Dance of the sticks

From this blog: Le carnaval labourdin (patrimoinepaysbasque.com) The kaskarot are the main characters of the ploughd carnivals. They wear hats adorned with flowers, ribbons and colorful decorations on their costumes, and hold two sticks in their hands. Organized in groups of eight, they perform makila-dantza (dances of sticks), as well as danced jumps, marmutx (dance of small sticks), xinple, kontra-dantza (contredanse), soka-dantza, fandango andContinue reading “Dance of the sticks”

Stick Fighting?

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KORA Virtual Reboot

It’s been over a year since my research group, and I got together to train. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, face to face training is still not on the table for a while, but I had the idea that we should start slotting in regular zoom classes once a week. The purpose is toContinue reading “KORA Virtual Reboot”

Tips for boot kickers

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 “Tips for boot kickers”

Marcus Trower

It’s been a while since Marcus Trower passed away in 2019, and it’s only really now I feel able to write something to pay tribute to him and his life that will hopefully do him justice. I first met Marcus in 1986 when he joined my boxing and Muay Thai club in Merstham, near RedhillContinue reading “Marcus Trower”

A little bit of Irish Stick and English Cane

This video is a part of a piece to camera practice I had to record quickly before taking a media presentation workshop at work. There’s an important safety message, followed by a little section on using the walking cane and how to use the stick the Irish way. Finally, there is a section on enhancingContinue reading “A little bit of Irish Stick and English Cane”

By the Sword

Towards the end of last year, I posted on my FB page how much I was looking forward to resuming my sword training post-COVID-19 pandemic. My previous experience had been Olympic foil fencing for about four years and a smattering of some sabre up until I was sixteen.  I have studied Filipino Martial Arts andContinue reading “By the Sword”

Basque Boot

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”

2020 The Journey so far

My martial arts journey started with formal boxing classes in 1977, the local vicar Michael Insley taught two classes a week, one was fencing, and the other was boxing. From the early eighties, I also trained in Combatives as I was joining the army. While in the military, I continued to study boxing, fighting atContinue reading “2020 The Journey so far”

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”