe. He was the founder member of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation in 1987 and founder of the European Arnis Kali Eskrima Federation in 1992. He fought in the first World Championships in the Philippines in 1989, as well as being team coach. He continued as coach in 1992 with a very successful team. His current interests are stick sparring, multiple opponents and grappling/MMA.
What sets Bob apart is his reputation as a teacher, producing many of the top instructors in the UK today. In 2000 Bob founded Jeet Kune Do-Kali International, now called the Breen Instructor Group (B.I.G.) an organisation dedicated to expanding the high quality teaching of Jeet Kune Do and Kali Concepts throughout Europe.
The Bob Breen Academy has been based in Hoxton since 1970. We’ve recently moved to SPACe Sports and performance Centre in Falkirk st. N.!. this is only a couple of hundred yards away from our old club in Hoxton square. You can get to Falkirk St from either Kingsland road or from Hoxton st.
We have three levels of Instructor based at the Bob Breen Academy Think it of it as concentric circles moving out from the centre. At the centre are our Staff Instructors. These are World Class Instructors chosen by me personally.
The next level is our superb group of Academy Black Belts. These often take classes too, though for the most part their focus is on training. These have all been trained and graded by me over many years and tested in combat.
Thirdly you have my affiliate instructors who come and train with me in the Breen Instructor Group. Some of these are also Academy black belts too.
Though I have personally trained all of these instructors they also have their own depth of knowledge in other arts and systems. They bring this back and share, which in return helps us to keep current and our standards consistently high. We aim to give the student the best training experience they can get.
We have three levels of Instructor based at the Bob Breen Academy Think it of it as concentric circles moving out from the centre. At the centre are our Staff Instructors. These are World Class Instructors chosen by me personally.
The next level is our superb group of Academy Black Belts. These often take classes too, though for the most part their focus is on training. These have all been trained and graded by me over many years and tested in combat.
Thirdly you have my affiliate instructors who come and train with me in the Breen Instructor Group. Some of these are also Academy black belts too.
Though I have personally trained all of these instructors they also have their own depth of knowledge in other arts and systems. They bring this back and share, which in return helps us to keep current and our standards consistently high. We aim to give the student the best training experience they can get.
Our B.I.G. Instructors have come from around the world to train with Bob Breen.
| B.I.G. Instructors 2008 | |||
| Name | Grade | Country | |
| Aarts, Bart | Apprentice Level 2 | bartaarts@gmail.com | Holland |
| Bateup, Marc | Apprentice Level 2 | UK | |
| Buston, Jackie | Apprentice Level 1 | Ireland | |
| Carrell, Veronique | Apprentice Level 2 | carrel1@aliceadsl.fr | France |
| Gaule, Jason | Associate Level 1 | UK | |
| Greenidge, Carl | Apprentice Level 3 | carl.greenidge@bt.com | UK |
| Hanzal, Irmengard | Apprentice Level 1 | magibarth@gmx.at | Austria |
| Harte, Barry | Apprentice Level 3 | barry.harte@csc.mrc.ac.uk | UK |
| Ibrahim, Mohammed | Apprentice Level 1 | mohammed.ibrahim@btinternet.com | UK |
| Jackson, Carl | Associate Level 2 | carldj@hotmail.com | UK |
| Ligorio, Tony | Associate Level 2 | ligorioacademy@yahoo.it | Italy |
| Manzi, Luciano | Associate Level 2 | lucianomanzi@hotmail.com | UK |
| Martin, Steve | Associate Level 2 | steve@themartins51.plus.com | UK |
| Noden, Richard | Apprentice Level 2 | richardnoden@aol.com | UK |
| Onuma, David | Full Instructor | davidjkd@hotmail.com | UK |
| Paquier, Olivier | Apprentice Level 2 | bamajkd@tiscali.fr | France |
| Rice, Tony | Apprentice Level 2 | larisa.rice@ntlworld.com | UK |
| Richardson, Ben | Associate Level 2 | ben@candomartialarts.co.uk | UK |
| Rowlands, Nigel | Apprentice Level 2 | UK | |
| Schmitz, Herbert | Apprentice Level 2 | jkd-akademie@email.de | Germany |
| Schmitz, Michael | Apprentice Level 3 | jkd-akademie@email.de | Germany |
| Tavanti, Alessandro | Apprentice Level 2 | jkditalia@alice.it | Italy |
| Walters, Steve | Apprentice Level 2 | UK | |
| Weckhauf, Peter | Apprentice Level 2 | eskrima@gmx.at | Austria |
| Wright, Steve | Associate Level 3 | kalisteve@hotmail.com | UK |
| Tandurella, Emmanuele | Apprentice Level 3 | Italy | |
| Mulas, Gian Mario | Apprentice Level 2 | gianmario_mulas@tiscali.it | Sardinia |
| Sechi, Mario | Apprentice Level 2 | kombatjkd@tiscali.it | Sardinia |
| Hillman, Jamie | Apprentice Level 2 | jamiehillman2000@yahoo.co.uk | UK |
These are the instructors that will be teaching you at the Bob Breen Academy.
David Onuma: David is a Full Instructor under Bob Breen and also qualified in JKD and Kali under Dan Inosanto. In addition he also is currently European Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion. He also is qualified in Wing Chun David teaches a variety of approaches in his classes and often focuses on an area for a six week period. His classes are very popular. .
Carl Greenidge: Carl is a combat veteran having competed in Semi contact tournaments for a number of years he’s currently a Black Belt in JKD and Kali under Bob Breen and his current interests include the whole gamut of martial arts skills from Kickboxing through grappling to weaponry skills.
This is the timetable for classes at the Bob Breen Academy
Monday Evenings:
6:30 JKD Kickboxing (grading techniques or sparring)
7:30 – Jkd-Kickboxing (kick focused )
8:30 – Thai Boxing
Tuesday Evenings:
7:30 – Jkd/Kali Kickboxing (hard fundamentals )
8:30 – Filipino Martial Arts (Stick fighting)
Thursday Evenings:
6:30 – Jkd Kickboxing. Hard fundamentals/ Sparring / Grading
7:30 – Knife Defence
8:30 – Kali Empty Hands / Filipino Boxing integration with Thai, Kickboxing, Silat.
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
JUNE
13th FILIPINO BOXING DAY. Come and learn the Filipino art of Street or dirty boxing. Called Panantukan this mix of Boxing, stand up grappling, body manipulation and throwing is truly devastating to your opponent. Great fun and a wonderful day. Essential. £35. Academy members £20
CORK SEMINAR IRELAND. CANCELLED. THIS SEMINAR HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY THE ORGANISERS DUE TO THE VOLCANIC ASH PROBLEM.
SEPTEMBER
25th/ 26th BREEN INSTRUCTOR GROUP. Open Instructors seminar. Come and learn and train with the best. In depth training and instruction on teaching JKD and Kali (both empty hands and weapons) with Instructors from all over Europe. Venue: Space Sports centre, Falkirk St. N.1 11.00 start. £100, Academy members £60
OCTOBER
17th STICK DAY. An exploration of the wonderful world of Filipino Stick fighting led by Bob Breen. Single and double stick plus padded stick sparring for all interested. Learn the fastest martial art in the World. Space Sports Centre. London. N.1. 11.00 start. £35. Academy members £20
Other local one day and evening seminars are added to Bob’s schedule constantly if you’d like to be informed of these or host your own seminar please email us. bobbreenacademy@gmail.com
Why grade?
Grading enables you to break up the path towards black belt into achievable chunks and allows us to see if you have understood the technical requirements for each grade. Gradings are obligatory and guaranteed to give you in depth knowledge of technique, tactics and strategy plus they develop attributes to make you the best you can be. We try to make sure that there are no holes in your knowledge. As the saying goes, ‘you can’t expect if you don’t inspect’.
Grading also tests you under pressure. Some people find the pressure of grading quite hard to manage but that is the point. A street fight should you ever find your self there is much more pressured though slightly more instinctive. So in the grading it’s about you keeping your cool, preparing well, and showing your knowledge. Many of our people say that after passing their gradings they feel they can go on in life to do anything they choose and succeed.
How many grades to Black belt?
We have seven grades up to first degree black belt and have at present five degrees of black belt. Student grades are at present denoted by different colour t-shirts and are as follows:
Grey, Yellow, Green, Blue one, Blue two, Brown one, Brown two, and Black.
Students Knowing which grade you are helps the instructor teach you to the required level. You MUST wear a club t-shirt to take part in classes. Wear the colour appropriate to your grade.
How often should I grade?
Students in general should grade every six months. There are gradings every three months so you’ll still be able to grade promptly should you miss one. If you are a Bruce Lee and training very hard we may promote you faster. However, don’t worry it’s about being good and if you go fast early on you only have to wait later while you pick up appropriate skills and experience. It’s not a race but a way of life.
How long does it take to get to Black Belt?
Normally about four years of regular hard training. The Black Belt test at the Academy is world renowned for its rigor and high level so don’t worry if it’s taking you longer. Some people have been here for ten years or more before taking their black belt so it’s not just based on time. You have to be to the standard.
What benefits will grading give me?
The path towards Black belt isn’t about the grading and the certificate; it’s about your personal growth. We can often tell when a person is at the right point to take their black belt when they are no longer seeking it but are on the road of self-perfection and Black belt is only an external reference to what they already know internally. So don’t seek it, but have it as a milestone on your martial arts path. It’s like having a degree: when you’ve got it you think ‘what was the big deal?’ and realise that you have only just started. It’s the path that’s interesting, not the destination.
Grading Syllabus 2010
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