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ESDCS Combat - Don't Be A Victim

Politics and the martial arts

There is a common misconception among some martial arts and modern self defence groups that all martial arts associations, societies and groups are members of an actual legal governing body which is regulated by an official government laws.

The truth is that at the present time within the United Kingdom there exist no legal government body to safe guard and monitor the conduct of any martial arts governing bodies for martial artists or modern self defence/combat groups. No laws have ever been passed by the British government.

At best there exists a mutual understanding and recognition for grades and titles within the martial arts community. Due to a lack of actual legal laws the martial arts world is plagued with the cancer of politics, petty arguing over who does what, who has what and what we can and cannot do. At the same time we have to ask our selves;

“If the government did have control over martial arts groups would things be any better?”

The Club Creation

The club and style was simply created to provide a dedicated training environment away from the politics and unofficial restrictions and ever changing rules of martial arts governing bodies. We are not interested in titles, colour of belts, pride or ego. Our ultimate goal is train with fellow practitioners in a political free environment for the study of street defence techniques.

About Us

Well quite simply what you see is what you get, nothing more. We study street defence and combat methods and that’s it. The E.S.D.C.S is a no frills back to basics system taught in a realistic manner under controlled conditions not restrictions.

We make no promises or guarantees; all we offer is good old fashioned training. The system techniques are designed to utilize the strengths of each individual member for means of self protection. There are no magic or secret techniques, what you see is what you get; Head butting, biting, striking, elbows and anything thing else we can utilize for defence. There are no frills; if it works we will use it. And we will willingly learn from anyone who can improve our knowledge.

What We Have:

* A full and up to date professional membership to the cobra martial arts national governing body. (www.cmaa.co.uk) Founder Andrew Morrell, 7th Dan. Sensei Morrell also resides on the council of (MASA) the martial arts standards agency.
* Conflict resolution instructor training qualifications, taken through D.F.M. – CRT solutions.
* A current and up to date (enhanced) criminal records bureau checks.
* Professional indemnity insurance
* Up to date first aid qualifications and training.
* A professionally structured training syllabus designed to get the most from the practitioner.
* A safe and secure training environment with up to date risk assessments for training and the training environment.
* Access to various training programmes and course throughout the UK.

About Me

Quite simply what you see is what you get nothing more. I have no interest in the political squabbles of the martial arts world. I hold no desire to injure another human being just because I study methods of self defence and fighting. Violence is never a good thing and it is my opinion that it causes more problems than it ever solves.

Since my teenage years I have studied and tried various forms of martial arts, some lasting a few weeks or a few months. I make no promises and offer only good old fashioned training and friendship. I do not know and have never studied any weird and wonderful secret techniques that are often associated with martial artists.

The E.S.D.C.S syllabus techniques were put together using techniques from previous martial arts and self defence systems I have studied. What is unique about the system techniques is the manner in which the techniques are applied, nothing more.

The system techniques were personally endorsed by Andrew Morrell 7th Dan of the cobra martial arts association (www.cmaa.co.uk) for use as a method of self protection.

Andrew Morrell has personally checked and verified my martial arts grades with former instructors and sensei. Should any one wish to check my credentials they can do so by contacting Andrew Morrell or former instructors. Or by checking the national black belt register at www.blackbeltregister.co.uk

My official grades are:

* 4th Dan Combat Te jutsu. Awarded by sensei Andrew Morrell at the cobra martial arts national summer course July 2008.

* 2nd Dan wado ryu karate. Awarded by sensei Joe Walton. Formerly of the north east karate association, now headed by sensei Peter Stewart 4th Dan.

* 1st Dan Kogusoku Aikdo. (formerly kobukan aikido) Awarded by sensei Geoff Aisbit, 3rd Dan, Sensei Garry Kindred 4th Dan, Sensei’s Don & Dave Mahon 5th Dan of the kogusoku aikido association.

* 1st Dan Kurai Nami Satori Ryu Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship). Awarded by Sensei Andrew Thoburn 4th Dan Kenjustu/Kendo. (This grade was taken at a national black belt course in Manchester and witnessed by sensei Andrew Morrell of the (C.M.A.A) grading panel.

* I am still currently perusing the study of Kenjutsu and have started training in kobudo under sensei Brian Ford 7th Dan of the Go Ri Ho Chi Shin Kobudo. At this time I hold no grades in Kobudo.

* I no longer study any form of aikido, justu or karate. I occasionally train with former instructors of these arts in order to practise the basics of the arts etc. I do not teach these martial arts.

I write the following to dispel any myths that are sometimes associated with martial artists and self defence instructors. Quite often instructors are seen to have some sort of magical power and knowledge of weird and wonderful techniques and claims to perform amazing feats. The knowledge I have and the techniques I practise have been passed down to me by my former instructors and by instructors from various courses around the United Kingdom, nothing more.

* Although I served in the British army (infantry), I have never been a member of the Special Forces or any group remotely related to it.

* I do not hold any contracts to teach any government groups, special forces, police, firemen, national health service, prison officers and door supervisors.

* Although I have toured Japan and visited a Japanese Hombu, I have never taken any grades from any martial arts in Japan. I have merely trained with Japanese sensei in United Kingdom. (Sensei Sueyoshi Akeshi –Batto Ho, Iaido, Iai-Jutsu).

* Although I had a short career as a night club door man, I am no longer a doorman and hold no contract to teach restraint and control to doorman. (I gave up the night club door work as it was not the life I wanted to lead.)

* I cannot teach you any magical or special techniques that will guarantee your ultimate safety during periods of violence and assault. I have very limited knowledge of the human anatomy nervous system and I do teach any form of pressure point training.

* Just because a person teaches martial arts or self defence does not make them a tough guy or a hard man. Throughout history violence has solved very little. Those who do not learn from history repeat it.

* Wherever possible independent instructors have been asked to grade practitioners of the E.S.D.C.S method of combat.

A Final Word

The U.K E.S.D.C.S is a system of basics put together from martial arts techniques. What I have learnt is that complicated techniques will quite often get you hurt whilst trying to perform them under pressure is a spur of the moment attack. I learn from my students just as much as they learn from me. We all react, move and deal with violence in different ways. As human beings we are individually unique and we will all react differently under pressure.

I cannot offer you the ultimate answers to deal with violence. All we do is train and prepare in the hope the worst never happens. Violence has never solved any of the world’s problems. We train with conviction and sincerity nothing more, what you see is what you get. It is my sincere hope that the communities of martial arts and self defence can come together without politics, without pride and without ego.

A thank you

I have trained with so may instructors in clubs and on course around the United Kingdom that there are simply too many to thank for their teaching and knowledge. But for now I would like to thank;

Sensei’s Geoff Aisbit, Don & Dave Mahone, Joe Walton, Garry Lax, Andrew Thoburn, Andrew Morrell, Peter Seth, Sueyoshi Akeshi, Brian Ford and Paul Watson to name a few. My thanks also go to all the instructors whom have improved my skills and knowledge on courses around the United Kingdom.

I would also like to thank my students for their support during the creation of the club and for making sure the club became successful. And for placing their faith and trust in me. Far too many association and instructors forget these days that without the support and commitment of the students there would be no clubs.

John Barrass.

Messages from friends and photos;

“John Barrass joined then C.M.A.A. back in 2006 and since then I have met him on several occasions some of which I have had the pleasure to watch him both train and teach including at the SENI in 2006 when John and his colleagues gathered a massive crowd with their display of Japanese Sword.”

“With our help John has evolved and developed his own way in the Martial Arts, as many who have gone before him have also done”.

“In 2008 I gave him a personal invite to attend and teach at our annual course. This he did with a very positive result, so much so that he was on the list of ‘suggested Instructors’ for 2009”.

“On a personal note from myself John is an excellent example of what a Martial Artist should be, he is highly skilled yet modest and kind hearted at the same time and is always willing to help and support anyone who needs it”.

Andrew Morrell

President C.M.A.A.

Monday, 01 June 2009