2008 Self Defence (DART)

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Hallmark Self Defence - (DART). By John Titchen – Lead Instructor DART

In May 2008 a new self-defence club started at St John's School on Monday evenings. Thus far it has attracted new students from Speen, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe - but no-one from Lacey Green or Loosley Row! The club also trains in Princes Risborough on Thursdays.

What Is Dart?

Defence Attack & Resolution Tactics (DART) is a Practical Karate system designed to develop and enhance the necessary survival skills to negate, survive and escape violence. The DART training method evolved from applying research in Sports science, Psychology, and Violent Crime Statistics to traditional Karate techniques and training.

What Is Training Like?

DART classes are small, friendly and fun. The majority of our training involves paired exercises, and each team of students are coached at a pace appropriate to their own training needs.

DART takes a very traditional approach to Practical Karate training, close to karate before its export from Okinawa to Japan.

The original karate suits were loose clothes the equivalent to our tracksuits, so we wear tracksuits and t shirts, like the pictures here. Just as the Okinawans translated Chinese terms into Okinawan, and the Japanese in turn modified Okinawan terms to suit themselves, we use English as our training language.

As a traditional Karate system we practice many of the techniques that more sporting styles have dropped. We train at all ranges standing up and also practice on the ground, using throwing and grappling techniques as well as striking and evasive techniques. Our simple approach is designed to work for men, women and older children - and you don't have to be fit to begin with. In addition to physical skills we also teach students the mental and verbal skills that will help them avoid and escape trouble. When students are ready, volunteers can choose to develop their skills further using advanced body armour for protection.

Words and photographs can only present a limited picture of what training with DART is like, so you may find that watching a class, or trying a class, will help you decide if our approach is right for you. The first class is always free, so contact us using the details at the back of the Hallmark magazine!

Recent Club Events

In June the club welcomed students and instructors from across the country to train with our guest instructor, American martial artist Professor Rick Clark. Later in the same month a number of the students travelled north with Coach John Titchen to teach self-defence to a Tae kwon Do club in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. In August a number of the students took part in an all-styles martial arts training day in Bracknell to raise money for the National Autistic Society.

Instructor

Coach John Titchen spent part of his childhood growing up in Lacey Green, and is an active member of the infamous Lacey Green Productions drama group. He is well known in the international martial arts community, having been a regular columnist for Traditional Karate Magazine for a number of years and is author of the acclaimed book Heian Flow oystem: effective karate kata bunkai. He is now a regular columnist for the internationally respected martial arts publication Jissen.