Guildford Martial Arts Academy

On this page, you will find a brief description of each of our primary styles. Classes at our Academy are not limited to these styles, however, and many other styles are taught in seminars, masterclasses or in specialist classes.

These additional styles include Capoeira, Aikido, Eskrima, Taekwondo, Koshiki, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and Muay Thai.

The GBMAA’s Kickboxing syllabus was written by its Principle Instructor, Master Curtis Page. The syllabus covers a wide range of hand, leg and jumping techniques, including combinations, pad-work, set-pieces and sparring (optional).

The syllabus taught at the Academies is the same as Master Page teaches to the legendary Predators Fighting Team (the top fighting team of the Great Britain Martial Arts Academy), the world famous GBMAA Elite (made up from the best fighters from across the entire Great Britain Martial Arts Association) and even Team England.

Split into a beginners programme, designed to introduce you to the Martial Arts, and an advanced programme that will take you all the way up to Black Belt and beyond, the GBMAA’s Kickboxing courses can be easily tailored to suit your needs.

Whether you’re looking for a fun fitness programme, an effective means of Self-Defence, or if you wish to make a name for yourself in the Sports Martial Arts arena, Kickboxing could be just what you’re looking for.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a concept-based Chinese Martial Art and form of self defence specialising in close-range combat and designed to enable smaller people to defend themselves against a larger, stronger agressor. Wing Chun is centred around the twin principles of fighting using centre line theory, and the use of an opponents force against themselves.

According to legend (as told by the famous Wing Chun Master Yip Man) the style was developed during the Qing dynasty for the young woman Yim Wing Chun. Aggressively pursued by a local warlord who wished to marry her, Yim Wing Chun turned to a the Shaolin Monk Ng Mui for help. Ng Mui developed a fighting style that enabled the young woman to beat her aggressor in a martial arts match and so win her freedom. This style became known as Wing Chun.

Wing Chun is famous as the largest influence on Bruce Lee's fighting style; in the summer of 1954 the 13-year-old Lee began studying Wing Chun under Master Yip Man. He continued to use the core principles of this direct and efficient style throughout his career and in his development of his own styles, Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do.

At the Guildford Academy, Wing Chun is taught by Master Marc Golland, who holds a 5th Degree Black Sash in Wing Chun and has over 26 years' experience in the style.
The academy is equipped with a Mak Jong (Wing Chun Dummy) for 1-on-1 training with Master Golland.

Classes take place between 7:00pm and 8:30pm on Mondays and between 8:00pm and 9:00pm on Wednesdays. If you're interested in giving it a go, click here to book a free trial session or call us on 01483 568 455.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. This enables martial artists of different backgrounds to compete.

The roots of mixed martial arts can be traced back to various mixed style contests that took place throughout Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim during the early 1900s. Modern MMA competition emerged in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, although professional MMA events had been held in Japan by Shooto starting back in 1989. Originally organized with the intention of finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety, but later promoters adopted many additional rules to improve the safety of the competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport.

The Guildford Martial Arts Academy holds MMA classes on Wednesday nights, from 8pm to 9:30pm. Classes incorporate a warmup designed to encourage flexibility and free movement, Jujutsu-based grappling drills, conditioning and fitness work and sparring. MMA teaches practical and applicable self-defence techniques; street fights commonly turn to grappling within minutes and MMA teaches holds, throws and submissions, placing emphasis on effectiveness rather than show.

MMA fighters wear a gum guard, fingerless padded gloves, shorts and a t-shirt but any comfortable, lightweight top and trousers are suitable for training.
If you're interested in giving it a go, click here to book a free trial session or call us on 01483 568 455.

Fantastic for anyone that wants to compete, but doesn’t like sparring, Forms are a traditional art designed preserve the style of a particular branch of martial arts, and to showcase kicks, strikes and blocks in one flowing movement. Forms are meant to be both practical, usable, and applicable as well as promoting flow, meditation, flexibility, balance and coordination.

The Guildford Academy of Martial Arts currently offers forms as part of the Lil' Dragons programme and the Kids Class on Tuesdays between 6 and 7pm.

This system is very popular with our younger members, giving them a programme that is both fun to learn and gives them an excellent chance to showcase their skills to their friends, family and crowds of spectators. When being judged at competitions, technique and attitude is everything. As a result, a lot of parents are keen to see their children develop this kind of focus.