We’ve been downloading stuff from the video camera and computer and putting it on youtube. There’s a number of clips on there at the moment. On youtube check out bob breen academy and you should be able to see everything that we’ve done. We’ll also be taking some film in the classes as everyone is looking good at the moment and generally doing more video clips to help your .  Here’s a clip to get you started.  Simple knife play
simple knife play http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj9NWUTKTLI

Enjoy!

It’s been interesting lately sparring around with lots of the seniors at our black belt training in Chingford. It’s simple mistakes that let people down. Often people do too much in the belief that being busy is important. To a certain extent that’s true. If you’re throwing punches or kicks  its much harder for him to get started on hitting you. However, variety is important, if you only attack then you’re easy to beat because the defender knows you’re coming and knows your timing. Similarly, don’t try to be too complex with cuban uppercuts or overhead hammers. Get the basic stuff down and hitting them regularly then once you’ve got that down then add in the funky stuff.

Most importantly don’t end up open after a cross. Here it’s important that you close your body by doing a hook or rotate behind your jab or bob and weave to the right and move off line. Faking to draw the opponents attack is vital. You don’t want to both go into a tussle together at an agreed point. As it says in the Chinese classic the sun tsu. ‘The great warrior summons others but is not summonsed by them.’ Bruce lee put it another way with his attack by drawing concept. Alternatively fake them so much that they turn off mentally then go in and attack early. In short keep it simple but be unfathomable.

Do the high percentage stuff well first then add the rest. Use the five ways of attack. Simple single strikes that hit are the starting point. When you can do that reasonably well then add combinations. Draw their attack so they hit air and you hit them!

Lastly if you’re having trouble getting in and can’t do it by timing and Jedi mind tricks then trap your way in.

Footwork has to underly all that you do. Move away from his big right hand strike and keep a good guard up. Too many people did both and were easy to tag (polite way of warning you’ll get knocked out if going hard ) For all fighters it’s important to know yourself.  Being one dimensional even if that is being strong and hard will still get you beaten though it’s a good attribute to have.  A great black belt knows himself first and has more than one game.  Aim for three approaches to start. A strategic view is important.

Luton was the centre of the martial arts world last week at least from an Academy viewpoint. Foyzur Rahman was fighting in a Thai boxing match there, Carl Jackson was fighting in the national stickfighting squad training under grandmaster John Harvey (one of the academy’s first black belts) and Bob was teaching at the Filipino martial arts festival. The star of the show was definitely Foyzur who won in an amazing 58 seconds.  Not even enough to break a sweat. Academy coach Winston Fraser said he was amazingly composed despite all the bluster of his opponent. Bosh, bosh, job done.

Meanwhile Bob was teaching at the Filipino festival for the first time assisted by senior Carl Greenidge. Many of the leading teachers there were students of his or academy black belts so it was great fun catching up. Despite having to lecture his group on the right attitude and etiquette for martial arts in addition to technique it was a fun day. Carl meanwhile was getting himself ready for the forthcoming World championships.  A strange day. Luton! the centre of the universe.

We are starting a beginners course on Tuesday 21st of June at 6.30. This class will be taken by instructor Paul Clark and is open to beginners only. If you want to get started then come along and do your first free class. If you are already a member then just come along and jump in the class. For a second class dealing in fundamentals come along to the Thursday 6.30 class too. This class will be open to all grades but will concentrate on hard basics and conditioning. The path to Black Belt and beyond starts here.

As a special promo we are giving away a limited number of special autographed gloves to those who introduce a friend or friends.

The recent Big instructor camp was a huge success. On the first day we covered stick fighting as we’ve been focusing on Empty hands over recent camps. As usual the emphasis was to see the commonality between stick, Knife and empty hands fighting skills. There was plenty of sweat,  a few bumps and loads of laughter. The stick grappling that we focused on for half the time was huge fun and is a very interesting area. We’ll put some photos up on Facebook and on here. Some are blurred as it was all action (in truth we should have video’d it instead ). Over the rest of the time we covered empty hands and Filipino boxing and knife defence. As is usual at the BIG camps we sparred everything so that as an instructor you know it in theory and most importantly in practice. From double stick to boxing its’ important that you can ‘walk the walk’ and not only do the talk and theory part.  All in all a great weekend. Thanks to all the guys who came and made it a wonderful weekend.

If you’d like to take part in one of our future Instructor seminars then keep an eye on the events page. Please note. Due to the Olympics many of the bookings at SPACe  have been cancelled so we are busy negotiating new dates and venues.

I’ve just finished watching the film The Kings Speech, a great film that shows some of the problems and tensions for those with speech impediments. What comes across is that speech problems like many others can be overcome with a bit of determination. As a life long stammerer I can remember as a child hating to go to the fish shop as I had to order Skate for my mother. Lots of S’s in Skate. However, that which does not kill you makes you strong to paraphrase Nietsche and it never stopped me. Likewise it never stopped many others. My friend at college Geoff Gleeson was British Judo coach a true intellectual and a warrior too. It’s a paradox that both of us chose roles where we have to do lots of public speaking. Martial arts was a huge part in both our growth I’m sure and I recommend the training to everyone.

Speech therapy has changed dramatically since the days of King George. Though I’ve not been to a therapist in many years I’d be happy to point anyone afflicted towards the best people. One of the most fun things was taking a group of intense stammerers to a very busy chinese restaurant in China town with the most aggressive and insulting waiters. All of us with the intention of taking our time and keeping eye contact. Huge fun but only in retrospect. I still don’t get to say exactly what comes into my brain, some would say that’s a blessing.

What the film and my own experience shows is that most problems can be overcome and to a certain extent help make you unique. Everybody can be a King to themselves. You’ve got a problem? That’s good!

Were starting a new class aimed at Black belts and senior students who will be going for their black belt grade soon. Seniors whether members or not are all welcome. The class will be in Chingford at the Peter May sports centre from 11.00 until 1.00. Cost is £8 for members and £10 all others. See you there. Hard training and good fun.

Peter May website: http://www.gll.org/centre/peter-may-sports-centre.asp

I’ve been off with a virus and we’ve had a plethora of bank holidays. We hadn’t factored these in when setting dates so I’ve pushed the date of the grading back a week to Thursday 26th May so we get a bit more time to practice. We’ll also be reinstating the  grading syllabus on this site as it got taken down in our last rebuild. If you have any questions regarding your grading eligibility or any technical questions don’t hesitate to email me at the club email above.

Due to some scheduling difficulties we have had to cancel both the Urban Knife day on the 24th of April and also The Big Bash on May the 1st. We will reinstate these as soon as we can agree new dates with SPACe and let you know. The B.I G (Breen instructor group) seminar is still on and looks like it’ll be very popular.