MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING CENTER

CREATIVE FIGHTERS GUILD, Progressive Fighting Systems, BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, KALI MIKITA

The Martial Arts Training Center became the name of the first full time training facility I opened. It all started earlier when I became a student of Trevor Clarkson in 1992, under his organization called Creative Fighters Guild (CFG) which he established in 1988. (www.creativefightersguild.com)

My introduction to the martial arts in 1986 started when I moved to Vancouver and discovered Butokukan Karate, a traditional style originating from Japan. I received a green belt ranking by1989. While temporarily living in Alberta, I came across a guy who was doing sport kickboxing, a system that put together punching and kicking in a manner more conducive to fighting. A friend of mine in 1992 happened to be going to Thailand and you guessed it, I was introduced to Muay Thai – the deadly art of kickboxing. Though I only spent a few months training, you don’t forget the toughest workouts in the world and a sure upgrade from Alberta. When I got back to Canada, my training never stopped as my good friend Trevor Clarkson introduced me to his system of fighting at Creative Fighters Guild. This launched my career in martial arts.

The following information is based on my knowledge of first hand experiences and data I have collected while training with my instructor Trevor:

It was the summer of 1992, during a routine visit to Penticton, when Trevor invited me to attend a seminar on Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Filipino Martial Arts by Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS) with world-renowned instructor Paul Vunak (Vu). What an amazing experience – here we were blasting punches and kicks. Eye jabbing, groin kicking, elbowing and kneeing, all while Vu was making references to street fighting. That was the material I needed. After all, the martial arts are about personal protection first and foremost. Even back then, Vu was talking about and showing us a ground fighting art called Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Paul was training with Rickson Gracie at the time). And to top the seminar off, out came the knife, something I never trained with before. What an eye opener it was to see this incredible fighting art of the Philippines. No wonder Vu was hired by the Navy Seals, US Military, as well as Law Enforcement agencies. (www.fighting.net)

One of the early flyers, Trevor hosting: Paul Vunak and Larry Hartsell.

For the next couple of years, I would travel from Vancouver to train with Trevor who was already certified under Paul’s Progressive Fighting Systems. The weekends would be full of hands on private training under the guidance and watchful eye of Trevor. From time to time, he would have me train with his assistant Darren Sather. We would cover everything from boxing and kicking arts, to close quarter trapping skills using head butts, knees and elbows in conjunction with locking and choking techniques. Weapons craft involved fighting with the single and double sticks, as well as knife. The training included development of distance, timing, coordination, rhythm and energy drills.

I eventually became an instructor under Trevor’s CFG. Darren was the first to do so and I became the second in 1994, followed by a long list of people over the years to come. We had great guidance, as Trevor hosted many seminars bringing in Vu and also some of the top PFS instructors. One of the main senior instructors at that time was Paul’s Vice President Thomas Cruse, who conducted many seminars for Trevor, keeping us up to date with the latest in technology from PFS.

It didn’t take long to see why Trevor was loyal to PFS and the outlining arts. Vu was always talking about and explaining why you should be training with other top level instructors, it was something he did and encouraged his students to do. He was right, it gave you a better perspective of the fighting arts. He was constantly talking about his instructors Dan Inosanto, Rickson Gracie, Larry Hartsell and Daniel Duby to name a few people that inspired him and later us.

Paul was about exploring and perpetuating Jeet Kune Do (JKD) and the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) from a street perspective. Which included everything in the spectrum, from eye gauging to biting, it was all about survival. Trevor just happens to be a protégé of Vu and that rubbed off on to me.

Trevor’s first club flyers in Penticton 1988:

What a relief it was in 1994; finally the drive to go and train was shortened, as Trevor moved to the Vancouver Area where he still resides today in Richmond. He opened up group classes at the Richmond Athletic Club on Westminster highway. This was the first time I assisted Trevor in a group class atmosphere, even though I had started teaching a few months earlier in Vancouver.

The following is a list of the curriculum that Trevor taught that first night, these are from my notes:

Trevor opened with a discussion. He had each person introduce themselves and their background in martial arts, if any. Then he went on to explain the tools on one’s body that can be used to attack with and the attributes that drive them. He ended the conversation by telling everyone that our goal was to win the street fight.

The warm-up:

1. Jab - one beat of the stick
2. Jab, cross – two beats of the stick
3. Ten military jumps – to the stick
4. Back to drill one and two
5. Twenty five push-ups – to the stick
6. Left lead up on the toes
7. Sit-ups legs straight out six inches off the ground
8. Sit-ups leg straight off the ground and circle
9. Back to drill six
10. Mountain climb
11. Back to drill six
12. Mountain climb
13. Twenty five push-ups.

The JKD portion had us training left and right leads in the following drills:

1. Train the motion of the jab – hit the focus mitt fifteen times.
2. Jab drill in rhythm of three – attack; defend (perry), attack then switch.
3. Cross shoulder roll fifteen times.
4. Cross drill in rhythm of three – attack, defend (perry), attack then switch.
5. Thigh kick – hit the focus mitt fifteen times.
6. Thigh kick drill in rhythm of three.

He ended the class with thirty push-ups and twenty five crunches.

The nice thing was every class was different even though the same skills were being developing. It was the array of training methods that made repetition redundant even though, in essence, it was a reiteration of the same techniques.

Trevor has had several locations in Richmond as he expanded throughout the years, to where he is today at his largest facility on Number 5 Road.
The group classes allowed us to advance through five levels of training. Trevor broke down the requirements for each level, for example level one consisted of numerous drills within the following areas:

1. Warm up
2. Boxing skills
3. Kicking skills
4. Hand and foot combinations
5. Rhythms of three drills
6. Focus mitt target drills
7. Kali terms
8. Kali
9. Trapping basic

As students, we trained different aspects of the level one requirement for months. We increased our abilities through the different training methods Trevor would incorporate into his classes. All the levels posed guidelines toward an ultimate goal. Often, we would find ourselves training other techniques and combinations not found in the levels but part of the Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts curriculum.

The instructor classes gave us a different perspective of the arts and how to effectively teach them. Trevor would pass this information on to us according to the individual and their personal growth on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. We as students needed to reach a personal high and certain understanding of self before realizing the complete picture of Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts. I know for a fact many people were never able to realize this image.

Teaching is its own art, if you don’t know how to break the techniques down to the core science behind them, you will never be efficient in putting together the proper blending of how the different aspects of the arts synergize together. Knowledge is a powerful tool, having seen a move and replicating is just the tip of the iceberg but what lies below the surface provides the real substance. There are many folks that may be able to show you some techniques but the How, Why, When and Where provides the depth required in making you a better fighter.

Trevor is very good at perceiving who is dedicated and loyal to the arts. Time is the factor that allows him to see how and why you are using or misusing the arts. His group and instructor classes, as well as private instruction, have been going on for over twenty years. There has been a steady growth of knowledge passed down that shows no signs of slowing down.

From the start, we’ve used the conga drum in our training. Trevor taught me the PFS famous training beat that Vu passed on to him. From there, we participated in an African drum clinic by David Thiaw in 1993 called Domba “The Power of Belief”. The real lessons began in 1995 when Trevor was taking privates from Bill, a master drum instructor, so of course I had to jump on board and scoop my own private lessons to keep up. The drum is a great tool for training and is played in almost every class. As the person playing it, there isn’t a better way to learn rhythm in conjunction with hand coordination.

Over the years, Trevor has hosted over 55 seminars, you can imagine the mass quantity of information we were able to receive. The quality of instruction was at a high level because of the instructors that were brought in to teach at Trevor’s club. Along with the seminar training, we would always train privately to further increase our skill knowledge on a personal level with the instructor.

Because of Trevor’s involvement in the martial arts community and connections within the family circle, we would hear about and attend many seminars hosted by other practitioners. It was who they brought in that sent us on recon missions, to absorb their martial arts way:

Dan Inosanto – JKD/FMA, Rickson Gracie – BJJ, Ted Lucay Lucay – FMA, Burton Richardson – JKD/FMA, Daniel Duby – Street Savate, to name a few.

A couple seminars on the recon mission list of 1996:

Trevor’s commitment to training and passing on this martial arts knowledge has been continuous and forever growing. He has conducted over 32 seminars and workshops (there has been more but these are the ones I have attended). Ranging from the core arts of JKD/FMA to specific development in Dumog (Filipino wrestling), advanced trapping, JKD straight blast, Mass attack, knife fighting etc. Each clinic left you with a sense of accomplishment and deeper understanding of the arts needed in order to survive. Mass attack, for example, is not about having one person attack you and then the next one comes in and attacks. It’s about being swarmed by people trying to tear your head off, who don’t care about you (anymore than three good fighters – good luck). Do you have an understanding of the principles and training methods required that will lead you to accomplishing this task? If your first words out are get a line on your opponents then I know you know.

Trevor’s first workshops in Richmond 1995:

One of my favorite seminars that I assisted Trevor in and later conducted myself is the Women’s Escape to Gain Safety program. His emphasis is on attacking the primary targets to inflict pain and disable the attacker. The escape is much easier when disabling the attacker, that’s why just knowing the primary targets can be enough. But like many other things, do you know how to escape to gain safety? That’s why it’s important for every woman to know these principles.

The most satisfaction I receive is when a female student thanks me because the night before they were able to gain safety when they felt threatened. In fact in one story, my female student’s boyfriend attacked her, and she ended up breaking his wrist – to me, that’s a good story.

One of Trevor’s first flyers – Escape to gain safety 1996:

Trevor has written numerous articles on many aspects of the martial arts. He is featured on the cover of PFS President Paul Vunak’s ‘Probe’ magazine. Trevor also published his own magazine called the ‘Back Alley’ that covered topics which explored the world of JKD and FMA.

As for myself, I have attended over 114 seminars and/or workshops that have contributed to my success in teaching, of which none would have been possible without the guidance of my instructor, Trevor. I will always be a student. Improvement is a continuous venture and you only get better by studying and applying. Time is the only avenue that allows you to finally see or have recollections and realizations, uncovering the martial arts way.

As instructors every time we train we dedicate the teachings to all the passed warriors in history. Without their influence and bravery to survive we would be nowhere.

As certified instructors with PFS - Trevor advanced his training throughout the years to become a Senior Full Instructor with Paul, he was the first one in Canada. At the same time my training also progressed: Apprentice Instructor in 1994, Phase One Instructor in 1996, Full Instructor in 1998, and Knife Fighting Instructorship in 2000.

Paul produced many PFS street fighting training videos; Trevor has partaken in many of them which led to me participating in over eleven of them:

• Law enforcement series.
• Anatomy of a street fight series.
• Sierra summit workshop series (Armed and unarmed mixed martial arts).
• Women’s escape series.

One of the main topics Vu discussed in the early days was how we needed to learn this art called Gracie Jiu-Jitsu from Brazil (also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). Namely he would talk about Rickson Gracie, his instructor. He would go on as to how he was studying these amazing ground techniques and adapting them to his street game.

Trevor following his advice led us into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), even though Vu was teaching the ground from a street perspective, it is safe to say for us it really started with a seminar put on by Progressive Fighting Systems in Eugene, Oregon. It was Rickson Gracie himself who they brought in. What an opportunity! The road trip of June 1994 with Trevor, Derek Sather and I was one we didn’t forget. Rickson was one of the most humble individuals I have ever met. To listen, watch and feel his ground abilities was an incredible and amazing experience.

It was within the PFS family namely Shahram Moosavi who was teaching in Phoenix at the time, who decided to have Tom Cruse the PFS VP come down to check out an instructor who was teaching BJJ. Trevor soon caught wind of the info and started training with Wellington (Megaton) Dias, a BJJ Black Belt living in Phoenix, Arizona.

The start of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Trevor became a representative of Megaton back in 1995. At that time only one other club (in Abbottsford I believe) was teaching this unknown art of BJJ. In 1997, we joined the Rickson Gracie association when Megaton became a representative. Today Megaton is a representative of Royler Gracie and carries over thirty years experience in BJJ and Judo. Trevor grew through the ranks to become one of the first students to receive a BJJ black belt in British Columbia back in 2005. (www.teammegaton.com)

In the early days of BJJ, we would find ourselves rolling in the fog filled matted garage at Trevor’s house. We would literally roll over to the crack below the garage door to gasp for oxygen. From there, classes became a regular part of the CFG training schedule. I would pile the mats into my truck and head to Richmond, so we would have lots of mat space at Trevor’s facility. Odds are if somebody’s teaching you BJJ in BC they probably started with CFG at one time. Today this art is everywhere in Vancouver, like the rest of the world.

As we explored the BJJ world, many avenues opened up, the PFS circle had us learning incredible foot, knee and hip locks from Roy Harris. His detailed analysis of attacking, defending and countering was inspiring back in 1996 when this wasn’t a big part of the BJJ game but appreciated today as we see more of it surfacing. For us it’s important to learn all types of attacks on the ground and not just the ones governed by sport fighting. Nobody on the street cares about twisting your knee or breaking your wrist.

Thus far I have had the opportunity to train with fifteen different ground instructors, some from the BJJ family and others from our PPS family. Each instructor’s style left you with a different impression, but imposed the same result. It wasn’t any different for the stand-up and weapon arts we teach, as I have acquired skills from eighteen different masters.

Trevor would host seminars for Megaton on a regular basis. Twelve years later thanks to Trevor’s recommendation I was presented my Black Belt in BJJ in July 2007.

Sometimes Trevor didn’t have to search very far for new and valuable information. Mark Mikita was introduced to Trevor in 1998 by Mark’s girlfriend who was involved in a theater production here in Vancouver. Kali Mikita is primarily the teaching of Filipino Martial Arts both armed and unarmed but also includes an array of other combative arts. Mark’s attention to detail is unsurpassed in the sophisticated manor he teaches, his incredible knowledge of the human body provides you with detailed information on targeting the anatomy and manipulating the skeletal system through precise positioning and angulations. (www.fightology.com)

Trevor and I became official representatives of Kali Mikita in 2005. Guro’s of the Filipino Martial Arts at our schools. As Trevor continues to host Mark, the learning curve never ceases. Our experiences are new and refreshing at each one of his seminars. Punong Guro Mark Mikita has been teaching professionally since 1978 and is a lifetime practitioner. His weapon craft is extraordinary and backed with impeccable timing and control of the weapon.

Over the years, I have had many training locations as initially I was teaching part time. My first group class started in February 1994 in the Cedar Room at 4501 Main Street in Vancouver. In November of 1994, I moved to the Fitness 2000 Athletic Club in Burnaby as Trevor had moved from Penticton and was teaching in Richmond. Because he was so close, I encouraged my students to go and train with him. In May of 1995, I relocated to Eagle Fitness in Port Moody until they went into receivership. From there I went directly to Carnoustie Fitness Club in Port Coquitlam to continue teaching in November 1996, and remained at that facility until I began teaching full time in February 2001 at 901 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam. This was my own facility which I called the Martial Arts Training Center. I relocated the gym in March 2004 to 949 Como Lake Avenue where I remain teaching full time. I have been vice president of Trevor’s Creative Fighters Guild for many years and the opportunities have been vast.

Gary’s first club flyers 1994 the Vancouver and Burnaby location:

I have always enjoyed working with different types of people who require combative skills for different reasons. Teaching street level tactics to law enforcement officers at the club allows me to bring out the controlling and locking side of the arts as well as the hand to hand combative skills they may require. It takes all of the knowledge I have learned to properly teach and cover all the information that is necessary. But most importantly I have to translate it to knowledge they can apply on a daily basis, under any circumstance. Even if that means travelling outside of certain restrictions placed on them.

Teaching armed and unarmed mixed martial arts to stunt personnel and action actors is one of my favorite areas to teach in. The ability to create is endless. It’s fun when you can teach the stage art side of the martial arts with all the flare, even though we still train the combative side. You can open it up and get into some cool techniques especially with the empty hand trapping and weaponry sequences. The sticks and knifes hold the most dynamic presentation, every time you put a bladed or blunt instrument in someone’s hand the awareness to perceive increases.