Congratulations to Carl Jackson who won Gold and British title in Veterens welterweight division single stick at the WEKAF British championships. As one of the founders of WEKAF it’s doubly joyful for me to see Carl dominating his category and to see his development as a great competitor and martial artist. Hopefully we’ll get carl to take some of the stick classes and enable him to pass on his hard won knowledge. Maybe we could get the band back together and go and dominate stickfighting as we did so successfully in the past. 

For the advanced student at the Academy it’s going to be a great year. We’ve got the B.I.G. instructor camp on the 19th and 20th at SPACe.  This is a great opportunity for anyone above blue belt to come along and train the arts in depth and learn how to break them down and see different ways to teach and coach them. It’s still the best job in the World whether you do it full time or just occasionally. Teaching is the final step in your education, as the saying goes ‘ see one , do one , teach one’ The insights you get from helping others turns you into a great martial artist.  Plus you’ll be able to test your stuff against some of Europe’s best. Challenge and response as always is the way to grow. On a weekly basis we’ll also be having a Black and brown belt class on a Saturdays in Chingford at the Peter May sports centre from 11.00 until 1.00 pm. This will be both technical to cover the Black belt and second Dan syllabus but also a tough workout. Standards have to be maintained (or improved upon! ) See you there.

Quite a few people I know are following Tim Ferris’s book ‘ The four hour body’. In this ferris shows simple ways to get a better body and also includes a diet which I know a number of people are following with great results (three new holes on the belt and nine pounds of weight loss in another case without chopping your arm off) Ferris advocates cold baths as a way of boosting the metabolism yet most people find this very hard. Being a veteran cold bather I was asked how to do it.

Cold bathing is really good for you though at times it doesn’t feel like it. It boosts circulation and cleanses organs and is a deeply spiritual practice. When I first started Silat they said ‘we fast and do cold baths to achieve spiritual insight’. I thought well I’ve been doing cold baths for years and have just come off a seven day water fast so I must be half way there! Despite these lofty claims it just defines your day and puts you in charge. No more lofty claims than that. I started for pain relief when I had my bad hips but it works whatever your situation or how lowly your spiritual attainment.

Here’s the method I use: Fill the bath so it’s above hip depth (deeper is ok but why wast water) First step walk in the water until you feel the pain in your ankles peaking. This is just your peripheral circulation closing down and shunting blood to the interior. Once that’s ok kneel down – you’ll find this easier the muscles are bigger and the cold doesn’t have the same effect as on bony ankles. Next step. Sit down in the bath. This is one of the big ones. You’ll freeze up and not want to get cold water on your warm upper body. The secret is to get all four quarters into the water. So put your hands in and feel how much easier that is on your body. Move a little then start to rub water up your arms and onto your shoulder. The next big step is to lie down. BEFORE you do this scoop some water onto your heart area so that the body has some warning  of what is to come. Lie down and breath the first couple of seconds can be alarming but pretty soon you’ll feel warmer. Don’t let this last too long as you’re warming the water up around your body. Move your arms and legs a little and flip your back up and down to ensure that it’s cold water around you. Timing. How do you know how long to stay in the water? The answer initially is don’t stay too long as you can get low blood pressure or get very cold and that could last all day. Here’s my next step:  Sit up and wash your upper body then lie down to rinse. (You’re not doing the bath to get clean per se but you might as well do it whilst you’re there. ) Then repeat on your lower half kneeling or standing in the bath then again lie down to rinse. Then I lie about another minute until I’m feeling comfortable then I know it’s time to get out. Be careful when getting up fast as in rare cases your blood pressure can be lower. What do you do next. Two options: one towel off hard to bring circulation back to the skin or have a warm shower, not a hot one. Make sure you have a warm drink nearby ( I take up a boiling cup of tea before my bath and by the time I’m out it’s great to drink)  Next put warm clothes on and if you have one put a hat on for a few minutes. You’ll feel great and tingling all over. In many ways you feel ten years younger-aches and pains are relieved and you’re in charge of your day. Not the day in control of you.

If you’re just starting do cold showers for a week or so to get used to it. Like all things you have to be sensible. If it makes you feel a bit unwell you’ve probably stayed in too long. Try it for a week (take the weekend off ) You’ll love it. More spiritual maybe, more stoical definitely.

I’ve had a great time this last weekend teaching in Belfast on an anti racism focused seminar. I got to teach the kids something I haven’t done in years and really enjoyed it. They were an incredible bunch, sharp and quick learners full of fighting spirit. Excellent teaching by my friend Robert Cullinan as they all looked sharp and disciplined. One five year old in particular took me down with a tackle then proceeded to do it repeatedly. Full of fighting spirit he’d need the discipline that comes from training. When I gently fended him off with a jab he gave me one of the best round kicks to the thigh I’ve ever seen. Great stuff and real fun. The adults were easy meat by comparison most being MMA and Jiu Jitsu guys with a mix of thai boxing and wing chun added in. Lovely people all. We had great fun and I managed to chat to the local mayor regarding the positive effects of martial arts training. Mind you this was after I had advocated to the kids to ‘ break that arm properly’ .

The demonstration to launch our new club at Bancroft School Sports Centre in Woodford Green went really well. Thanks to all the Demonstration team who did a great job. This coming Thursday @ 7.00 there’s a free training session to launch the classes. This will be taught by bob. Then we’re back into our standard timetable. Come along or tell your friends if they live in that area.  Classes will be Tuesday and Thursdays to start and will be taught by Bob on a Tuesday and Steve Payne on  a thursday. We’ve had lots of interest so it should be great. For an introductory period feel free to train in either club if you’re already a Hoxton member.  Address is Bancroft’s School Sports Centre, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0RF (entrance in Whitehall road near pedestrian crossing. )

Grading dates now in the events page. I’ve updated the events page with all seminars and gradings. We’ll be putting up some competitions too very soon. Next grading is 10th February and is aimed at those who missed the one before christmas.

Sad news. My friend and B.I.G  instructor  Steve Fan died recently after a battle with cancer. Steve was incredibly stoical despite huge challenges,  a man who exemplified spiritual values and fighting spirit.  A true gentleman he’ll be sorely missed by all of us who have had the pleasure of knowing him.

Happy new year. This year we’re introducing a new timetable. Classes will have a street based classic MMA focus and also a more modular approach so it’s easier to learn both JKD and Kali from the ground up.  The instructors will be doing tougher classes with more of a sweaty approach to get you fighting fit and ready for action. For those who’ve dropped out of classes due to work or moving come and get started back in the new year as we’re all starting from ground zero so it’s the best time to start.  If you’ve got suggestions on how we can make the club and classes better for YOU then drop us an email. It’s a team thing and we welcome you taking an active part in what’s happening.

We’re also opening a new school in Woodford Green at bancroft school sports centre. If this is near you you’re current academy membership means that you can train at either venue for the same price. We’re holding an opening demo on 25th January so if you know anyone who’s interested or lives in that area let them know. Join us on bob breen academy on facebook and twitter and we’ll keep you abreast of what’s happening day to day.

Let’s be the best we can be. See you in class. Bob

We’ll be hosting our traditional ‘ Mince pies and wine session’  on Tuesday 14th of December at 7,30. This will include a free open training session for all those who’d like to take part. It’s open to all members old and current. So if you’ve been out of touch or have moved but would like to pop in feel free either to train, drink and eat or do everything.  For old ex members we’ll also be having a free training session just before we close on tuesday 21st of December from 7.30 onwards then join us for a drink in Hoxton square afterwards.  Regarding the Christmas break we’ll be closed from the 21st and open again on Monday 3rd January at 6.30. Please note the new timetable for the new year which we think will be even more interesting for all of you. Seasons greetings to all of you and wishing you a happy healthy and prosperous New Year. Bob

2011 timetable.

Mondays 6.30 Knife defence.  7.30 JKD -MMA.  8.30 Thai boxing.

Tuesday: 7.30 JKD KICKBOXING .  8.30 JKD kickboxing-MMA.

Thursday: 6.30 JKD-MMA.  7.30 KALI Filipino boxing.  8.30 Stick fighting.

Congratulations to Carl Jackson who is once more British Stickfighting champion. This time Carl won the double stick having come second in the single stick division. He also got silver in the world championships in Mexico this year so is on a roll. Carl decided to concentrate on Stick after trying many of the other competitive avenues like BJJ etc. He’s put in the work based upon the basics he’d learned at the Academy and become one of the masters of this sport. As the man who originally introduced this type of competition to the UK and Europe I’m very proud of his attainment.

Many empty hands fighters don’t take up the challenge of Stickfighting thinking that it wont have much impact on their empty hands skills. However, Carl has shown just how wrong they are. First, he know how to deal with the competitive stress or stepping up to the line against an unknown opponent, a huge thing to have under your belt. Secondly, the impact on his empty hands has been phenomenal. Timing, distance and lack of fear plus a refined sense of position have transformed his game, making him a much more difficult adversary. Where to go from here? World champion in single and double?

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced martial artist there’s no time to get ahead of the new year resolutions than to start now! We are starting a new beginner’s class on Monday’s from the 25th of October so if you’re new to martial arts or have friends who would like to start then that’s where to go. The class will be taught by Bob Breen alongside Paul Clarke one of our most experience instructors.

If you have over a years recent experience in either Martial arts or boxing then come and do one of our Free intro classes on a Tuesday at 7.30. If neither of these times suit your work schedule come in and see us about organising a class schedule and training programme for you.

For those who want one on one training we have a number of instructors who provide this service.