THE JOURNEY
My journey into the Martial Arts began at the age of 13 in Tang Soo Do under Master Loke. I did this for a very short time – around three months. For the next 14 years, I didn’t learn any Martial Arts at all. Then, in August 1999, I started training in Wing Chun Kung Fu, under Sifu Ashley Philips (UKWCKFA). After training hard four times a week for a few years, I managed to reach an advanced level and also ended up as the assistant Instructor at the Canvey Island branch.
THE NEED FOR GROUND-FIGHTING GRACIE JIU-JITSU
Shortly after this, I realized this system lacked Ground-Fighting skills which I thought was essential for a complete system. I came to the conclusion that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the best Ground-Fighting system. So I bought a book and started teaching myself through the information on its pages with my good friend and training partner Vince Carter. Then two months later, through complete luck, I found a Royce Gracie seminar being held fairly local to where I lived. During the seminar with Royce Gracie, I met Dan Burzotto, a world-class Ground-Fighter (who in 2011 became the 1st Royce Gracie Black Belt in Europe). So my training with Dan Burzotta (TSGMMA) began and in 2004 after three years of one to one lessons with him, and training hard on my own, I was awarded my Blue Belt.
THE ART OF EIGHT LIMBS (MUAY THAI)
From then on, I started Muay Thai under the very talented Kru Brad Goldberg (BENFLEET MUAY THAI CLUB), I really liked their style of leg blocks, knees, and clinch work, which I believed could be added into my own system. I also learned some Boxing through the Muay Thai training I had undertaken. In 2009, I started training in Judo with a well respected Judoka called Sensei Dean Bolton (CANVEY ISLAND JUDO CLUB). I learned additional throws and takedowns, as well as how not to be thrown or taken down. I only went for three months, passing my yellow belt grading with ease (my four grading fights lasted less than 2 minutes altogether, with me winning with two ippons and two submissions).
The last 16 years, I have trained with the talented Vince Carter. Who has trained for over 30 years in various arts; including Karate, Tai Chi Chuan, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Jujutsu, Knife Fighting and Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship). When training with someone with a different background to yourself, you cannot help but pick up bits and pieces that you find practical and useful.
MIXING IT UP DIRTY BOXING, LETHWEI
In January 2014 I started training in Kali under Guru Chris Perry and Instructor Rob Drew (W.O.F.A). During the summer of 2016, I had the privilege to train with JKD Master Guru Daniel Sullivan (WARRIOR ARTS ALLIANCE). It was an intensive 12hr Instructors program in Dirty Boxing (Panantukan) in Westminster London. On the 11th November 2018, I attended the 1st ever Lethwei seminar held in the U.K. It was held in Reading, England by the 4x undisputed Open Weight World Champion Dave Leduc. I was lucky enough to train under Dave Leduc again the following year. Adding the essence of Kali, Dirty Boxing (Panantukan) and Lethwei into my system can only improve it.
THE FORMING OF ULTIMATE STREET DEFENCE
Ultimate Street Defence (USD) was formed in late December 2012, blending the arts mainly of Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Dirty Boxing, Judo, Jujutsu, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Lethwei, Panantukan, Combatives and MMA together for a practical street scenario self defence system. I still practice now and will never stop learning, training or evolving as a Martial Artist.
