DFM Martial Arts
The
same
rules apply this year and contestants are encouraged to take part in
all
sections.
Medals
and
the student of the year award are up for grabs.
The
provisional date is Sunday, November 16th. TBC.
MARTIAL ARTS TV
STAR
HEADING NORTH
CHRIS
Crudelli, the star presenter
of Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves is featuring in a seminar in Jarrow.
Chris,
who
has spent his life studying martial arts since age eight, intends to
teach his
Jui Fa Men style of kung fu (Way of Nine Methods) which is a modern
self-defence based adaptation of all the different arts he has studied.
Chris
said:
“I love the North East and was recently up there teaching in
“I’m
a
working class lad from
“I’m
looking forward to coming up to Jarrow and I’m going to teach
self-defence and
the art of using psychology to stop people attacking
you.”
As
young
lad Chris lived with a Chinese family who taught him their family style
kung
fu.
Then
aged
17 he went to
When
asked
what his most memorable experiences were from his debut TV series he
said it
was meeting Hatsumi Maasaki, the only recognised grandmaster of
Ninjutsu, whom
he described as awesome.
He
said:
“It was the way that everything he did was a deception.
Before you knew it he
was all over you!
“I
also
enjoyed training with Ushiro sensei, the guy who taught Okinawian
Karate. He
was three moves ahead of me every time and I just couldn’t
hit him!”
Chris
is
coming to the Kong Sai Kung Fu school in Jarrow which is run by
DFM’s good
friend Sifu Steve Youngman.
The
session
will be a three hour seminar and costs £40 per person.
The
seminar
is being held on Sunday, November the 9th.
If
anyone
wants to go please email Phil at: phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk
NINJUTSU MASTER
KEITH
PORTER SEMINAR
TOP
Ninjutsu instructor Keith Porter
is teaching this deadly art in
Keith,
who
is DFM instructors Phil Doherty and Darren Currah’s good
friend and Tai-jutsu
instructor, will be attending the Advanced Fighting Centre on November
15th.
Phil,
who
trained with Keith in
“Ninjutsu
is one of the core arts under-pinning Directional Fighting Method and
every
opportunity we get we train with him.
“Ninjutsu
is one of the most deadly and effective systems and stretches back at
least 900
years.
“Keith
has
studied extensively in
Sensei
Porter is coming to the AFC in
Anyone
wanting to attend should email Phil at:phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk.
MMA
EVENT IN THE
NORTH
EAST
The
club is looking to organise a
night at an MMA event held in the North East.
The
MMA
Total Combat 27 event is being held at Rainton Meadow Arena,
Door open
at 6pm and the first fight scheduled for 7.30pm.
If you are want further info see
link.
www.mmatotalcombat.com
Email:
darrencurrah@hotmail.com or Steve Mclaughlan
EARN DOSH
DFM
Martial Arts is part of a
company called DFM Self-protection Ltd, a training company that
specialises in Conflict
Resolution Training.
If
any DFM
student provides a business contact that turns into a CRT Course that
student
receives £50.
CRT
is the
art of stopping violence before it happens using body language, verbal
skills
and psychology.
It
is
taught to medics, council workers and business employees and many many
more
professions.
Phil
said:
“DFM Self-protection also organises accredited first aid at
work and health and
safety courses as well fire marshal courses and how to deal with
difficult
customers, and student street safe courses.
“If
any of
our members puts us in touch with a business that requires these type
of
training and they buy one of our courses then that member receives
£50 as a
finder’s fee.
“Assistant
DFM instructor Steve Mclaughlan has already benefited from the
scheme.”
If
you know
of a business or organisation that is looking for this type of training
then
please email Phil at: phil.dfmselfprotection.hotmail.co.uk
FIRST AID COURSE
DFM
is organising a first aid course
for martial artists.
The
course
is obligatory for instructors and assistant instructors but all
students are
encouraged to take the course as part of their training.
DFM
Instructor Phil Doherty said: “We are hoping to hold this in
the New Year and
would like as many students as possible from all classes to attend.
“Martial
arts are contact sports and it’s important to have such a
qualification in case
of injury.
“A
first
aid certificate is also some thing that can be added to a CV or job
application
and is also a good every day skill.”
Email:
phil.dfmselfprotection@hotmail.co.uk
GRADING SUCCESS
STUDENTS
of DFM Martial
Arts have gained their new belts after a tough examination.
Four
of
the 11
participants were not only passing their senior level grades but were
also
gaining their assistant instructor qualifications.
The
students
were assessed over a four week period before being subject to a final
examination held at the Willowburn Sports Centre.
Members
of
Directional Fighting Method and DFM Kickboxing schools took the tests.
DFM
Instructor
Darren Currah said: “All the students put their heart and
soul into their
examinations and deserved their belts for all their hard work.
“By
combining
both continuous assessment and a final examination means the students
push
themselves over a sustain period of time and improve further before
they take
their test.
“Congratulations
all those who passed and especially to those who also became assistant
instructors.”
Students
were
tested on their knowledge of martial techniques and principles as well
as
fitness.
They
were tested
on their sparring and defence combat against street attack.
In DFM
Kickboxing the following gained: Lisa Williams – Black and
Red belt (assistant
instructor), Steve McLaughlan - Purple belt; Teri Hopper -
Green belt;
Scott Hall - Yellow belt; Jo Kelly - Yellow belt;
Sarah McLaughlan
-Yellow belt.
In
Directional
Fighting Method: Barry Angus – Brown Belt (assistant
Instructor); Andrew Newton
– Brown Belt (assistant Instructor); Heather Swanston
– Brown Belt (assistant
Instructor); Steve Mclaughlan – Purple Belt; Robin Francis
– Purple Belt;
Michael Simpson – Orange-white belt.
NEW
NAME
COMPETITION
FOR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CLUB
All
suggestions will be considered, good or bad, with a prize for the best
name and
a kicking from Darren for the most appalling.
Steve McLaughlan suggested
the Spartans, famed Greek warriors who were the best fighters in the
ancient
world.
Unfortunately they also were
known for some thing else that frankly doesn’t quite go with
our image. Ahem.
(And Steve’s in the lead for the booby prize! Bum bum!)
I suggested (Phil)
the Wolf
Pack (best choice) and Robbie’s Reivers (worst choice
– sounds like a
Northumbrian folk band!).
So come on
– give us
your
suggestions.
Email:
phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk,
robert@currah35.wanadoo.co.uk
CASH
RAISED FOR
CHARITY
The
Multi-style seminar recently
held at the Willowburn Sports Centre was a great success with
£130 raised for
charity.
Top instructors
from Aikido,
Evasive Self-Defence System, Kenjutsu and Western Historical Weapons
Systems
joined DFM instructor Darren Currah in teaching on the day.
There will also be
other
seminars
arranged during the year.
CDs
of the event are
available for £3 from Phil. Money goes to charity.
NEW
MMA AND
KICKBOX 4
FITNESS SUCCESS
ALNWICK’S
new Mixed Martial Arts and
Kickbox 4 Fitness classes were a great success with large numbers
turning for
the opening day.
More than 35 new
students
began training in DFM Martial Arts’ newest classes held at
Willowburn Sports
Centre on Sunday.
The most popular
class was
the ladies-only Kickbox 4 Fitness session run by DFM Instructor Lisa
Williams.
She said: “With more
than 20
women turning up for the first session the class has got off to a
fantastic
start.
“The
great thing about
a
ladies only class is that the students can get fit in a comfortable
more
relaxing environment.
“Kickbox 4 Fitness is
an
excellent way to lose pounds and tone up because all of your body is
used in the
sessions. Fat burns away and muscles tighten while giving the heart and
lungs a
good workout for total fitness.”
More than ten students
turned up for the first session in the world’s fastest
growing sport, Mixed
Martial Arts.
In this class the emphasis is
on competing with both punching and kicking and jutsu ground fighting.
Popularised by the Ultimate
Fighting Championship (UFC) this sport is now second to football in
terms of
world-wide television viewing figures.
UP-AND-COMING
FUTURE EVENTS
DFM
Martial
Arts is holding the second
annual kickboxing and grappling
competition in June.
Last
year's event was a great success and a fun day.
The same rules apply this year and contestants are encouraged to take
part in both sections.
Medals and the student of the year award are up for grabs
We need to know what dates everyone can do.
Email
phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk,
or darrencurrah@hotmail.co.uk
The Marfest08
International
Martial Arts Festival is being held in April.
The
Directional
Fighting Method
troupe of troubled warriors
have been invited to take part.
The
event is the largest martial arts exhibition in the North and all the
money
raised goes to cancer
research.
DFM
Instructor Phil Doherty said: “Cancer Research
“We
would like all DFM martial Arts members from all our clubs to come down
and
support the event if at all possible.”
More
details on the Marfest08 will be sent soon.
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
COURSE
WE
are holding
a CRT Martial Arts course in May.
For
those not familiar with CRT it teaches professional ways to defuse
confrontation and conflict so you don’t get into violence.
The
course covers:
·
How we
Communication: Body Language: Warning, Danger and Autonomic signs of
impending
violence
·
The Big No
No’s
·
Personality
Types. Betaris Box (How your attitude can inflame a situation)
·
Confrontation: The
Progression of Resistance
·
LEAPS (How to
ask questions and gain empathy)
·
Understanding
Distance
and the Reaction Zone
·
Fight and Flight
and Flinch and Freeze
·
Anatomy of
violence and Defusing Conflict
·
Difference
between Assertiveness and Aggression
·
Changing the
Script (Writing the Great Escape)
·
CRT Guard
Positions and the Law on Self-Defence
Many
professions and occupations require CRT training in staff and
participants get
a signed certificate which they can use in job interviews.
All
senior DFM instructors have attended the Counter Fraud and Security
Management
Service’s (NHS) CRT Familiarisation Course and hold
certificates.
This
course is obligatory for DFM Instructors but all students should try to
attend
as it is part of the ethos of our organisation.
All
participants get a bound booklet and a certificate.
The
course will be held in May.
Email
phil to place your name on the list. phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ROB AND ANDREW
Birthday
boys Rob Currah and Andy Newton celebrated special occasions recently.
Rob turned the big 4-0 and
Andy got the keys of the door (as opposed to usual where he is shown
the door!)
and turned 21 last week.
Both celebrated in time
honoured fashion and got pissed! Well’ what can I
say…
But: Happy Birthday to You;
You live in a Zoo; You’ve got a Face Like a Monkey; and you
smell like one too.
Altogether
now… hee hee hee
MULTI-STYLE
SEMINAR IN
NEW YEAR
SOME
of the region’s top martial arts instructors are
coming to Alnwick to teach on an open seminar in aid of Cancer Research
The
workshop features sessions in Jui-jutsu, Evasive
Self-Defence System, Kenjutsu, Aikido, kung fu and Directional Fighting
Method
(DFM), historic western sword systems.
Hosted
by the Directional Fighting Method Club, the event is being held on
Sunday,
January 27, from 9am at Willowburn Sports Centre, Alnwick.
DFM
instructor
Phil Doherty said: “The idea behind these seminars is to
raise cash for Cancer
Research
“It
is
open to any martial artist from any club or association who would like
to try
different arts and help raise cash for this
very important charity.
“All
the
instructors share one philosophy and that is open mindedness to new
ideas and
principles from other arts.
“This
is
the first of many different seminars that will take place across the
region
hosted by different clubs and associations all with the aim for
promoting
friendship and raising cash for the charity.
“We
would love for other martial arts groups in the Alnwick area to become
involved
in the fund raising efforts and host similar events."
The
seminar costs £15 per participant on the day and
£10 if pre-booked.
Those
attending should wear a martial arts uniform or loose sports clothing
and bring
a packed lunch and water.
For
further information call Phil Doherty on 0191 4401368 or Darren Currah
01665
604871.
BREAKING
(water) NEWS
HOT
off the wires – DFM member Dave
Price has had a baby.
The
new
addition to the club is called Isaac and sleeps, well like a
baby…
Congrats and welcome to the sleepless night club!
Updates
to come! Exclusive pics.
NEW MIXED
MARTIAL ARTS
CLASSES
A
NEW MMA starter class is beginning
at Willowburn Sports Centre.
The
class will teach the
fundamentals of ultimate fighting and cage rage competitions both for
contest
and fitness (student choice).
The
first
lesson is being held on Sunday, February 3 from 5pm to 7pm.
MMA
draws
on a number of different methods including boxing, kick boxing, muay
thai,
ju-jutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, western grappling and judo, and others.
DFM
Instructor Rob Currah said: “This class is ideal for both
those interested in
competing in competitions and those who want to get fit by using the
rigorous
training methods in MMA.
“In
MMA you
learn to both the stand up game with boxing and other striking arts and
on the
ground with ju-jitsu and grappling.
“It’s
a
great way to get fit, gain confidence and learn new skills.”
The
MMA
club is part of DFM Martial Arts and all students from other
disciplines and
clubs are also members by right.
Phone:
Rob
on 07828 898645 or
Darren on 01665 604871
Email:
robert@currah35.wanadoo.co.uk
NEW
WOMEN’S KICKBOX 4
FITNESS CLASS
A
NEW
kickboxing based fitness class
for women is opening next month
The
female only DFM Kickbox 4
Fitness class is being held at the Willowburn Sport Centre on Febrary
3
from
5pm to 6pm.
Kickbox
4
Fitness is a great way to improve flexibility, tone tums and develop
upper and
lower body strength.
The
class
is being run by new DFM Instructor Lisa Williams.
DFM
Instructor Lisa said: “This is a great way to get fit, lose
weight and tone up generally.
“Although
the system uses kickboxing moves there is no sparring. Instead the
emphasis is
on fitness and improving health.
“It’s
also
good fun and great way to meet new people.”
Classes
are
strictly 16-years over.
The
first
lesson is free.
Phone
Lisa:
01665 576853
Email:
lwilliamsecdl@yahoo.co.uk
UP-AND-COMING
FUTURE
EVENTS
Last year’s event was a great success and a fun day.
The same rules apply this year and contestants are encouraged to take part in both sections.
Medals and the student of the year award are up for grabs
The Marfest08
International
Martial Arts Festival is being held in May
The
Directional Fighting Method troupe of troubled warriors
have been invited to take part.
The
event is the largest martial arts exhibition in the
North and all the money raised goes to cancer research.
DFM
Instructor Phil Doherty said: “Cancer Research
“We would like all DFM martial Arts members from all our clubs to come down and support the event if at all possible.
“DFM
Martial Arts is hosting a seminar on 27th
Jan also in aid of raising money for the charity and it would be great
for
everyone to come and take part in this and support our own charity
event.”
More
details on the Marfest08 will be sent soon.
The
seminar
is being hosted by Sifu Steve Youngman and is being held in Wallsend in
February.
There
will
be a number of different system being taught from Aikido, modern
fighting
systems, traditional karate jujitsu and many other.
See
above
DFM
Martial Arts held its
first annual kickboxing and grappling competition at the Willowburn
Sports
Centre.
Students
from both DFM
Kickboxing and the Directional Fighting Method Club joined together for
a day
of high kicks and low takedowns.
DFM
Instructor Darren Currah
said: “It was a great day full of fun with good displays of
both kickboxing and
ground fighting from all the students.
“It
was interesting watching
those with more grappling experience fight kickboxing and the other way
around.
“But
no matter what core
system the students came from they all give it their best with some
surprising
results.”
The
tournament was held under
a round-robin system with each contestant fighting three times.
The
contest started with the
kickboxing competition over two rounds of two minutes each.
Points
were scored for clean
punches and kicks to the head and body, combinations of sweeps, low
kicks and
punches, and knees to the body and thighs.
Scott Norris drew two fights
and won one; Barry Angus drew two fights and won one; Andy Newton won
one
fight, drew one and lost one; Steve Mclaughlan
won one, drew one and lost one;
The
grappling contest was a
no-strikes shoot-submission competition of two rounds of three minute
duration.
Students
had to wrestle,
throw or takedown the opponent and then make them submit through a lock
or
choke hold.
Points
were awarded for
taking an opponent down, moving from one ground fighting position to a
superior
fighting position, range of techniques employed, ground defence against
an
attack, defence against shoots and fighting spirit.
Steve
Mclaughlan won one,
drew one and lost one; Andy Newton won one, drew one and lost one; Ryan
Copeland won two and drew one; Scott Norris lost two and drew one;
Barry Angus
drew two and lost one; Heather Swanton lost
two and drew one; Robin
Francis won two and drew one.
Heather
Swanton was named as
the winner of the Fighting Spirit Award.
Heather was the only female contestant and is of slight build.
DFM
instructor Phil Doherty said: “Some of
the fighters Heather fought are around six foot and weigh in on average
about
14 stone.
“Yet
she managed to give all
the strapping lads a surprise with her excellent ground defence and
quick
counter-attacking and above all sheer guts.”
CLUB
PRESENTATION
NIGHT A DRUNKEN
SUCCESS
Medals
for the competition
were handed out to the fighters who took part in the annual competition.
Scott
Norris, Robin Francis,
Heather Swanson, Andrew Newton, Steve McLaughlan, Ryan Copland and
Barry Angus
all received a medal.
Next
was the Student of the
year awards. Steve McLaughlan was the winner for the kickboxing club
and Andrew
Newton and Barry Angus jointly received the trophy for the Directional
Fighting
Method Club.
After
that it all went a bit
blurry…
BREAKING
NEWS
HOT
off the wires – Hannah McDonald has had her baby.
Kickboxing
student Hannah
give birth a few weeks ago to a bouncing girl weighing in 8lbs 5oz.
The
new club member is called
Grace Alexandria.
Both
mum and baby are fine.
The
little darling sleeps
throughout the night…
Congratulations
Hannah and
Karl.
DFM
STUDENT SAVES GIRL FROM CRAZED
SEX ATTACKER
DFM
student Andrew Newton turned super hero and
rescued a 13-year-old from being raped in a busy street.
While waiting for a bus he heard a girl scream, turned and saw a man on top of a young trying to take her clothes off.
Andrew,
who is learning to
become an instructor, used his skills to drag the sex attacker off her
and pin
him down while the boys and girls in blue arrived.
The
attack took place in the
Haymarket Bus Station,
He
was helped by other men
who helped keep him under control.
Andrew’s
exploits saw him
feature as a page lead in the Sunday Sun newspaper.
The
girl was having a family
night out but had ran ahead of her main party to the bus station where
the man
allegedly just grabbed her and tore her clothes off.
The
man has been arrested and
charged with a sex offence. He will face a crown court trail shortly.
UP
AND
COMING SEMINARS AND COURSES
Clubs
that have already agreed to take part include DFM and the
DFM
Instructor Phil Doherty said: “If you can make it to this
seminar then do so
because you’ll learn a lot from the different perspectives
from both the
different instructors and the systems they teach.
There
will be a collection in aid of Cancer Research
“It
doesn’t matter which DFM school you belong to –
this course will help you
understand combat at a deeper level.
“You’ll
also be helping raise funds for a special cause – one in
three of us will get
cancer at some time in our lives. All the money raised will go to the
Email
Phil if you’re interested on phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk
Alnwick’s
DFM Kickboxing club makes the grade
Eight
students from DFM's
adult kickboxing school took the gruelling grading that tested their
expertise
in kickboxing and fitness.
First they had to demonstrate
their conditioning levels with sets of press-ups, squats and sit ups as
well as
endure rounds of skipping.
Then they were tested on
their punching, kicking and striking techniques against kick shields
and focus
mitts.
Then each student had to spar
with opponents to finally win their belt.
Lisa Williams won her brown
belt, Steve McLaughlin and Scott Norris both got their blue belts,
Chris Dunn,
David Turner and Terri Hopper won their orange belts, and Laura Lewett
and
Brianna Etriken received their yellow belts.
DFM
Martial Arts is offering
two free lessons to any new starter in any of its combat and fitness
schools
throughout January and February.
The
Club is also
opening a 12
to15-year-old kickboxing class at Willowburn Sport Centre this month
from 6pm
to 7pm on Wednesdays.
And
in February DFM
plans
to run a 12 to 15-year-old class at the North Community Centre,
A
new Kickboxing for
Fitness
class for women will also be held at the centre on Thursdays from 6pm
to 7pm,
and Sundays from 10am to 11am.
WE
have recently had a complaint from Willowburn Sports
Centre about male members being in full view!
Will
all
male members
from
now on please keep their tackle fully clothed in the main hall.
Apparently
female
Willowburn
staff find the sight of all your pasty hairy legs off-putting and the
Y-fronts
less than appealing.
Strangely
the same DFM
members wearing bathing costumes wouldn’t faze them despite
more man flesh
being on show – and wet to boot.
It
has
been pointed
out by
the Willowburn manager that ‘several female Leisure
Assistants – constantly
enter the sports hall and can become embarrassed at the sight of male
users
getting changed…’
(Obviously
so
embarrassed
they have to go back for another look – just in case they
missed wot ever it
was they were looking for…)
However
– as
they own the
hall we will have to comply.
So
from
now all
members must
be in the official changing rooms before putting on any more displays
of pasty
hairy legs or lunch boxes.
They
never said
anything
about female members getting changed but I guess same applies.
So
no
knees, bums and
up-see-daisies on show either!
GRAPPLING
CLASSES
NEW
grappling classes will be starting on a Wednesday
from 8pm at Willowburn Sports Centre.
The
classes will cover
shooting in, takedowns, ground
fighting, submissions, chokes, locks, transitions and escapes.
Systems
covered:
Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Ninjutsu,
Japanese Daito Ryu Ju-Jutsu and
This class is open to all members.
MarFest
07
STUDENTS
from the Method will be taking part in a
major martial arts showcase.
The
event, held in
Sunderland
in May, is the biggest show of martial arts in the north of
Last
year
more than 40
clubs
took part and it was watched by around 1000 spectators.
The
DFM
students will
be
demonstrating open hand defences as well as hanbo techniques.
All
the
money goes to
Cancer
Research
See
DFM
instructor
Phil
Doherty for further details.
KICKBOXING
AND GRAPPLING BOUT
WE
are still awaiting the date for the next kickboxing
tournament.
As
well
as kickboxing
it is
proposed to hold a Shoot Fighting match as well.
Shoot
Fighting is
submission
wrestling without punches, kicks or strikes.
The
As soon
as we get a
date
we’ll send details via email.
See
either Phil or Darren for
further details.