Apr 04
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NEWS: 15year old Liam Lambourne fights for the UK in Turkey

By | Kids Martial Arts, Teens Martial Arts | No Comments

 

Crawley Teenager Liam Lambourne of Crawley Martial Arts Academy

Local martial artist Liam Lambourne in Turkey at the IFMAA games

Teenage Martial Artist and future sports star — Liam Lambourne — travelled to Turkey to represent the UK at the International Federation of Muay Thai Juniors  last month

The 15 year old graduate of our kids martial arts classes who lives in East Grinstead and trains at the Crawley Martial Arts Academy, travels to the Manor Royal Gym 5 times a week to rack up the hours and make sure he’s at the top of his game for the international squads trip to compete on the world stage.

Liam qualified for the UK team last Summer after he was required to travel up and compete on an almost monthly basis.

Liam with his Turkish Opponent

15 year old Liam with his Turkish opponent

For each bout Liam fought he was awarded points based on his performance, whether he won or drew and he scored well enough to make the team and win his place in the 2013 IFMAA Junior Competition.

Travelling to Turkey with the UK team, his dad and John Jarvis, the head coach at Crawley Martial Arts Academy.

Fighting in the 15-17 year old category, Liam was one of the youngest in the group and lost his first fight to a stronger, older 17 year old Turkish opponent.  The fight was under full Muay Thai rules which allowed knees and elbows to the head in addition to punches and kicks.

Fortunately for Liam all is not lost.

The travel to Turkey only adds to his experience and at only 15 years of age he can come back to fight in the same competition and fight in the same age group for another 2 years by which time he’ll have grown in stature, strength and experience.

We’ve high hopes and it’s good to see him back in training for his next outing this weekend in Manchester.

Good luck Liam!

If you’d like to find out about getting your child started in martial arts for fun, for confidence, self-discipline or for sporting competition  you can find out more by calling the Crawley Fitness & Martial Arts Academy on 01293 552 511 or enter your name and email address in the box on this page.

 

 

 

 

Mar 29
0

Teenage and Kids Martial Arts Classes in Crawley

By | Kids Martial Arts, Martial Arts Clubs in Crawley | No Comments

Since 1996 we’ve been teaching martial arts to teens and kids in Crawley.

And since moving to our 5,000sq foot gym in Manor Royal just over 2 years ago we’ve continued to expand our timetable with classes for children aged 4-7 years, 8 – 12 years and teenagers before they move into the adult classes.

We’ve a proven track record in taking children from as young as 4 all the way through to the adult classes.

Winning Championship Titles and competing all over the world.

Of course not all of the kids and teens (or their parents) are focused on competing.

For many it’s about building self-discipline, improving confidence, beating bullying at school and adding a positive influence into the lives of our kids.

This short video clip shows a class with our teens being put through their paces.

Training hard and working through a circuit designed to build their physical strength and fitness.

Which ‘in-turn’ helps us all learn that by pushing and persevering.  Digging deep and building character is exactly what we need to grow as adults.

If you’d like to find out more about our teenage martial arts classes or any of our younger, kids martial arts classes then get in touch by calling us on  01293 552 511 or simply enter your name, telephone number and email address in the box to the side of this page.

All of our classes are taught by fully-qualified, CRB checked instructors who’ve had years practical martial arts experience and won National, European or World titles in our martial art and sport.

You can rest assured you’re son or daughter is getting the best martial arts training locally from some of the UK’s leading martial artists.

Our classes run 4-6 days per week (… depending on the age group) and with the exception of Christmas we’re open all year around.

So…

If you’re looking for a martial art that will build your child physically, teaching them the importance of having a great attitude and hard work then get in touch to find out more.

We’d be more than happy to help and — by the way — that’s me walking around in the hooded jumper making sure the teens are working hard and — just as important — working safely.

I look forward to seeing you (and your kids) in class!

Alan

Google

Mar 25
0

Golds and Silvers for Crawley’s BJJ Team

By | Competition Team, Crawley BJJ, Self Defence Classes | No Comments
Gold medalist George (centre) and Silver Medalist Josh (left) win Crawley's BJJ Team their first medals of the day

Gold medalist George (centre) and Silver Medalist Josh (left)

Crawley Martial Arts Academy’s Jiu Jitsu team were out in full force competing in London last weekend.

The team of eight grapplers, fighting for the first time this year, were travelling with high-hopes after weeks of intensive training under head-coach Keith McKenzie.

For several weeks the team had been training specifically for the competition, working on their technique while working on their strength and conditioning at the Manor Royal based gym.

With the preparation done they travelled up quietly confident and brought back 3 Gold and 3 Silver Medals to the clubs growing trophy cabinet where only last week local fighter Ruth Ashdown placed her new WBC International Muay Thai Title.

15 year olds George Kolarov and Josh Stapleton fighting in the same weight division were first on the mat and both winning with chokes.  The two later met face to face in the Teenage Final with George winning by submission and Crawley taking home their first Gold and Silver medal of the day.

Next up were the lightweights with Konrad and Ollie West taking center stage.

The biggest of the weight categories both won their first fights convincingly before losing out in the second round to tough opponents.

Johnny Blyth in the 76kg division found well losing out in the later rounds.  Entering the Absolute Division he found his second wind winning three fights back to back by submission.  Coming up against a tough, heavier opponent in the semi-finals Johnny lost by submission, taking home the Bronze Medal.  In the same Absolute Division, Crawley’s BJJ Team fighter Vasco Santos winning the Silver medal.

Heavyweight Lee taking home the Gold Medal for the Crawley Martial Arts Academy

Heavyweight Lee taking home the Gold Medal for the Crawley Martial Arts Academy

In the 88kg competition Alan Sawyer and Chris Singers met each other in the final.  Both had won their previous fights by submission.   All was tied in the up until the last few seconds before Chris made a last gasp effort to take the Gold on points.

Star of the day had to be Lee Wilderspin who in the build up to the fight had been master a new fight strategy.

The biggest fighter on the team Lee executed his fight plan to perfection.  Taking his opponents down and controlling them on the ground before submitting both his opponents with arm locks.

With the team on the up and up, and the level increasing the Crawley Martial Arts Academy has growing team of experience White Belts, Blue Belts and Purple Belts.  Led by Black Belt and 2x European Champion, Keith McKenzie, there has never been a better time to get started.

If you’d like to find out more about learning with Crawley’s BJJ Team — for fun, for fitness or for self-defence and competition — give us a call on 01293 552 511 or enter your name and email address on the box on this page.

Recently we’ve also added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) to our weekly kids martial arts classes starting from age 11+.

 

Mar 23
0

Amazing post with all the goodies

By | Food for thought | No Comments

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Mar 19
0

Crawley Martial Arts Academy: Kids Martial Arts Competition

By | Kids Martial Arts | No Comments

Shelly from the Happy Times was on tour to take pictures of our kids in action.

From the youngest kids of 5 years through to teens (with the adults fighting in the evening) the Kids Muay Thai competition gives the Academy’s children a chance to put their skills to the test and progress.

For weeks the children had been preparing.

Working on new techniques,  building their physical strength and fitness (not that they weren’t unfit in the first place!) and seeing for themselves the importance of focus, concentration and self-discipline in martial arts.

While the competition side to our martial art isn’t a necessity it is a great confidence builder and we regularly have smaller, in-house competitions that give our little Champions a chance to practise and get used to the atmosphere without the distractions of a crowd.

During our in-house competitions everyone is a winner, it’s all about effort and attitude with all ages, boys and girls getting involved.

The competition at the Bewbush community centre was a great success with the children competing early afternoon and the adults later that night.

Carried out under the strictest of safety with no head contact allowed for the youngsters who could only punch, kick and knee to a well padded body protector.

This competition took place before the 2012 Olympics which reminded everyone the importance of sport in day to day life, how it brings us together and how it teaches us to push ourselves physically and mentally.

If you’d like to find out more about Kids Martial Arts Classes in Crawley (in particular Muay Thai Kickboxing, a striking system with Eastern roots like Karate and Kung Fu) then visit our children’s martial arts page HERE or visit the Kids page of the Crawley Martial Arts Academy.

We teach classes throughout the week at our fully-equipped, full-time gym in Manor Royal and have recently started to roll out Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (somewhat similar to Judo) this month (March 2013)

Mar 18
0

The Grand Opening of New Gym in Crawley

By | Gym Crawley, Kids Martial Arts | No Comments

It’s been over two years now since we ‘upgraded’ and moved our Gym in Crawley into bigger, better premises.

Moving only a couple of streets away it was a big move for our family owned gym.  We could be more different to the likes of Virgin, the K2 or the Nuffield in what we do and our approach to fitness training.

But it works!  And we’ve got a great community that ranges from our youngest children who start their martial arts training at just 4 years of age through to adults in their 50s, 60s and even 70s.

Our philosophy is that you’re prepared to try we’re prepared to help.

Experience and fitness are not necessary.

So here’s a few photos of the grand opening back in 2011 when the Crawley Mayor, a local Buddhist Monk (we teach Thaiboxing in addition to providing weights, fitness classes and personal training) as well as being attended by Shelly from the Happy Times who regularly visits and reports on  our good news events.

A buddhist monk opens and blesses our gym in Manor Royal

A buddhist monk opens and blesses our gym in Manor Royal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The local Mayor opening the new facilities

The local Mayor opening the new facilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Buddha Lounge and Cafe at the gym

The Buddha Lounge and Cafe at the gym

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The official opening of the gym

The official opening of the gym

 

 

With members from across the community it was a good day to showcase the new gym, the new facilities and give our Kids Martial Arts team a chance to demonstrate their skills to an audience.

 

Mar 17
0

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By | Dining | No Comments

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Mar 12
0

Ruth Ashdown: Crawley’s NEW WBC Title Holder

By | Ladies Fitness, Personal Training Crawley | No Comments
Crawley based personal trainer Ruth Ashdown in fighting shape!

Crawley based personal trainer Ruth Ashdown in fighting shape!

Personal trainer, Muay Thai instructor and local girl, Ruth Ashdown fought for the Super-Fly Weight WBC International Title last weekend in Liverpool.

Fighting Leeds based, Kate Stables, the fight was billed as one to watch with the two, two-ranked fighters coming face to face for the first time.

Ruth who lives in Haywards Heath and teaches a variety of classes at the Crawley Martial Arts Academy had been training hard for the past 8 weeks as she got in the best shape of her life as she looked to add the WBC title to her collection that includes a British Title, the ISKA and ICO World Titles.

Ruth Ashdown PosterBefore starting Thaiboxing, Ruth was a photographer at local shows, traveling with the club and taking pictures for the club’s, Sussex based fighters.

As time went on she started training, intially building her fitness before deciding to ‘give it a go’, jump in the ring and see what it was all about.

Little did she know how it’d changer her life and her career forever!

Now working as a personal trainer and coach, teaching Ladies Kombat Fitness and Ladies Muay Thai (Kickboxing) to local women, mum’s and daughter’s who want to get in great shape, learn important self-defence skills and have fun at the same time.

With classes throughout the week, Ruth now has two major personal goals in life…

First to continue growing and improving as a fighter and martial artist.

And second to help local women get in great shape, lose weight and feel better about how they look through her variety of training classes.

If you’re interested in finding out more about training with Ruth or coming along to one of the Crawley Martial Arts Academies women’s only fitness classes give her a call on 01293 552 511 or enter your name and email address in the box on this page >>

If you’d like to watch Ruth’s WBC title fight performance then you can watch t he video on YouTube HERE or click on the video below…

 

Or you can find out more about our classes by click on the navigation bar at the top of this page and selecting the fitness class or lesson you’d like to try.

See you at our Crawley Gym!

Mar 07
0

Crawley Personal Trainer — Ruth Ashdown — is this the toughest woman in Britain?

By | Ladies Fitness | No Comments

With over 40 fights under her belt and two world titles around her waist, personal trainer and fitness expert, Ruth Ashdown travels to Liverpool this weekend to fight for the WBC Super Flyweight International Title against Kate Stables.

The 29 year old teaches Thaiboxing, runs fitness classes and offers personal training in Crawley and her home town of Haywards Heath and started fighting 8 years after working as a photographer on local shows.

Ruth who featured in the Metro Newspaper “Is this the Toughest Woman in Britain?” fights our of the Crawley Martial Arts Academy and — when she’s not training hard for a fight — offers personal training to local men and women who want to get fighting fit without stepping into the ring.


Personal Training and Thaiboxer Ruth Ashdown Thaiboxer and Personal Trainer Ruth Ashdown

An off-duty Ruth and with her international Thaiboxing Titles

With personal experience getting into fighting shape for up-and-coming fights and helping other women master the art of Muay Thai, Ruth is perfectly placed to help people who are serious about losing weight and getting back in great shape.

And, as a lady and a fighter, understands how other women feel about getting in shape, toning up and enjoying your training.

A tough taskmaster Ruth has hone her skills when it comes to creating a fun and friendly feel in classes AND at the same time pushing, encouraging and motivating ‘her girls’ to push themselves and see a real difference in both how they look and how they feel about themselves.

If you’d like to find out more about  fitness classes and training with, Crawley Personal Trainer, Ruth Ashdown you can contact her on 01293 552 511 or enter you name and email address in the box on this page.