What we teach
The school teaches 3 main arts (styles)
- Thai Kik Jitsu (a form of kick boxing)
- Free Style Hung Choy Chang Fa Kung Fu
- Shoot Jitsu (Submission grappling)
A range of junior classes is available for the 5–12 year age group, click here to find out more.
The concept of Thai Kik Jitsu was founded in 1984 by Si Fu Frank Bowen (6th DAN) who has in-depth knowledge and practice in Boxing, Kung Fu, Aikdo, Judo, Greco-roman wrestling, Karate, Wu-Shu-Kwan, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Si Fu Frank had entered into a vigorous schedule of training and competing and the end result of all those years of hard work and dedication cumulated in the conception of Thai Kik Jitsu.
He perfected the techniques from many martial arts and condensed them into one holistic style.
Si Fu Frank is also the President of BIKMA
Fitness / Self defence / Competition
- Fitness: using combinations of kicks and punches on pads to perfect your skills and core exercises to strengthen the body.
- Self Defence: Jiu Jitsu; the Japanese art of joint manipulation. Used for escaping grabs, throwing/ locking techniques and knife defences.
- Competition: push yourself and your skills and progress from non-contact sparring, light contact and then into full contact. This can be done in class, in house club competitions and then in BIKMA regional, national and international competitions.
We also teach Escrima (Short bamboo Stick)
Escrima, meaning skirmish, is a Filipino martial art that teaches fighting using these bamboo sticks. This art of fighting can be traced the 9th Century and was influenced by Indonesian and Chinese warriors. Through various periods of war the Filipino natives only has the use of wooden weapons to defend against the sword attacks of their enemies, so they adapted and learned how to strike the attackers body, rather than block the attackers sword with their sticks. Techniques of fencing and swordsmanship can be seen in the practice of Escrima. Hands, feet and a dagger may also be used in addition to striking with the sticks themselves.
Kung
Fu – Free Style Hung Choy Chang Fa
Our style of Kung Fu is founded in a combination of HUNG GAR and CHOY LEE FUT.
Hung Gar is a variation of the ‘Shaolin tiger’ style, using ‘white crane’ characteristics. Low wide stances are used to develop superior leg strength. This style also uses close fighting methods similar to those of Wing Chun but in this style this is known as ‘block strike’.
Choy Lee Fut is very common in Hong Kong. This style was developed by Chan Heung and.was used as an ‘underground’ combat method by rebels during the Opium Wars of 19th Century.
In this style power is generated from the waist and a combination of high and low kicks are used.
This long range fighting system uses evasive foot movements and hand techniques which are similar to that of Western boxing styles.
Kung Fu also incorporates many aspects of wrestling such as locks, holds, throws and takedowns.
Animal Fighting Styles
The attacking techniques of Kung Fu are based on animal fighting styles.
We use five animal styles: Tiger, Crane, Praying Mantis, Leopard and Snake and the hands take the shape of the animal that is being represented. For example in Tiger style the hands are shaped like claws and attacks are made by gouging, clawing, ripping and tearing. In Crane style the fingertips are joined together to form a bird’s beak used to strike the attackers eyes and back of the hand represents the bird’s head to block and strike soft parts of the body.
Each attack focuses on the weak parts of the body such as the throat, eyes, nose, sternum, heart, solar plexus and groin. When fighting a heavier opponent it is wiser to redirect (parry) attacks rather than trying to block them. As the opponent is taken off balance with their own force, their vulnerable points are exposed. Parrying requires simple wrist movements and encapsulates the Chinese way of meeting force with softness and using less energy in blocking and saving greater energy reserves to attack.
Aspects of Hung Choy Kung Fu
Fitness: Using pads to practice kicking and punching techniques and combinations alongside traditional body conditioning exercises.
San Shou: Chinese Kick Boxing
Five Animals: Using Animal fighting techniques: Snake, Praying Mantis, Tiger, Crane and Leopard.
Chin Nai: Chinese grappling involving joint manipulation; great for self defence.
Weapons: Staff (6ft pole), short stick, knife attacks/defences and anything that could be used as a weapon.
Chi Gung: Breathing and Meditation exercises.
Shoot Jitsu (Submission Grappling), MMA Mixed Martial Arts
Wrestling is the oldest combat sport known to man and can be found in almost every culture throughout history. The most recognisable styles today are Judo, Greco-roman, Freestyle, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Russian Sambo.
The latest style to emerge is ‘Submission Wrestling’. This style shares many elements of the older sports but also has a definite flavour of its own. Unlike the Olympic grappling styles (Judo, Greco-roman and Freestyle) the aim is not to pin your opponent, rather it is to force him to submit or “tap”. The “tap” is forced by various chokes, strangles and joint manipulations.
It is this emphasis on the “finish” that has made submission grappling such a dominant style in the modern Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) arena. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a recently invented combat sport allowing techniques from boxing and Muay Thai as well as all forms of grappling.
This is the sport of the future with various local, national and international competitions emerging.
Junior Training – See a Positive change in children
A great class for those who want more than just another
martial art session.
A range of junior classes is available for the 5–14 year age group. In just a few lessons we can create a positive change in children’s behaviour. Martial arts teach respect, focus and positive attitude. This is achieved through a fun class programme keeping their interest whilst in a safe environment.
This syllabus is geared towards developing co-ordination, fitness, greater body awareness and having fun.
- TeenFu (Junior Kung Fu)
- TeenKik (Junior Kick Boxing)
- Teen Martial Fitness (Junior Fitness & Self Defence)