The Finest in Martial Arts, Self Defence, Savate & Kickboxing Training

The Academy was established in 1989 by instructors qualified in a variety of martial arts and combat disciplines. We offer high-quality, safe and fun classes in a friendly and appropriately relaxed environment.

Our Senior Instructor, Ollie Batts, has spent more than 40 years studying and training in the martial arts, and he currently holds instructor grades and qualifications in several different martial art systems. You can find out more about our instructors by visiting the profile pages.

We offer two training programmes - you can chose to train in either programme or both:

Integrated fighting arts - our martial arts training sessions include both stand-up and fighting on the ground. You will learn to strike effectively with your hands, feet, knees, elbows (and more), to apply close-quarter trapping, throws and take-downs, joint locks, submission holds, immobilisation's, chokes and strangulation's, escapes and reversals from holds - either for competition or for effective self-defence.There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of individual martial art systems in existence around the world. Our training methods and techniques have been drawn from a wide range of complimentary martial art systems from around the world, not just from one individual country or region. These arts include: Filipino Eskrima, Kali, Arnis and Silat; Russian Sombo (Cambo); Chinese Jun Fan; Thai Boxing; Western Boxing; Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; Japanese Ju-Jitsu; French Savate, Korean Hapkido, and many more.

Savate boxing - Savate (pronounced sa-vat) combines effective hand strikes and dynamic kicks, and was a demonstration sport in the Paris Olympic Games in 1924. These classes concentrate on kicking and punching skills, mobility and defence. You can build up your fitness and progress at your own pace. We include 'sparring skills' for anyone who would like to learn to spar, as well as sparring sessions for intermediate and advanced students. Several members of the Academy have represented Great Britain in European and World Championship competitions. In addition, we offer classes in Savate's sister art: Canne de Combat, which is a traditional French stick fighting art consisting of striking techniques, blocks, feints and combinations. It is a long range, graceful art, involving stylish striking and athletic movement. In all free play (sparring) and in competition, padded clothing, gloves and headguards are worn.