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Karate

As one of the more well-known disciplines, Karate is still incredibly popular, but is facing competition from some of the newer styles of martial arts.

The British Sport Karate League is travelling to clubs around the country in 2006 - and SWAT Team Academy are one of the groups who are involved. To find out more about the club as well as the League's categories, rules and events visit the Apollo MA website by clicking on the link above.

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is not actually recognised as a sport in the UK, technically it is Sport Karate or Free-Style.

It can be very physical in competitive bouts, but most kickboxing classes encourage the sport as a fitness workout rather than full-on combat session.

Useful Numbers for this Area:

Burslem Martial Arts Centre - 01782 796332

Kickboxing or Kung Fu - 07775 686952

Staffordshire University Kickboxing:

Instructor (Jason)

Evenings - 07870 330408 / Ali - 07779023311 / Mark - 07748106965

Kung Fu

Stafford Wing Tyun Kung-Fu Club holds 'Wing Tyun' classes, a style of Kung Fu that is said to be classed as 'the most practical and effective self defence' style of training.

The classes are held at Elite 2000 Fitness Centre on St Patricks Street, Stafford and Tixall Village Hall in Tixall, near Stafford.

For more information visit the website at www.staffordwingtyun.co.uk or click on the link on the right of this page.

Meanwhile, in the north of the county, Peter Love teaches Shaolin Kung Fu (as taught at the Southern Shaolin Temple).听 The original 5 styles are taught, including Shaolin Tiger and Crane Art.
As an added bonus, students can even learn Chinese Lion Dance!

Peter tells us that the club, which is based in Longton is Stoke on Trent, is keen to promote this very old martial art and the health aspects it offers to everyone in the local community.听
To this end, you鈥檒l find that they put on many demonstrations for charity, in which practitioners smash chopsticks in the throat, and 鈥渨ash in broken glass鈥濃��
Email听 shaolin.staffordshire@btopenworld.com for more details

Jujitsu

The B.K.J.A, Imperial Dojo, Sutherland Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, U.K, ST3 1HZ Phone: 01782 598814 Mobile: 07899 098644

For more details go to their website www.bkjassn.com or click on the link on the right of this page.

Mixed Martial Arts

A similar variant to the extremely violent yet compelling 'Ultimate Fight Championship' which is popular in the Far-East and the USA.

It's basically a freestyle event where competitors pit their different martial arts disciplines against each other - and the aim is to get your opponent to quit - by whatever means necessary!

Many universities have Mixed Martial Arts clubs, and there are clubs in Staffordshire who offer the sports basic training.

As with any contact sport there are always risks, but fighters are required to be insured and licensed before they are allowed to compete.

Kendo

Kagami Shin Kendo Club has existed in Stoke-on-Trent for over 45 years. Its purpose is to practice the traditional sword art of Japan.

They are active members of the British Kendo Association (The sports governing body) and as such take part in all BKA events throughout the year, training seminars & competitions)

Kendo is open to all regardless of age or gender and is a modern and dynamic sport based on traditional lines. The classes are attended by students between 14 to 50+ years of age, from absolute beginners to experienced Yudansha with over 15 years of practice.

It is important to note that NO-ONE takes money for practicing Kendo. Dojo fees are purely to pay for somewhere to train and are kept at an absolute minimum.

The Stoke club's aim is to make Kendo available to more people throughout Staffordshire.

Please contact Steve Plimbley on 01782 324351 for details or steve@plimbley.fsnet.co.uk

Local fighters...

Burslem's Ross Pointon is a highly-rated young fighter in MMA.

His main disciplines are wrestling, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, and he has competed in tournaments in places such as Portugal and Sweden, building up experience along the way.

He trains six days per week during the day before he begins his evening teaching sessions.

The Stoke-on-Trent fighter said: "I want to succeed at MMA, I want to be the best, so this is a chance for me to show the martial arts world what I can do."

Click on the link on the right of this page to find out more about Ross Pointon on American reality TV show 'The Ultimate Fighter鈥�.

The South Staffs duo of Simon Hillier and Reece Crooke are also tipped for success.