A beginner since 1981

I was 11 years old when I first walked into a judo club in 1981. I remember the size of the older students and the feeling that everyone was watching me. They weren't, of course. They were all too busy with their own training. That was my first lesson.

Judo taught me to fall, and falling taught me not to fear the ground. In 1985 I took up karate and trained in different styles, including Kyokushinkai, a full-contact karate famous for its toughness. In 1986 and 1987 I studied ju-jitsu, and boxing came and went at various times, in 1987, 1990 and 1992.

Taekwondo became the biggest part of my training life. I trained from 1988 to 2001, and for 18 months of that I trained six hours a day, six days a week. Between 1988 and 2004 I also learned some Thai boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun and kung fu, and did a lot of submission wrestling.

In 2002 I spent about six months training in Ueshiba-style aikido, alongside freestyle and Shotokan karate. In 2003 and 2004 I spent a few months in shoot wrestling and catch-as-catch-can wrestling, then trained in entertainment-style wrestling in 2004.

Also in 2004 I opened another gym of my own. Half was dedicated to strength training, and in the other half I taught mixed martial arts, while still learning some Brazilian jiu-jitsu myself. I closed the gym in 2021 because of Covid, but I still teach privately, and however busy my schedule gets, I still find time to train.

Every time I have come back to martial arts, whatever I had done before, I started again as a beginner. That is the view this book is written from.

My martial arts timeline

1981

Judo, aged 11

From 1985

Karate, including Kyokushinkai

1986 to 1987

Ju-jitsu

1987, 1990, 1992

Boxing

1988 to 2001

Taekwondo, including 18 months at six hours a day, six days a week

1988 to 2004

Thai boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, kung fu and lots of submission wrestling

2002

Ueshiba-style aikido; freestyle and Shotokan karate

2003 to 2004

Shoot wrestling and catch-as-catch-can wrestling

2004

Entertainment-style wrestling

2004 to 2021

Ran his own gym: strength training and mixed martial arts, which he taught; learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Today

Teaches privately, and still trains

What each art taught me

Judo

How to fall, and not to fear the ground

Kyokushinkai

How to keep going when your body wants to stop

Taekwondo

Speed, flexibility and the art of kicking

Wing Chun

Efficiency at close range

Jeet Kune Do

Use what works, and drop what doesn't

Aikido

Blend with an attack instead of meeting it head on

Ju-jitsu and BJJ

Patience and problem solving on the ground

Shoot and catch wrestling

Respect for hard, honest grappling skill