Modern Warrior Alliance International gathering for 2018 comes to Australia Perth 16-18 November.
After previous events in Israel and Africa, MWA is happening in Perth and Brisbane this November. Join us for 3 days of intensive training in Krav Maga and related arts with the top martial artists in the world and take part in our internationally accredited grading. Trainers details and brief schedule is below.
More info will be added as details become available.
Trainers:
- Professor Michael P Belzer, 9th Dan (USA)
- GM Meredith Gold (USA)
- Dr Gavriel Schneider, 7th Dan
- Noah Greenstone, 6th Dan
- World Champion Oliver Olsen
Schedule and information:
Perth 16-18 November
Brisbane 23-25 November
General schedule (open to everyone) limited spaces (40 Max)
Seminars + Grading - $375
- Women’s Self Defence Course Add-on or stand alone $75.
- with Instructor Course Add On $495
Friday - Day 1
17h30 meet and greet
6-9PM Workshops Session 1:
• Grappling Skills
• Standup Skills
• Krav Maga Ground Skills
Saturday - Day 2
9AM-12PM Workshops Session 2:
• Warmups and Stretches
• Striking Skills
• Joint Locks
• Throws & Takedowns
• Krav Maga Integration
45 minute Lunch Break
12:45 - 3:45PM Workshops Session 3:
• Weapons Defences
• Weapons Use
• Realistic Scenario Training
Sunday - Day 3:
• 8:30AM-12PM Gendai Krav Maga Grading
• 12-1:30PM Donn Draeger history review with Prof Michael Belzer (lunch during the presentation)
• 2PM Rank Presentations & Closing Ceremony
Monday - Day 4:
• Optional Women’s Self Defence Workshop with GM Meredith Gold 5:30-8:30pm - $75 (only 12 spaces available)
BOOK NOW - SECURE PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL
for more information please ring us on 08 9389 9489
Instructor Profiles
Professor Michael Belzer, 9th Dan
Michael Belzer is one of the 2018 Modern Warrior Alliance Instructors that will be attending in November in both Brisbane and Perth.
Michael Belzer is a lifelong martial artist who began his training at the age of nine. Focusing predominantly on Danzan Ryu jujutsu (currently 9th degree black belt), kali/escrima and Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, he’s trained in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines and had the good fortune to study with the “best of the best”, including Sensei Donn F. Draeger, Prof. Wally Jay and Guro Dan Inosanto.
When Mike was introduced to the ASST method in 1989, he the felt that the realistic scenarios and full force striking provided the “missing link” in traditional martial arts training. He’s been wearing the armored assailant gear ever since, having worked with Impact Personal Safety, RMCAT and Project Blind Ambition. Mike has also served as a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Arrest and Control Unit as part of their Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel (CMAAP).
GM Meredith Gold
Meredith Gold has been teaching Adrenal Stress Scenario Training (ASST) programs since 1992, having worked with the Impact Personal Safety organization in Los Angeles, as well as Peyton Quinn’s Rocky Mountain Combat Applications Training (RMCAT) in Colorado. Since 2000 Meredith and her husband Michael Belzer have been teaching their R-A-W Power program.
Meredith’s primary focus has always been teaching self defense and empowerment skills to previously untrained women, teens and kids, but she has also been instrumental in bringing awareness of this training method to the martial arts community. A contributing editor for Black Belt Magazine for 5 years, Meredith was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2003, naming her their “Woman of the Year”.
Meredith also became a certified holistic health and nutrition coach in 2008, receiving her training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. The more she learned about eating for health and longevity, the more Meredith recognized the similarities between nutrition and self defense skills. She was determined to find a way to combine these two areas she was so passionate about into one idea that would approach nutrition from a proactive and, at times, even defensive point of view. In 2012 Meredith expanded her services to include her self defense-based nutrition program called “The Kung Food Way” - www.thekungfoodway.com
Dr Gavriel Schneider
Master Gavriel Schneider began his martial arts training in the early 1980s beginning with Shotokan and then Goju Ryu Karate. In the late 1980s he was introduced to Sensei Vernon Rosenberg and began training under him in Koga Ryu Ninjitsu. When the migration to the Gendai Ryu style happened in the early 1990s Gavriel received his first black belt in the system in 1992 and began teaching the system. Whilst teaching under the Gendai system, Gavriel began training in Taekwondo under Master James Lee (8th Dan). Under Master Lee, Gavriel became a member of the South African Taekwondo team, fighting in numerous regional events as well as representing South Africa in the Taekwondo World Cup in 1997. During 1993-94 Gavriel also cross trained with a wide variety of other martial arts practitioners including Grandmaster Mickey Davidow.
In 1996, Gavriel then travelled to Israel and received the great privilege of becoming a live-in student of Hisardut Grandmaster Soke Dennis Hanover. Gavriel trained and taught in the main school in Herzliya full time (between 6-12 hours a day) during most of 1996 and was graded 1st Dan in DSJJ / Hisardut in the middle of 1996 and 2nd Dan at the end of the same year. During this time Gavriel also spent time at the main Israeli army physical fitness and self-defence training base at Wingate and was exposed to Military Krav Maga and also underwent intensive firearm training with pistol and submachine gun and received certification as an international practical shooter from the Israel Shooting Association. He has trained numerous military, policing, specialise security, royalty and mayoral protection teams over the years in both security skills and Defensive Tactics. Gavriel began deploying operationally as a Bodyguard/Close Protection Officer in 1997 and to date has protected Presidents, other senior level government officials and numerous celebrities and senior corporate executives. He continued to train under Dr Dennis Hanover during Dr Hanover’s numerous trips back to South Africa and made almost annual trips back to Israel.
Gavriel was awarded a 6th Dan from Dr Hanover in 2005 as well as being awarded a 6th Dan in Ninjitsu from GM Ashida Kim. He has also been a black belt full contact champion in the DSJJ championships and silver medal winner in the masters (above 5th Dan) open division. Gavriel was inducted into the South African Martial arts hall of fame in 2004 and received the ultimate honour of being included and inducted into the Israeli museum of martial arts history in 2010.
Sensei Noah Greenstone
Noah Greenstone began martial arts in Los Angeles in 1973, training Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and Judo. After receiving a black belt in 1985 he trained at the Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles. His instructors include notable US martial artists like Professor Michael Belzer, Cliff Stewart, Larry Hartsell, Hawkins Cheung, Professor Wally Jay, Shihan Sig Kufferath and others.
Noah spent the 1990s in Japan, training under the 11th and 12th headmasters of an ancient Japanese Samurai system where he extensively trained Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Bojutsu and Naginata. During this time he also trained in Judo. He has participated seven times in the Zen Nippon Kobudo Renmei Embu Taikai sponsored by the Japanese government at the Dai Nippon Budokan and other key Japanese martial arts venues.
His experience also includes Filipino stick / knife / empty hand training with multiple masters, Indonesian Pencak Silat as well as Archery under the teachings of the late great Francis Peeler. In 2016 he was presented with a 6th Dan by UKMF Headmaster Yaron Hanover 9th Dan and Gendai Ryu Soke Dr Gavriel Schneider.
World Champion Oliver Olsen
Oliver 'The Outlaw' Olsen has been training in Muay Thai for most of his life, and comes from a family of fighters - with his cousins all having fought for national Muay Thai championship titles. Oli trained extensively in Thailand, and is well known for his long and successful career as a Muay Thai fighter, which includes 6 state titles, 2 Australian titles and a World Championship title. He also has extensive experience as a top level coach and personal trainer, and has coached many state and Australian National champions.
BOOK NOW - SECURE PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL
for more information please ring us on 08 9389 9489
Date: Saturday 18 August 2018
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
FREE - but CLICK HERE to book now to avoid missing out!
We'll be holding demos and giving away free trials, great giveaways and heaps of special offers, and we'll have a couple of food trucks to make sure you can have a tasty, healthy bite too!
If you ever wanted to try a class, this is your chance! Free participation, cool demos, prizes and more.
Schedule for demos and participation:
- 10:30am - Kids Martial Arts
- 11:00am - Kickboxing / Filipino Martial Arts
- 11:30am - Japanese Jujutsu / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- 12:00pm - Krav Maga / Wrestling
- 12:30pm - Japanese Weapons / Yoga
FREE - but spaces are limited.
CLICK HERE to book now
I want you to go through the following exercise in your head:
Imagine you’d spend your 20 years training in a martial art with the belief that you’d be able to defend yourself, but have never tested it out under extreme or real conditions or outside of your dojo. Imagine you would then have someone challenge you to try it on a fully resisting opponent, one whom you don’t know and does not respect you and your martial art. You try it, and it doesn’t work. Not even close – you get your butt kicked thoroughly.
Alternatively - imagine you’d been training to compete in a tournament, and have been beating everyone in your class easily. You arrive to the tournament and your opponent, someone who is less experienced than you, beats you comprehensively in no time at all.
Are you on the path to mediocracy or excellence?
In the last article I discussed the ‘Dojo Syndrome’.
I had received some very positive feedback about it, with many instructors saying ‘this is exactly what often happens!’ and had a few requests to post some more tips. Thanks for the support, and I hope you enjoy this!
The festive season is a time of joy and celebration of family, friends, presents and much-deserved holidays and rest.
Unfortunately, many researchers show that there is a relationship between holidays and increases in crime rate, including home crime and domestic abuse. The 2014 new year celebrations in Sydney were marred by the death of a Sydney partygoer who was 'king hit' from behind and later died, and unfortunately the statistics show that with increased consumption of alcohol and other party favours, violence also tends to increase.
So, here are some quick handy tips to help you keep your jolly season jolly, rather than silly!
1. Don't leave all of your presents piled up under the tree by your front window, where anyone can see them, smash a window, grab what they can and make a run.
2. If you are going away, make sure that your house still looks occupied. Ask a trusted neighbour to collect your mail. If you have a timer or automated system for lights, use it. Don't leave the front lights on 24 hours a day. Alternatively, you can ask someone you trust to come in and turn some lights on and others off once a day.
3. Don't post your holiday dates, destinations, etc., on social media, especially if you are one of those people who randomly add people on Facebook.
#awayonholiday = #breakintomyhouse
4. Everyone loves gifts! But don't leave the boxes of all of your new electronics on the street or by your bin, as you will be advertising what can be found inside your house!
5. We all know that the spare key is under the bin, in the post box, in the pot plant, etc. Don't leave it there!
If you are going to party, please make sure that you:
1. Nominate a designated driver
2. Plan your route home and make sure someone know where you are at all times.
3. Don't wander the streets late at night by yourself, stick to well-lit areas and make sure you are aware of your surroundings – don't be distracted by your phone or walk with your headphones in.
Here's to a happy, restful, safe festive season, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Pancha Ganapati, Yule, Hogswatch, Festivus or whatever you may be celebrating!
To choose a path is not an easy thing to do, and the path you choose may turn out to be different to what you had expected, in terms of both destination and journey.
People train in the martial arts for different reasons - fitness, hobby, competition, the social aspect, self-defence, confidence, stress release, etc. And those are all beautiful reasons. For some, however, it is more than that. It is a way of tapping into who you really are and finding your place in the world. Those people do not train in martial arts.
They live them.
Part of choosing your path is questioning the path, and continuously so. I think this is true for any path, but especially for people who choose art - any art – as their path in life. Art is something that people can judge based on opinion, and as such can be subject to harsh criticism, often without deep understanding of it. People connect with a song, an image, a movement. The description or emotion that is associated with that song, image or movement, for that person, depends on their point of view. It’s a good song or a pretty picture or a fascinating movement. It’s a bad song or an ugly picture or a boring movement.
Inevitably, if you persist on your path, you will end up teaching or mentoring others, or sharing your knowledge in some form. And when you teach art – again, any art – you will find that some people love what you teach, while others do not. Some agree with you, and some do not.
I believe a good teacher should question themselves more regularly and rigorously than any of their students. Questioning not only the knowledge that you share, but also the method of sharing that knowledge shows a deeper understanding of that knowledge and a desire to continue to perfect your art and yourself.
One of my mentors has a sign in his office, which reads:
‘To become great and rise above the average, daily practice and sharpening of skill must not only become habit but a part of life’. And one of my favourite phrases, which I have written about in great length before is:
‘The answer to any ‘what if’ question is ‘do something else’”.
Teaching becomes an integral part of the art itself, and as such daily practice and sharpening of skill are necessary if one is to become great at it.
Questioning your path and questioning the way you do things is not a sign of weakness but a natural part of walking the path and sharpening your skill. And searching for answers, asking for guidance where needed, learning from mistakes and finally committing to your chosen solution is a sign of strength and a willingness to walk the path when it becomes hard, rather than giving up when you face a problem.
So please allow me to part with an untraditional greeting:
Keep questioning yourself, and a happy journey.
Stay safe, stay tuned.
OSS
Add it to the calendar.
These are some upcoming events at Combat Arts Institute of Australia.
More info will be made available closer to the dates, but feel free to contact us with any questions.
June 12 Gendai Krav Maga workshop on Combat Grappling and 'Flashy Techniques' with Dr Gavriel Schneider.
June 26 Thurs Jujutsu Grading - Kids & Adults
July 15 Tues Women's Krav Maga Workshop
July 19, 20, 21 Fri-Sat-Sun Force Necessary seminar with W Hock Hockheim
August 2 Sat Krav Maga Grading
August 21 Thurs Weapons Workshop
Dates are subject to change. Please keep checking back for updates.
OSS!
