The Street fighting art of Hsiu
Lung Tao - by Sifu John Carrigan
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 Hsiu Lung Tao is a street fighting orientated martial art based on the late Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do concepts. The art founded by Sifu John Carrigan encompasses concepts and ideas from a wide variety of systems. The aim of the HLT curriculum is to help the martial artist grow by exposing him to various ideas and training methods, producing a well rounded knowledgeable practitioner capable of handling himself in the appropriate manner should the need arise. HLT is not merely a new system created from bits of others, it is a concept that utilises various aspects of functional arts which are effective in street fighting. It is then up to you as the practitioner to use what works for you, after all everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. HITS |
Hsiu Lung Tao consists of certain concepts and training drills taken from many martial arts such as Wing Chun (Jun Fan), Boxing, Thai Boxing, Aikido, Jujitsu, Kali/Eskrima, Pencak Silat and many more. These are consistently organised into a training programme designed to enable students to reach their full potential in the minimum amount of time necessary, and from then on it is up to the individual to decide where they want to go with it.
We hold the principles of Bruce's JKD very dear:
- We lead with our strongest side (i.e. a southpaw stance for right
handed people), but always train the weaker side too!
- We use many different strikes based on the speed, strength and
size of the student. Big, small, fast, slow....major on the techniques
right for you.
- We don't train to enter martial arts competitions
- We focus on developing a small number of simple moves (as opposed to learning complicated and attractive looking katas)
- We make every single movement economical and direct
We don't do belts, we don't wear gi's ("martial arts
pyjamas"!), we
always wear training shoes for kicking, we punch without gloves
(optional). This is street combat, but not just a free-for-all
Testosterone fuelled punch-up! Classes are highly technical and
structured, and mutual
respect for your fellow students essential. We enjoy the UFC and
similar, but this is not a Cage Fighting/MMA
school. Whilst submission grappling (for example) is an excellent
technique for one-on-one rules based sport combat, try that on the
street and your opponents friends will knock your lights out or your
opponent will draw a bladed weapon and you will be in serious trouble.
We cover all ranges of combat, and work against empty hand, knife and
stick from distance and up close. Men and women are welcome
from ages 15 to retired. Good level of fitness not essential, but you
will improve with regular attendance! Don't confuse this with a "get
fit"
combat class, though - if you want that try boxercise! You might not be
the next Anderson
Silva, but you might just learn something to save your life, in the
company of friends who leave their egos at the door.
Don't worry if you don't think you'll ever knock someone out with a
single cross to the chin or ever have the flexibility to kick someone
in the head - whilst these techniques look great on film and will
finish most fights if delivered correctly, a broken hand or falling on
your backside because the floor's wet is rarely a sound self defence
move!! Come and learn the appropriate techniques for your build.
Interested in becoming a 3rd generation Bruce Lee student? There are
3 classes weekly in the West Kent area:
Monday 8pm -
10pm :
Goldsmid
Hall, Tudeley Lane, Tudeley,
Tonbridge, Kent
(Geoff
class) - Any ability welcome
(On the B2017 from Tonbridge to Five Oak Green, it's the first
building in on the right as you enter Tudeley - large car park opposite)
(The Golf Club just down the road from Hildenborough railway station - we use the studio upstairs in the gym - large car park outside)
Friday 7pm -
9pm : The
Hilden
Centre,
Rings Hill, Hildenborough,
Tonbridge, Kent (John class) - Advanced only
(The Golf Club just down the road from Hildenborough railway
station - we use the studio upstairs in the gym - large car park outside)
John Carrigan
John
began his training in the
martial arts
in 1972 studying the Chinese martial arts as well as Karate and went on
to
become a 3rd Dan Karate black belt, also gaining rankings in
several
other martial arts along the way. He has trained extensively with Sifu Richard
Bustillo (one of Bruce Lee's
"inner circle",
and co-founder of the IMB
Academy).. He is one of only a handful of full
instructors in IMB Jeet Kune Do operating in the UK.
Private lessons from John are available on request
John is also a professional actor and
published author - checkout his website at www.johncarrigan.co.uk
Contact him at john@hsiulungtao.co.uk
Geoff Large
Geoff trained in boxing and wrestling from the age of 11 under his
father who was a semi pro wrestler and door man in the late 60's. He
studied Judo at school level for 4 years, progressed onto Shotokan
Karate and kickboxing from the age of 17. He began HLT JKD concepts
with John in 1996, and has progressed to full HLT instructor. He is
also an
apprentice instructor with the IMB academy under Sifu Bustillo. Geoff's
club is Monday's in Tudeley.
Contact him at geoff@hsiulungtao.co.uk
Graham West
Graham started his training in 1979. He took-up Judo as a teenager. He
progressed to black belt,
representing London University in the 1984 European Student
Championships in Eindhoven, Holland winning a Silver Medal. Graham's
wide experience includes training with several Wing Chun Sifus and a
stint at White
Collar boxing. In 1998 Graham started training with John
and has progressed through the ranks of HLT receiving Full Black Sash
Instructor status in 2004 and was promoted by John to Senior Instructor
in 2006.Graham currently offers private lessons in the West Kent area.
Contact him at graham@hsiulungtao.co.uk
Need to Know Self Defence
John's video, Need to Know Self Defence, is available for download for a small fee. Co-presented by Jill Greenacre, this is an instructional video in effective Self Defence taken from Hsiu Lung Tao - checkout the website for further details : www.needtoknowselfdefence.co.uk