Basque Boot

2021 KORA Research Group Review

2021 Started with the group in lockdown in the UK, with several training trips to Amsterdam and Spain cancelled in early January. The only saving grace is some regular zoom classes with our teacher covering aspects of the Sera curriculum. Slowly as the year progressed, we restarted training on a one-to-one basis and then finallyContinue reading “2021 KORA Research Group Review”

Salem Assli

R.I.P Salem Assli, a great ambassador for Savate and other arts. Taking note of what he had to say is one nice way of remembering him and his contribution to Savate and other arts.

Basque Strength

Paulino Uzcudun, 1920s and 30s heavyweight known as “The Basque Woodchopper” as he used to enter traditional wood-chopping competitions in his native Regil, Spain. I learnt a little bit of Savate from that region, totally different outlook from the Paris crowd.

The Balance of Contact in Bare-Knuckle Training

Scuffing within our KORA system means working on bare-knuckle striking. Experience has taught our group that there has to be a balance between contact and repartition to avoid long term damage to the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck. Over the years, I have seen people, even pros, overdo it, and the results have alwaysContinue reading “The Balance of Contact in Bare-Knuckle Training”

Research Journey

In 1986 I attended a seminar with Guro Dan Inosanto partly because I wanted to meet him again and partly because I was bored with martial arts. My previous experience was mainly around boxing, fencing and Muay Thai with some grappling (Judo/Wresting) and a small amount of what we would call Combatives today. Mainly sportContinue reading “Research Journey”

Unlocking Savate: Mastering Boot Kicks for Combat

Savate offers many advantages and options to the martial artist, including control of range, timing, and unusual angles, contributing to its deceptive approach to combat. A key difference from other arts is how the boot or shoe is used in combat to supercharge techniques. I was a Muay Thai player from the early eighties, whichContinue reading “Unlocking Savate: Mastering Boot Kicks for Combat”

In the mid-eighties, I had a French training partner, and in between Muay Thai classes, we worked out privately in a local French restaurant. We would clear away some tables and mostly worked on our Boxing and Muay Thai fight preparation. Fred was a great training partner, powerful and an excellent boxer and fighter. DuringContinue reading “Basque Boot”

2019 The KORA Research Group Update

I receive quite a few private messages regarding my research group’s nature, and I want to take some time to clarify a few details. When I retired from public teaching in 2005, after over twenty years of serving my community, I closed my school called the Primal Focus Gym, which covered my MMA orContinue reading “2019 The KORA Research Group Update”