Tag Archives: aikido

Good posture – how to have youthful, comfortable, fluid movement at any age.

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Good posture represents a proper state of mind – Morihei Ueshiba.

 

Good posture – its not what you think.  Dispelling some common myths about posture and tips on how to have youthful, comfortable, fluid movement at any age.

Good posture benefits us in many ways. It:

  • helps with elegant, effortless, fluid movement,
  • provides greater comfort and mobility,
  • puts less wear and tear on joints,
  • improves mood, self image and appearance,
  • provides space for internal organs to work and
  • improves blood and energy circulation.

It also means that you will have optimum readiness for your next movement, pretty handy as a martial artist or sportsperson. However, there are some common misconceptions about posture.

Good posture isn’t just about how straight your back is, or about sucking or pinching things in to be ramrod straight. It is more about being efficient, freely moving as you need to in a natural expression of yourself and being ready for your next movement.

There are three main misconceptions about posture:

Firstly good posture shouldn’t require constant attention to maintain it. If you think about it this is impractical at best. Try constant attention in any movement for more than a few minutes. I bet you can’t do it. For it to be effective we want to have good posture all day not just when we think about it. Good posture needs to be unconscious. Like walking.

Secondly good posture shouldn’t require extra effort. In fact it should require less effort than most people use. Good posture is very efficient. It uses the body’s bone structure to minimise the amount of muscle strength that needs to be used. The body ‘settles’ in a relaxed way. A simple test for this is to check and see if there is any strain in your current position. If there is you are probably not in a very good posture.

Thirdly, posture is not about keeping ramrod straight and still (think military recruit standing to attention) you certainly couldn’t manage that all day. Believe me, I have tried and failed. This type of posture brings stiffness into the muscles and reduces blood flow. This stiffness or tension interferes with other movements and breathing and impedes the natural relaxed state of awareness that you need.

Of course this is not a license to slouch. Slouching also inhibits breathing and readiness for athletic movement. You really need to find that happy medium between tension and complete relaxation. Alert relaxation if you like.

Are you evolving or de-volving?

The way that we have evolved is to be ready at any moment to meet an attack from a predator. Alert, ready, balanced, efficient. Watch an animal. They can move from complete relaxation to very athletic movement in an instant. Good posture then allows for three things:

  1. It is efficient, conserving energy for when you need it most.
  2. It allows for constant subtle movement such as scanning for information or danger.
  3. It prepares you for your next movement, be that hugely athletic or a subtle change of position.

Efficiency really means minimal effort to get the job done. With posture this means holding a position to do the work while counteracting the effects of gravity.  I am sure that you all agree that lying down is a pretty efficient posture. However it is not very efficient when it comes to doing other things at the same time (well with the exception of a couple I guess).  Standing on the other hand, is a very unstable position. It is like balancing a bowling ball on top of a stick on top of two sticks. It requires constant corrections and movement to keep you upright (apparently for every inch the head falls forwards in bad posture the weight on the spine increases by 10lb causing long term muscle strain, disc hernaitions, arthritis and pinched nerves*)

In a standing or sitting posture you are in fact never standing still. We are all continually making minute falls and corrections in order to maintain good balance.You should strive to keep the main heavy body parts (feet, knees, pelvis, chest and head) stacked one on top of the other.  Any change to this requires a lot of muscular effort to maintain balance. An understanding of these bio mechanics is what allows you to disrupt someones posture in a martial arts setting.

To keep alertness in our movements we need to be able to comfortably make subtle shifts of movement in a good posture to scan for information. Taking in the field of play, the location of different attackers or escape routes, or other dangers approaching. Alternatively it could be as simple as typing, eating or turning around to check over your shoulder in the car. If you are too tense and rigid, these on going movements will be restricted.

Finally you need to be optimally ready for the next movement, relaxed and ready to make a big exertion or just a subtle change of position. If you are too tense or rigid then your next movement will be slow, strained or cumbersome. This is however, situation specific. An almost perfect example of posture is a sprinter in the blocks. He is efficient, ready for information and perfectly positioned for his next movement.

As a martial artist you train for the time when you don’t know what is going to happen next, such as an imminent attack. In this instance your posture would be more neutral – ready to move any part of you in any direction, freely and spontaneously.

I want to get old gracefully. I want to have good posture, I want to be healthy and a good example to my children. – Sting.

In conclusion good posture is not just about sitting straight and still with an erect spine. It is more about a dynamic and ever changing event that takes minimum effort to hold, doesn’t cause injury, allows for constant ongoing activity and is ready for the next movement.

There are just two days left and only 6 spaces remain for the seminar with Jamie and I this weekend where we will cover in depth the last four posts on
Breathing, Movement, Relaxation and Posture. Attention to these four arts really can improve the quality of your health and life immeasurably, seeping into everything that you do. Click here to book now to ensure your place.

1 Day Holistic Performance Improvement Seminar

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For dramatic and lasting improvements to your physical, mental & emotional well-being….

Saturday November 16th
Melkham, Wiltshire
10.00 – 14.00
Cost: £40

This course is for people of any activity level from martial artists and athletes to couch potatoes who want to get active, or people who have lost thier mobliity and flexibility. The day is progressive and WILL change the way you operate, move and think.

One of the questions that I am most often asked is, ‘How long will it take me to get good?’ or, ‘How do I get faster results?’. This seminar is my answer. Not because it will give you magic pills, but because it will give you tools that you can use in almost every facet of your life, all day long. You see the honest answer to the oft asked questions is, ‘it depends on how much time you are willing to put into it.’ The more time you can put into training the better you will get, simple really. For most people the answer is two or maximum probably four hours per week. However, with most practices you have to set aside time to do them. Not with the material that Jamie and I will be sharing. You will learn habits that you can adapt easily and seamlessly into everyday activities helping you to train not just when you go the gym, the track or the dojo, but when you are doing anything and everything.

Jamie and I will be delivering an exclusive and new programme designed to radically change and improve your health, well-being and performance in everything you do. On the four hour course you will learn ancient breathing and relaxation techniques that you can practice throughout the day as part of your everyday activities.

You do not have to set aside time to do these practices as in meditation, yoga or exercise. They will become part of your daily habits, as natural as breathing and moving.

You will also learn subtle yet profound ways to improve your movement and posture that make everyday movements, smoother, more relaxed, less strained and more efficient.

Jamie and Matt will be sharing new material and tools that will make you:

  • More energised
  • Feel calmer
  • Think clearer
  • Less anxious
  • More mobile with greater freedom and range of movement
  • Able to deal with blood pressure and pain management issues
  • Understand what your body is communicating to you
  • Able to perform under conditions of increased physical or psychological stress and
  • Able to recover yourself from conditions of high physical or psychological stress

It will improve your physical performance whatever your level and whatever your activity be it yoga, meditation, walking, running, martial arts, football or anything else.

Testimonials:

“After so many years of back and knee pain I find that within just 2 months I can manage steps with a feeling of real strength in my knees and legs and almost no discomfort. For the first time in over 10 years I find I am now sleeping through the night without being woken by back pain. I’m even finding that when I lay in bed in the morning there is much less pain or discomfort. I can now bend over at the basin in the morning and clean my teeth without being in agony, something I never thought I would do.” – Gareth Leake

“After 8 years in Martial arts I can now roll straight up onto my feet, rather than putting my knee down. I have also found out that I can now jump from kneeling to standing. I contribute this new found ability to my daily practice of the four pillars of Systema, especially squats. They have opened my hip joints while removing tension from my legs. I have managed to achieve this new skill in a little under 4 weeks. With this in mind I am inspired to carry on discovering new freedoms that the four pillars can provide.” – Karl Durrant

“Just getting in touch to let you know that after just 8 weeks I’m feeling the benefits of Systema training in everyday life!
I’ve noticed that during times of pressure at work I am better able to identify the early signs of stress and prevent it from affecting my mood and productivity. Overall as a result of Systema training I am much more mindful of the state of my body and psyche (and often the state of others around me) and so feel equipped to deal with adversity in a relaxed manner and thus feel much more relaxed on a day to day basis. From a physical standpoint my body also feels refreshed. My joint mobility and strength is continuously improving and my ability to endure strenuous exercise improves without fail each time I apply Systema breathing techniques.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time so generously.” – David Greenwood

If by the end of the morning you feel that you will not benefit from the seminar we will happily return your course fee.

Spaces limited to 40. First 20 places will get a discount of £10. Click here to book now for £30.




Or pay by bank transfer:

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Seend Aikido Club
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Account Number: 33042545.

 

From the mountains of Costa Rica to the jungles of Borneo Jamie has always sought out the best in Health and Combat methods. Jamie has studied extensively with masters in martial arts, martial sports, energy and mind development, including various healing methods.

Matt is a Certified Systema Instructor, 5th Dan in Aikido and an Ex-Parachute Regiment Captain.  He has been devoted to the study of optimum performance of mind, body and spirit since childhood and has lived, studied and taught all over the world. Matt is committed to sharing this knowledge with others.

Kill or Cure: The health benefits of Martial Arts by Gareth Leake

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Testimonial from Gareth Leake on the health benefits of Martial Arts

A few months ago my two daughters came home from Youth Club buzzing from a self defence class run by Matt Hill of Wiltshire Martial Arts. My youngest daughter aged 12 said ‘Dad try and grab me around the neck.’ To show willing I gently did as asked only to find my daughter had disappeared, sliding out of my grip. Totally stunned by this I asked her if I could have another go only to find the same happened again. After my 4th attempt and by this stage using all my focus and effort I still found it impossible to restrain her. She was visibly more confident and left me feeling somewhat perplexed as how this could be possible after the shortest taster into self defence.
Some weeks later I was chatting to one of the other Dads in the park, who had practiced Aikido under Matt Hill. I asked him if he thought Aikido might help to improve a chronic back problem I had been suffering from for well over 10 years. The last few years becoming increasingly disabling in terms of my day to day life. I wondered if the ‘rolls’ that are performed when you fall to the floor would have the same mobilising effect on my back as an osteopathic treatment. He said that the exercises that are carried out provide good overall strength and flexibility to the body and that in principle rolling should be beneficial. I thought to myself well it would be a ‘kill or cure’.
Up to this point I had invested a much time and money seeing, over a number of year’s osteopaths, chiropractors, cranio sacra therapists, physiotherapists and acupuncturists all sadly providing little sustainable improvement in my back condition. Many of them gave advice and countless exercises to do at home, which with the best will in the world on my part, were quickly shelved as time and life got in the way. So ‘what the hell’ I thought and gave Matt a tentative call to see if there was a place for a stiff and immobile middle aged man in his club. As I was so anxious about the prospect of falling over and hitting the ground, only to find my spine shattered around me in a thousand pieces I asked if it might be possible to have some private 1 to 1 sessions to prepare for the class and see if I was indeed capable of moving and falling. Matt suggested we could meet at an outside training area near his home to go through some basics. Odd, I thought at the time as surely the sports hall and the cushioned safety mats would be the place to meet. But not wanting to question the idea I thought, well it sounds different.
By this stage I had started to take my youngest daughter to the Saturday morning sessions where it quickly became apparent to me that Matt has a deep understanding how the body and the mind works with regards to movement, strength and relaxation and is able to convey trust and confidence in those around him. I felt increasingly reassured that the odds of ‘kill or cure’ for me were moving rapidly in my favour.
So, fast forwarding to the present I have now had a couple of months of club work and some highly focused 1 to 1 sessions with Matt. There are two main disciplines at the club; Aikido and a Russian defence system called ‘Systema.’ The impact of joining the club and learning these martial arts has made a huge difference in the quality of my life and is one I am still getting my head around as its all happened so positively and so quickly. The masters of Systema, Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev talks of 3 principle aims within the Russian system of ‘Systema’ which capture and encompass all the areas of personal growth for me in the last 2 months.
1)      Clearing the mind
2)      Strengthening the body
3)      Cleansing the soul
They are huge aspirations and beacons to have in anyone’s life and give such depth and validity to the art form. My own personal experience within each of these has been significant to me and I know will be common to others who commit time and an open heart and mind to Systema practice.
The first principle of ‘clearing the mind’, I have found the breathing practices which are taught and practiced in each lesson highly effective in promoting inner calmness and improved focus. In addition a significant factor in the practices taught is the removal of fear from the mind and body. It is this fear which presses down and limits us, be it the fear of hurting old injuries we carry to protect the body or fear of emotional and stressful situations in our daily life.

The second principle of ‘strengthening the body’ is astonishing in its effectiveness. There are four basic exercises are called the ‘Four pillars’ which include press-ups, squats, leg raises and stomach curls. If I am being honest my immediate thought at the time was ‘Oh here we go again, those old chestnuts!’ my reminiscent memories from school PE lessons I guess! But very quickly these simple exercises are elevated to being quite literally the pillars of movement of our daily lives. Taught and practiced with care, skill and depth these exercises not only provide the strength to develop in class practice, but more fundamentally are the keys to improving everyday movement such as getting up from chair, or in and out of a car, walking up and down the stairs, crouching down and getting up off the floor or out of bed in the morning. After so many years of back and knee pain I find that within just 2 months I can manage steps with a feeling of real strength in my knees and legs and almost no discomfort. For the first time in over 10 years I find I am now sleeping through the night without being woken by back pain. I’m even finding that when I lay in bed in the morning there is much less pain or discomfort. I can now bend over at the basin in the morning and clean my teeth without being in agony, something I never thought I would do.

Matt said when we first met ‘whist we cannot stop the passage of time we can limit and even rewind the effects of that aging process on our bodies.’ In my experience not hollow words but statements of fact.
The third principle of ‘cleansing the soul’ Within Systema practice important words are spoken and handed down by the masters of Systema Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev, such as the need for humility, living with an open heart, love and kindness for our fellow man. These are huge words and even greater principles to have in one’s life. They are handed to us in class by Matt during exercises and end of class talks for us to work with and aspire to. They form a deeper strength within us, than that which we alone can derive from physical exercise alone.
One surprising benefits I have found in my journey since knowing Matt is my renewed pleasure and joy of being outside and rolling around on the grass. Matt has a great love for the outdoors and all the health benefits it offers. Long gone now are my initial thoughts, of it being odd not training in a gym. I find now that whenever I see grass or slopes and banks I just want to roll down them! Its a lovely feeling smelling of grass, earth and sweat  after an exhilarating session surrounded by views of trees, distant hills and inquisitive cows for company rather than four walls filled with MTV screens blaring away. I have no doubt that being outside and exercising is the way forward, getting away from the confines of a sanitised gym doing exercises that frequently hinder rather than help. I understand that Vladimir Vasiliev once said ‘when did you last see a Tiger do a bench press and they seem to do ok.’
My final thoughts to any health professional or commissioner who might read this or to anyone who suffers pain from stiffness and poor flexibility, that there could potentially be another way forward.Calling Matt was undoubtedly the most significant step I have made in years managing my own health.

Now I feel like I’m gradually claiming back a few years of my life and I hope others on reading this will do the same too.

Gareth Leake
Personal Sessions
Matt Hill Systema Headshot
Small group or 1 – 1 sessions to really focus on improving health, well being and combat effectiveness.
To book email Matt at wiltshiremartialarts@gmail.comMatt also offers highly specialised small group or 1-1 overnight sessions in bushcraft covering the basics of kit selection, layer management, navigation and route selection, knife and fire management, cooking and minimal impact skills.  The courses leave you feeling light and invigorated.  Find out more here

Shinrin Yoku – The healing effect of Forests

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As our lives get busier, time seems to go quicker.  We have less time, more stress and seemingly ever greater responsibilities.

In 2008 we crossed the Rubicon.  For the first time in human history more people lived in towns and cities than in rural areas.  This is compounded by the fact that the average worker now spends 8 hours a day in front of a screen.  They then go home and relax by watching on average 3 hours TV or the Internet.

Research tells us this is not good for us, that this behaviour makes us more aggressive, more depressed, less patient, slower witted and fatter.  But we already know that.  What research hasn’t been able to tell us is why, or how we can fix it.

The answer really is simple and obvious.

If you knew of a simple, scientifically proven way to lift your mood, make you 50% more creative, increase your production of cancer fighting cells by 40% and keep all these levels high for a month afterwards, would you take it?  You bet.  Read on for the answer.

I’ve often wondered why I take such pleasure from being in nature.  I teach my classes outside whenever I can and get immense satisfaction from taking people into forests for weekend experiences.  What I couldn’t really explain was why people seemed to ‘get’ things so much quicker in an outdoor environment than they do in a dojo.  It is almost as if there is a secret accelerant in the air.

Why does a weekend in the woods would have such a profound impact on people?  I thank Japanese researchers for giving me the answer.

Miyazaki San, a Japanese physiological anthropologist and vice director of Chiba University’s Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, located just outside Tokyo has been at the centre of Forest Therapy for the past decade.  In that time he has taken more than 600 people out into the woods and monitored their reaction to their surroundings.

The results are startling.

The findings show that leisurely forest walks, compared with city or town walks, yield a 12.4% decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a 7% decrease in sympathetic nerve activity, a 1.4% decrease in blood pressure and a 5.8% decrease in heart rate.  On subjective tests, study participants also report better moods and lower anxiety.

Devon 2Is that really a surprise?  When you consider that we have spent 99.9% of our evolutionary journey in nature and we are still physiologically tuned to it.  The more time we spend there, the better we feel.  Consider how you would feel…

  •       Listening to the sound of running water and birds singing
  •       Smelling fresh pine, wild garlic, bluebells
  •       Feeling the sun on your back and the wind in your hair
  •       Seeing sunrays through a canopy or a beautiful waterfall
  •       And have you ever noticed that food tastes better outside – think barbeques and picnics or fresh fruit plucked straight from a tree.

As much as the forest gives us, it is also what it takes away that cleanses us.  The anxiety of checking your smart phone, sweating the little things and lack of perspective that every day life brings.

Japanese Doctors have been prescribing a cure for these ailments called ‘Shinrin Yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’.  Literally spending time in forests.  You don’t have to do anything else.  Researchers are building a body of evidence that proves at a cellular level what we already innately know.

So if we know it, why don’t we do more of it?

I think that it is too easy to stay comfortable and easily entertained.  I confess that I am as guilty of this as the next person.  I maintain numerous social network platforms, spend most of my day in front of a screen and yes, I relax in the evening in front of one too.

So how do I get my dose of forest medicine?  I try to build in to my life as many reasons as I can to go outside.  Building a business around the outdoors has been instrumental, as has having dogs and a family that loves the outdoors and wild swimming – so in no particular order:

  •       I have dogs,who LOVE walks in the forest.
  •       I have cultivated a love of wild swimming in my daughters and  have a wife who loves walking
  •       I make conscious decisions to live near woods.
  •       I teach my general classes outside whenever I can.
  •       I teach private lessons outdoors whenever I can
  •       I run woodlands experience courses where people literally rediscover the pleasures and benefits of being outdoors.
  •       If I have to choose a business hotel when travelling I will click the ‘countryside hotel’ option wherever possible.

I am sure that very little of what I’ve said will astound you.  You will have felt it yourselves I’m sure.

All I would say is try to find ways to get out into nature and just be there.

An afternoon or a long walk will bring you lasting benefits.  Even better would be a few days.  The Japanese prescribe 3 days.  If you would like to get some real benefits try a few days on a woodlands course and on top of the health benefits improve your martial arts capability way beyond where it is now.  You will be immersing in at least 6-7 hours of training a day and far from leaving you depleted you will be energised in a way you will have rarely if ever felt.

Three days of this gives you about 21 hours of training with more time spent in discussion with like-minded people.   Most people spend about 3 hours a week in training – 12 hours a month.  You will be getting about 2 months worth of training in a weekend.

Add to this the compound interest of the training being condensed into a short period. without the skills fade that comes between sessions.  You then have incredible value.

There are limited spaces for this years Devon Camp in June.  Click here to find out more

P.S If you fancy something even more thrilling There is a four day course in Sweden in some of the most beautiful forests and lakes that I have ever seen.  Once again spaces are filling fast for this so don’t wait too long to book.  Click here to see a video of it

If I was to leave you with one message from this it would be that If you want to feel better, spend more time in nature.  It really is that simple….

I hope to share some of those great forest experiences with you.

Stonehenge Course write up – Sensei and the Stones – by Karl Durrant

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Sensei and the Stones

It was a fresh morning, the journey to Stonehenge was certainly a lesson in night driving especially taking some unknown B roads. I arrived alert and excited it was 0530 Sunday 24 March 2013 I was here to watch the light come up and to practise aikido within the centre of this mystical site.

Being lead by Matt Hill of Wiltshire Martial arts the organisation of the event was very smooth and energising. Matt was on hand to liaise with the site staff and made sure all student attending the event had what they needed. This is an example of leader ship that is not commonly seen in martial arts, often it is the student serving the master. With this being my second course with Matt it is clear that his teaching to allows others to see themselves, not to see him.

From dark to light I began to see the face of fellow student clearly during the sunrise. The group stood in silence for a few moments in preparation to meet the stones.

Moving to the site car park, people adorned hakama and gathered weapons.  After a quick security briefing we ventured through a tunnel to the site of our morning practise, the inner circle of Stonehenge.

With a briefing from Matt, we opened practise with a few minutes of sitting meditation. With my eyes closed I focused on the background hum of wind and traffic. Then all of a sudden it stopped, like someone pressed the mute button, after a few seconds all that could be heard was bird song and the wings of resident crows. Reviewing this later I found it was mutually experienced by all.

After  meditation people had already began to feel the warmth that the stones provide. Moving onto tai-jitsu and awase practice the fresh weather was soon ignored for mindfulness, breathing and movement. Working with new people I felt nervous of my ability, this is common when stepping out of my comfort zone.  But here in the circle I was safe as I had the pleasure of sharing this experience with some helpful and patient fellow Aikido students.

Before we knew the final kokyo-ho exercise came, grabbing my camera to get some final pictures my plans soon changed as Matt wanted to practise with me. A great end to a fantastic practise session. The morning was not over yet.

Heading back to the car park everyone was buzzing about the session and discussing the “mute button” during meditation. Some could not stay for breakfast so after goodbyes, the remainder gathered their cooking equipment and lead by Matt,headed for the woods 1 mile away.

Walking and chatting with new faces and future friends I began to feel a positive commonality in our experience. Arriving at the woods people naturally sat in groups of 3 and 4. Getting their stoves out and pans ready, a number of people , including me, realised that  the wind was stopping their bacon from frying. I gave up on mine and settled for large mug of tea and some breakfast bars.

I noticed that Matt did not sit with any particular group while having his breakfast, once done, he made an successful effort to mingle with everyone. This demonstrated to me a key leadership ingredient, the ability to treat everyone equally allows for natural group cohesion.

Overall the experience will take a lot to equal, but the one thing I took was the lesson that a good leader stands behind ready to catch any who may fall.

KF Durrant.

Stonehenge 2013

Denmark Seminar with Matt Hill – 13-14 April 2014

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Aikido Seminar with Matt Hill hosted by Thomas Jessen
Svendborg 13-14 April 2013

Main focus theme of the seminar

Removing Tension from the body and psyche
Tension in the body tires you quickly, inhibits natural, spontaneous movement and thinking disrupts your mental and physical balance and reduces speed and power.  We will look at how to raise your awareness of the tension in your body and how to let go of it and find dramatic increases in your speed, power, creativity and endurance.

It is just as beneficial to remove tension for health reasons and this is will be a natural consequence of the training.

Aikido Web

Powerful and effective atemi
We will also look at striking techniques including: precision, placement, relaxed and hidden strikes, striking as part of your natural movement and striking to break your partners balance.

We will also do some rarely seen work from kicks and stamps.

The training is sequenced, logical and methodical so it is ideal for practitioners of all styles and all levels from beginners to advanced students.

The Cost is £55 for the weekend – full course information can be found here:Denmark Seminar Matt Hill 2013 ENG-1 copy


There are now only 11 spaces left for the course – book now to avoid disappointment.

I sincerely look forward to training with you.

Yours in Aiki,

Matt.

Some recent testimonials:

Sensei Matt – Thank you for a very inspiring course at Stonehenge yesterday, I can’t really explain what I felt afterwards only that I felt very relaxed, all the tension had disappeared from my shoulders and neck but also I had a feeling of rejuvenation and, although tired from the early start and lack of sleep from the night before, re-energised and clearer thinking. Hope this makes sense because as I say it is difficult to explain.  I would also like to thank you for your friendly welcome, it was great to meet you for the first time and I hope it will not be the last. – David Spuffard

“A weekend session with Matt Hill is a definite must for anyone who wants to call themselves a martial artist and who wants to explore the infinite ways of Takemusu“ – Mats Stromgren

Lots of energy in a very relaxed manner – Daniel Heed

Matt is a brilliant Instructor and very inspiring to train with! – Patric Noordstrom

Good, physical training and lots of fun – Karin Keereweer

Dont be afraid! – Malou Klock Stromgren

Matt will leave you thinking about your Aikido for the rest of the year – Robin Karlson

Finding a connection between what you want and what you need – Alula Kassa

Its like taking your understanding of Aikido and adding a jetpack to it – Mikael Zall

Read more testimonials here

Devon Woodlands Systema Camp 27-29 June 2014

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Deeply relaxing, a wholesome immersion for the mind, body and spirit.

Health, defence and outdoor skills.

Set in a stunning area of Devon this course is much more than just a Systema course or camp experience.  The course is deeply relaxing, invigorating, rejuvenating and wholesome for the mind, body and spirit.  For three days you will live a very simple existence.  Training, eating, sleeping, relaxing and learning all in the company of like minded People.

INSTRUCTOR: Matt Hill – Systema HQ Certified Instructor, 5th Dan Aikido, Parachute Regiment Captain.

Devon B&W

A bit about the course.

You will immerse yourself in training for 6 hours per day.  However, you will be suprised to find that rather than wearing you out this will restore you to an even greater level of physical and mental health and well-being.  You will be studying the unique combat and health methodologies of Systema with its ancient practices of physical and mental training and wellbeing. I will also cover vital bushcraft skills including safe knife handling, basha set up and knots, waking and putting a fire to sleep and much more.  The course is:

  • ALL INCLUSIVE Basic food and all essential equipment is supplied. You can bring your own if desired.  *there is limited indoor accommodation for those who require/desire it.
  • COMPLETE RANGE of training including weapons, empty handed, multiple attack, awareness, striking, stretching, meditation and health promotion
  • ALL TERRAIN training in the forest, fields and water and practice by day and night,
  • SUITABLE FOR ALL LEVELS Ideal for beginners and advanced students due to the progressive nature of the training course building from basic concepts to advanced levels.  *It is also suitable for all fitness levels as there is transportation to the campsite and all training areas are a short walk from the main camp. 

Here is a video clip of highlights from last years course:

Comments from previous courses:

“An immensely enjoyable experience, that will not only put you back into the heart of nature but may also help to put you back in touch with who you really are”
– Danny Hamilton Mills

“Thank you Matt for a very enjoyable weekend and a life changing experience”
– Gergana Milkhanova

“Sensei Matt’s Woodland Intensive Aikido Course was well balanced, unique and highly memorable ““ I could not have hoped for more in a weekend!”
– Isabelle Vinet

“The woodlands course gives those that wish to see a glimpse into what is important”
–  Mark Wood.

‘I would recommend this seminar to anyone involved in martial arts’
– Nicky Charles

‘This is my first seminar with Matt Hill.  I have learn’t so much that I will keep with me.’
– Dave Hartley

Read more testimonials here: https://www.matthill.co.uk/testimonials/

There are only 30 spaces on the course. Book now below to secure your place.

Cost is just £149 for the 3 day course.

Devon Guarantee


Pay via Paypal (includes £5.20 to cover Paypal fee)

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Barclays Bank
Wiltshire Martial Arts
Sort code: 20-05-06
Account Number: 10699853

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” –    Henry David Thoreau

 

I sincerely look forward to welcoming you to the course.

Matt Signature

Matt Hill.

Notes from the knife defence day – March 16th – Poole

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Knife Defence Course‘Not what I expected.  It was better’ – Rob Newton.

 

‘This is an excellent course taught with a fresh outlook on dealing with any attack: Excellent for any martial artist’ – Grant Mason

‘Sensei Matt teaches with a calm fluidity which keeps the learning at an easy pace and means you take away far more than expected’ – Daniel O’Rourke

Dear all, firstly thanks for coming along on Saturday.  It was great to see old faces and to meet new ones.  Especially on big match day which I am happy to talk more about if anyone wishes 😉

Ok as promised here are the keynotes from the day.  If anyone wants clarification or to a better understanding of some of the drills please feel free to email me.

Theme – knife defence – basics.

General points:

  • We worked on four principles:
    • Breathing (Kokyu)
    • Movement (Sabaki)
    • Relaxation (Raku Suru)
    • Structure (Kuzushi)
  • When faced with a knife of course run away if you can – but this is a lot more difficult than you think.  With someone intent on hurting you and not just scaring you you will be lucky to see the knife before the attack.
  • Knife work builds tension and nothing will hamper your ability to respond spontaneously more destructively than tension in the body and psyche.  We did a lot of work on breathing, moving and relaxing.  This is the most sure-fire way to stay calm in a stressful or dangerous situation but it takes regular, deep practice.
  • Train the body to move and not tense on contact.   A life saving skill.  Work to train the body to move with and not resist the first contact.  To ‘ride’ the strike if you like.  Especially when you don’t see it.   Train from all angles and attacks with eyes open and closed.
  • Don’t disrupt his attack.  Let it pass you by and use their energy and momentum to unbalance them.  Blocking or moving them too much will alert them to the fact that they have missed and they will brace and steady themselves to attack again.
  • Deep Practice.
    • This is the best type of practice for dynamic skill acquisition.  It needs to be:
    • Slow enough so that you can learn, see errors and correct them.
    • Deliberate practice where you are reaching for a skill that is on the outskirts of your capability.  You get it wrong more than you get it right but you are grooving the skill circuits with each attempt.
    • Your cycle of practicing the skill is short giving you lots of attempts at grooving the skill.  Obviously the more times you practice the skill with awareness the better you get. If you remember you were probably attacked several hundred times during the day, with instant feedback on whether it worked or not.
    • Slow deep practice will make you swift and graceful without you realising it.
    • Deep practice is typified by words like, attention, connection, building, whole, alert, focus, mistakes, repeat, wiring, exploration, edge, awake, alive and tiring!
  • A sense of playful exploration in the practice – just like when cubs are learning to play fight with each other.
  • Important not to fight against him trying to make a technique work.

Practices:

Familiarity
We practiced walking around drawing the knife and putting it away to get comfortable and familiar working with it.  We then worked with going to ground, rolling and getting back up whilst drawing the knife and putting it away in a ‘hidden’ manner so that you would get used to how a ‘hidden’ attack looks and feels.  We then progressed to drawing and stabbing someone else in the same motion in a crowd.

Structure
We practiced breaking the partners structure after moving out of the way of a strike along their balance points with finger tip lightness.  Firstly really taking our time and then smoothly in motion.

Striking
We then looked at striking in precise areas to break up their structure and take them down.

Sensitivity
We worked from you grabbing the knife hand and then relaxing the body but still keeping a firm grip.  Allow them to stab guiding it past with minimum interruption and then using this movement to take the balance and take down.

Slashing drill

We worked on three phases of slashing

  1. Slow
  2. Fast and aggressive
  3. Attacking

The partner had to stay relaxed through breathing and moving and moving decisively through and past the slash.

Fix then attack.
We worked on the attacker grabbing you and then attacking with the knife.  We worked from:

  1. Wrist grabs
  2. Elbow
  3. Arm around shoulder.

You can and should of course try from any grab.

Pressure Testing
We then finished with a pressure testing drill with a short time in a circle with an attacker to see what had been picked up during the day and to highlight areas of strength and weakness.  Most importantly you ability to stay calm under pressure.

What the participants had to say:

‘Take time to go to this knife seminar because you never know!’ – Keiran Best.

‘This is the reality of knife attacks; non-technique based defence’ – Mykola Kuntyn

‘I enjoyed the course and think that it could improve my chances in a knife attack’ – Steve Gardner

‘This was a great introduction to knife defence suitable for martial artists of all styles’ – Nigel Hymas

‘Well taught, very effective applications for inside and outside the dojo’ – Jon Flannery

‘A well structured course highlighting the underlying principles of coping with a knife attack’ – Tony Waknell

‘I would recommend this seminar to anyone involved in martial arts’ – Nicky Charles

‘This course has made me feel a lot more confident about my ability to defend myself in a real life attack situation’ – Isabelle Vinet

‘I enjoyed this course very much’ – Tony Clement

‘A well instructed and enjoyable course’ – Chris Ireland

‘Let this course help in your learning and understanding of your own martial discipline’ – Phil Figg

‘Great course that stretches your understanding’ – Andre de Mendonca

‘It’s a very worthwhile course for all martial artists to attend’ – Dale Harris

‘This is a fantastic day which taught me lots of new techniques – I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to learn knife defence skills’ – Kelly Palmer

‘Smashing – I’ll do it all over again!’ – Kemuel Spence.

‘A fun way to learn about a very serious topic.  Hopefully I wont need to put into practice what I have learn’t’ – Glen O’Leary.

‘This is my first seminar with Matt Hill.  I have learn’t so much that I will keep with me.’ – Dave Hartley

‘A great opportunity to learn with people who study many different martial arts’ – Danny Bailey.

‘Self defence for all’ – Mark Borley

‘Have  a fun day and stay alive!’ – Jeremy Taylor

‘A well instructed and enjoyable course’ – Chris Ireland.

‘The whole course complimented itself’ – Lewis John Foote

‘The course was fun with lots of useful points’ – Andy Channer

I have also been asked to run the course again as a refresher/next step by several people.  I will keep you posted.