Areté Martial Arts & Fitness

04/08/2025

I'm family-free for the next five weeks or so, so I'm very available for private or small-group training sessions! DM me if you're interested.

15/03/2025

Hi all,

Just gauging interest here. I'm toying with doing regular JKD/Panantukan classes on Zoom. DM me if you'd be inerested.

27/02/2025

The best time to start training in martial arts was five years ago.

The second best time to start (or re-start) is today.

Whether you're a beginner or experienced, you'll find a warm welcome and challenging, fun training!

DM me with any queries.

08/01/2025

Want to get more active in the New Year? Give martial arts a try!

I'm keen to help all my students to reach the best of their ability, whether they are raw beginners or seasoned veterans. I'll help you to get from where you are to where you want to be, and we'll have fun along the way! In this class I teach:

JunFan gung fu: This is the technical base for Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee's approach to martial arts. It is simple, direct, and functional, combining a strong kickboxing base with hand trapping and other entries into standing grappling and takedowns.

Panantukan: Strongly influenced by western boxing, this empty-handed part of Kali (the Filipino martial art) also uses kicking and a wide range of other anatomical tools to strike the opponent. Other key features are body manipulations to make it easier to hit the opponent, and disabling the opponent's attacking limb ('de-fanging the snake').

These arts present a stimulating physical challenge, and are heavily 'street' oriented. I've trained in them for over 30 years, have taught them for over 20, and have instructor qualifications under Dan Inosanto (Bruce Lee's longest student, training partner, and assistant instructor), Larry Hartsell (who trained with Dan Inosanto from 1962, and with Bruce Lee from 1967 to 1970), Bob Breen (who first brought Dan Inosanto to the UK and Europe in 1979), Terry Barnett (Bob Breen's senior student), and Rick Faye (Senior Full Instructor under Dan Inosanto).

Please DM me with any enquiries.

30/10/2024

Grateful for the chance to train under the man who is undoubtedly the biggest influence on my adult life - Bob Breen, pioneer of Jeet Kune Do and Kali in both Britain and Europe. 75 today and still going strong!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvKGepT0JU

I don't teach the Kali weaponry in our classes at Fitness XChange, Hitchin, but if there's the demand, that could change!

Footage of Bob Breen and Steve Wright, working on knife disarms in a recent training session.

16/08/2024

Remembering my late instructor, Larry Hartsell, who would have been 82 today. A fabulous instructor and human being, enormously influential on me and all who trained with him.

16/07/2024

And we're still here at XChange Fitness, Thursdays 7:00 to 8:00pm! You're welcome to join us. DM me with any questions.

17/01/2024

Are you an experienced martial artist (preferably with boxing/kickboxing basics?

Maybe you've been out of training for a whie due to injuries, or life getting in the way, and you're keen to start up again.

Would you like to train in a welcoming, friendly environment?

Then join us on Thursdays at 7:00 pm at XChange Fitness, Hitchin!

Message me for details.

09/01/2024

Ok, now we're out of holiday mode and the rain has stopped, come and join us on Thursday. Make 2024 the year when you made that first step!

02/01/2024

This Thursday, 7:00 pm. See you there!

21/12/2023

Two weeks to go until we launch!

IMPORTANT: My insurance only allows me to teach a maximum of 16 in a class, so DM me to ensure your place.

Many thanks to Adam Simon Bourne for the video, and Rolston Wiltshire for being the demo model.

19/12/2023

Getting closer to launch now, and if you're interested in joining us, there are some items that you will need. With Christmas conveniently close, you might put them out there as gift suggestions!

Impact is central to what we'll be doing, so you'll need a pair of hook and jab pads, and a pair of bag gloves to protect your hands during pad- or bagwork, as well as giving some protection should an accident occur during glove drills. Please do NOT use MMA gloves. Jun Fan and Panantukan make heavy use of finger jabs, and open-finger type MMA gloves do not give protection in the event of an accident, so I cannot allow anyone to train in this class with MMA gloves. Bag gloves which enclose the fingers ONLY, please.