First UKKFF Escrima Concepts Workshop, 22nd April 2006
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On the lovely hot Saturday morning which was 22nd April 2006, the first group of UK Kung-Fu Federation students to begin learning the complete Escrima Concepts weapon system fought their way through bad traffic and awful weekend parking to Wimbledon Leisure Centre for their first workshop with Master Steve Tappin, the EC Chief Instructor. Our students had been introduced to the idea of weapons during a recent Blade Awareness Seminar (click to find out more) with Master Steve, but this was their first actual training session as novice Escrimadors. You could see just how excited everyone was right from the start, despite the alien feeling of holding an unfamiliar weapon and not knowing how to move. Fantastic! We're beginners again!
Master Steve began the workshop by explaining how best to approach weapons training, removing the fear and keeping things simple until students began to feel more comfortable and not threatened by their partners. Everyone was introduced to a host of simple drills, and 30 minutes later it was apparent just how effective this approach was. Students were more relaxed, strikes were more fluid & more to target, defensive movements were showing more intention and footwork was falling into place. Having studied with Master Steve back in 1999-2001 it was obvious just how much he has worked on the delivery method of the Escrima Concepts system. His use of specific exercises to correct errors was proven to be very effective and far more user-friendly than everyone was expecting, and you could see the change in all students as they realised that nobody was going to get hurt and that everyone was there to learn. When booking this first workshop we were unable to get our first choice of venue, and so thanks to Wimbledon Leisure Centre for helping us out at short notice. The room was a bit smaller than we wanted, however Master Steve used this to his advantage, emphasising control & ensuring that nobody began flailing around madly. 28 people in a room swinging sticks and not even one bruised knuckle - but I doubt that this will continue as people start to improve though!
As people began to improve, Master Steve introduced more & more exercises, each building upon the last. Students began to combine their basic strikes & box concepts with directed footwork, punches, kicks and strikes to specific targets. Every so often he would demonstrate where these drills would eventually lead, showing powerful attacks & defences and some quite breathtaking controls, locks & disarms. The highlight of the workshop for many people was when his son Wayne defended an attack which was so powerful you could smell the burning wood from the stick-to-stick contact - awesome! But of course the purpose of the workshop was to start us off in EC, and we succeeded in our aim. The goal now is to schedule regular practice sessions, hopefully on a weekly basis so that everyone can continue their progress until the next Master Steve workshops in June & July. By building slowly & correctly we will soon be in a position to offer regular classes in Escrima Concepts, along with a core group of dedicated students.
In no time the workshop was over and it was time to say goodbye to Master Steve & the many other EC instructors who had come from around the country to help us learn. Everyone was full of smiles and had a great time, and there is even greater enthusiasm for the next one. Another great beginning for the UKKFF and another demonstration of how the Alliance works.
- Author: Lee Heron
- Sources: None
