Diary / Training Notes

07.11.2023 After nine hours of teaching consultancy on children’s self-protection plus KEWAP and then a long weekend of seminars and workshops in person, I finished my current scheduled work with Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub, Denmark, with a fun tenth hour of online boxing training. Their enthusiasm had not faltered and it was great hear that after I had left Denmark, the school had got straight back into practising the ankle picks we had trained on Sunday. Anyway, tonight was all about […]

“Learn from the Fight” took us back to the careers of Sugar Ray Robinson and Gene Fullmer as we rounded out 1960. Sugar Ray Robinson versus Gene Fullmer 03.12.1960 For the first time in his remarkable and unparalleled career Sugar Ray Robinson had faced defeat twice in a row and off the same man. He had lost his title and then failed to win it back. The 38 year old former champion now looked over at the NBA version of […]

05.11.2023 My third visit to teach martial arts and self-protection in Denmark (my first in Hostlebro) ended with another Vagabond Warriors session. We continued with the Greco-Roman Wrestling inspired clinch training but this time expanded upon it with Freestyle Wrestling. The session began with a series of wrestling specific exercises before we moved onto some revision from yesterday. After a five minute and then a two minute round of Greco-Roman Wrestling sparring we moved onto our main theme: the ankle […]

04.11.2023 My “Vagabond Warriors” special workshop on martial arts cross training was taught after my children’s self-protection seminar. This is the first part of a stand-up grappling/wrestling orientated lesson plan. Today we drew inspiration from Greco-Roman Wrestling and then later layered in Mixed Martial Arts. We began with the collar and elbow tie using it to dominate and break posture. I introduced circle stepping and how to use both ties effectively. From here we moved into the side headlock and […]

04.11.2023 With instructors and senior students briefed, today we embarked on teaching the first part of my new extended edition of “When Parents Aren’t Around” seminar for Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub, Denmark. The class was filled to capacity with students from Taekwondo, the neighbouring Hostlebro Kenpo Karate school and kareteka who had travelled across Denmark, as well parents actively engaged. There is a lot to be said for the sense of community being cultivated in the practical traditional martial arts community […]

02.11.2023 The ninth hour of my client’s current Boxing course in preparation for his fight brought us onto more nuances. Confident with his jabbing from the outside, we worked on closing the distance and problems he might have with opponents who have a reach advantage. Fighting at light-heavyweight, he is probably giving up some range from opponents and will need good footwork skills to get on the inside. I was very happy with his mid-range and in-fighting. Having MMA experience […]

30.10.2023 Hours four and five were covered with my couple client’s second Muay Thai course in a row. We followed a similar format as previously, using 12 x 3 minute rounds beginning with the clinch. After this we had a bit more time to go through technical areas each of my clients felt needed addressing. Rounds 1-3 – Clinch with sweeps (no strikes) Rounds 4-6 – Clinch with striking and sweeps Rounds 7-9 – Straight techniques versus cutting off the […]