We are dedicated to teaching only the most effective and practical combat methods, drawn from over 30 years of experience in a wide range of many different martial systems and real life encounters. Always with a primary focus on what works on the street and above all else, survival.
From a very young age Rob's father, a long serving Royal Marine Commando, passed on knowledge that started him on this martial journey and helped to forge his warrior spirit through tough physical challenges and hardship.
As a youth Rob quickly found himself getting into a lot of fights, using his martial arts training to his advantage to deal with problems on the street. He had more than his fair share of violent encounters in his teens and 20's. These incidents involved many challenges; people intoxicated by drink or drugs, multiple attackers and a range of different weapons. He believes if it wasn't for his background in martial arts he wouldn't be here today to tell the stories and pass on the lessons of his experience.
Through these challenges he matured, learnt a new mindset and the ability to keep a cool head in the face of danger. He has since worked in Private Security as a Bodyguard for clients in the entertainment industry which resulted in many situations where his martial arts training came into play. It proved to be an interesting testing ground that allowed him to learn how to adapt and fine tune techniques to be effective in todays ever-changing modern world.
He now works as a full time Martial Arts Instructor and is the Founder of Practical Combat Methods. He is an obsessive practitioner of external conditioning, a tried and tested empty hand fighter and an expert in Chinese and Filipino weapon disciplines.
His personal belief is that if a fight can be avoided than it should be. If a situation can be resolved without violence then it should be, but if attacked, act decisively and do whatever it takes to win.
He is still dedicated to learning and always looking for different methods to add to his current skill set. Always looking for new ways to improve the old, and always searching for new perspectives to allow himself to grow as a martial artist and instructor.
After 30 years of training in the Martial Arts, Rob decided that to teach full time and dedicate his life to sharing and passing on the invaluable lessons he has learned was the logical next step.
In Japan they have a concept called "Ikigai" which roughly translates as "reason for being". To find your Ikigai you must find something that the world needs, that you can be paid for, that you are good at and that you love doing. Rob decided that teaching Martial Arts was his Ikigai.
In his martial career so far he has trained in many different systems: Military CQC, Judo, Karate, Western Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Pencak Silat, Chen Taijiquan, Yang Taijiquan, Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan, Ba Gua, Malaysian Sil Lum Pai Qin Na, Qigong, Luohan Quan, Capoeira, Mizongquan, Ninjutsu, Black Flag Eng Chun, Kali/Escrima, Panantukan, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Mande Muda Silat, Ghost Elusive Combat, Savate, Mastro Defence System, 4D Combat, Urban Combatives, Rapid Arnis, Silat Suffian Bela Diri, Rapid Assault Tactics, Self Defence and a multitude of different weapon disciplines. Some of the above were never pursued at any great length and have only had a slight influence, while others have been obsessively trained to Instructor levels and still continue to be trained under the guidance of great teachers to this day.
The idea to take all that was learned so far and fuse it into a combined system was the initial goal. However as time went on he came to understand that not everyone wants to dedicate themselves to a lifetime of study, so he decided to refine the system and remove techniques that were no longer practical for use in the modern world. The goal was to end up with a straight forward system, that would not only teach each student all aspects of martial arts but also encourage them to think for themselves and develop their own methods. Gradually more and more content was removed and now only the most effective and practical combat methods remain, and this is what we call 'The System.'
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