Black Dragon Scotland

10/09/2026

Looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday 🙏🏻

10/09/2026

Shared from Mark Watson but couldn’t agree more:-

Being an instructor doesn't mean I have to be on my feet coaching every second of every class.

There is a difference between teaching and demonstrating. Teaching is about passing on knowledge, understanding, timing, application and experience. Demonstrating is simply one of the tools we use to help someone understand what is being taught.

Sometimes I teach. Sometimes I walk the floor and observe. Sometimes I sit back and watch. I can correct a student, explain a movement, adjust their technique or have another instructor demonstrate something without having to physically perform everything myself.

As I get older, the physical aspect of teaching changes. I am still present, still involved and still responsible for what happens on the mat, but I have to recognise that my body isn't the same as it was years ago.

I can still deliver and demonstrate power, speed and technique. That hasn't disappeared. But I'm smart enough to know when and where to use it.

Certain techniques, particularly those requiring explosive movement, high kicks or repeated impact, need to be considered. The same applies to sparring. Yes, I can still keep up with younger students when I choose to, but I have nothing to prove. Maybe they do.

There was a time when a simple spinning hook kick to the head was something I could demonstrate without a second thought. As my body ages, my head kicks may become more focused on attacking the body and knees.

That's not because I don't want to do it. It's because I don't need to.

Your body has limits, and with age you learn to respect them. It can achieve what is necessary without constantly demanding that it prove what is possible.

That's really what teaching is about. Think about a child learning to walk. You don't pick them up and carry them everywhere. You encourage them, support them, guide them and stay close enough to catch them when they stumble. But eventually, you have to let go.

You can't walk for them.

You give them the tools, confidence and guidance to take those first steps, and then they have to find their own balance and learn to walk themselves.

Martial arts is no different.

My job isn't to constantly do everything for you. My job is to teach you, guide you, correct you when necessary and give you the confidence to eventually do it for yourself.

Saturate with knowledge.

So never assume that if you see me sitting down and observing, I'm being lazy or disengaged. My body may be taking a moment, but my head is still very much in the game.

Sometimes the best teaching I can give is simply to step back, watch and let you take those steps.

Age doesn't diminish experience. It teaches you where to spend your energy.

"A hammer shapes the metal, but the fire keeps it strong."

09/09/2026

** DRAGON WARRIOR WORDS OF WISDOM **

6. AVOIDANCE: IF AN ASSISTANT THROWS A PUNCH AT YOU...DON'T BE THERE!

Self explanatory really, but not so easy in practice. At BDS we train avoidance with counters as part of our syllabus.

Believe it or not, this can be difficult to learn as it involves not only moving out of the way of an attack, but also timing.

Go too early and your assailant could adapt and still strike you, go too late and...well, need I say more.

08/09/2026

07/09/2026

D R A G O N S A S S E M B L E !

BLACK DRAGON SCOTLAND'S DRUM DOJO MONDAY COMBAT JOURNAL: 07/09/26 THE GLEN URQUHART PUBLIC HALL, DRUMNADROCHIT.

5pm LITTLE DRAGONS/DRAGON WARRIORS CLASS/ADULT CLASS

TODAY: TYRE KICKS & AVOIDANCE WITH AN ADDED PUSH AND PULL TAKEDOWN.

Dragons present: Sensei Anna, Sensei Luke, Sempai Casey, Sempai Eva, Adam, William, Pauline and Francesca 😊

Warm-up: today's was conducted by Sensei Anna, thank you Anna 😊

Katas: we started off with 1, 2, 3 Combat Katas. Francesca practiced the three strikes she learned last week: palm-heel, vertical punch and tiger mouth/throat strike. Whilst everyone else continued with the Kick Kata, Francesca continued on BOB, Sensei Luke adding ulna strike to her arsenal to give her the complete Combat Kata 1 😊

Tyre kicks: everyone has a rough knowledge of the tyre kicks but getting them correctly executed is another thing entirely. Firstly Sensei Luke had everyone stamping the ground using the heel of the foot, then transfering it to the tyre. Out of the four kicks, to start with nearly everyone make maybe two, three effective kicks. By finish we were getting four out of four, well done guys 😊

Avoidance: always good for practice...practice makes perfect or as near as damn it. Starting with the basics, especially for Francesca, having never done it before. We added a takedown, grabbing the head and "guiding" it to the floor. This needs more practice to get everyone to a point of effectiveness . This lead us into push/pull takedown introduced by Sensei Luke. This presented a few problems, depending on the experience of the individual. We will return to this as it is a very effective takedown. The last avoidance takedown for the evening, a simple and direct technique: from a right punch, avoid by moving to the outside of the limb the pushing it away with your left. Continue passed your assailant and low kick the back of the knee joint, taking them down. The same low kick practiced on the tyre 😊
.."CIRCLE"

Great class and a great turn out too. Keep it up guys. See you next Monday...on the mat.

Let's Stay Safe.

Sensei K & the BDS team ✊🙏

06/09/2026

Next Sunday everyone. Don't forget to try and bring a friend if you can.

11 to 1...see you there 🙏🏻

02/09/2026

** IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT **

For a few weeks we will be moving all training to Monday classes only. We need to recruit a few new students to make our Thursday class viable again.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and if you know anyone who may be interested in our services, please ask them to contact us.

Thank you.

02/09/2026

Hi everyone, we are just asking the question for now.

Would anyone be interested in a Community Self-Defence Class, a one off event at the Glenurquhart Public Hall in Drumnadrochit?

Totally free and open to absolutely anyone from aged 6 to 60 and beyond.

Come along and learn simple, straight forward self-defence techniques in a 2 hour session most likely on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

What's the catch? There is no catch. We are a non-profit organisation. We do this to pass on a skill that hopefully you will never need.

One thing we do ask: please pre-book with us. Setting this up does take time and effect, so we would like everyone to turn up.

Is this something you, your Family, your Friends would interested in?

If so, contact us...

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