Please NOTE: from this issue the newsletter will ONLY Be sent out to Club Heads, Reps & Instructors .... However anyone else requesting a 'hard' copy will be sent one, but ONLY on request.
STREET TALK ... The Newsletter of the S.D.F.
March 2010 Welcome to this latest issue This is the FIRST Issue for 2010, and quite a fair bit to write about this time, so here goes!
NEW MEMBERS I would like to welcome all those who have joined already this year, from the loyal clubs who regularly send in both NEW and RENEWED members year after year .. You are the backbone of the SDF.
Individuals: Our Individual new members are always welcome, as usually they are martial artists of some experience and skill, thus increasing the ‘skill’ base of the SDF… Brad Ritchie (Progressive Conflict Management Systems) Jonny Figgis (A very strong member from Southern Ireland) Steve Harknett (3rd Dan Kempo Ju-Jitsu from Harlow in Essex) Gary Broocks (Shotokan Karate Black Belt from Bournmouth)Mickey Tulloch (great C.V. from Washington Tyne & Wear) Mike Hulme (Assistant Instructor at the famous Deisel Gym in London) Neil Wilson (Tony Blauer SPEAR System Instructor from Rayleigh in Essex) Julie Smethurst (Top Fitness & Self-Defence Coach from Bolton in Lancashire) Garry Smith (3rd Dan Ju-Jitsu Instructor from Sheffield, SouthYorkshire) Aaron St Omer (Via Top SDF Man Tony Gladwell in London) Daniel Meade Multi Skilled martial artist from Haringey, London)
As you can see, a vast range of skilled new members bringing more depth to the SDF.
Clubs: It is always nice to get new clubs in the SDF. It’s more than new members, it’s a new venue and skill base for SDF’ers to visit. From the end of 2009, we have had the pleasure of the following new clubs, who are very welcome indeed.
Selby MMA (A mixed martial arts club run by Craig Lawrence .. top club, top instructor … based in Selby North Yorkshire) C.E.M.P.A. (A new and exciting venture by an old friend and long term SDF TKD Instructor Mark Richardson. Mark is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and formulated a NEW Concept in his training skills J.J. Kickboxing (top class Kickboxing and self-defence club run by John Rickaby 4th Dan .. based in Bishop Auckland County Durham. This club has produced regional and national champs) Sesku Academy a long time SDF member Adam Redfern runs this highly successful Thai Boxing Club in South Kirby (Nr Pontefract)… The club has recently moved into new premises and I went along to sort out the club joining the SDF and adding self-defence to its Boxing & Thai Boxing
That’s FOUR new clubs in THREE months … welcome all.
Events: Not a great deal to report from around the SDF world … always the same at the start of a year. However, Friday 5th march 2010 was a memorable evening. Andy Crittenden of ACMAC Doncaster hosted his second seminar with the legendary Catch Wrestling Coach Johnny Huskey. I was delighted to attend this event and meet up with many old and new friends in the martial arts. Too many names to mention, but nice to see Neil Anderson and Steve Grey again after about 10 years… They are from Eckington and are top grappling men. I shared my spectators slot with my old friend and long term SDF man Neil Hall. Neil runs the Caged Steel club in Dewsbury... top man indeed.
Without doubt Johny Huskey is the BEST Catch Wrestler and Coach I have seen in at least 25 years. If you missed it, you missed a great night. He even stuck a painful arm lock on me… excellent stuff.
Also Andy is hosting a seminar with PHIL GLOVER at his Doncaster club. Date: Sunday 25th April … 11am to 1.00pm. Phil is the TOPS in Thai Style Kickboxing tuition, and the seminar fee is a PALTRY £10 !!!.
Grades. It’s always great to hear of SDF members getting grades from other organisations or through our own network of high graded instructor.
Firstly: Andy Crittenden & Ian Harrison. I have been teaching both Andy & Ian privately every Tuesday morning for well over 7 years (Andy for 10).. They started with me as 5th Dan TKD for Andy & 3rd Dan Kickboxing for Ian. Now they have both reached 3rd Dan in the SDF Self-Defence System, and well deserved it is. Ian had a double as he also gained his 4th Dan in kickboxing as well. Well done you two
Speaking of Andy Crittenden, as most of you know his club in Doncaster (South Yorkshire) is where most of the SDF’s events, such as seminars, courses, gradings etc happen. Well, after much fundraising etc, Andy has bought new mats for the club, it looks GREAT!
Action for Society. Our new national charity is now in full swing, and I will be contacting SDF Reps, Heads etc with a view to holding out the old ‘begging bowl’. This charity is a very worthwhile one indeed. So if any clubs or members want to help out raising funs for us, please contact us with your ideas or requests. It can be as little as sticking a collection tin on your signing in desks, to organising actually collections through your club members or even for those of you who enjoy taking part in charity events, DO ONE FOR US! Checkout our charity on its temporary website: www.actionforsociety.org.uk Charity Registration Number is: 1131918.
Odds & Sods We are now trying to organise the TENTH ANNIVERSARY EVENT for the SDF. This will be at Andy’s Club in Doncaster over a Saturday & Sunday later this year. We will be getting a couple of TOP CLASS Instructors, and there will be FOUR 2 hour sessions over the two days. I will teach one each day and the guests will have one slot each for either the Saturday or the Sunday. We also hope to book a room with a DJ and some grub (important) for a social get-together on the Saturday night for those who might be staying over or can make it home (sober??) Tickets will be printed and sold as soon as we get dates and guests organised, we will be looking at costs around £80-£100 for this ONE OFF event. Costs will include the 2 days training, and the FREE GRUB at the evening ... (you pay for your own booze … sorry!)
Reports will be sent to the Martial Arts magazines. This cannot happen again so have a think about coming along. Start asking and letting me know how many we can expect. The rules are simple... NO TICKET NO NOTHING! So watch out for developments, and let’s have your ideas, suggestions and approximate numbers coming.
I am considering adding a new page to the SDF website listing all the various Regional, National & International Champions (Past & Present) we have as SDF members. We have an amazing collection of champs Juniors & Seniors from every known form of martial art, including boxing & wrestling as well.
People should KNOW the calibre of our members, especially as we are supposed to be a self-defence organisation NOT a competition body. It will take some time to get the names listed, especially if we include PAST champs as well… If we DO decide to go ahead with this extra page, I will be sending you a form to fill in listing your champions ... anything from 1st to 3rd places will be listed.. (it could take ALL my available web page space Ha ha)
That’s it for this month ... please send in your event reports and anything else you want included either on the news pages on the website or in this newsletter.
