“It’ll be alright.”  The first time you hear these words, you let out a sigh of relief.  Because you were a little worried.  You were worried because it’s been a few months since you last did a grade, and perhaps you can block an attack and off-line for a butt strike, but then – did you say off-line, or crash in?  Just remind me….

And worse: do you want to do this beneath the watchful eye of Master Wayne?

“Wayne’s cool,” Charlie explains.  “He really knows his stuff, I mean, he’s just a normal guy, but he’s like a legend, you know.  I could tell you stories…”

Please don’t.  I mean, it’s not that I’m not enthusiastic, it’s just that there’s this awed look in Charlie’s eye, and this slightly nervous lilt in Nigel’s voice and if this guy isn’t wearing a cape when he turns up, it could well be a let-down.  And sure, I’m really looking forward to learning new stuff from an excellent teacher, but after a few weeks of expectation I’m now kinda imagining Batman taking my grading and actually, I’m not sure I want to be assessed by Batman really because I’ve only been training for a year and Batman spent time dabbling with hallucinogenic drugs and psychotic ninjas so actually if I was to take that day off to wash the dog, perhaps…

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” shrills Nigel.  “It’ll be alright.”

Ah yes.

Of course.

It’ll be alright.

Funny, how these words can go from being comforting reassurances of capability, to a mantra of doom.  Because sure, once is a promise, twice is a pledge but there’s this feeling around the third time you’re told ‘it’ll be alright’ that makes you suspect someone may be hiding something…

Was I nervous when we graded on Saturday?

Maybe just a bit.

Master Wayne did not have a cape.  He did have a massive bag of weapons, however.  First lesson of the day: it is easier being a fluffy-looking female armed to the teeth in London, than it is being a shaven-headed male.  Simple truth.

Second lesson of the day: have intent.  Have a plan.  Because it’s not just about whether you know the moves, but whether you’re willing to execute them under pressure and with confidence.   In a way, it’s unfortunate that I really like everyone in the club, throwing up a huge conflict of interest in that sure, I want to practice breaking your leg with a well-placed kick from the inside… and then again, I really don’t.  However, I take comfort in this in that everyone else seems to feel the same way, and thus we all remain a) friends and b) safe.

Third lesson of the day: time flies when you’re having fun.  That said, if the first two hours of practicing techniques and learning why you’d block here instead of there or what the point was of leading with this leg not that, flew by, then rest assured the five minute break we had in the middle was gone in thirty flipping seconds.  It’d be nice to list the things we learnt, but to be honest, the syllabus is written in a cunning code and while I could tell you at great length what I appreciated about learning how to lock someone’s throat against a weapon, or how I hadn’t realised the utility of hips in taking someone to the floor from the inside, I’m not sure my words can do justice to that curious moment when you go from being upright with stick in hand, to examining someone else’s shoes from an intimate position.  Let me therefore list the two big things that came away from it: energy, intent.  Have loads of both.  Which certainly makes a lot of sense to me, as trying to get a lock on Nacho is entirely different from trying to get a lock on Amy and frankly the only thing that you can personally guarantee will be the enthusiasm you have for the project.

My final thought from the day.  Leaving aside the shaking relief at everyone having passed (hurrah!) and, let’s face it, the need for arnica, it’s this: was anyone else looking at the motto on the bottom our shiny new certificates?  After three hours of blocking, striking, moving, closing to short range and retreating to long, did anyone else glance down to see their names on the proud piece of paper declaring their success, to notice the five, slightly incongruous words at the bottom of the prize?  Sure, every club needs a motto, and I always assumed that ours would be something like ‘Big Sticks, Warm Hearts’ or perhaps ‘More Dodgy than a Jammy Dodger’ or words of that ilk, and yet…

Escrima Concepts: Its Good To Be Us.

Which I guess, thinking it through, it is…

This taster session will cover basic principles, which will make you more street aware and confident. This is open to anyone regardless of ability.

We have limited places, so book early!     info@urbanescrima.com

Interview with a student

Good luck!

Please introduce yourself, who are you and what do you do?
I’m Ben Ryalls, I’m the business development manager for a production company that supplies creative services to the video games industry. Bit of a mouthful but basically we cast, direct and record actors’ performances for games. I’m a huge games geek and it’s a lot of fun to work in an industry that you have loved since you were a kid.

What martial arts experience have you had previously and do you currently train in any other martial art/self-defence?
I did about 3 years of Tae Kwon-Do to blue belt when I was a teenager, and more recently a form of martial arts cross-training, under Guru Bob Breen based on Jeet Kune Do but incorporating techniques from about 8 styles, including Escrima, kife defence, Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. I currently train Weng Chun Kung Fu, a little known sister art to Wing Chun, as well as Escrima Concepts. They are both conceptual-based arts incorporating weapons and empty hand techniques. Although the styles are quite different, a lot of the theories and concepts are similar and I enjoy attempting to blend everything I have learnt together when I train, although quite often I get it wrong!

How long have you been training in Escrima Concepts and what grade are you?
I’ve been training 4 months and am working towards my second grade.

What first attracted you to Escrima Concepts and how does Escrima differ to what you have done before?
Having trained some Escrima in the past as part of the cross training I wanted to take a pure Escrima class. What I trained before was quite showy but Escrima Concepts differs because it is extremely practical and current for real-world situations you might come across.

What is the one thing you most enjoy about Escrima?
I really enjoy training with weapons as a means to develop speed and accuracy because it ultimately teaches you fantastic empty hand techniques   The classes are loads of fun and you meet some great people.

Why is it important to ‘circle’ your strikes?
Circling your strikes properly allows you to use your whole body to generate speed and power and to keep a flow of attacks going.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of coming to train?
If you want to learn a dynamic and empowering martial art that will fill you with confidence, get you fit, and leave you with a few sore knuckles then come and join us for a month.  I guarantee you’ll be hooked!

Urban Escrima Newsletter May 2013

Urban Escrima Newsletter April 2013

Please introduce yourself, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Mark, and I work with the education sector.

What martial arts experience have you had previously and do you currently train in any other martial art/self-defence?
I studied a Chinese martial art for a number of years (Wu Shu Kwan) and did a small amount of boxing. Currently Escrima Concepts is my main focus.

How long have you been training in Escrima Concepts and what grade are you?
I have only been training just after the Olympics and I was awarded my first grade just before Christmas.

What first attracted you to Escrima Concepts and how does Escrima differ to what you have done before?
I loved watching martial arts films, particularly when they used weapons such as sticks, long or short. Although, I have used long sticks before. What is brilliant is the fact that you can defend yourself unarmed or even with a rolled up newspaper or a pen…..watch out for those who do crosswords….lol. Escrima is different because there are no really fancy kicks (well not at my grade) and there is an instant response, there is no time wasted before executing your response, it is not dependent on brute strength, and there is no fixed pattern of attack so the element of surprise is always fresh! Also each attack is realistic so you have to respond and you’d be surprised at how effective your response will be!

What is the one thing you most enjoy about Escrima?
That is a difficult question ……I think the people I have met have been so friendly, Nigel and Charlie are very patient instructors and explain things in an easy way, with real life examples. They are decent down to earth guys full stop. The  other members are also so friendly and it is a good atmosphere.

You recently attended an Escrima Concepts Seminar, how was that? And what are the main things which you took away from the weekend?
The seminar blew my mind away. The seniors made me want to train harder just by watching them. The main thing is just how effective Escrima Concepts is armed or unarmed; the fact you can not tell where the attack is coming from but you sure know about it!

What advice would you give to someone thinking of coming to train?
My advice is do it. It doesn’t matter about your ability, age, sex or past experience, you will soon increase your skills, plus there are great people in our class who are very supportive!

This taster session will cover basic principles, which will make you more street aware and confident. This is open to anyone regardless of ability.

We have limited places, so book early!

info@urbanescrima.com