On the completion of the BFKKO MMA Coaching course
held at Powers Martial Arts Centre Sheffield on 27th October 2012 Executive
director of the BFKKO, Master Cris Janson-Piers said…..
“I have just finished editing the video of the 7
hour Stage 1 course we delivered. I am so proud of what we have achieved as an
Organisation. Mentors of our very own qualified instructors who administered
the course and have been involved over the last 4 years, have been the likes of
John and Lisa Higo, Tony Davies and instructors of Total Dojo and of course the
one and only Ian the Machine Freeman of whom we are to be doing much more work
with.
Putting a training structure onto paper has been hard work over the years but look at the skill level it has now produced....clean, sharp, professional technique delivered by non egotistical registered and qualified instructors.
Three SDF Instructors, namely Alex Mackenzie, Shaun Weston and Paul
Cropper all successfully passed the long course which involved practical and
written testing, all assisted by their very own personal instructor on a
private 1 to 1 basis. It was a long hard day and participants have to have a
high level of fitness and a good understanding to even attempt it.
Because of their previous training and fighting experience in K1, seen
as the stand-up side of MMA, the guys could concentrate on the solid MMA
techniques of which they have also been very active in.
There are 3 levels to the examining procedure which means instructors
qualified under the system can only teach up to a certain level of experience
and techniques within a syllabus which relate to that level of qualification.
Instructors will then attend further training courses to lead up to the next
level of examination.
The opening of MMA clubs has increased rapidly over the last few years and this
is when Cris became aware that a lot of clubs opening were being run by people
with limited experience and in many cases by people who had no formal
qualifications which could later become a massive liability risk. Saying that,
there are of course clubs that have been run for several years by leading
authorities and champions within the game.
When Cris, himself initially approached his own organisation insurers
for MMA cover they refused until they had proof of full training of instructors,
which in turn could guarantee regular risk assessment and a structured training
and grading programme. There was also a very strict area of discussion which
involved the training of children within the sport. (Now called “Combined
Martial Arts” within the BFKKO and it’s registered clubs) Which has many
restrictions and certain techniques deleted from its training programme, but it
allows younger children to build up a framework of groundwork and stood-up skills
in preparation for when they come of age and are able to start actual MMA
training.
Cris quickly set about this and the system was passed and initially run
under the WAKO GB banner until WAKO itself applied for Olympic/GAISF and Sport
Accord recognition which meant they could only be active in certain areas in
line with the application, so the officers then transferred over to the BFKKO
and run the exact same system.
It has remained very successful and the BFKKO remain very happy they
have now applied a system and format which has been officially recognised by
insurers and of course other groups of martial artists. Although some may
question syllabus and grading work within MMA, Cris remains satisfied the
system has created a safer training environment and he is even happier that by
paying attention to a restricted syllabus for children they too can train in
this ever growing and popular sport in safety.
