Progressive Martial Arts

General information

Welcome to Progressive Martial Arts Black Belt Academy.

You will find we offer some of the finest martial arts instructing and training available anywhere in a professional, fully equipped martial arts Academy.

Our facilities are specifically geared to promote quick efficient learning, fun classes, and an all-round exciting experience.

Progressive Martial Arts was founded in 1997.

In 2001 Steven began teaching for the club and took over in 2004.

In 2007 the club moved from the local village halls into its on converted building.

Progressive Martial Arts is a proud member of The Cobra Martial Arts Association and The UK Martial Arts Alliance.

These outstanding associations are two of the most prestigious in the UK and are there to help us keep up-to-date with all our qualifications and teaching methods.

As well as those listed above we are affiliated and members of Open Circle Fighting Method, Premier Jeet Kune Do and last but by no means least, Defendo UK.

Instructors

Chief Instructor Steven Smith is one of the area’s highest ranked instructors. He holds Dan grades in 3 separate arts and is one of the UK's highest ranking instructors in Defendo.

Senior Instructor Emma Smith. She too holds Dan Grade/Instructor qualifications in various arts and is a level 3 qualified personal trainer, and other various Fitness Instructor qualifications including Exercise to Music, GP Referral, Rock Doc (Rock Taping - Fascial Movement Taping), and is a Certified Insanity Live Instructor..

Assistant Instructors: Ian Wilkinson (2nd Dan) Kris Kane (2nd Dan) Naomi Lumley (1st Dan) Stephen Young (1st Dan) and Patrick Coatsworth (1st Dan)

Apprentice instructors: David Kelly, Kate Carnegie-Brown, Holly Dixon and Cameron Fairburn

The Progressive Martial Arts core syllabus is Xian Jing Gung Fu (Freestyle Kung Fu registered with the CMAA). Steven's approach to martial arts is that it should be practical and still enjoyable. For this reason the classes can vary from a hard pad workout to some less strenuous (but more painful) joint locking techniques.

We also offer classes in various specific training methods.

All the ranges of combat?
Our syllabus teaches everything from basic punching and kicking before progressing to the more technical combinations. After you have a good foundation it then progresses to grappling and sweeping. It is our goal to help you feel confident in every confrontational situation. For this reason we have something for everyone.

What is Jeet Kune Do?
At Progressive Martial Arts we also offer lessons in Bruce Lee's street combat method, Jeet Kune Do. Bruce Lee's fighting method was created to enable the exponent to deal with a situation quickly and efficiently.

What does it entail?
Jeet Kune Do training consists of high intensity training that is not for the faint hearted. The drills are all real scenario orientated and often leave the student battered and bruised (but loving it).

What’s the difference between "Original" and “Concepts"?
Original is the teachings as Bruce Lee taught them. Concepts are the interpretation that some people have of how Bruce Lee would have altered them should he still be alive. At Progressive Martial Arts we teach "original" as that is the method that we (Steve) prefer.

What qualifies you to teach it?
Bruce Lee did not certify many people and as such this is always a sticky area. Steven has been lucky enough to train with some of the top Jeet Kune Do instructors in the world. During Sifu (Jerry) Poteet’s (one of Bruce Lee’s close friends and students) UK Visit in 2006 Steve was lucky enough to be given instructor level.

After the visit Steve travelled to the USA to train privately with Jerry as he wished to gain more knowledge and first hand experience with Jerry's closest students. It was during those visits that Steve met Sifu Dane Junod. Sifu Dane showed Steve just how practical Sifu Jerry's teachings were (are) and as a result Steve has kept in constant touch with Dane. Now Steve continues his training with Sifu Dane whenever possible, bringing his Sifu to the UK yearly and travelling to the USA whenever possible.

What is Defendo?
Defendo, created by Bill Underwood, is the internationally approved "Occidental System of Self-Protection" designed to enable its practitioner to put an immediate end to any physical confrontation, with or without weapons, turning the attacker into the victim. This is accomplished through joint manipulation, restraints, strikes, grips, leverages and by manipulating the aggressor's nervous system. Direct and extremely practical, Mr Underwood's techniques have proven themselves through "life and death" combat situations in World Wars I and II and North American Intelligence and Law Enforcement communities.

Defendo Revived
Clive Elliot brought Defendo back to the UK in 2003. It has grown from strength to strength and has been practiced from young to the old. Steven began training with Clive in 2003 and is now one of the highest ranked instructors in UK. The system has to be one of the easiest to learn, thus making it suitable to everyone. This is how it was developed to be used by the founder Bill Underwood.

Who should learn it?
Anyone who works within the public sector will benefit from Defendo training. It is an arrest and restraint system that works quickly to help bring an aggressor under control. At present Steven has taught members of the British Army, North Yorkshire Police, Door Supervisors and countless other martial artists. Everyone who has taken classes has commented on how quick and easy it is to learn.

When can I learn it?

Aspects of Defendo are taught in class but at present we only teach "pure" Defendo privately and in workshops which are held on the first Sunday of every month.

We are often told by how students what positive impact the training has had on their lives. But please do not take our word for it. Read our testimonials and you will see for yourself.

Now's the time for you to make the right decision!

As my instructor always said to me "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!"

Get in touch for Information on a free trial of all our available classes