Crawley Combat Academy

Crawley Combat Academy Crawley Combat Academy - Self Defence - Combat Sports - Martial Arts

First class is free: crawleycombatacademy.com

29/07/2026

The Side Choke Defence: Pluck, Drop, Turn, Elbow and Drive Forward with Purpose as demonstrated by Lena & Paul

A side choke can feel sudden and overwhelming — the attacker comes in from the flank, clamps onto your neck, and tries to drag you off‑balance. The key is not to fight their strength head‑on, but to break the grip fast and reclaim your structure.

You start with a sharp pluck: a quick, targeted grab that rips their choking arm away from your neck. It’s not about peeling — it’s about exploding the grip with speed and precision. Once the pressure is broken, you immediately rotate your body, driving a tight elbow turn into the attacker’s space. This turn shifts your hips, squares your stance, and puts you in control of the angle.

From here, you commit to forward motion. Stepping in and driving your weight through the attacker forces them backward, disrupts their balance, and stops their ability to re‑apply the choke. It’s a clean, confident sequence: pluck, turn, and move forward with intent. Built for real‑world situations, it gives you the clarity, resilience, and control needed to escape safely.

At Crawley Combat Academy, techniques like this are taught as part of a wider system of conflict survival — practical, pressure‑tested, and designed to strengthen men and women across the community. This is more than training. It’s a wellbeing space, a resilience space, and a place where technical skill builds the right mindset for difficult circumstances.

We’re growing, we’re evolving, and we’re here for you. Join us.

📞 Contact Details

Crawley Combat Academy
Phone: 07751843751
Website: www.crawleycombatacademy.com
Location: Crawley, West Sussex





Great Tough Combat Survival Tactics session last night at the CST Crawley HQ.Our Knife Assault Survival Program is desig...
29/07/2026

Great Tough Combat Survival Tactics session last night at the CST Crawley HQ.
Our Knife Assault Survival Program is designed to help you survive the worst scenario you could be unlucky enough to deal with - a full on frenzied knife attack !
Nothings easy , you will get cut , but it’s about doing what works to minimise damage and escape !
These guys are pretty much experienced students - so we made things harder !
Pressure tests - then adding baby oil to the arms so trying to capture the weapon bearing limb becomes even herder !
People sweat , it rains, so adding these extra layers helps us develop and understand the grey area’s where, in a fully committed attack , it is nothing like a martial art !
We train to escape , but sometimes, depending on the situation and context , we just can’t and other tactics have to be deployed ! We also added fake blood , to desensitise and mimic taking damage !

Real Training - Real Pressure Tests - Real understanding that no matter how much we try to synthesise this type of attack, it will never come close to a real attack - however we have a saying “ the harder you train the luckier you get “!

Honest feedback, Questions and observations are always discussed after this type of training - it gives the learner the opportunity to really think why and how we train and also gives us, as instructors sone learning outcomes and ideas for future sessions - this means learners think for themselves - as in a real situation they will have to !!!!

Great session, thanks to coach Andy and James for your assistance and to all the members for constantly evolving and putting everything into their training sessions ! This is a bit like an insurance policy - only difference is sometimes this one pays out 🙏🏻

PM if you want more details - classes also in Brighton and Carmarthen - more areas coming soon ! Keith Collyer

TestimonialOur self defence day was a fantastic success in partnership with the Menshare Listening Group. The attendees...
28/07/2026

Testimonial

Our self defence day was a fantastic success in partnership with the Menshare Listening Group. The attendees were full of praise for our instructor’s Lena & Paul.

27/07/2026

The Pull–Push Technique: Breaking the Choke Hold with Control and Confidence

In a real choke‑hold situation, every second counts — and the pull–push technique is designed to give you that second back. When an attacker clamps their hands around your throat, their strength comes from alignment: shoulders square, hips driving forward, arms locked. Your job is to break that alignment fast.

You pull one of their arms sharply across your body to collapse their structure, then push their opposite shoulder or chest to rotate them off‑centre. This twist instantly weakens the choke because the attacker can’t maintain pressure once their body is turned.

To create a decisive exit, you follow with a controlled push to the face — not as an act of aggression, but as a tactical tool. The face push disrupts their balance, forces their weight backward, and gives you the space you need to escape safely or transition into further defensive actions. It’s simple, technical, and built for real‑world situations where clarity and confidence matter.

At Crawley Combat Academy, techniques like this are taught as part of a wider education in conflict survival. Our practitioners are experts in their fields, delivering training that strengthens men and women across the community. This is more than a gym — it’s a wellbeing space, a resilience space, and a place where technical aptitude builds the right attitude for difficult circumstances.

We’re growing, we’re evolving, and we’re here for you.
Join us.

📞 Contact Details

Crawley Combat Academy
Phone: 07414 009 563
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.crawleycombatacademy.co.uk
Location: Crawley, West Sussex





Well done to Tom, Ed, Josh, Ryan, Simon for passing their modules 1 & 2 in Conflict management and Combative’s in Comba...
24/07/2026

Well done to Tom, Ed, Josh, Ryan, Simon for passing their modules 1 & 2 in Conflict management and Combative’s in Combat Survival Tactics !
Also Scott, Josh and Tom for completing and passing their modules 3 & 4 Clinch and Grappling, Ground Survival .
Great effort by all and well done it’s a lot harder under pressure, exactly what these tests are for !

CCA CEO presents to Hazelwick Students “Menshare Listening Group CIC is proud to celebrate the successful completion of ...
22/07/2026

CCA CEO presents to Hazelwick Students

“Menshare Listening Group CIC is proud to celebrate the successful completion of another eight-week Enhancing Further Education for Young People programme at Hazelwick School in Crawley.

This programme also welcomed a valued guest facilitator, Keith Collier from Crawley Combat Academy, who delivered an engaging and thought-provoking session on knife crime awareness, personal safety, and the real-life consequences of carrying a knife. Keith combined practical knowledge with education around conflict avoidance, helping students understand the legal, physical, and emotional impact that knife crime has on individuals, families, and communities.

The session generated excellent discussion and gave the young people an opportunity to ask questions in a safe and supportive environment. Education remains one of the strongest tools we have to prevent violence, encourage positive choices, and equip young people with the confidence to keep themselves and others safe.

We extend our sincere thanks to Keith for sharing his expertise and helping to inspire the next generation to make informed and responsible decisions.

Working with Year 9 and Year 10 students, this programme has once again demonstrated the positive impact that early intervention, mentoring, and meaningful conversations can have on young people's confidence, decision-making, and personal development.

Over the past eight weeks, the young men have engaged in a series of interactive workshops focusing on some of life's most important lessons accountability, ownership, respect, emotional resilience, and personal responsibility. Rather than simply delivering presentations, each session encouraged honest discussion, self-reflection, and practical strategies to help the students navigate the everyday challenges they face both inside and outside the classroom.

Well done to Keith for being front and centre of community initiatives. Crawley Combat Academy is dedicated to the community it serves. And why we partner together 🤝. Many thanks!”

Sean Orr - CEO of Menshare

If you wish to know more about Keith’s programs please 📞 07751843751

15/07/2026

Here in this video Keith explains Positioning!

Positioning in self‑defence is one of the most misunderstood yet decisive elements of personal safety. At Crawley Combat Academy, we teach that self‑defence begins long before any physical technique is required. It starts with the mind — with intelligence, awareness, and the ability to read your environment in real time. Positioning is the bridge between thought and action, the quiet skill that prevents danger from becoming harm.

Effective positioning keeps the threat in your view. When you can see a person, you can read their intent, anticipate movement, and make informed decisions. Losing sight of someone — especially in a tense or uncertain situation — creates openings that attackers exploit. Most people are struck not because they lack strength or technique, but because an opportunity was created through poor positioning. A moment of distraction, a blind spot, a lapse in awareness. Self‑defence is about closing those gaps.

One of the most important concepts we teach is avoiding the flank. Being attacked from behind is not just physically dangerous; it removes your ability to respond with clarity. Positioning yourself so no one is behind you is a simple but powerful act of control. It protects your centre line, preserves your ability to move, and maintains your access to escape routes. This is not aggression — it is intelligent self‑management. It is the discipline of staying aware of angles, distances, and behaviours so you are never giving away free shots.

Positioning is not about paranoia; it is about presence. It is the mental habit of checking your surroundings, adjusting your stance, and making sure you are not boxed in. It is the understanding that self‑defence is not a fight — it is a strategy. At Crawley Combat Academy, we train men and women to build confidence through technical aptitude, to recognise threats early, and to use positioning as a tool for safety, escape, and control in difficult circumstances. This is why our academy is more than a gym. It is a place of education, community wellbeing, and practical resilience in dangerous times.

Crawley Combat Academy
Call: 07751843751
Website: www.crawleycombatacademy.com

13/07/2026

Distinguishing violence from self‑defence comes down to intent, necessity, and proportionality. Violence is driven by aggression, dominance, or the desire to harm. Self‑defence is a protective response used only when a person reasonably believes they are facing imminent danger. Appropriate self‑defence is always reactive, never pre‑emptive, and its purpose is to create an opportunity to escape safely — not to punish, retaliate, or escalate. The degree of force used must match the level of threat: enough to break free, create distance, or stop the danger, but never more than what is required to remain safe. When someone’s behaviour shows clear violent intent — such as advancing aggressively, ignoring boundaries, or attempting to cause harm — a person is legally and morally justified in using proportionate self‑defence to protect themselves and disengage. At Crawley Combat Academy, we teach practical, reality‑based skills that help people recognise danger early, respond appropriately, and stay safe without crossing the line into unlawful force.

Contact: Crawley Combat Academy
📞 07751 843751

Address

Hut 17 Tilgate Forest Recreation Centre
Crawley
RH105PH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 9:15pm
Thursday 9am - 8:30pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm
Sunday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+447751843751

Website

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