Category: Classes

Young Nathen Star’s in his first kickboxing bout in Guildford

Local buy Nathen Pollard from Tavistock who trains with the South West Kickboxing Academy and Martial Arts (SWKA) and Tavistock ABC went up to London to complete in the MAAS Championships.

Nathen who’s been training since the age of 11 in kickboxing , with a short break before returning in March this year, entered the ring for the first time to complete as a kickboxer aged 14. Getting in the ring is a big challenge for everyone, but Nathen’s commitment to his training has been fantastic since he returned in March, a bit taller and older.  The MAAS Championships attendance, was a big ask with Nathen’s family traveling up to Guilford for the event on Friday Night before completing on the Saturday. Nathen younger Brother Joshua who also trains with the SWKA, got to witness what it’s like on the day and now needs to decide if he wants to follow in Nathen’s footsteps and enter the ring in 2016.

Nathen fought well in his bout and drew great reviews from all the coaches who witnessed Nathen fight. Nathen was one of the stand out performers on the day. Nathen is now being considered for a British Title fight in 2016. Nathen controlled his fight well with quick hand speed and use of the ring, which challenged his opponent who just wanted to stand in the middle of the ring and stand toe-to-toe, however, Nathen used the ring to his advantage.

Both Nathen Dad Jamie and SWKA Head Coach Steve Lilley 4th Dan, were very proud of Nathen’s performance. Steve said “ Nathen’s performance was one of years of experience in the ring, he listened well and followed the game plan. We have work to do to be prepared for a future title fight in 2016 and need to get Nathen some more ring experience.”

Where hoping that in 2016 Nathen can bring back a British title to Tavistock. For anyone who wishes to give kickboxing a try or wanting to get involved in martial arts or looking to complete. Then please contact Steve on 07773863518, email sculpting_fitness@hotmail.com or visit www.southwestkickboxingacademy.com. If you wish you can just come along one Friday night 7.35-9pm at Tavistock College in the gymnasium.

October Gradings

Well done to all of those who graded in the October club grading. There were some great performances from all students.

The next club grading will be taking place around March, giving students the chance to get back to their levels following xmas and any new students will also be grading then as well. It was great to start adding tabs to student’s belts, showing their levels of achievement.

All those who passed their grading’s are another step close to achieving the converted black belt. Students need to remember each step closer the requirements get higher and the more techniques get to perform increase.

SWKA October Student of the Month

Congratulations to young John, on winning October student of the Month.

John has worked hard over the past month and we are hoping he will continue to raise his level of train even further over the course of the rest of this year and into next year. John has started to not to let his frustrations get the better of him and his, efforts and achievement have increased dramatically. Well Done John!

August Student of the Month

I know it’s a bit late but here we have the announcement of the August Student of the Month. Young James, receiving his student of the Month Trophy from 2nd Dan Chris Morgan.

James has been training with us for a while and is starting to make great strides in his kickboxing. Were looking forward to seeing him in his up coming grading.

Anyone wishing to take up Martial Art’s in the West Devon and East Cornwall regions, please contact us. Were always looking forward to new students joining us.

SWKA presents the South West Rope Dojo

If your Looking for Martial Arts Training in the West Devon and East Cornwall area. The SWKA are launching a new class under the name South West Rope Dojo. The class will be a 45 minute class.

The class will be on a Monday night at Tavistock College Sports Centre 7.30-8.15pm. The class will be teaching Hojojutus, which is the Japanese federal Art of rope restraint and use of ropes in daily life.

It is a small class with limited numbers of 10 allowed. We are probably the only Hojojutus club in the whole of the South West. Due to the nature of the techniques practice it is for over 18’s over and you must be willing to be tied up by your partner. We will also be using equipment such as Kaginawa’s for grappling hook work.

 

 

July Student of the Month 2015

Our winner of the July 2015 student of the month is our youngest ever student. Courtney Pollard, won the Student of the Month for July, having only just started Kickboxing at the End of June/early July.

Courtney always trains with a smile on her face, which is great to see, she listens well and follows instructions well. She doesn’t get phased by training with people older and bigger than her. She’s always full of enthusiasm for training. All these reasons are why she won student of the month. Were hoping she carries on like this with the rest of her kickboxing training. She’s progressing well like her older brothers Nathan and Joshua, and at the SWKA were looking forward to seeing how they all progress.

What makes a Black Belt or great Black Belt in Martial Arts

A Black belt in Martial Arts is seen by most people as a pinnacle of their time in Martial Arts and a High achievement. For some it is the top level you can achieve but also the time when you stop learning. However, meet any real black belt and they will tell you they have only just started to learn, just because you have learnt all the moves and show some real skill, and now must learn how to adapt your skills, how best to utilise them but also learning when they will and won’t work.

Patience is something it takes not just too get to get your black belt. It takes many years to get your black belt, but also patient is required to learn and start to master a number of kicks and combinations which you will learn. However, the patient is not just in yourself but also that of having patience with others. For example your training partners holding the pads for you, and with others who struggle to pick up skills when learning or to carry out activities.

Attitude of a black belt is very important, a black belt needs to have patients, but also be willing to help others when they are struggling and offer to help when they see newer students struggling. It’s also about following instructions from their instructor, sensei or master, in classes, rather than doing their own thing, therefore, setting a positive example to others in the club. The attitude is also about how they commit to training, by training regularly but also helping other, by putting them before themselves.

Commitment to the cause is also a key aspect, black belts will train regularly when they can, when you run a club it can be difficult to do train, but when your training for your black belt you should be looking for every opportunity to learn from your instructor, Sensei or master to ensure you will be ready for your black belt grading. Whether this is in class or in private sessions this is important to ensure you get all the input you need and ensure you are properly prepared.

Dedication to the art, which is about making sure you master the basics and not taking on to many arts in one go. When your start learning to many arts in one go without mastering anything, everything gets diluted, and they your performance drops.

Putting others before yourself is important, because by the time you are about to reach your black belt or reached it you should know you’re only as good as your training partner. If you don’t help them improve you will stagnate and head backwards. But also if you don’t look after your partner you won’t have anyone wanting or willing to work with you in class. Theirs’s no point in complaining about the standard of others if you’re not willing to help improve those around you and challenge them to become better.

Seeking perfection is about always analysing what you’re learning and working out when it would be practical and when it would not be. Therefore, being able to work out how to tweak things to improve it and what you could do instead. It’s also about constantly setting yourself little challenges to improve yourself, whether it’s kicking a bit higher, jumping higher or not getting hit as much during sparring or a fight.

Self-learning is about trying to identify for yourself were your weaknesses are, is it fitness, if so do you spend time away from your club working on this? Do you identify where you feel your weak, or ask your instructor, sensei or master how can I be better and then follow up on it.

As you can see there are many things to consider when you want to achieve your black belt or get through of as a great black belt by others. Why not find one or 2 black belts whom you look up to and watch the little things they do, and the way they are with others, which may improve yourself as a martial artist.

Why take up Kickboxing

Kickboxing is in my mind a mix of boxing, muai-thai and karate, which started to become to people’s attention during the 1980’s. It mixes the hand skills of boxers, with kicks of Karate but without the more static positioning and often used point scoring by being based on continuous fighting in bouts. With muai-thai skills, without the use of knees, and elbows as strikes.

There are different formats of kickboxing, and when you look at the sparing or fight components in points, semi contact, and semi heavy or full contact. Different people depending on what they want to get out of their kickboxing or their reasons behind taking up of the martial art. Some people are not worried about getting hurt or being knocked out, but there are also those who don’t want to risk concussion, black eyes and injuries which choose to participate in light contact levels of the martial art.

Kickboxing is a great way to improve flexibility, which can lead onto postural changes. Flexibility training is something that instructors take seriously as it helps prevent injury, but also helps participates to be able to kick higher. As the individual becomes more flexible then tight muscles can be lengthened, which can help correct posture.

It helps to improve fitness and change your body shape. Kickboxing is a high energy activity, utilising all of the body’s muscles. Due to it being high energy it helps increase your energy expenditure will help you lose body fat you may be struggling to lose.

Learning self -confidence and respect, but also for others, due to the team work required to look after your partner in class but also seeing improvements in your kicks, and belt progression.

Make new friends, you will meet many people through martial arts not just in the class that you attend but also at seminars and in competition if you decide to compete. You will work with different people in each class, which will improve your self-confidence.

Learning self-defence, by learning how to protect yourself should someone attack you, but also improve your awareness of what’s going on around you to help you prevent putting yourself in a position where you might be at risk.

So having gone through what kickboxing is and its many benefits why not come down and join us in one of our classes. Were a friendly group and everyone’s welcome, so what have you got to lose?