We’re on track to get some video onto the site and have just published our first filmed stuff on Youtube. Just tap in bob breen and you’ll have a choice of two clips one is a small overview of some of the boxing classes plus Corey Donghue and Dave Birkett plus Stephanie Dehowes and Fighting Dad Ian Oliver. The other clip is of Steve Wright and I just having some easy fun exchanging knife disarms. It’s nothing polished or rehearsed but we thought we’d better get started.

We’ll be putting a lot more stuff up on Youtube and on this site over the coming weeks so keep coming back. Some of the first stuff will be tips on sparring to go with my book. Hopefully this will clarify things for those of you who have the book: Sparring-strategy tactics technique.

The Breen Instructor Group is going from strength to strength. We’ve got a superb group of people all training hard and passing on what they’ve learnt. The aim to raise the level of Martial Arts knowledge and wisdom amongst the group and show ways to pass this on to our students in the most beneficial way. This weekend we covered a lot of stick fighting starting with double stick drills and more importantly where and when to use them. Later on we showed the same entrances to single stick combat so that you get a real useable knowledge of the skill or technique. Knowledge in depth. I showed four ways to exit when in close combat or after crashing. This can be one of the most disturbing things to have happen to you when your opponent disappears and starts hitting you from behind. Everyone loved this as we sparred it, thus ramming the lesson home. A constant favourite Panantukan or Filipino boxing was as usual a great hit. We covered limb destruction / guntings in a truly combative way so that you can do it against anyone. No theoretical stuff here. get up loops were next these are challenging on your conditioning and very relevant street combat wise. No hanging about on the ground grappling where you can get kicked. Finally we finished with knife defence and covered repeat stabs or pumped attacks. The thing that was emphasized all weekend is that irrespective of the weapon or empty hands method your using it’s all one art. To be a combat wizard you have to be adaptable. All in all a fantastic weekend with an amazing group of guys. If you’d like to join we’ll be having start-up Instructor courses later in the year.

Last weekends Boxing camp held in memory of Roger Barnes was a huge success. Roger’s wife Susan came with all the family to share in what was a really fun day. Students came from all over including contingents from Rogers club in Northampton, Gary Hoptroff’s club and of course the Academy. Lots of ‘old boys’ turned up to train or show their face and give support. What was great was the sense of fun allied to good training with padwork, sparring and technique all led by ‘Fighting Dad’ Ian Oliver, Wayne Rowlands and Owen Ogbourne. I personally came and trained with my old friend Savash Mustafa and had a great time. Next week we hope to continue the fun and hard training with the B.I.G (Breen Instructor Group) Instructor camp. Lots of Instructors are coming from around Europe to train, learn lots and be inspired. This is becoming a really tight group and very friendly but also very hard training. All instructors welcome.

Our congratulations to David Onuma and Steve Payne who both won gold medals in the European Brazilian Jiu-jitsu championships. David won in the brown belt group and then went onto win the bronze medal in the openweight against a huge opponent. Steve won in the white belt divisions which was incredible as he’s only been training for a year once per week. Great coaching by david as usual and best wishes to Corey Donoghue who was unlucky in the blue belt division. Looks like there’ll be more to come.

KENT OPEN. On the weekend lots of the guys went along to compete in the Kent Open BJJ tournament. We had varied success in what was a very crowded tournament with Steve Payne gaining the silver in his white belt category and Savash Mustafa gaining the Bronze. Considering that they both only train the ground game once per week then they did really well. Others in other categories fought but didn’t gain medals. Challenging for all, the thing that inspired me was how many people were there to have a go in what is not our main area of expertise. Stepping on the competition mat is always stressful but great experience. Savash  is also the clubs recommended  osteopath and at 48  giving away a few years to those he was fighting. Excellent coaching by David Onuma as always guaranteed that the guys did their best.

ROME BASH

Good news from Rome where the group taught by Academy trained Adam Bourne roundly bashed all comers in a multi style Stick fighting competition. Well done the Rome group! Adam’s group dominated the competition largely as a result of their rigorous training and excellent coaching. The Academy training ethos and methods are conquering the World slowly-one bash at a time.

Last week was a big week. Bob was awarded a Lifetime achievement award at the recent Bytomic Martial arts summit. It started with a testimonial by Neil Mcleod talking about Bob’s impact on him and on European martial arts, then a short speech by Bytomic Managing Director David Lowe introducing Bob to all there and talking about his status and impact over the last forty years. Bob was quite chuffed but said that he’s only just starting! Bob and Judy continued the day spending lots of time catching up with their long time friend and Bob’s former student Andy Norman of Keysi/Batman fame. The week continued on that hectic vein with the BBC in the club casting for a follow up to Last man standing early in the week then Bob being interviewed for a community television channel. Bob topped off his 59th Birthday on Thursday with a mix of celebratory meals and training. There are lots of students entering the Kent open grappling competition this weekend so more on that soon. phew!!

Congratulations to the guys who’ve just finished our recent Foundation course. Well done I’ve noticed lots of you now in the other classes and we hope you’ll be with us firstly until Black Belt and then after that in training as one of our Master instructors.

Next foundation course starts 4th November at 7.30. Book your place now. Last few places left

My new book ‘SPARRING-STRATEGY TACTICS TECHNIQUE is out NOW! It’s had great reviews from lots of instructors who all seem to have read it at one sitting. I hope it goes some of the way to helping you improve your sparring. PHONE THE ACADEMY TO GET YOUR COPY. We’ll also be putting an online shop on this site within the next week for you to order that way.