Issue 2 - Professional Unification of Martial Arts

issue 2
The magazine from the Professional Unification of Martial Arts
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Taekwon-Do celebrates its
first fifty years in Atlantic City,
USA
FAST DEFENCE
In your face
WEAPONS TRAINING
Are you staying legal?
And tons more...

EDITORIAL
Daniel Lammin 3rd degree Taekwon-Do, editor
Richard Potter 2nd degree Taekwon-Do, assistant editor
We write this in the heady aftermath of the magazine’s launch. It seems most of you, including our
mums, liked it. Congratulations and thanks to all those who helped make it so likeable.
Mr Potter laughed hysterically at the thought of getting another one out in three months, however this
edition just flew together - it was really something to behold. We’re very pleased to include contributions
from official P.U.M.A. Management team members in this issue. Child Protection Officer Miss
Louise Reeve writes what is hopefully the first of a regular column and Mr Mark Ogborne explains
sparring safety and the new equipment requirements. In addition Mr Chris Wood generously submitted
to a gruelling interview.
We’ve also further honed the look - the new page numbering style is 317% more fun than the old one.
We think you’ll agree that’s an impressive figure. In addition the revamped contents page now includes
ALL the articles to assist user navigation (apologies to Mr Chance, the previous slip was nothing
personal). Thanks to those of you who have pointed out the various deliberate(?) mistakes in the first
edition, spelling and general typos etc. We’ve made strenuous efforts to improve the editing and proof
reading process but still look forward to being told what we’ve missed this time…
The biggest thing that we need from all of you is to get in touch! We’ve had a reasonable amount of
feedback and a couple of ideas for future articles but need a lot more. Whilst we and the various
regular contributors are happy to continue writing articles, we need to know what YOU want. In
addition it will help to keep the magazine interesting if we can get a larger pool of writers. Basically,
please do email - we make of point of replying to everyone who contacts us (we haven’t had any real
abuse yet, but should that happen we’ll reply to that too).
Finally, a quick apology to the Tang Soo Do and Ju Jutsu contingent, we’ll make sure that these
columns appear in the next edition.
Hope you enjoy the second edition!

What's Inside
Editorial 2
We channel to your mind via the optic nerve.
Happy Birthday 4
The International Taekwon-Do Federation gathers in Atlantic City to celebrate the martial art’s
first half century.
FAST Defence 6
P.U.M.A.’s self defence course.
Interview: Chris Wood 10
Cross training and self-defence guru.
Courting Trouble 12
Training with weapons? Make sure you stay legal...
Fight Night 2005 14
Epic confrontations in Swindon - full report.
Sparring Safely 17
P.U.M.A. co-founder Mr Mark Ogborne explains sparring safety and the new equipment rules.
Weapons Defences 18
Defending yourself against the nastiest of situations.
Taekwon-Do Workshop 20
The delicate art of breaking explored.
Kick-Boxing 22
Use that elbow.
Health & Fitness 24
Abdominal work: the sit-up laid bare.
Child Protection 27
Parents - Get involved.
The Team
Editor
Assistant Editor
Contributors
Email
Mr Daniel Lammin
Mr Richard Potter
Mrs Rachel Houston, Mr Simon Peck, Ms Anna Zdanowska, Mr Kevin McCabe, Mr
Malcolm Jones, Mr Dik Chance, Ms Louise Reeve, Mr Mark Ogborne, Mr Gareth
Hitchcoe, Mr Daniel Lammin, Mr Chris Wood
magazine@puma-uk.com
For further information about P.U.M.A. please visit the official website at www.puma-uk.com or call the P.U.M.A.
hotline on 0845 600 1967
This magazine is copyright 2005 The Professional Unification of Martial Arts. All individual articles are the copyright of
their respective authors. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.

In April 2005 Taekwon-Do celebrated the fifty years since its
official inauguration. A group from P.U.M.A., including
chairman Master Ray Gayle, travelled to Atlantic City, USA,
for the International Taekwon-Do Federation’s official
celebrations. Rachael Houston reports.
It was on a wet and windy evening with great excitement and
trepidation that we entered the ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel in
Atlantic City. It was here that we were going to train and learn
under the watchful and encouraging eye of Master Choi Jung
Hwa, president of the International Taekwon-Do Federation and
son of the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi.
We were all gathered here with our brothers and sisters in Taekwon-Do
to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of its inauguration and
to honour the late founder.
A group of us travelled to Atlantic City to join these celebrations
and be part of the history of Taekwon-Do. We joined over two
hundred fellow practitioners from more than a dozen countries to
learn and practice the art that we all love together. The feeling
within the room was summed up by one of the Masters who said
Master (now Grandmaster) Choi Jung Hwa gets down
to business
The P.U.M.A. Contingent:
Back row: C. Houston, M. Davies, K. McCabe, Master
R. Gayle, E. Fort, C. Wood and K. Fort
Front row: L. McGhie, R. Houston, L. McAdam, J.
Clark and J. Woolmington
“There are many countries here, but we all wear the same white
uniform. No-one is rich, no-one is poor. We all bow to our
masters, show respect and obey the tenets. That is the moral
culture behind the kicking and punching”.
The first session of the evening was led by Master Wheatley, 8 th
Degree, head of the United States I.T.F. Master Choi Jung Hwa
was to arrive later that evening. After a rather vigorous warm up
we then proceeded to perform all 24 patterns, something that is
rarely done in one session! It was after this that Master Choi Jung
Hwa himself arrived. He thanked us all for coming and said how
much he was looking forward to the seminar and celebration as
well as learning from all of us – wow!
Earlier the same day one of our fellow P.U.M.A. members Mr
Kevin McCabe took his 4 th Degree Black Belt grading. Quite
unusually this was not a closed forum but one where anyone
could watch, and watch we did. There were five senior Dan
grades taking their gradings but it was our own Mr McCabe who

shone above the rest. It was a privilege to be part of this and to
see what high standards of student both P.U.M.A. and the I.T.F
produce. I’m glad to say that Mr McCabe passed his 4 th Degree
grading: well done Mr McCabe!
The next two days consisted of full day training sessions taken by
After Training: dressed up right posh for the banquet
Master Choi Jung Hwa, assisted by Mr Parm Rai 6 th Degree and
Master Choi Jung Hwa’s personal assistant.
During these sessions we went over and over numerous basic
techniques until we got them right. We broke down patterns,
kicked up and down the room, made new friends but above all
else we shared our passion for our art. These sessions were
invaluable both from a training perspective and from the moral
culture side. At the end Master Choi Jung Hwa sat on the floor,
explained the moral culture and then took questions. Then it was
time for photos and autographs. He must have been signing
doboks, flags and encyclopaedias for over half an hour. He also
took the time to ask every single person where they were from
and how they enjoyed the seminar also making sure HE thanked
THEM!
Saturday night was banquet night. We all dressed up in our best
Can’t have a birthday bash without a cake
party gear and headed off to the training area for what we thought
would be a nice evening reflecting on the seminar and the past 50
years of Taekwon-Do, how wrong we were! This was one of the
most unforgettable evenings of my Taekwon-Do life to date. It all
started off very nicely, a few speeches, some good food and then
it happened! We were all sat at our tables when it was announced
that the decision had been taken to promote Master Choi Jung
Hwa to Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa, 9 th Degree Black Belt. It
was during his speech whilst talking about the grading, that he
said it was with great pleasure that he was promoting Mr Ray
Gayle to Master Ray Gayle, 7 th Degree Black Belt. We all just sat
there in silence – did he say Mr Gayle? Everything seemed to be
happening in slow motion, Master Gayle stood up, he did say Mr
Gayle! We all tried to speak but no one knew what to say so we
just reflected on what had happened and drank champagne with
Master Gayle, our leader and friend. In our opinion he can be
summed up by the words of Samuri Maxim “a man who has
attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action”. This was
a truly memorable end to a fantastic trip!
Mr Kevin McCabe and Master Ray Gayle celebrate
their promotions

FAST DEFENCE
The best self-defence course going: Simon Peck meets the Bulletmen
As martial artists, we spend years learning techniques to defend ourselves. We train hard to perfect our physical
response but far less time thinking about controlling the moments leading up to such a confrontation. This includes
handling the effects of the body being flooded with adrenaline, which inevitably accompanies any confrontation. It is this
gap that FAST defence aims to fill.
Adrenaline is a natural hormone produced by the body and is one of the most powerful drugs used in medicine with the
power to restart a heart which has stopped beating. The body naturally releases adrenaline as a response to stress and
this prepares the body to deal with threats. We are all familiar with some of the effects of adrenaline - the speeding up of
the heart, a feeling of breathlessness, butterflies in the stomach and shaking hands. Most of us are less familiar with the
massive adrenaline release that accompanies the threat of real physical confrontation. These effects include tunnel
vision, trembling of the legs, adrenal deafness, a feeling of nausea, loss of fine motor co-ordination and a wish to be
anywhere else but here! In our distant past, when every day was a battle for survival, these feelings would be familiar to
us all, but in modern life many people rarely if ever experience this.
An experienced street fighter who has “trained” through many confrontations is used to adrenaline and the effects it
creates. Adrenaline is there to help, but even the most experienced martial artist, if unprepared, may mistake these
feelings for fear and freeze up or end up panicking and unable to defend themselves effectively.
FAST defence stands for Fear Adrenaline Stress Training. It was developed in the USA by a self-defence instructor and
ex-marine named Bill Kipp with internationally renowned self-defence expert Peyton Quinn. The idea was to develop a
course that was as close to an actual confrontation as possible and to reproduce in a controlled way the type of feelings
that might be encountered in a real-life situation. In 2002 P.U.M.A sent three of its senior Dan grades to the USA to train
as FAST defence instructors. They brought the system back to the UK and PUMA now has eight fully qualified instructors.
I recently attended my first FAST defence course at Plymstock. The other participants were a mixture of people - there
were some other martial artists, a couple of professional doormen, a police officer and members of the public from all
walks of life. Our instructors were Mr Chris Wood, Mr Chris Walker and Ms Louise Reeve.
Mr Wood started the session by asking us to all introduce ourselves, to explain our backgrounds and what we were
hoping to achieve from the course. He then went on to explain what we would be doing for the rest of the day.

The first part of the course involved watching a number of scenarios acted out by
the instructors. These were designed to show the participants the right and wrong
ways to handle a confrontation. Mr Wood explained to us how potential attackers
"interview" their victims - most are looking for a victim not a fight. This is why
correct handling and control of the confrontation at an early stage is so important.
In the first scenario, Mr Wood walked into a bar where he was challenged by the
local hard-man Chris Walker. His first response was submissive: his body
language showed that he was easily intimidated and an obvious victim. This led
the hard-man to believe that it was safe to attack. Next we were shown the
opposite end of the scale. The victim responded to the challenge with aggression
and the situation quickly escalated into a physical attack.
Then we were shown two examples of the right way to do it. The first showed how
to use polite but firm verbal communication backed up with confident body
language and eye contact to send the message to the would-be attacker that he
is not dealing with a victim. Mr Wood explained to us that as people gear up for a
fight the level of adrenaline rises and most of the higher brain functions switch off.
In such situations the brain responds at a more instinctive level - like that of a
reptile . There is no point in reasoning with someone in this state, instead the use
of assertive body language and key phrases such as "what do you want?" was
recommended.
We were also shown how to create a psychological barrier by dropping back one
leg and using the arms in a natural way to create a space into which the would-be
attacker cannot easily intrude - at least not without signalling his intentions. This
makes it more difficult for the would-be assailant to mount a surprise attack.
Possibly the scariest thing
you’ll encounter this year:
the bulletman
The second situation we were treated to was a more amusing demonstration where Miss Reeve dealt with the unwanted
amorous attentions of Chris Walker, now a drunk at a party. She deflected his attentions first verbally and then physically,
eventually sending him away in a polite but firm way.
Each participant then had the chance to take part in one or two scenarios. The first was known as a "light woof". These
were very varied but in each the instructors took turns to challenge the participants. Some of the approaches were
aggressive; in others the "attackers" were apparently friendly and smiling but there was an undercurrent of menace,
enough to make the participant feel uncomfortable. As each participant tried to deal with the situation, one of the instructors
stood behind them giving advice.
The second challenge was a "heavy woof" where the aggression was much more obvious. Many of these involved a
degree of shouting, swearing and abuse, which Mr Wood explained was essential to create a realistic scenario. This was
very well done and like all the participants I found myself quickly caught up in and believing the scene I was acting out -
in my case Ms Reeve trying to sell “personal services” to me and then demanding to know why I declined her offer. What
was really interesting to me is how the body naturally and instinctively reacts to aggressive body language as if the
situation were real.
We then did some training for the next part of the seminar, which was about dealing with actual physical attacks. It was
explained to us that under stress the body loses fine motor skills and co-ordination and that it is better to stick to simple
and powerful techniques to defend ourselves. Mr Wood gave us a basic fight plan, which was to use a palm strike to the
face followed by knee strikes to the attacker's groin and head. Whilst we were free to use any techniques we were
advised to keep this basic plan in mind. Our instructors then put on their bullet man outfits and we practised these
techniques, first against pads and then using the bulletmen as targets. One of the mistakes that I and many of the
martial arts-trained participants made was to use rapid-fire techniques in the way we do in the dojang. It was explained
to us that only a full-power technique with our body weight behind it would stop a determined attacker.
The bullet man outfit is a type of body armour which is particularly well padded in the groin area and head areas. The
bulletman wears a helmet which is custom made for each user and the suit allows the wearer to take full-force blows
without sustaining any damage – or at least that’s the idea. I did see Mr Wood still limping slightly with a sore back two
weeks after the course.
The next scenario was a "heavy woof" by a bulletman, which we were warned would probably escalate into a physical
confrontation. As each of us took our turn, the other participants shouted encouragement as soon as the conflict started.
This really got the adrenaline going! In my case Mr Walker walked up to me and asked me if I fancied myself as a
martial artist. He then swore at me and aimed a flying kick at my head, which I was able to avoid. I thought I had got off
lightly, as he seemed to have decided to leave me alone. But then, suddenly, and without warning he launched himself
at me. It’s very hard to describe how shocking and realistic this feels when you are on the receiving end. The body
instinctively reacts to aggressive words and body language and produces a real feeling of fear and it’s not all acting – as
Mr Wood explained. The bulletmen “woof themselves up” as well as the participants so the aggression is real. And take
my word for it – you can feel it!

I was particularly surprised how quickly the bulletman
closed in on me – far too quickly for me to use any
karate or Taekwon-Do techniques. After making a few
attempts to fight him off, hitting far too fast and not nearly
hard enough, I was knocked to the floor. I remember
remarkably little about the ensuing confrontation except
that I did eventually fight him off. It was only when it
finished that I noticed my hands were shaking. It is
astonishing how hard and aggressively you have to
strike to put an end to the attack, and this is I think, one
of the most important part of what we were being taught.
The bulletman will not stop the attack until he has
received blows which, in his/her opinion, would effectively
disable an opponent. People who did not strike
effectively ended up fighting on the ground.
The next scenario was an ambush attack. Each participant
had to close his eyes and stand for what felt like an
eternity but was probably only about thirty seconds until
the bulletman attacked from behind. Having experienced
the first scenario, I was very pleased at how much better
I did the second time having learned a few lessons. After
releasing myself from a far from friendly bear hug in the
way we had been taught, I followed up with a headbutt – (not necessarily recommended – but it was the only bit of my
body I could move). A palm strike followed by a turning kick knocked the bulletman down and quickly disabled him. After
each conflict we were encouraged to say "stand up, look round and get help" This was to counter the tunnel-vision effect
that adrenaline has, and to emphasise that once the threat has been dealt with, the priority is to avoid other attackers
and get to safety as quickly as possible. This point was reinforced from time to time as some participants were attacked
unexpectedly from the side by a second bullet man just when they thought it was over.
Finally everyone had the opportunity to watch their performance on video and get feedback from the instructors.
Probably the most impressive performance of the day was provided by Medea Creed from Kingsbridge Taekwon-Do.
Having first asserted verbal boundaries in a voice which would have made even the most hardened attacker think twice,
Ms Creed then unleashed a palm strike and a series of fast
and powerful knee strikes which we could almost feel from
the edge of the mat. It is hard to imagine how anyone
could have walked away from that. Speaking afterwards,
Medea told me how much she had enjoyed the course and
how valuable it was. "Before I came on this course I was
not sure. Now I know I could defend myself if I have to!".
Having seen her in action, I would tend to agree!
Level 2 deals with weapons
Perform nasty stuff at full
power...
Others member of the group fared less well. Many of the
men ended up on the ground. One had his shirt torn off.
Without exception, those participants who stuck to the
instructions and used simple powerful techniques
performed best. Attempts to perform complex techniques,
such as high kicks, were punished by the bulletmen.
Another important lesson for everyone was just how
quickly a real attacker can close up on his victim and how
little time there is to react.
As an interesting prologue to the course a participant on a
previous course and black belt in Taekwon-Do had cause
to use the skills he had learned the following day. Mr ‘X’
had to deal with a drunk and aggressive man who was
trying to take his son out of school while obviously not in
any fit state to do so. Mr X recalls, "He came into the
school where I work. He was drunk, stripped to the waist
and covered in tattoos. Obviously there was no way that I
could let him take a child out in that state. I used all of the
skills we had been practising the day before, using assertive
language and not being intimidated by his aggression.
I was surprised how calm I felt. I started to feel that this
was not going to be resolved by discussion and I would

have to use a preemptive
strike. I
moved out of the
corridor into the hall to
give myself more
room. At this point he
may have sensed my
intentions as he
backed off, swore at
me and left."
In this case the
correct use of the
FAST defence skills
allowed the situation
to be defused and a
potentially very nasty
conflict to be avoided.
And avoiding conflict
is of course what this
is really about. This is
an excellent training
course which I would On the ground, having a fight.
thoroughly recommend
to everyone,
whether a martial
artist or not. The
bulletmen take care to push all participants well outside their comfort zone but never to the point where they cannot
handle the situation. Everyone who took part, without exception, found this a positive experience and there is something
in it for everyone. For the non martial artist the course provides practical guidance in handling conflict and a series of
basic but effective tools to deal with an attacker. For the martial artist this adds a new and realistic dimension to training
which we do not necessarily get in the relative comfort of the dojang. Of course no single-day course can produce an
invincible fighter, but there is no doubt that learning these skills can help to tip the odds in your favour.
Further information on FAST defence can be found on the FAST defence website www.pumafastdefence.com.
Simon Peck is a member of South Hams
Taekwon-Do. Because he travels extensively
he also trains at Basingstoke Taekwon-Do
when working in the South East. In the past
he has trained in Shotokan karate and judo.
Simon works for AXA insurance working in
the area of investigation and prevention of
medical insurance fraud.

Chris Wood
Mr Chris Wood is one of the directors of P.U.M.A.
He has a wealth of experience, having trained in
martial arts since 1974. He is now a fourth degree
black belt in Taekwon-Do as well as being a
kickboxing instructor, running a number of clubs in
the Plymouth area with a total of about 350
students. Well known for his physical fitness, he
has done a number of ironman triathlons - for those
who don’t know, this involves a two-mile swim, a
one-hundred-and-twelve-mile bike ride and then a
26-mile marathon! Mr Wood has also been known
to make students run several miles on Dartmoor as
part of their training. As well as being a FAST
defence instructor, he is one of only two people
outside the USA who can train and certify other
bulletmen. Simon Peck caught up with him after a
training session at Plymstock to ask him about his
training and about what it’s like to be a bulletman.
Tell us about the various martial arts you do
I originally started doing budokai karate, which is wado-ryu
karate with a few changes in it. I then changed to Taekwon-
Do. I also practice Ju Jutsu with a friend of mine who runs
one of the Ju Jutsu clubs within P.U.M.A. and I have done a
bit of kickboxing over the years.
So what do you think is the benefit of cross-training?
It keeps you open minded. All styles having something to
offer but there is a danger that you can become too rigid in
one style. With the advent of mixed martial arts, for example
UFC, the benefits of cross-training have become more apparent.
For instance, I do a bit of Ju Jutsu, which is the old
Japanese martial art of the Samurai and the forerunner of
judo. It has a lot of striking but also has locks, grappling and
groundwork and, in that way, it complements Taekwon-Do
very well.
Tell us a little about your involvement with the army.
Since 1983, I have been in a reserve unit with 131
Commando, which is a territorial army reserve unit – this
provides engineering support to 3 Command Brigade. You
have to do the commando course so you can keep up with
them. I have not been in the regular army but have been
lucky enough to have done a lot of regular army courses. I
had a five year break from 131 to get my business up and
running and unfortunately during that time the unit was
mobilised to go to the Gulf. I have taught FAST defence to
my unit and also to the Royal Marine military police – we
have done that twice now. This went down well – they
thought it was very good. They do a bit of VIP protection and
unfortunately in their work, they see quite a lot of action in
and around Union Street, the club land area of Plymouth.
Let’s talk about FAST defence. Why did P.U.M.A. decide
to include FAST defence in what seems to me to be quite
traditional martial arts training?
Although P.U.M.A. is very traditional and some of the things
we do go right back to the roots of Taekwon-Do, we also like
to look at modern approaches including sports science. We
try not to close our minds to anything and keep a look out for
things that would be useful to our students. When we started
the organisation, one of the areas we decided to look at was
self-defence. We considered a number of courses and this
course from America was the best we have seen. We thought
it would fit in well what we do. I don’t even think of it as being
separate now – its part of our training and it enhances what
we have to offer.
Some of the readers of the magazine may not know much
about FAST defence. Could you tell us a little about how
it fits in with Taekwon-Do?
FAST defence was started by a man called Bill Kipp in
America and stands for Fear Adrenaline Stress Training.
People who take up martial arts do so for numerous reasons
such as fitness and perhaps for the social side, but one of the
main reasons is because they want to defend themselves.
We all want to be able to look after our families, loved ones
and ourselves. I believe that Taekwon-Do is a very effective
form of self defence and is as good as anything else, but one
thing that is very difficult to do is to use it under stress when
the adrenaline is really pumping. It’s very difficult to train for
this in a traditional class - to learn to deal with that adrenaline
shock without waiting for it to happen in a fight. If things go
wrong in a real fight you may never get another chance. So
FAST defence is a way of producing that adrenaline shock
and then practising your self-defence techniques. This takes
nothing away from your Taekwon-Do or any other martial
arts; it adds to them, conditioning you to use those tech-

niques under stress.
Tell us about how you trained to be a bullet man.
We went to Colorado to train with Bill Kipp and Peyton Quinn
who is another self-defence expert. We first went over when
P.U.M.A. was formed and several of us trained to become
FAST defence instructors. This was very successful and last
year, we returned with a bigger party, who now form the team
of instructors. Malcolm Jones and myself then did extra
training so we could teach the instructors ourselves and since
we have come back we have trained Mr Powsland as our first
instructor. In order to become bulletmen, the instructors have
to do several courses themselves. Then we teach them how
to “woof” – you mentioned this in your article - and how to be
a bulletman and then finally how to run the courses. There is
an ongoing commitment - we all meet regularly and update
and develop our skills as instructors.
As you know, I did FAST defence with you and I have
now done level 2 training with Dik Chance. It is very
realistic, it seemed to me to be as close to a real fight as
you can get. But is it dangerous?
There is an element of danger there and this is bound to the
case in any training which is realistic. We have had a couple
of wrist injuries. We have looked at the safety aspects and
have tried to reduce the risk as much as possible. But let’s
not forget that the gains far outweigh the risks. I don’t want to
be over dramatic but there are some very dangerous people
out there. I feel for sure that this training will save people’s
lives. It may already have done so. We had a lady attacked in
her house and she was able to fight off her attacker. It’s
unfortunate if you pick up an injury but it’s important to keep
this training realistic and if we do that, there will always be a
small risk.
I mentioned in my article another example of someone
who has used this for real.
Yes, I did know about that - he managed to successfully talk
the man down. The funny thing about that was that it was the
same woof as I had used on him. It was almost identical –
someone coming into school and trying to take out a child. It
was an amazing coincidence.
And what about the bulletmen, do they ever pick up any
injuries?
Unfortunately, it does actually hurt despite having the suit.
When students do what we have taught them, when they
really get it right, then sometimes you don’t want to go near
them. I have been literally knocked off my feet several times.
The only way you learn to avoid this is with practice learning
to ride the blows. So yes, for those who want to become a
bulletman, there is a bit of a price to pay. A lot of the time,
when we get hurt, it’s when things go wrong because people
do something we have told them not to. It’s often not a
knockout blow and we have continued the fight anyway. We
just go round with painful or cracked ribs for a month afterwards.
We haven’t had any serious injuries, but I did get a
back injury and I unfortunately twisted my ankle on the last
trip out to the States. But the more bulletmen we are getting,
the easier it becomes because we can spread the courses
between us.
Do you think we would benefit from more reality training
in our classes? I came away wishing we could do more
of it.
I think it would be nice. But it’s one of those things you don’t
need to practice all the time. Once you have done adrenaline
stress training, I find it makes your general training more
realistic because you have this experience in the back of your
mind.
In my work I have to deal with some very difficult people
and I have used some of the principles – not fighting but
the principles to deal with verbal aggression. I have been
impressed by how well it works. Do you think this has
applications in ordinary life apart from fighting?
The whole idea is to avoid conflict. It’s fighting without fighting;
trying to win before the conflict starts. This begins with
avoidance and awareness and trying not to get into the
situation in the first place. If there is a verbal conflict or
someone is using threatening body language if you handle it
right, often you can nip it in the bud and prevent it
progressing any further. So you can use FAST defence all
the time and you may not even be aware of it. It is reflected
in your confidence and body language - people will shy away
from this and look elsewhere for another victim. You can use
this in your everyday life – you could probably even use it in
business deals to some extent!
Is this sort of training unique?
There are other courses and the principles of FAST defence
have been going for some time in America. What Bill Kipp
has done is to take the principles and he has done a very
good job in breaking them down into bite-sized modules and
making a proper training system out of it. There is a lot of
other reality-based training available, but I think this is one of
the best. The training they do in the USA is basically the
same course – Bill Kipp is very good, he has a great deal of
experience and if anyone gets the chance to train with him,
they should.
I am sure a lot of people reading this will want to do a
FAST defence course. What should they do?
The best idea is to arrange it through their instructor.
Students can also email info@pumafastdefence.com and
be added to a mailing list about courses. To organise a
course we need to get a group together – a minimum of
fourteen people and no more than twenty to twenty-two.
There may be an instructor in the area and if not we are
happy to travel up to set up a course. There is the basic
level-one course which you did and then there are a number
of other level-two courses such as weapons, ground fighting,
multiple opponents and so on.
Finally I would like to thank you for taking the time out of
what I know is a very busy schedule to talk to me today.
And, on behalf of everyone to offer our best wishes on
the birth of your first child. I can tell you from my own
experience it will certainly change your life.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing how much my life
does change!
(Maya Olivia Wood was born on 7th June, shortly after this
interview. Congratulations to Mr Chris Wood and Miss Yvette
Kenyon from all of us at Planet P.U.M.A.)

When training means trouble: some free legal advice from Anna Zdanowska
To the average martial arts student, rehearsing techniques forms an essential part of training and regular practice ensures that techniques
become second nature. However, we often forget that the techniques we learn as martial artists have been developed with the
aim of disabling an attacker, either by causing them serious injury, or in more extreme cases, death. When training in a dojang, we
are aware of the purpose of our actions, as are any fellow students and spectators who have some knowledge of the art. However,
when martial arts are taken out of the context of the training arena, there can be serious implications for the student.
Most of us will have seen martial arts demonstrations at organised events, which provide excellent publicity for the organisation and
educate the general public about martial arts. The portrayal of martial arts techniques in films and on television, for example in The
Matrix and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, has added a certain glamour to martial arts. This has led to a massive growth in the number of
students over the past few years. Such demonstrations can enable extreme techniques to be displayed in realistic situations, but in an
environment where members of the public do not feel threatened or fear for their safety. In contrast, if martial arts are practised in a
public area, and do not appear to be part of an organised event such as a demonstration or an outdoor class run by a well-known
local club, a student may find themselves falling foul of the law. This was illustrated by a rather bizarre case several years ago which
ended up being heard in the Court of Appeal*.
A 26 year old kung fu student, disillusioned with practising in his back garden, took his rice flail and replica axe and went to the local
churchyard. There was a small paved area next to a path, both of which were in full view of the public. He began to practise various
moves, including traditional kung fu techniques as well as advanced weapons techniques. At the time that he was practising, a local
school had just finished for the day and the area was very busy, with both adults and children passing by regularly. Several members
of the public witnessed the student practising and called the police. The police attended the scene and a police helicopter, which was
already in the air at the time, was also called in to deal with the incident. Initially the student refused to co-operate with the police, but
he was eventually arrested.
When the case was first heard in court, the prosecution accepted that the student had been carrying out martial arts movements in a
"proper and non-hostile manner". The student raised two defences: firstly that practising kung fu was part of his spiritual beliefs, and
secondly that his right to freedom of thought, conscience or religion had been infringed contrary to the European Convention on
Human Rights. However, these defences were not accepted by the court. During the course of the judgement the student's behaviour
was described as "reckless", "irresponsible" and a "danger to society". This was on the basis that the incident took place in full view of
the public and that it was a "frightening sight" which affected onlookers as they would not have known what might happen next. The
student was offered the choice of a community sentence, which he refused. On this basis he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
He then appealed against the length of his sentence, which was later reduced to three months by the Court of Appeal.
Although this case is a rather extreme example, it illustrates that care must be taken by students to avoid a situation where members
of the public may fear for their safety unnecessarily. Students practising with nunchaku, for example, will not place themselves at risk
by practising in their homes, or in their back gardens. However, as soon as there is scope to be seen by members of the public, for
example outside the front of a house or in a local park, there is a risk of putting people in fear of their safety. However, this will
depend on the circumstances of the case, as an organised class taking place on playing fields outside a local leisure centre would not
cause average people to fear for their safety, whereas an axe-wielding Bruce Lee wannabe in a churchyard probably would.
Various martial arts involve the use of weapons such as nunchaku, sticks, knives and swords. This is one of the most obvious areas
where a student may unwittingly fall foul of the law. Practically all martial arts weapons would be classed in law as "offensive
For pity’s sake: don’t do this...
... or this.
(All criminal acts were simulated. Downing Street photo
gleaned from www.bigfoto.com)

weapons" and although as martial arts students we are exposed to such weapons on a frequent basis and do not
flinch at the sight of a Little Puma waving a pair of nunchaku around, we should remember that these are weapons
and should be treated as such. As shown above, if a student misuses a weapon the consequences are serious,
even if the student themselves is unaware that their behaviour is a risk to others. It is therefore important to avoid
situations where the law is likely to intervene. The most obvious advice to students would be to ensure that any
weapons are not displayed in public. For example, if a student intends to bring a pair of nunchaku to a lesson, these
should be placed in their sports bag. If the student walked along the pavement in full view of the public whilst practising
their techniques, members of the public may feel threatened, as shown in the above case, and in more
extreme circumstances the student may attract trouble in the form of an unprovoked attack by advertising themselves
as a martial artist. Provided the weapon is wrapped up and hidden away, the student will have demonstrated
that they do not intend to use the weapon in public and therefore will avoid placing themselves in a difficult situation.
I remember a fellow student recently telling me how they visited a martial arts shop in order to purchase a bo-staff
and watched with some amusement as the shop assistant wrapped two carrier bags around each end of the bo-staff
to demonstrate that the student was merely taking the weapon home rather than planning to use it in public.
A martial arts student discovered in possession of a weapon will not automatically find himself or herself in trouble
with the law. The courts will not take any action against a person who has "good reason" for having such a weapon
in their possession. If a student on their way to a class were to be stopped by the police and a pair of nunchaku
were found in the boot of their car or in a bag they were carrying, provided the student could satisfy the police that
they were genuine martial artists about to attend a class, no action would be taken. Similarly, a student demonstrating
nunchaku techniques at a public demonstration would not attract the attention of the police.
However, when other defences have been raised the law has not always favoured the student. Approximately two
years ago, another martial arts student found himself in the Court of Appeal having been charged with possessing
an offensive weapon in a public place. The student in question was skilled in the use of various weapons which
formed part of his training in the art of Shaolin, which he practised as part of his Buddhist beliefs. The art requires
students to be proficient in 18 weapons, and the student always carried at least one of his weapons with him so that
he could practise if he was in a deserted place. Whilst waiting at a railway station one day, the student was mugged.
His attacker took his bag containing some of his weapons, including a knife and a sword. The student chased after
his attacker. He managed to grab hold of one of his swords, which was still in its protective case, and grappled with
the attacker for several minutes in an attempt to recover the sword. In the meantime, the police arrived on the scene
and both parties were arrested. When questioned why the student had the weapons in his possession, he told the
police that he was worried about leaving them at home as there was nobody there. The student was then charged
with the offence of having a blade or sharply pointed object in a public place. He raised two defences, firstly that he
had a good reason for carrying the weapons in public, and secondly that he had been carrying the weapons for
religious reasons. However these defences were not accepted by the court and the student was later convicted. The
student then appealed against the conviction and the matter was heard in the Court of Appeal. The Court was asked
to consider whether the law had been correctly interpreted in light of the student's Human Rights, in particular the
right to freedom of thought, conscience or religion. The Court ruled that the earlier case had been correctly decided
and rejected the student's defences, stating that the art of Shaolin is only part of Buddhism and not central to it,
therefore neither defence would be adequate to prevent a conviction. Furthermore, the student could not prove that
he was intending to practise his techniques on the day of his arrest. This is an extremely unfortunate case that
demonstrates how easy it is to encounter legal problems in relation to weapons offences.
There are limited safeguards relating to the purchase of most martial arts weapons. The most dangerous types, for
example death stars and certain types of knives are closely regulated by law that makes it an offence to buy or sell
these weapons. However, recognised martial arts weapons such as nunchaku and staffs can be readily purchased in
any shop specialising in martial arts goods. Although some shops ask to see a student's licence to verify that they
are a genuine student, such checks are not always carried out and there is always the risk that such weapons may
end up in the wrong hands.
Training with weapons adds another exciting dimension to our martial arts training, and provided students adopt a
"common sense" approach, their actions should not lead to any unwanted consequences.
* The Court of Appeal hears appeals relating to decisions of the Crown Court, where there is a dispute concerning
a point of law. This includes appeals relating to length of sentences. Where the jury simply do not accept a
defendant's evidence, it will not be possible to appeal. However, it is possible to appeal if new evidence later
becomes available.
Anna Zdanowska (1st kup Taekwon-Do) is a
practising solicitor and trains at Teignmouth
and Newton Abbot Schools of Taekwon-Do.

Big scary monster report by Daniel Lammin, who was there.
The second P.U.M.A. International Fight Night took place in
July at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon. A crowd in
excess of three hundred and fifty people provided an
electric atmosphere for a fantastic evening of sparring and
demonstrations.
The event started with a brief welcome speech by Master
Ray Gayle who thanked everyone for attending and introduced
special guest Master Trevor Nicholls 8 th Dan and
head of UKITF. After this the action started and continued
at a fast and furious pace for over three hours.
First up was an exhibition match between two teams of
P.U.M.A. juniors, each consisting of three girls and two
boys. All ten juniors impressed and showed exceptional
skills with special mention going to Kimberley Bradshaw,
Bradley May and Natasha Knapman. This was a superb
spectacle to open the evening and showed that the future
of P.U.M.A. is bright!
Next up were World Team Champions Holland, who took
P.U.M.A. and GTUK mens’ teams clash
The Flowering Youth demonstration team wow
the audience
on P.U.M.A. Scotland in the opening bout of the men’s
event. The Scottish team would not take a backward step
with each fighter giving 100% but the experience and skill
of the Dutch eased them through to the final. Straight after
this it was time for P.U.M.A. England to take on the GTUK
England team in the second semi-final. The GTUK team
and in particular Phil Tommy showed excellent skills but
P.U.M.A. England’s young team were not to be denied a
place in the final and won through with wins from Dave
Harper, Mike Whitlock, Daniel Riley and World Junior
Champion James Murueta.
The ladies’ event kicked off next (no pun intended) with
P.U.M.A. Scotland taking on GTUK. Again the standard
was incredibly high and there were some excellent
matches but it was Scotland’s all action approach that paid
off as they earned a hard fought victory.
It was then time for a change of pace with the P.U.M.A.
Flowering Youth junior demonstration team. The team, who
train under Master Gayle, gave a stunning demonstration,
with a range of routines covering all the main areas of

traditional Taekwon-Do. This again served to show that
anything the adults can do, our juniors can do just as well!
The second match of the ladies’ event was next with
P.U.M.A. England taking on the GTUK team. The P.U.M.A.
team, which included Emma Deakin (World Championship
silver medallist) and Stacey Weatherer (Best Female from
the 2004 World Championships), fought superbly to win
through to the final where they would face the Scottish
team. Alex Page, who is only sixteen, also showed great
skills but lost a narrow decision in the final bout to a far
more experienced opponent.
This was followed by Andrew Humphries showing some
breathtaking flying board breaking including an overhead
The P.U.M.A. Juniors show their skills
Andrew Humphries breaks lots of stuff in one leap
The audience were then treated to the first of two of the
most dynamic demonstrations they are ever likely to see.
Brett Dowling showed just what can be done with a pair of
Nunchaku. He gave a literally dazzling display that culminated
in the lights being dimmed as finished his routine in
the dark with glowing Nunchaku.
Then it was back to the sparring for the conclusion of both
the men’s and women’s events. First was the men’s third
place match followed with P.U.M.A. Scotland taking on the
GTUK team. After another keenly contested set of bouts it
was the GTUK team who prevailed, once again led
superbly by Phil Tommy.
break with a back somersault and a triple break – 3
kicks, to different targets, in a single jump: amazing!
Next was the final of the ladies match with P.U.M.A.’s
England and Scotland teams facing each other. Unlike the
earlier matches, each bout in the final was fought over two
rounds of one and a half minutes meaning that stamina as
well as skill played an important part. Both teams showed
amazing commitment with all the fighters giving everything
they had but in the end it was the England team that came
out on top, again with wins from Emma Deakin and Stacey
Weatherer.
The final event of the night was the men’s final between
P.U.M.A England and Holland. P.U.M.A.’s young team
Brett Dowling conjures some evil magic lightning
GTUK ladies versus
P.U.M.A. ladies
(with 4 fighters under the age of 21) gave a fantastic
performance against the current World Champions
Holland. In the end though it was the Dutch teams extra
experience and class that paid off as they won the final by
three bouts to one. The Dutch team gave a fantastic
display of sparring combining devastating attacking combinations
with great movement that made it almost impossible
to score on them. Phil Whitlock, who is only 17,

scored P.U.M.A.’s only win in the final with an excellent
and disciplined performance against his more experienced
opponent.
All that remained now were the various presentations that
were made by Master Nicholls and Master Gayle. All the
images. More photographs of the evening can be
viewed online at
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/all_events.
Holland show why they’re the world champions
teams were given a fantastic ovation and speaking to
them afterwards they all expressed how much they had
enjoyed the evening. They all wished to thank P.U.M.A.
and in particular Mr Don Deedigan for organizing such a
great event. The two referees, Mr Archer of GTUK and
Miss Burridge of P.U.M.A. also deserve a large thank you
for doing a fantastic job all evening. Finally, the various
P.U.M.A. teams asked me to thank Mr Bradshaw for all his
help at squad training.
From a personal point of view I’d like to say what a
pleasure is was to be involved with such an event. After
everything had finished, all of the teams went back to the
same hotel and spent the night chatting with each other
and making new friends. From speaking to the other teams
it was clear that everyone agreed that it was this camaraderie
that makes martial arts so special and different from
most other sports – long may it continue!
Photographs are courtesy of Andre Edwards and
Julian Clode, who retain copyright of their respective
The decisive win: victory to Holland
Phil Whitlock receives the Fighter Of The Night
award, presented by Master Nichols
The victorious Dutch team feel like Chicken Tonite!
(other cooking sauces are available)

After a few months training, most of you cannot wait to try your hands at sparring. It is your chance to test your skill, speed
and agility against an opponent (who at any other time may be a very good friend). The smell of testosterone fairly
pervades the dojang as you try to out-kick, out-punch and out wit your classmates. Your instructor might sometimes have
to stop you and remind you that the contact should be light. You may feel that he or she is a killjoy; after all you can take it.
There are a few truths about sparring that you should remember:
· It should be fun – not life or death.
· Not everyone likes sparring.
· Not everyone likes to be hit.
· People smaller or lighter than you may easily be hurt.
· Injuries, however minor, may result in time off work and loss of earnings.
· Anyone can punch or kick someone hard – the real skill is not too.
· Your instructor has the responsibility to keep everyone in the class safe.
At the most recent competition, Master. Gayle received complaints from parents that their children had been warned for
excessive contact. P.U.M.A. supports any referee's decision (and in fact encourages referees) to clamp down on contact.
P.U.M.A. has for some time supplied closed-hand safety gloves to Taekwon-Do and Tang Soo Do students (as well as
kick-boxers who wish to compete in semi-contact tournaments). These are safer as they eliminate common injuries such
as a thumb in the eye and cuts from exposed nails. They are also more padded than the dipped-foam gloves , thereby
reducing the impact force on contact. Although they look a bit like boxing gloves they are much lighter and softer
(obviously, kick-boxers may use P.U.M.A. supplied boxing gloves). P.U.M.A’s insurance and your instructor’s indemnity
insurance stipulate the use of these gloves as they are safer. Claims could be refused if an accident occurs involving
alternative styles of glove. We do not insist that you replace existing equipment immediately, but if using the old-style
gloves you may have to adapt your sparring accordingly and only the closed-hand gloves supplied by P.U.M.A. may be
worn in competitions. We encourage you therefore, to replace them when you can. Please purchase all safety equipment
through your instructor. Then you can be sure it conforms to safety standards and that you are unlikely to cause anyone
serious harm.
Above all, enjoy sparring as you enjoy all of your training. There are great opportunities within P.U.M.A. for talented
sparrers of all ages and both sexes. If you enjoy sparring and wish to progress further then speak to your instructor about
P.U.M.A.’s national squad training sessions. These currently take place on the last Sunday of each month in Yate (near
Bristol).
- Mr Mark Ogborne, 6 th degree Taekwon-Do black belt and P.U.M.A. committee member
The old style gloves expose the thumb - this
poses a serious injury risk.
The new closed-hand gloves cover the
thumb- acquire them from your
instructor.

Live or die: it’s your choice. By Dik Chance
Human beings are tool users. Ever since the first of our ancestors
started banging rocks together, man has sought out the extension
to our natural abilities that tools bring. It comes as no surprise
then that some of the first tools fashioned by humans were
weapons. They give an attacker a great physical and psychological
advantage.
Defences against weapons are a very difficult subject. Whilst I’m
no expert by any definition, I’ve studied some of what are considered
the best weapons defences around. The one main thing I’ve
learned along the way is that most of the complex weapons
defences and disarms that people demonstrate just won’t work
under the harsh pressure of a real situation. In this article I’ll
mainly use knives as examples, but there are as many possible
weapons as we have the imagination to use.
In the U.K. at the moment we are seeing a rise in incidents of
weapons related violence. So much so that some people
(including senior physicians) are calling for the banning of sales of
‘ninja swords’, Stanley knives and even kitchen knives. However
in my humble opinion the problem lies in the desire to use a
weapon, rather than the weapon itself. Any tool designed to cut
could be used as a weapon. However, even banned weapons
such as butterfly knives and knuckle-dusters are easy to obtain
through the Internet. Aside from these illegal weapons it’s all too
easy for someone in a pub or club to use a broken bottle or glass.
With that in mind, the important thing for any weapons defence is
to consider concepts that are simple and adaptable. Your defence
must work for most weapons and situations. If your defence
doesn’t fit that model, you run the risk of getting ‘technique log
jam’. This is where your brain spends so much time selecting
between the five most perfect techniques you know for that
situation, you’ve already been hit before you decide what to do.
The biggest weapon against any attack is your awareness. I’ll
write a more detailed article on awareness in the months to come.
However, if you are switched on to your environment and the
threats that are there, you can minimise the risk of a surprise.
Also, it’s a sensible precaution these days to assume that all
threats are armed, especially if you can’t see their hands.
One of the first things to consider when planning and training for
weapons attacks is why they are used. I like to think that this
breaks down into two broad categories. They are either used to
Knife attacks can drain all the fight from you
Probably the most dangerous sneak attack
intimidate and coerce you into do something, or they are used to
damage you (often in a frenzied way). There is a saying that
‘stabbers rarely show, and showers rarely stab’. Whilst this is not
a hard or fast rule, it does illustrate the differences in approach. If
someone wants to mug you using a knife, they are going to
brandish it, poke you with it or wave it around for you to see and
be scared by. If someone simply wants to add new holes to your
otherwise perfect skin, the likelihood is you’ll only see it after it’s
been used, unless your awareness is excellent.
Any situation is best dealt with before it has the chance to escalate.
If you can avoid or escape, then this is always the best
option. If you can escape by giving up your possessions or wallet,
then do so: these things are easily replaced. The only thing
stopping you could be your ego. Capitulation is easy. The only
time when this is not the best option is when a weapon is being
used to force you to a secondary location. All advice in this
instance says that you should never allow this to happen. If
someone wants you somewhere else, they are obviously planning
to do something that they can’t do at that time. You don’t want to
find out what that is. Make your stand.
Body language plays a big part in weapons attack. To gain the
maximum shock, and therefore the greatest psychological advantage,
an attacker will often hide the knife until after the initial
contact and ‘interview’ has taken place. If you can’t see
someone’s hands, or they are holding them in a strange way,
you’ve got to assume they are armed. Now is a great time to
launch your pre-emptive attack.
You can attack the weapon arm and jam the attacker’s ability to
bring the weapon to bear. Simultaneously you can launch full
power attacks to the head and groin using your free hand and
knees.
This concept also applies to virtually any weapon attack scenario
you can come up with. Firstly, depending on the situation, you
can create a window for escape or attack by feigning compliance.
‘Give me your money’. ‘Of course mate, I’m not going to be any
trouble, I’ll give you anything you want’. Then, when you launch
your attack, you should attack the weapon arm and grab it. If you
can strike it, you can get some pain shock into the attacker. If not,
just must try to secure it with both hands. At this moment, the

attacker is often so shocked that they will ignore their free hand
and try to pull their arm back so they can regain control of the
weapon. You can then go on the offensive with your full power
knee strikes, controlling the weapon hand so that you don’t
inadvertently stick yourself. Keep going until you can safely strip
the weapon from the attacker. Don’t leave it laying around for
someone else to pick up and use on you. This concept applies
equally well to front, rear, side and multiple attacks. The key thing
is simplicity.
Mindset plays a huge part in surviving a weapons attack. Firstly
having a knife placed at your throat, or worse into your body, is
incredibly scary and that fear can drain all the fight from you. But
take heart, very few knife fights are fatal. I’ve heard figures of
30% used, but I suspect it is less as there must be many more
that remain unreported. Most people that use a knife in a fight
have little or no clue about how to actually use it. Most wounds
you won’t even notice straight away due to the effects of adrenaline.
What you need is an offensive mindset. You need to attack and
keep on attacking until the threat is neutralised. I’ve heard it said
that if you are defending yourself against a knife attack you
should expect to get cut. However, someone pointed out to me
recently that this is a very negative way to view things. It is better
to start out thinking that you are going to be fine, but don’t be
surprised if you get wounded.
To finish with, here is a recap of the concepts that can help you
survive a weapon attack.
Attack and double grab the weapon
arm, then use your knee
1. Comply if appropriate:
· Give up your possessions – they’re replaceable.
· Don’t allow yourself to be taken to a secondary location.
2. Feign compliance to gain the element of surprise.
3. A winning mindset is very important:
· Don’t be surprised by injuries.
· Never give up.
4. Strike the weapon arm, grab it and clear it from your body,
then use your knee to finish.
5. Retain the weapon at the end.
Finally, please don’t try to learn weapons defences from
magazine articles like this, books or DVDs. Get some real training.
The P.U.M.A. FAST weapons levels will be a great start.
Until next time, train safely, respectfully and smartly with an open
mind.
NB Note the use of a blunt plastic training knife for safety
reasons.
Attack and jam the weapon arm whilst
simultaneously attacking
About the author:
Dik Chance trains under Master Ray Gayle (7th Degree) at Yate Taekwon-Do. He also teaches at his own school at Clifton in
Bristol. Dik is an instructor and bulletman in P.U.M.A.’s F.A.S.T. Defence team. He has a keen interest in reality based selfprotection
training and combatives, and regularly trains in this area. This training has led him to train with some of the world’s
most influential instructors such as Geoff Thompson, Peter Consterdine, Bill Kipp and Peyton Quinn.

The art of breaking boards, tiles and bricks is often neglected
in today’s martial arts classes and with good reason: in a
society in which litigation is advertised every day on television,
instructors and associations need to be aware and
responsible. For this reason, P.U.M.A.‘s policy on breaking is
that it is an optional exercise both in training and at gradings.
P.U.M.A. has identified the knife edge between traditional
martial arts training and common sense, and I’m sure you will
agree that this cannot be faulted. However, destruction
accounts for a third of Taekwon-Do’s competitive events
along with patterns and sparring and hence I have chosen it
as the subject for the technical article in this issue. There are
two schools of thought on the subject of breaking. The first is
that you do not need to practice hitting boards in order to be
successful; your technique should be accurate enough from
practising patterns to be able to smash the board. Indeed,
Master Gayle says “I learnt from Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha
very early on that every time you kick whilst performing a
pattern it should be to break. Hence I've never physically
practised it and I've never separated it into a different technique;
to me it's the same.”
The second opinion is that indeed you must practice, so that
you overcome any mental barriers and so that you get used
to the feeling of the impact against your attacking tool. Plus
the actual mechanics of a technique are slightly different
when making contact with a target compared to striking thin
air, i.e. the follow through.
During my discussions with various martial artists on this
subject matter I have often changed my views on which one
of these two approaches is preferable. Indeed, in the last
year alone I have frequently bounced from one mind set to
the other. I have found that the psychological aspect of
breaking is dealt with better in the second idea, but the first
theory better illustrates the old adage often spoken by
instructors when teaching their students: ‘Is it real?’. Indeed,
the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi, sets out hints
when performing patterns in his encyclopaedia and one of
them is that students should perform every technique in every
pattern with realism.
I imagine that to some extent both ideas have weight and
each individual should decide what is best for them. In the
past, thousands of martial artists have been extremely
successful in this discipline using old-school approaches. It
is a small irony that Taekwon-Do prides itself on its basis in
scientific theory yet this is not used to its full potential in most
associations with knowledge of the human body and of
training methods. Modern training methods are, let’s face it,
less brutal compared to those employed when the pioneers of
Taekwon-Do began to spread the art around the globe. That
is not a criticism of modern martial artists or the modern world
but we have to admit that we can no longer teach our
students by enforcing jumping knuckle press ups down
concrete stair cases!
So how can we improve our breaking ability without surrendering
our human rights or going to boot camp? In my experience,
the way in which you break with a technique is almost
exactly the same as you would perform it in a pattern, with
minor differences in some cases. For example, when using a
side piercing kick in patterns, the body is usually perfectly
balanced at the moment the leg is extended. When breaking,
this is not ideal, as you need to have your body weight going
forwards into the board, particularly in the case of power
breaking when you are faced with four or five inches. Likewise,
we tend to stop a reverse turning kick at the target in
the patterns. This is very artistic but in reality we would follow
through, aiming behind, or through, the target.
Another aspect of destruction is the conditioning of the
attacking tool, particularly when it comes to hand techniques.
To some extent, a vicious circle exists in which you must
break to condition your body, but you must also condition
your body to break. Conditioning is something which we
cannot really achieve from other areas of training and should
the student wish to become a successful breaker, he/she
may like to consider using a forging post or makiwara board
to toughen the attacking tools. There are mixed views on
doing this and I would not suggest for one moment that you
should all go and start hitting the walls of your house!
At this point, it is important to again emphasise that breaking
is an optional event at all times, even at Black Belt gradings.
Candidates can opt to strike a pad instead of a board; there
A makiwara board
is no loss of marks for making this decision and Master Gayle
has said that the examiners have often awarded higher
marks to someone who performs a good technique against
the pad, compared to someone who successfully breaks the
boards but only because of brute force with a poor technique.
Senior instructors constantly emphasise that the quality of the
technique is paramount. If the kick, strike or punch is
performed correctly, with appreciation of body mass, speed,
concentration etc., there is no reason why you should not
succeed.
As a small case study, I will explain my experiences over the
last few months in conditioning my knuckles: I am a traditionalist
in my outlook on Taekwon-Do and I decided that I
wanted to become good at breaking with a fore fist punch. In

years gone by, this was an absolute necessity for black belt level
and I wanted to experience some old-school methods. I achieved
some conditioning through years of knuckle press ups, but this
cannot replace the impact of actually punching a board.
Remember that we aim to punch very quickly, meaning that a
large force is placed on the knuckles for only an instant. This
causes huge stress but helps to form hard and calloused
attacking tools. Human bone can withstand 400 times the stress
which concrete can sustain therefore, as long as your technique
is accurate you should not do yourself any harm.
I found that initially my knuckles hurt for a day or two, but soon
I’d forgotten about any discomfort and went back to breaking the
boards. Whenever I punch now, my hand feels absolutely fine
after only a few seconds. Please note that I’m not encouraging
anyone to do what I have done. Indeed, many of you who read
this may question my methods and my sanity! Nevertheless, I
achieved what I wanted to using traditional methods, and each
time I now try to break the stack of tiles at P.U.M.A. tournaments,
I manage to get through a few more!
That brings the discussion nicely onto breaking in competitions.
In P.U.M.A. events, competitors often have a wide choice of
techniques open to them, but occasionally a specific technique is
required. This is often the case in black belt divisions. Recently,
P.U.M.A. competitions have included different types of breaking
events such as tiles and bricks in additions to the boards usually
used. The procedure is that you should start and end in a
guarding stance, with one focus and one attempt at the break.
Under ITF rules, failing to return to the guarding stance after the
break will void the attempt, even if the competitor was successful.
This rule is being implemented more and more within
P.U.M.A. competitions, so beware!
In ITF competitions, there are two types of destruction event:
‘power’ and ‘special techniques. In the power division the breaks
are: punch, knife hand strike, side piercing kick, turning kick and
reverse turning kick. The female division recognises that male
bone is tougher than female bone and so the ladies do not
perform punch or reverse turning kick whereas male teams do
them all.
The special technique is not only a demonstration of power but
also of athletic agility. Hence all breaking techniques are flying
kicks: flying front kick, flying high kick, flying mid-air kick (usually,
but incorrectly, known as a jumping back kick), flying turning kick
and flying reverse turning kick. Again, females do not perform the
mid-air kick or the reverse turning kick. Hurdles are used as
obstacles to jump over.
It is my opinion that breaking is the ultimate in self testing. It is a
dramatic and visual method by which we can test our power and
our technique. Any student who breaks a board for the first time
is always beaming with energy afterwards. The injection of self
confidence is by no means small when this momentous achievement
is reached. We often talk of ‘bettering oneself’ in martial
arts and, for me, breaking and power events are the ultimate in
physical activity which can be used as a barometer for technique.
Here are some tips to help:
1. You must believe in yourself. Any doubts in your mind
will work against you.
2. If you worry about hurting yourself, you will hurt
yourself. If you think you will fail, you will fail. Always be
positive and persevere.
3. Don’t throw yourself in at the deep end: never attempt a
red board before you’ve tried a white one. Even then,
maybe slide the board out half way to make it easier.
4. Pine boards are another way of practising, if you are
willing to pay for the privilege. They are generally
easier in my experience than the re-breakable boards
which are often used, especially if they are nice and
dry. Please don’t attempt wet boards… you might as
well punch a wall.
I hope that those of you who see breaking as a challenge will
continue to refine your technique so that you may be successful.
I also hope that those of you who perhaps don’t like the thought
of destruction will give it a go in the future. As with all aspects of
Taekwon-Do training, it is highly recommended to practise
breaking with a qualified instructor.
Taekwon!
Kevin McCabe
A flying high kick
Kevin McCabe, 4th degree black belt, has trained in
Tae Kwon Do for 14 years. He is a member of the
PUMA management team as Technical Assistant.
He aids senior instructors with training duties at
PUMA camps and other events and also teaches
technical and pattern seminars. He trains under
Master Ray Gayle and will open his first school in
Cardiff later this year.

KICK-BOXING
More power to your elbow
My name is Malcolm Jones, 5th Degree black belt in Taekwon-Do. I’m a
full time Taekwon-Do and F.A.S.T. Defence Instructor and am
P.U.M.A.’s senior Kickboxing Instructor, as well as being one of
P.U.M.A.’s grading examiners. I’ve been training in martial arts for over
30 years, with the last 25 in Taekwon-Do and more recently kickboxing.
My schools are in Blandford and Poole (in Dorset) and I attend classes
with Master Gayle as often as possible.
This month’s article is going to focus on the use of the elbow in Kickboxing.
The first thing that you need to be aware of is that P.U.M.A. does not
allow elbows to be used in sparring. The main purpose of this article is
to explain the uses of elbows in real situations.
The elbow can be a devastating weapon if used in an offensive manner.
Some of you may have seen Thai Boxing and Ultimate Fighting Competition
fights where the two fighters often land painful blows to the head.
Cage fighters even employ the elbow when their opponent is in a prone
position on the floor.
The elbow is also a valuable defensive weapon, covering and blocking
both the head and torso.
When it comes to attacking, the main advantage of using your elbows
are:
· Speed
· Realistic distance
· Accuracy
· Economy of movement
Let’s explore these four factors in greater detail.
Speed
Most of the attacking techniques in unarmed Martial Arts can be divided into three or perhaps four categories e.g. joint manipulations /
chokes, kicking techniques, hand techniques and throwing techniques, although some may argue that throwing is a defensive movement.
Of all those categories I think everyone would agree that the hand techniques, which include elbow techniques, win the speed race.
Realistic distance
Kickboxers need to learn very quickly about distancing and timing. If they don’t, the outcome will be a negative one. It’s the same on
the streets of our ever-increasingly violent society.
What I mean by this is when a fight starts, you will not be at the same distance from your attacker that you may be used to in the gym
or dojang. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your opponent will be in your face, trying to knock you into tomorrow. Therefore
you need techniques such as elbows that are going to work at close quarters.
Accuracy
Similar to what we were talking about earlier, in that kicking a specific target or trying to arm bar requires a high level of both skill and
proficiency. Using your elbow on the other hand (excuse the pun!) means you are more assured of reaching your required target.
Economy of movement
Because the elbow joint is conveniently situated next to one of the biggest attacking bones in your body (answers on a postcard as to
what are the biggest two) you don’t need to create much extra body mass into the technique. In P.U.M.A. kickboxing we practise

several elbow techniques pictured below. However, as stated
earlier we don’t use them in sparring.
Hope you’ll get the pads out and try some of these techniques with
your kickboxing instructor.
Take care,
Malcolm Jones (malcolmjones@puma-uk.com)
Roundhouse elbow
Downward elbow
Back elbow
Uppercut elbow
Side elbow

By Gareth Hitchcoe
This edition, we shall be looking at the confusing and complicated
subject of abdominal work and core stability training. Hopefully,
this article will dispel some of the common myths that surround
the subject of abdominal training and put sit-ups into perspective.
Sit-ups: What’s fiction? What’s fact?
Here’s my favourite one…
“I have a fat belly and I want to get rid of it. Doing sit-ups will
help flatten my stomach and give me a thinner waist.” –
FICTION.
This is the view held by most people who are currently doing
sit-ups as part of their routine in the gym. Sit-ups are a form of
RESISTANCE TRAINING, which is to say that a resistive force or
weight is used in the training regime to stress the muscles, in
order to gain a specific effect. With regards to the current understanding,
resistance training can elicit 2 distinct training benefits;
muscular strength and muscular endurance (normally shortened
to MSE or Muscular Strength and Endurance.)
Both endurance work and strength training are associated with a
moderate to slight increase in lean muscle mass. In other words,
sit-ups will increase the size of your stomach muscles and make
your waist measurement even bigger.
Next…
“Sit-ups are the only way to get a six-pack” – FICTION.
Again, this is a common misconception. EVERYONE has a
six-pack, or a four-pack or any-other-number-pack. The amount
of segmentation in your abdominal muscles is determined by your
genetics and is already prevalent. You cannot add or change the
number of sections that you are born with, only alter their size
(see above).
This raises the question of how DO you get a six-pack? The
reason you may or may not be able to see your abdominal
muscles at this point in time, is mainly due to the storage of body
fat. Unfortunately we as humans tend to store body fat on our
stomach. The vast majority of this body fat is stored within the
first few centimetres under the skin, i.e. between your skin and
your muscle. This fat stops you from being able to see the
segments in your abdominal muscle.
To reduce stored body fat, the amount of energy you expend
each day must be greater than the amount of energy you take in.
This shortfall in energy intake compared to your energy expenditure
is derived from your own body, in the forms of fat, carbohydrate
and protein (you can’t “magic” energy out of thin air). If this
negative energy balance is maintained for long enough, you will
start to utilise the body fat stored in front of your six-pack. This
will mean that you will be able to see the muscle segmentation
from under the skin as the amount of fat between the muscles
and the skin is reduced.
Last one…
“I read that Britney does 1000 sit-ups a day, so surely more is
better?” – FICTION.
As stated in the first section, sit-ups and all other forms of stability
work are forms of resistance training. There has been a great
deal of research invested in finding the optimum levels of exercise
with regards to resistance training. The general consensus for the
last decade or so is that most people benefit from doing a specific
number of repetitions to a point of volitional fatigue. Increases in
the resistive
load should
be applied as
and when the
number of
quality repetitions
has
exceeded this
“optimal”
range.
Repetition ranges quoted vary from
text to text, but in general, if you are
reaching fatigue before you have
completed 8 repetitions, the benefits
gained will most likely be improvements
in strength. If you can complete 12 – 25
repetitions before reaching fatigue, endurance benefits are more
likely.
Obviously, there are many other factors involved in a training
regime, but the common trend in most research is that doing
more than 25 repetitions of a single exercise without reaching
volitional fatigue, will result in more harm than good.
In summary:
· To yield the best results from your abdominal routine,
ensure that the exercise is taxing enough to stop you
from doing more than 25 repetitions.
· To improve the visibility of you abdominal muscles,
make sure you are expending more calories than you
are eating. Ideally, this should be done by introducing
bouts of cardio-vascular exercise to your exercise
regime (see last edition’s article), that equate to 1000 -
2000 calories per week, spread over as many sessions
as possible (5 days a week or daily is best).
· If waist measurements are your “thing”, avoid sit-ups
and back extensions altogether. As we shall discuss in
future articles, sit-ups, back extensions and other
“isolation” exercises tend to be the CAUSE of functional
problems where torso and spinal stability are
concerned. Unfortunately, sit-ups on their own, are
really only useful for aesthetic purposes.
As we have discussed, sit-ups are best used for improving the
aesthetics of your stomach. Their function is best described as an
isolation exercise that can improve the strength or endurance of
your visible stomach muscles (Rectus Abdominis). If you can’t
see your stomach muscles already, it is unlikely you will appreciate
the effects of doing sit-ups. If you CAN already see your
six-pack, you will probably feel less inclined to include them in
your routine but YOU are the people who will probably notice
more VISIBLE effects from doing sit-ups regularly.

How to Perform The Perfect Sit-Up.
What follows below is a guide as to how best to perform a sit-up. Two versions are illustrated here, a stability ball sit-up and a
traditional “crunch” style sit-up. Neither technique is any better, but the stability ball version has more methods of increasing intensity
as your training improves and remember, understanding the importance of being able to adapt and increase the intensity of your
exercises is key to making improvements!
Photo series 1 to 3
This series demonstrates the role of your stomach muscles in movement. Rectus Abdominis originates on the front of your pelvis at
the crest of the pubis. It inserts into the cartilage of the 5 th , 6 th and 7 th ribs and the xiphoid process (bottom of your sternum). Its action
is to create lumbar flexion (rounding of the lower back) and to tilt the pelvis posteriorly (pull the front of your pelvis toward your ribs).
1. Here I am stood in a neutral posture
with no abdominal activation. Note the
shape of my back, where my lumbar spine
(lower back) is curving in slightly
(concave).
Photo series 4 to 6
2. When the Rectus Abdominis muscles
contract together, it pulls my ribs downwards,
towards the front of my pelvis. I
HAVE NOT let my shoulders slouch. My
pelvis has also been pulled up towards the
bottom of my ribs slightly. Please note the
shape of my lumbar spine now, it is
rounded outwards (convex).
3. This takes a bit of imagination, but
imagine both knees are lifted in this position.
The shape of my spine is unchanged
from photo 1; i.e. there is no lumbar flexion
and therefore NO abdominal activation!
Using the muscles that flex the hip and not
the stomach muscles has performed this
movement (my knee has been drawn
towards my chest). Bear this in mind as we
look at the next series of photos.
This series of photos demonstrates the correct technique for performing the basic sit-up. It also illustrates the most common error.
4. This is the start position for the traditional
crunch. It is fine to perform the
crunch with the feet in the air, but note that
if you are performing the crunch correctly,
holding the feet in the air is no harder than
the standard position. DO NOT, however,
hook your feet under anything.
5. This is the end position of the crunch.
Note how my lumbar spine is as flexed as
possible as in the standing series before.
This means my abdominal muscles have
done all the work.
6. This is a common mistake. I have
performed what many would refer to as a
traditional sit-up. My lumbar spine is still
flat as in photo 3 and the only movement I
have performed is flexion at the hip
(brought the knees towards the chest). The
muscles in the front of my legs have done
the majority of the work and very little
contraction has occurred in my abdominal
muscles.

Photo Series 7 – 9
Here is the same exercise performed using the stability ball. There are no immediate advantages to using the ball, but it offers more
choices for advancement and can allow a slightly greater range of movement (i.e. you can start from an extended back if you wish,
lying with your stomach muscles slightly stretched).
7. This is the start position. My back is in
neutral, with no flexion. The ball is positioned
to support the lower back. My feet
are sufficiently wide apart to give me a
stable base from which to balance and my
knees are bent at about 90 0 .
8. This is the end position of the stability
ball sit-up. Again, the back is in the flexed
position and I have contracted my abdominal
muscles fully. The ball should not
move at all, nor should any part of my
lower body.
9. Here again is the common mistake. My
back has remained in neutral and there is
no flexion in my spine. I have done nothing
more than use the muscles in the front of
my legs to draw my knees towards my
chest.
Summary:
· Perform each movement slowly. Your head is very heavy in proportion to the rest of your body and a fast sit-up normally
results in momentum doing most of the work! Take at least 3 seconds to get from the start to the end position and 3 more
seconds to return back to the start position again.
· Use your arm-position to adjust the difficulty of the exercise. Resting your hands on your thighs will make the exercise feel
easier. Raising your arms out straight, locked against the side of your head (braced over your ears), will make the exercise
feel much harder. It’s like moving the pin position on a traditional weight-training machine!
· Adjust the difficulty to allow no more than 25 repetitions. If you can do too many, move your arms. If that is not enough, go
slower or hold an extra weight (like a dumbbell or a bottle of water or a can of beans) in your hands as you perform the
exercise.
· Keep going until you fail! But remember, if you speed up or don’t manage a full movement, don’t count them! Stop, make a
note of how many “good ones” you managed and aim to do more next time!
· Refer back to the first part of this article for effective repetition ranges if you would like to alter your training to elicit different
training effects.
Good luck and Taekwon!
Gareth Hitchcoe, 2 nd Degree Black Belt, has been training in Taekwon-Do
for 8 years but has been involved with the leisure industry for the past
10 years. He currently works as a Fitness Consultant at the Hampshire
Tennis and Health Club in Southampton and also as a free-lance
Personal Trainer all over the South. Mr Hitchcoe holds a degree in Sport
Science, is a fully qualified P.U.M.A. Instructor and a Registered Exercise
Professional at level 3 (Advanced Instructor / Personal Trainer). If you
have any queries or questions, please feel free to e-mail him at
garethhitchcoe@hotmail.com

Get Involved
Wouldn’t it be great to have another twenty four hours in the day? To be able to spend it doing those things we never
have time to do? Parents often tell me how busy they are with work, meetings, making a home, getting to and from
various venues, where family members expect them to act as a taxi service, every day of every month of every year
and it doesn’t let up. That’s why I am always so impressed when parents find the time to watch one of my lessons.
How involved is too involved?
I’m not convinced there is such a thing as too involved. It’s up to the individual instructor to talk to the parents of their
students and highlight what is acceptable for them. A while ago I was talking to the mum of some of my students. She
has three fantastic kids who train with me and we were talking about how to keep them motivated. She had some
seriously good ideas, but she suddenly said ‘You must think I’m such a pushy parent. I’m sure I’m your worst nightmare’.
Now, even when I was a full time paediatric nurse I never really believed being ‘pushy’ was a bad thing. These were
the parents who got things done and here was the proof. This mum was actively caring about the well-being of her
children, yet she was worried I would brand her a ‘pushy parent’. This is a lady who has supported my club, kids camp,
P.U.M.A. day, every tournament for the last three years and who comes to watch nearly every one of the three lessons
a week that her children attend. I’m glad to say she hasn’t changed, and I hope she never does.
To be honest parents who talk to me are a joy because they are acknowledging that we act in partnership. We are not
really any different from mainstream school except we give less homework!
I am always far more annoyed by the parents I never see. The ones who drop off at the edge of the car park before the
lesson and never attend a grading. I still have students whose parents I hardly know.
Busy lives are a given in this day and age but if you never take the time to watch a lesson you are missing out. If you
can’t sit and watch every lesson, then try to make one each month. If even this is not possible – and I know there are
reasons why some parents may not be able to attend any lessons – pick up the phone and talk to us. As instructors we
are always more than happy to talk to parents about a student’s progress. It makes us feel useful and it means that we
are good value for your money.
In my experience children whose parents get involved progress faster than those who don’t, they learn more than those
who don’t and have more fun than those who don’t.
Do them a favour: get involved.
- Ms Louise Reeve, Child Protection Officer
CHILD PROTECTION
One of Louise Reeve’s junior lessons, complete with audience

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