THE ARTS

KICKBOXING

For sport, fitness & conditioning

What is called Kickboxing today came out of Full Contact Karate competitions in the sixties. Competitors included such fighters as Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis and Chuck Norris. Each had different backgrounds in Karate and boxing, as well as other martial arts. New fighting styles, techniques and strategies developed out of the need for a comprehensive form of fighting that was effective in the ring.

Kickboxing is a Western fighting method practiced worldwide with the Kickboxer using both hands and feet, as in Karate. Because it is a realistic, practical method of fighting, it has grown into a popular sport. Kickboxing is similar to Full Contact Karate, as the goal of Kickboxing is to knock out the opponent. Also in Kickboxing, strikes are delivered full force.

Kickboxing combines elements from Karate and Thai Boxing; both the strategy and techniques from kicking and boxing. It mixes foot techniques from Karate and fist techniques from boxing. There are four different types of combat competitions: Semi-Contact, Light-Contact, Full-Contact and Low-Kick. All these systems are the same worldwide and follow precise rules and regulations.

 To minimize the risk of injury during Kickboxing competitions, competitors must wear protection for the feet and head, as well as shin guards, safety gloves, mouth guards, groin guards for men and chest protection for women. Kickboxing competitors use sparring, kicks, punches, kick blocks, shadow boxing, that is learned and applied under professional instruction.

While Kickboxing was first developed as a martial art for tournament fighting, it has more recently become very popular; especially with women, children and all the family, because the Kickboxing workout is excellent for developing body toning and burning fat while also helping students gain confidence in self defence.

JUJUTSU

Forged out of necessity and tempered in the heat of battle - The original & true Mixed Martial Art

The Japanese art of combat has a long and extensive history, the diversity of styles and weapons associated with specific arts evolved and developed over many centuries. From the early Heian period to the beginning of the Edo period there were some 700 years of civil warfare that contributed to the development and knowledge of the Martial Arts.

During Japan’s fierce civil wars many fighting methods and strategies emerged and it was on the battlefield that these great warriors honed and forged their fighting skills. Amongst many of the necessary and essential battle skills needed to survive was the art of empty-handed combat fighting systems generically known as Jujutsu.

Today jujutsu techniques and methods are practised by many thousands of devotee’s across the globe and for many different reasons, jujutsu for self defence, a way of life, or even sport, nevertheless, regardless of what style or form of jujutsu you practice we all share a pride in knowing that we practice, The Art of the Warrior.

SUBMISSION GRAPPLING

With or without the Gi

Submission Grappling is a new sport with a long history. The object is to submit your opponent using a variety of joint locks and chokes, or to win the match on points. Competitions in this sport resemble Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitions, although competitors do not usually wear gi's. This lack of gi increases the amount of speed and athleticism required, and it also limits the sweeping and submission options of the competitors.

Submission Grappling is mainly based on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu descended from pre-World War 2 Judo, which itself was heavily influenced by the classical Ju-Jutsu systems of medieval Japan. The influence of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be seen in the types of positions and submissions most commonly used in the sport.

Other grappling arts have also influenced Submission Grappling. The most common takedowns come mainly from freestyle wrestling. The prevalence of leg locks shows the influence of such arts as Sambo and Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling (the ancestor of today’s ‘Pro Wrestling’). Many of the top Submission Grappling competitors also compete in mixed-martial-art or no-holds-barred competition, and this brings a certain intensity to the sport.

Submission Grappling is very similar to the grappling required for mixed martial art competitions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship or the Pride Fighting Championship in Japan. Positions and manoeuvres that would be advantageous in a real fight (such as passing the guard or achieving the mount position) are rewarded by the point system, even though striking is not allowed in competition.

 TAEKWON-DO

' The theory of power '

TaeKwon-Do is a Two Thousand year old Martial Art form that originated in Korea. It is based on the premise that self-defence is an instinct. As a result, the origins of TaeKwon-Do date back to the earliest time of humanity.

Taek Kyon as it was first known, was a sports and recreational activity designed to promote Physical Fitness. It then changed to become a fighting art and became known as Subak. In 1955 it gained the name of TaeKwon-Do (Foot, Fist, Art) by Grand Master General Choi Hong Hi, who is the founder of modern day TaeKwon-Do.

TaeKwon-Do is a traditional Martial Art form and is well known for its high impact kicking techniques and its power. TaeKwon-Do is a striking art, so this style is ideal for everyone regardless of age, or gender. TaeKwon-Do will improve your speed, flexibility, power, strength, breathing, awareness and self-discipline.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

The evolution of the Martial Arts or just a return to the beginning??

It has been an age old question of who would win between a Boxer v Wrestler? or a Judoka v Karateka? Well those questions have now been answered and what we have now learned is that all fighting arts are as important as the other and how it's important to not limit yourself to one style. To be a fully effective Martial Artist or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter its important that all areas of the arts are practised. Mixed Martial Arts is the new phenomenon sweeping the world, as it is now a well known fact that fighters who employ a range of striking, grappling and submission tactics are the most successful competitors in Mixed Martial Arts events.