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290 Educators providing Fighting courses

Five Winds Tai Chi Chuan (Glasgow)

five winds tai chi chuan (glasgow)

Glasgow

A very brief introduction…….. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a Chinese martial art. Often referred to as simply Tai Chi, it is probably best known by the hand form, a set of inter-linked postures performed in continuous, flowing movements. However, Tai Chi also includes many other aspects, eg weapons forms, various push hands partner work, martial training routines, application & self defense, etc. Tai Chi is practiced extensively around the world for the purpose of health and relaxation alone. Regular daily practice can improve co-ordination, concentration, confidence, self awareness, general fitness and health. However, Tai Chi offers a wider agenda for those interested in martial application and self defense, and in the study of theory. Tai Chi requires relaxation during practice, important to effective application, but also recognised as beneficial to health with regular and prolonged practice. It is based upon the principle of Yin Yang theory - for example, soft overcoming/blending with hard, inner firmness and outer softness, or response to change. This principle leads directly to the method of martial application. Tai Chi Chuan is often described as the principle in action. The origins of Tai Chi Chuan are not entirely clear, and reportedly date back to a Taoist monk, Chang San Feng (born Song Dynasty circa 1200CE). There are influences from other areas of Chinese culture beyond Taoism however, for example military, Chinese Boxing Arts, Confucianism, and more. (These influences are reflected in The Tai Chi Classics, a must for serious practitioners). Tai Chi Chuan is an effective means of self defence if diligently practiced, but further study can lead to thinking beyond that of simply fighting. It is probably fair to say Tai Chi practiced today emerged over the 19th / early 20th century, the best known styles being developed through family lineage in the Chinese tradition of martial arts - Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, Hao.

Gracie Barra Belfast BJJ Academy (Northern Ireland)

gracie barra belfast bjj academy (northern ireland)

5.0(58)

Belfast

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is widely acknowledged as the most effective martial art in the world. The Gracie family, from Rio De Janerio, Brazil, are considered the founding fathers of BJJ, having learnt a hybrid form of judo and traditional Ju Jitsu from a travelling Japanese prizefighter, Mitsuyo Maeda, in the early 1900s. The creator of Judo, Jigoro Kano had tasked Maeda with spreading his new sport around the world, and when Maeda left Brazil, the Gracies started their own academy, teaching their modified ‘Gracie’ (Brazilian) Jiu Jitsu. For the next 80 years the Gracie family modified and refined their art, holding public challenge matches to prove the effectiveness of their blend of jiu jitsu. Despite these very public, and often controversial, matches, the art remained largely unknown outside of Brazil. This changed in the 1990s. In 1993 the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was established. This competition pitted various styles of martial arts against each other. Royce Gracie, son of one of the founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, dominated the event, beating each of his much-larger and stronger opponents with ease. Royce’s performance in the UFC changed the martial arts world forever: his performance demonstrated that with the correct application of technique and leverage the weaker and smaller man could defeat any adversary. Since 1993 there has been an explosion in the growth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with clubs in Los Angeles to Australia, China to Russia. BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU IN BELFAST Closer to home, in the late 1990s Mauricio Gomes, a representative of Gracie Barra and an extended member of the Gracie family, arrived in the British Isles and set up BJJ clubs in London, Birmingham, and Belfast. Gracie Barra Northern Ireland was constituted, and since then the club has grown from strength to strength. Maintaining close ties with its sister clubs across Britain and Ireland, the club has hosted some of the most highly regarded practitioners in history of the art, including Mauricio’s son Roger Gracie (the most successful BJJ competitor of all time), as well as four-time world champion Braulio Estima (IBJJF Hall of Famer and ADCC champion) and his brother Victor Estima (NoGi world champion). In 2011, and with Maurico’s blessing, Braulio Estima awarded Graham Keys his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He was the first person in Northern Ireland, and the third in Ireland, to attain this rank. Under Graham’s tutelage, Gracie Barra Belfast has become Northern Ireland’s most successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies, having produced Irish, British, European and World champions. Recently, and in recognition of the Graham’s expertise, Ulster Rugby approached the club to help with their training and preparation for their up-coming 2014 season. Today, Gracie Barra Northern Ireland is the only official Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club in Northern Ireland, and the largest and most successful BJJ club in Belfast. Everyone is welcome to come and train, at our classes held in a number of locations across Belfast. The club can trace its lineage directly back to the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Cambridge Gymnastics Academy

cambridge gymnastics academy

4.1(12)

Cambridge Gymnastics Academy CIC is a non-profit organisation, which was founded in May 2012. The company Director Kayleigh Plaza, had a vision to provide affordable gymnastics for all, no matter age, gender, income or ability/disability. The club has since evolved and with an incredibly dedicated staff team, together fundraised, saved and received grants from both the Council and Sport England totalling £250,000. In May 2016, CGA opened its doors to a dedicated facility at North Cambridge Academy. CGA prides itself on being a hub for the community. Sessions are available from 6 week old babies to adult, from recreational to elite, with the lowest priced classes in the area and we even offer a 10% discount for people on means tested benefits. After our pre-school classes, we offer free refreshments so families can build relationships with others. We offer classes for minority groups such as women’s only, over 50’s and specially designed disability sessions. We are an inclusive club, so in the evenings children with disabilities join in with our normal recreational sessions. We deliver curriculum support to the NCA students and run a youth night on a Friday evening to provide local young people with a safe environment. In 2017 our success & hard work was recognised by British Gymnastics and we were selected as 1 of 3 clubs in the whole of the UK to be shortlisted for the award ‘British Gymnastics Club of the Year’. Following this success CGA were also awarded the 2017 winners of the ‘Living Sports Community Club of the Year’ fighting off strong competition from sports clubs across Cambridgeshire. Both huge achievements for the club. The club is a registered member of both British Gymnastics and Eastern Counties Gymnastics Association and has a number of fully qualified coaches & judges up to National Level who are DBS checked, safeguard & first aid qualified.