Newsletter December 2012

Check out our latest Newsletter here, enjoy!

Interview with an Urban Escrima Student - Chris

Welcome to the latest installment of our ‘Interview with a Student’ series. Chris is a long time student with Urban Escrima Self Defence so we are really pleased to see what Chris’s thoughts are on training.

How long have you been training with Urban Escrima and what grade are you?
I started training with Urban Escrima in May 2011 and I am second grade.

What if any martial arts have you done before?
I have done Jiu Jitsu and Aikido before starting Escrima.

What attracted you to train in Escrima Concepts?
I like the simplicity and no nonsense approach. The Escrima which is taught is pretty dynamic and flexible. It welcomes techniques from any martial arts that works, so what I have learnt before is not wasted. I would say what I have learnt before is the rough edges being chiselled, refined + learning something new.

What things do you most enjoy training at Urban Escrima?
Its a really challenging. Most of the time I am trying to overcome myself before learning to overcome or control others if there is a scrap. But I think mentally the weapons part has taught me to keep/walk away from trouble because of the damage it can do if employed.

What do you feel is the most important thing you have learned at Urban Escrima?
Finding out how little I know about self defence in stress situations and believe me in a confrontation the situation will be stressful. No getting away from that.

What would you say to someone thinking of coming down to train at Urban Escrima?
I would say come and try out the system for about a month and you will train with some great lads and lasses.

Thanks Chris!

Urban Escrima Newsletter - November 2012

You can check our latest Newsletter here: Urban Escrima Newsletter 2012

Enjoy!

Interview with an Urban Escrima Student - Vasilisa

This month’s student interview is with Vasilisa who has been a regular at our Hyde Park Self Defence training sessions. Let’s see what Vasilisa has to say about herself and her training.

Please introduce yourself, where are you from and what do you do?My name is Vasilisa, I am Russian. I used to work as a lawyer in my home country, but I abandoned law for Photography when moved to UK.

How long have you been doing photography? Can you give us a link to some of your work?
My photography career started in 2005 when I became a Co-Author of a gift/photography book “Grey Matter:  Why it’s Good to be Old”. At the moment most of my work is Wedding and Portraiture Photography. Also I have a few students of Photoshop. My Wedding Photography website www.photographyrealm.co.uk
Some work can be seen on FB page http://www.facebook.com/VasilisaPR

You have been doing the Urban Escrima Hyde Park training sessions right? How is that going?I enjoy our sessions. Most of my training is gym based and doing Escrima in the Hyde Park is very pleasant.

Are you currently training in any other martial arts? Have you trained in anything before?I am into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Also, recently, I started traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu.

How do you feel training in Escrima Concepts has benefited you?It is an art of combat and self-defence which prepares you to a street situation from the very beginning. One can not underestimate it. Also, I find stick to stick drills very cool and different from what I am used to.

What things do you most enjoy training at Urban Escrima?The atmosphere of training is very pleasant and outdoor environment adds into it. Also, besides of being a knowledgeable trainer, Nigel can keep up with a Russian sense of humour, he is just a star.

What one thing do you feel you can take away from the training and use in a real life situation?One? There quite a few really. If I have to choose though, it would be the fact that I have more weapons in my bag then I ever thought.

Urban Escrima Newsletter October 2012

Here is the new Urban Escrima Newsletter. If you want a higher resolution version please email us, enjoy!

Urban Escrima Merchandise!

We now have a range of merchandise in stock. If you would like to purchase any of the below, please let us know.

Interview with an Urban Escrima Student - Nacho

The latest instalment of our ‘Interview With a Student’ series, comes from the long time Urban Escrima student, Nacho. Over to you Nacho.

Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do?

My name is Nacho, I am 31 year old and I work as a chef in The Gallery Cafe, a vegetarian cafe in Bethnal Green . I love basketball and I am trying to learn as much as possible about bike mechanics in case I get tired of cooking. Me and my girlfriend help a friend who works in the charity Dog Trust fostering dogs which are going be put to sleep or have been mistreated.

How long have you been vegan?

I think I have been vegan for about 8 years, I don’t know exactly because before that I was vegetarian but I would hardly eat any dairy or eggs, just occasionally, one day I just decided to stop consuming animal products completely but don’t remember when that day was. Sport wise I think it has been good for me and I have proved my personal doctor, my parents, coaches and friends that a plant based diet works, and if works for me can work for anybody else.

How long have you been doing Escrima Concepts and have you had any other martial arts experience?

I have been doing Ecrima for a bit over one year. I didn’t have much experience in other martial arts apart from a bit of taekwondo when I was a kid.

Why did you choose Escrima as opposed to other martial arts?

Because a friend was running his own club and I was invited to check it out, after 2 or 3 weeks it started making sense to me and I got hooked so I can say I am glad that I was invited.

What do you most enjoy about training at Urban Escrima?

I like everything really, especially the atmosphere and how the instructors run the class. If i had to choose something I would say when we train unarmed , when we learn to defend ourselves without sticks or just with “weapons” like keys, mobile phones…I think this is really practical as we carry those things in daily basis but I understand as well how important is to train with sticks or other weapons because learning to use them will give us the knowledge to know how other people will use them and therefore defending ourselves against them will be more effective.

How has Escrima benefited you?

It has given me confidence and taught me some common sense tactics in case I suffer an attack or an assault. Before I started Escrima I don’t think I could have survived an attack from a stab for example, now I think that despite of being likely to get hurt I think I have chances to save my life.

What does off-line mean?

It is one of the most important concepts in Escrima and means to move out of the line of the attack to avoid it, rather than meet the attack or match it with power it is important to move to one of the sides of that line. For example with a stab the last thing we should do is to try to stop it without moving, grabbing the aggressor hands or the knife (I guess that everybody knows this) or something like that is very dangerous and it is likely to end very bad. I would like to say that is not just moving for the sake of it but it is important to end in a good position, facing the aggressor or training partner and in a good range distance. I hope to be right….

Thank you so much for the interview Nacho, see you in the gym soon!