My week in Martial Arts: July 24th to July 28th

This week was a return to an almost normal routine with some extra gym work. The last few weeks my schedule has been quite inconsistent in terms of what I train in and sometimes (in fact a lot) I have neglected a proper gym work out so this week Lun and I decided to devote a bit more time in the gym and hopefully I will also devise a better training schedule.

Monday, Lun and I went to gym and did a quick but heavy and intense weights session. Afterwards we went to Karl Tanswell,Karl wasn’t there that day but Hywel Teague took the class who is one of Karl’s senior guys and also a freelance reporter and photographer for MMA events. I don’t know him personally but I seen his name as a reporter on several magazine and web site articles. He is also a good instructor as we learnt some escapes from clinch work. It was a very hot and humid day and the mats were soaked with sweat.

Wednesday Lun and I stayed had a good weights work out and it wasn’t as rushed as Mondays. As the gym work out was extended we couldn’t make it to Karl Tanswell’s but we did go to Steve Powell’s JKD Class. We worked on the reverse punch or the “BOOM” as it is known to some of the more senior guys. The variables for this punch are hard to get when you haven’t practiced for a while. It’s not your straight forward punch there is a lot of skill and technique involved but at the end of it all and if you can get it right, there lays a devastating punch. As usual it was a great lesson and a great laugh. Chris was there and if you still haven’t read please read his lineage of the boom on his blog and also check out LGM too.

Friday we went to Warriors Eskrima class no beginners this week so we trained with the rest of the guys. Simon and Paul devised a footwork drill which was quite interesting and we did some light contact hard stick sparring. As it was very hot and humid that day we didn’t do anything too strenuous but still got a very good work out. I must admit during my light stick sparring, I did lose my temper a bit against Paul but I think it was more of the heat that made me lose it a bit but in the end we sparred again after the lesson and everything went fine.

Saturday Lun and I went to my cousin’s stag do in Leeds (no disrespect to Leeds but it isn’t Chester or Somerset in terms of scenic views). However I write about this as its Lun and mine first time we been out for a while at night time and we went to the more commercial night time places where you would expect to find trouble. When I say this, I mean that if I went out in Manchester it’s usually in the student areas or a place called Rock World which plays rock/alternative and sometimes hip hop stuff and it’s relatively very safe.

Although we all had a good time Lun and I were cautious. We went to this huge club in the centre of Leeds which comprised of 3 or 4 floors. It was interesting as there was a mezzanine style area overlooking over the main dance floor, it was heaving and jam packed and while looking at the uninhibited party goers from above we could see easily how it could all kick off. Luckily it didn’t. However as you made my away across the place some guys probably acting hard to impress ladies, didn’t move as you tried to walk past them or when they were walking they didn’t angle off to avoid you, so they tried to shoulder barge you.


We then went to a casino where Lun and I didn’t have a clue how to play any of the games, so we left early to get back to our hotel while the others stayed till 5am or something ridiculous (it was already about 3.30am at this point). Walking back to the hotel Lun and I were alert being aware of our surroundings and making sure we didn’t accidentally bump into people or people bumping into us. We might be sounding paranoid but we think its better safe than sorry in a different city as you never know what areas are safe or not. Martial Arts does teach you to be more aware but I think its also to do with the fact we could identify some potential troublemakers from our chip shop days.

Anyways next week should be interesting as Elaine will be watching the Warriors class next week as she is coming up to Manchester. Thanks for reading and enjoy the pictures.
Kit