The Club.

We are currently running two Clubs.

These are both situated in England in the county of Kent.

The original club is based in Orpington and our new outlet is based in Beckenham.

Beginners courses are run at both of these establishments and the intakes for both, are February and September.

We restrict the class sizes to roughly 10-12, as we have found that bigger classes can only be taught correctly, if another instructor is present.

It is necessary to keep the numbers low, so that the student can be taught the basics of this art, in the correct manner.

It is vital, in the early stages, that these basics are practised and learnt correctly.

I often compare this to building a tall building.

If the foundations are made correctly, then a large building may be erected safely.

If they are not made sufficiently strongly, then a large building cannot be put upon these weak foundations.

This simply means that, if you learn your basics correctly, you will be capable of many great things in this Martial Art.

If you don't, then all you will be capable of is lots of tricks.

We do tend to find that the students and teachers form a relationship with each other.

None of our teachers are unapproachable, or aloof, or big-headed.

Limitation of Knowledge.

Over the years I have found that many people, coming from other styles, do not possess a great deal of ability in certain areas.

We have to make sure that students can punch, Kick, Block, Avoid, Break Fall, Throw, have the right mental attitude and knowledge of body movement, when they finish the beginners course.

Those who have come from other styles, usually find, that it is quite easy to modify and adapt their previous Technique to this style.

Usually they have no problem with the additional information and Technique, that is also required.

Beginners.

All people who enter the Club are required to complete our beginner's course.

This applies also to those who have completed other sections, of other martial arts.

Beginners are taught separately from the rest of the Club, until such time as they have sufficient ability and have some idea of what they are doing.

It is our policy to make sure that beginners are not 'thrown in at the deep end'.

I know this is a practice in a lot of other martial art styles but I can see no point in having people hurt, just for the sake of it.

Martial Art.

This is an art of self-defence.

We do not involve ourselves in competition.

Over the years of training, students come to realise why this is so.

Age of Entry.

Starting age, we normally take as 16 years but we will allow younger children to train with us, as long as one of their parents trains with the child as well.

Training Suit.

We do not expect people to buy the Training suit, before they have started training with us.

This has to be, however, purchased before the time of the first grading.

Discipline.

The people who participate in this Martial Art, are adults, and therefore, are treated like adults.

Discipline is not administered by force, or tyranny but we expect each student to have, and develop, their own self discipline.

There can be no competition in some of the Throwing techniques, for they rely on the thrower to look after the safety of the thrown.

Without this element these techniques simply could not be tried.

Aim.

The main objective, of our clubs, is to pass on the knowledge that we have accumulated over the years.

We want people to learn about the style, we also want people to develop their own abilities, whilst doing this.

But above all, we want people to enjoy the benefits that can be gained from this Martial Art.

If you train with us, you will find that this is a friendly organisation.

Brief History.

The club was started in 1983 and has been running continuously since that time.

We run an independent organisation, which is free from the bureaucracy and politics of the major associations.

The syllabus is set by the senior members of the style and this has remained, virtually unaltered, since 1989.

The abilities of students and teachers, is monitored by the senior members of the style, because it is our intent to maintain a highest standards.

Clothing.

As previously stated, we used an oriental type training suit.

These are embroidered, with the Seven Rings, and are available only through the Club's.

Also available to club members are sweat shirts and polo shirts, of various colours, these are also embroidered with the Seven Rings emblem.

Training record and certificate book.

These are available, only through the Instructors at the Club.

The Seven Rings.

Over the years, many have asked me about the Seven Rings and what, if anything, is the meaning of them.

If you study the rings clearly you will see that each of the rings is interwoven with the rings at either side.

It is also interwoven with the central ring, so this makes a total of six crossings for each external ring and twelve crossings for the central ring.

The application of the meaning of these Rings can be many fold and the first of these meanings, is conveyed to students, in the early stages of training.

Each ring represents a sphere of knowledge.

Initially the external Rings being Striking, Kicking, Blocking, Avoidance, Throwing and the Stance work. The central ring is occupied by Body movement.

This means that each ring is directly related to both its neighbours and the central ring.

In practice this means that Throwing Technique is directly related to Avoidance and Stance work but this is also linked to the Body movement.

This applies equally to all the areas of learning.

We teach, almost from the start of training, that the movement used in the Punch is the same as that used in certain types of throwing technique.

Body movement used in some types of Kicking is complete in the reverse of that used in punching technique.

This however, is the same as for certain types of spinning technique. #

The majority of Blocking techniques are produced by using the same Body movement as the hand Strikes, but not all.

Avoidance techniques used both types of body movement and this depends largely on which direction the Stance is moving.

Stance work can use a mixture of short, medium, long, rolling, lifting, dropping and spiral Body movements.

All of these realms of knowledge connect together through the central ring, so learning one aspect, will always be relevant to the practice of Technique in all the other Rings.

This is just the first way that the Seven Rings can be applied.

The First Principle.

So the principle of the seven Rings, initially, is that all parts of the martial art jigsaw fit together and are related to all other pieces of this jigsaw.

By learning about all these individual pieces, it is then possible to produce and understand the whole picture, of this martial art.

As a later stage, other more philosophical aspects are also applied and analysed in this manner.

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