The martial artist vs. the gig fighter: why consistency beats the “cramming” culture

Posted on 9 Apr 2026 by CARISMA

Image Courtesy and Copyright Duncan Grisby

In the modern era of combat sports, we’ve witnessed the rise of the “training camp”—an intense, multi-week sprint designed to peak an athlete for a specific date. While this works for the elite 1% of professional fighters, it has birthed a “gig culture” in local gyms and university clubs. This shift away from consistent, lifelong practice toward a “project-based” approach isn’t just a change in training style; it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be a martial artist.

The “old school” blueprint: training for longevity

The “old school” philosophy isn’t about being soft; it’s about being sustainable. The goal is to train consistently and hard, but always with enough reserve that you aren’t “broken.” Take, for example, the legendary Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. Even in his 80s, Wallace remains incredibly fit, flexible, and capable of demonstrating while teaching, which he still does weekly. He didn’t achieve this through sporadic bursts of violence followed by months of sedentary living. He achieved it through a steady, rhythmic relationship with his craft. Your goal should be “ready to go” at any moment, rather than spending six weeks “getting ready” to start training.

The Cambridge trap: cramming for the canvas

A fascinating case study in this “gig culture” can be found in high-pressure academic environments, such as the University of Cambridge Kickboxing team. Students there are masters of the “academic sprint”—absorbing thousands of pages of complex information in a short window to pass gruelling exams. Naturally, many try to apply this same logic to fighting:

The approach: treat the fight like a final exam.
The method: train at 200% intensity for a few weeks, neglecting rest and foundational skill-building.
The results: a crash-and-burn cycle, inadequacy and defeat more often than not.

The fatal flaw here is that intellectual absorption and physical integration are two different beasts. While you can “cram” facts into your brain, you cannot “cram” neuromuscular pathways and emotional regulation into your body. Under the heavy emotional overload of a real fight, the “crammed” knowledge evaporates, leaving the fighter with no foundation to fall back on.

The “gig culture” vs. the body

In your twenties, the body is a forgiving machine. You can abuse it with brutal recoveries, survive weeks of inactivity, and then jump back into a high-intensity camp without immediate catastrophe. However, this is a loan with a high interest rate.

The risks of the sprint mentality:

The injury cycle: tendons and ligaments don’t adapt as fast as muscles. “Gig” training often leads to acute injuries because the body isn’t conditioned for the sudden spike in load.
Early retirement: when you treat every fight as a “survival project” rather than a “routine test” the psychological and physical burnout eventually outweighs the passion for the sport.
Diminishing returns: without consistent training, you spend the first half of every “camp” just regaining the fitness you lost during your time off.

Being vs. doing:

The fundamental difference lies in your identity.

The gig fighter is someone who does kickboxing when a date is set.
The martial artist is someone who is a practitioner regardless of the calendar.

If you want to be a martial artist, you have to avoid the temptation of the “gig” routine. Consistency allows for a deeper level of skill acquisition—where techniques become second nature rather than something you have to remember.

Tips for Sustainable Training:

Keep the “low” high: your baseline fitness during “off-times” should be high enough that a fight notice is a minor adjustment, not a lifestyle overhaul.
Listen to the redlines: train hard enough to progress, but never so hard that you compromise the next day’s session.
Focus on technical fluency: use your consistent time to develop the “quiet” skills—timing, breathing, and distance—that can’t be learned in a three-week blitz.

The bottom line: there is no doubt that training camps have their importance and they help you to focus, while training with like minded individuals. However if you want to be kicking as high and as fast as Bill Wallace when you’re eighty, you have to stop treating your training like a series of one-night stands. Marry the process.

We are black belts – we don’t just wear one

Posted on 3 Apr 2026 by CARISMA

At CARISMA, we have always maintained that a belt is more than just a piece of dyed cotton used to keep your jacket closed. It is a symbol of a journey, a testament to discipline, and a reflection of true technical proficiency, or at least that’s the intention. Recently, I was chatting with one of our students who expressed his interest in becoming a black belt in the next few years and how he’d value a black belt from CARISMA. He is someone who joined us a few years back after over 10 years of martial arts experience across several different clubs. He shared a perspective that resonated deeply with our philosophy. He mentioned how much he appreciated our approach to grading, particularly how we ensure that everyone wears the belt they truly deserve. Having seen clubs where “time served” or “fees paid” were the primary metrics for advancement, he found it refreshing to be in an environment where a black belt still holds its weight.

The value of a black belt

In many modern martial arts circles, the “black belt” has been somewhat diluted. It’s often viewed as the “end” of training—a trophy to be collected. But at CARISMA, the value of the belt isn’t in the colour; it’s in the standard it represents. When you see a black belt at our classes, you aren’t just looking at a rank; you are looking at four or more years of intense, dedicated training and a mastery of the mechanics of striking, from the ground up.

“Wearing” vs. “Being”

There is a fundamental distinction between wearing a black belt and being a black belt.

Wearing a black belt can be a matter of administrative progression. Anyone can buy a belt or follow a checklist of moves until they reach a certain level on paper.
Being a black belt is about the integration of the art into your life. It’s about having the “reset effect”—the ability to maintain technical excellence even under pressure. It’s about understanding the kinetic chain of a strike so deeply that your body reacts with precision without conscious thought.

As we often say, for many, the black belt is a finish line. For us, it is the new starting point. It marks the moment a student has finally learned how to learn, graduating from the craft to the mastery of the art.

Why we are careful

This is why we are incredibly careful before awarding a black belt. We frequently see practitioners join us from other clubs with years of experience but lacking the absolute basics—compromised stances, clumsy footwork, or a lack of torque in their strikes. We often have to strip their skills back to zero to unlearn those bad habits.

We refuse to award a rank just to keep a student happy or to maintain numbers. To do so would be a disservice to the student and a betrayal of the standards our senior members have worked so hard to achieve. At CARISMA, we don’t just “collect” members; we nurture martial artists. When you finally wrap that black belt around your waist here, you won’t just be wearing a piece of equipment—you will be embodying a standard of excellence that is recognized by every instructor and peer in the hall. You will have earned it, and more importantly, you will be it.

Beyond the surface: The CARISMA approach to mastering striking mechanics

Posted on 19 Mar 2026 by CARISMA

In the world of martial arts and combat sports, there is a distinct difference between merely being shown a move and truly being taught a technique. In many gyms, instruction amounts to little more than a coach demonstrating a strike and expecting students to mimic the motion. At CARISMA, our philosophy is fundamentally different.

We don’t just show techniques; we dissect them. We believe that true progression comes from deep understanding, which is why we explain every movement in meticulous detail, breaking each technique down into three critical phases: the starting point, the execution, and the ending position.

The anatomy of a technique

A strike is not a single, isolated action; it is a complete process.

The starting point: We start from the ground up, ensuring a solid foundation. If your initial stance is compromised, the rest of the technique will fail.
The execution: This is the journey of the strike. We explain the exact mechanics required to move from point A to point B safely and efficiently.
The ending position: Often the most overlooked aspect of striking, the ending position dictates your defence and your readiness for the next move. A technique is not over until you are back in a safe, balanced guard.

At CARISMA, we do not accept “close enough” or random interpretations of our techniques. By standardizing high-quality mechanics and demanding attention to detail, we foster an environment that supports strong, continuous technical improvement for every single member.

The illusion of experience

Our dedication to the fundamentals becomes glaringly obvious when we welcome members who have previously trained at other clubs. It is not uncommon for individuals to join CARISMA claiming to have two or more years of striking experience under their belts. Yet, when they step onto the mats, we are often astonished by how poorly they have been taught the absolute basics.

We regularly encounter “experienced” practitioners burdened with ingrained bad habits. They often step in with a compromised stance, clumsy footwork, and a complete lack of understanding regarding how to generate power and torque through proper hip and shoulder rotation. Somewhere along their martial arts journey, their previous instructors skipped the essential building blocks in a rush to teach them flashy—but ultimately hollow—combinations.

Striking is a kinetic chain. Without a proper stance, you have no balance. Without efficient footwork, you cannot control distance. Without hip and shoulder rotation, your strikes will always lack true power.

Rebuilding the foundation

At CARISMA, our mission is to fix these gaps. We are dedicated to helping our members genuinely learn and progress, rather than letting them flounder with poor mechanics. Sometimes, this means stripping a practitioner’s skills all the way back to zero to unlearn years of bad habits.

While it requires patience to focus so intensely on the basics, the payoff is immense. By insisting on technical excellence from the starting point to the ending position, we ensure that our members don’t just learn how to hit—they learn the art, science, and mechanics of striking.

Whether you are stepping into a martial arts gym for the very first time or you are looking to correct the bad habits you picked up elsewhere, CARISMA provides the detailed, dedicated coaching necessary to help you realize your full potential.

Our kind of members: the layered journey from white to black belt at CARISMA

Posted on 12 Mar 2026 by CARISMA

At CARISMA, we don’t just teach kickboxing; we live it. Our passion, at least the one of the keen members and instructors, lies in the grit, the technique, and the personal evolution that comes from stepping into our training hall. We are an open door for anyone—regardless of where they start—who is ready to explore their potential and reap the physical and mental rewards of martial arts. However, we don’t just “collect” members. We nurture martial artists. We view our community through five distinct layers of progression, reflecting a member’s rank, commitment, and the sharpening of their character.

Layer 1: the foundation (White, Yellow, and Orange)

Every journey begins with the first step, in this case, with the courage to be a beginner. In this initial stage, we look for consistency:

Expectation: training 2–3 times out of our 4 weekly classes.
Focus: building the habit. This is where you learn the language of kickboxing and start conditioning your body for what’s to come.

As people are training consistently the instructors start noticing some people sticking out from the crowd; they attend regularly, they quickly become known faces. Some of them turn up early and trying to practice and apply techniques which are not working for them, until they do.

Layer 2: the transformation (Orange Second, Green and Green Second Belts)

For those who are committed enough to last for about 1 year of steady sweat, the “newbie” shell starts to crack. We expect to see a visible shift in their physical capabilities:

Physicality: fitness, strength, endurance and flexibility starts to be noticeably higher.
Technicality: punches are crisper, kicks are faster, guard is constantly protecting and movements are more intentional. Even on a gentle sparring they are no longer as easy to hit with basic punches and kicks.
Dedication: this is where we see an “increased dedication”—the realization that martial arts isn’t just a hobby, but a discipline and more of a weekly habit.

Here we notice a small number of members who become keener and keener; they get involved in sparring and try their first fight, usually light contact.

Layer 3: the ascent (Blue and Brown Belts)

This is the “extra mile” phase. By the time they reach Blue Belt, the Black Belt is no longer a distant dream—it’s a visible point on the horizon:

Blue Belt: we notice members pushing beyond the standard curriculum. Coordination becomes second nature, and sparring moves from “surviving” to “competing competently.”
Brown Belt: this is the penultimate step. At this stage, we want members who are hungry for the graduation. They aren’t just practicing; they are preparing to represent the club at the highest student level.

Some exceptional individuals, can be selected to become assistant instructors and offered to get involved in helping out.

Layer 4: the new beginning (Black Belt)

For many, the Black Belt is seen as the finish line. At CARISMA, we see it as the new starting point. “From White to Black Belt takes roughly four years of intense, dedicated training. But once that belt is tied, the real journey begins.” This is where the dedicated martial artist truly begins to shine. The technique is ingrained, the fitness is peak, and the mind is disciplined. You’ve graduated from learning the craft to mastering the art.

Layer 5: instructors and coaches

Many of the members who became black belt at CARISMA over the years had a position as instructors. Some instructors achieved this position without yet wearing a black belt. At CARISMA we select very carefully who are those dedicated and technically sound members who have the knowledge and personality to run classes. We expect a very high level of dedication and consistency to training and fitness to ensure all instructors can show and do every technique we practice as well as being able to teach and coach any member around techniques, blocks, guard, footwork and sparring methodologies.

The CARISMA timeline

While everyone moves at their own pace, here is a general look at the commitment required:

Milestone	Timeframe	Primary Focus
White to Orange	Months 1–12	Consistency & Core Basics
Green Belts	Year 1–2	Fitness, Speed & Strength
Blue to Brown	Year 2–4	Sparring, Coordination & Dedication
Black Belt	4+ Years	Mastery & Advanced Practice

Whether you are here to get fit or to eventually wear the Black Belt, we are ready to help you push your limits. The question is: are you ready to find your layer?

From resilience and discipline to inner power: how martial arts shape the next generations

Posted on 6 Feb 2026 by CARISMA

A few weeks ago, I received a call that reminded me exactly why we do what we do at CARISMA. It was from a father in Cambridge whose 10-year-old son had recently been bullied and, unfortunately, physically assaulted, however slightly. The father, having practiced martial arts in his own youth, knew the transformative power of the dojo. After researching several clubs in the area, he reached out to me because of the philosophy he saw reflected on our website. He wasn’t just looking for someone to teach his son how to throw a punch or a kick; he was looking for a place where his son could rebuild his world and pave the way for self confidence.

The post-pandemic shift

While we haven’t historically been a “children’s club,” the last few years have seen a fascinating shift. Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a flourishing of 12-to-15-year-olds—both boys and girls—joining our classes. Watching these young people evolve is one of the most rewarding aspects of coaching. In a world that felt very small and uncertain for a long time, these teens are finding their space. We see them grow:

Physically: developing the coordination, strength, and “explosive power” of a true martial artist.
Emotionally: moving from the hesitancy of early adolescence to a grounded, calm sense of self.

The pillar of confidence, discipline, and respect

At CARISMA, we don’t sugarcoat the training. We train hard, however within the limits and aspirations of each individual. But it is through that “hard” work that the most beautiful transformations happen. Young people today are often over-stimulated but under-challenged. When they step into our gym, they learn discipline and resilience—the ability to do what is required even when they are tired. They learn respect—for their partners, their instructors, and, most importantly, themselves. “Training hard helps these young people build a core of confidence that no bully can shake.”

The Paradox of Self-Defence

People often ask if we teach “self-defence.” My answer is often a bit different than what they expect. True self-defence isn’t just a set of techniques; it is a state of mind. It is mostly learnt by being so confident in your ability to fight that you no longer feel the need to prove anything to anyone. However, if you ever need to protect yourself bit hitting someone your strike will be powerful, efficient and hitting where it does the most damage. The best thing is that when a young person knows they can defend themselves, the “need” to demonstrate it vanishes. They carry themselves differently. Their shoulders are back, their eyes are up, and that internal security acts as a far more effective shield than any physical move ever could. They aren’t looking for a fight; they are simply no longer afraid of one.

Building the future

It is a privilege to watch these teenagers develop into powerful martial artists and, more importantly, resilient young adults. Whether it’s a 10-year-old regaining his footing or a 15-year-old finding her strength, we are here to provide the tools for that journey.

How we prepare athletes for full contact fights

Posted on 28 Jan 2026 by CARISMA

Let’s be real: stepping into a ring for three rounds of two minutes sounds like a short commitment until someone is actively trying to take your head off. Full contact fighting isn’t just a sport; it’s a high-stakes puzzle solved under extreme physical and mental duress. We don’t start from zero. We assume our athletes are already “keen” kickboxers with a solid foundation. Our job is to take that raw skill and forge it into a weapon that can withstand the extreme pressure of a real fight. Here is how we bridge the gap between “decent” and “proficiently safe”.

The first step, a few words of caution

My conversation with any aspiring full contact fighter is to ensure they understand these basic concepts:

This is not going to be a walk in the park or even a marathon run where there is one winner and many participants. It will be you and your opponent in the ring and one of the two will be a winner
You are entering a sports competition where your opponent is trained and authorised to hurt you, within the regulations which are enforced by a referee
Our aim is to train you to win but, if you don’t make it, you will lose in a way that it will minimise your damages

Refining the arsenal: efficiency over flash

In a full-contact environment, every movement must have a purpose. We strip away the “fluff” and focus on the mechanics of single techniques. If a jab isn’t snapping or a round kick isn’t turning the hip over correctly, it’s wasted energy.

Maximum damage: we tweak body mechanics to ensure every strike carries the weight of the entire body, not just the limb
The “iron shield” guard: offense is great, but if your chin is in the air, the fight ends early. We drill “active defence,” ensuring that even while attacking, the opposite hand is glued to the jaw and the shoulders are tucked

The science of the combination

Throwing a single punch is easy. Throwing a four-strike combination that leaves you protected and ready to counter is an art form. We train our fighters to deliver sequences that flow naturally and exploit the opponent’s defensive reactions. We consider these different aspects of the action:

Flow: Eliminating the “reset” pause between a punch and a kick during a combination to improve speed of any combination
Angle cutting: moving off the centreline during the combination and keeping a tight guard at all times to avoid counter attacks
Damage density: ensuring that every punch or kick in a combination delivers damage the final (exit) strike is the most powerful

Power, meet volume

It’s one thing to hit a heavy bag hard once. It’s another to maintain that “knockout power” in the final thirty seconds of the third round when your lungs are screaming.

We push our athletes through high intensity interval drills that mimic the rhythm of a fight: explosive bursts followed by active recovery. The goal is simple: be able to hit harder than ever before and keep doing it for as long as the referee allows.

The mental fortress: concentration under fire

The biggest challenge in full contact isn’t the pain—it’s the panic. When fatigue sets in, the first thing to go is the mind. You lose your “eyes,” you stop seeing the openings, and you forget your guard. We use pressure testing to build mental resilience. By the time our fighters step into the ring, they have already been in deep water during training. They’ve learned to keep their focus sharp and their breathing steady, even when the pressure is beyond what most people expect.

The payoff: why we do it

Training for full contact is, frankly, exhausting and occasionally painful. But it pays dividends that few other experiences can match.

Minimized damage: proper preparation is the best insurance policy against injury
Unshakeable assurance: knowing you have the “gas in the tank” and the skills to handle a hostile opponent provides a level of self-confidence that carries over into every aspect of life
The satisfaction of the grind: there is a unique pride in knowing you didn’t take the easy road.

Reach your peak of performance: why American kickboxing is the ultimate modern martial art

Posted on 12 Jan 2026 by Massimo Gaetani

In a world filled with countless fitness trends and combat styles, American kickboxing stands out as a “Goldilocks” discipline: it perfectly balances the refined technique of traditional martial arts with the raw intensity of modern fighting sports. At CARISMA, we have seen firsthand how this sport serves as a powerful catalyst for personal growth, whether you are a child finding your feet or an adult looking to reclaim your edge. Here is why American kickboxing is a sport everyone should experience.

A Masterclass in Physical Versatility

Most sports specialize in one area—distance running for stamina, weightlifting for strength, or yoga for flexibility. American kickboxing demands all of them.

Agility & Reflexes: The fast-paced nature of the sport sharpens your “fight-or-flight” response, turning it into calculated “read-and-react” precision.
Total Body Strength: From the rotational power of a cross punch to the explosive drive of a roundhouse kick, every muscle group is engaged.
Dynamic Flexibility: High kicks aren’t just about looking spectacular; they require and develop incredible range of motion in the hips and core, which protects the body against injury in everyday life.

Building “The Resilience Muscle”

Life is unpredictable, and American Kickboxing is the perfect training ground for handling pressure. In the gym, you learn to keep your guard up when you’re tired and stay focused when things get difficult. This translates directly into mental resilience. For adults, it is the ultimate stress-reliever—a place where the frustrations of the workday are channelled into the punching bag or a fully padded training partner who can help you with training. You don’t just leave the gym fitter; you leave it calmer and more capable of handling life’s challenges.

From Children to Confident Adults

For younger practitioners, we accept children from 12 years of age, the benefits go far beyond the physical. The American kickboxing we teach at CARISMA provides a structured, disciplined environment where children learn the value of discipline, respect and hard work while having fun.

Self-Confidence: There is a unique kind of confidence that comes from knowing you can defend yourself. This isn’t about aggression; it’s about the quiet “inner warrior” that allows a child to stand tall against bullying and peer pressure.
Development: It turns “fidgety” energy into focused coordination, teaching children how to set goals and work toward them through grading and technique mastery.

The Spectacular “Art” in Martial Arts

There is no denying it: American kickboxing is spectacular to watch and even more exhilarating to practice. The “blitzing” movements, the combination of Western boxing hands and Eastern martial arts kicks, and the fluid movement across the mats make it one of the most dynamic sports in existence. It is never boring. Every session is a new puzzle to solve, a new combination to master, and a new level of fitness to unlock. While many clubs limit their practice to a few combinations which use 2-3 punches and a couple of kicks at CARISMA we practice the full spectrum of punches and kicks plus combinations which include multiple kicks with one leg.

A Safe, Inclusive Community

At CARISMA, we believe that while the sport is rooted in combat, the environment should be supportive. We specialize in making the art accessible to everyone—from college and university students and busy professionals to local residents of every gender. Our focus on controlled training ensures that you can push your limits and build amazing skills without the high risk of injury found in less-structured environments. We encourage everyone to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, without risking to be overwhelmed or putting their safety at risk. Anyone interested in competing and prepared to put the hours in will be given access to opportunities of fighting in both light and full contact bouts.

Why Starting Now?

Whether you are looking for a way to get into the best shape of your life, seeking a discipline that builds character in your children, or simply wanting to learn a practical and effective self-defence system in Cambridge, American kickboxing is the answer. It is a sport that gives back exactly what you put in: strength, agility, and a level of self-confidence that will stay with you long after you’ve stepped off the mats.

My responsibilities as a coach

Posted on 20 Mar 2017 by Massimo Gaetani

Copyright and courtesy of Duncan Grisby 2017 While I am listening to feedback and suggestions about how I teach martial arts I have been keeping the core of my style and approach unchanged for years. By teaching martial arts and fighting techniques I am empowering my students to defend themselves and to become better people but, with power, come responsibility which I take very serious.

Here are a few key points which are the pillars on which I base my teaching:

Learning martial arts takes time and dedication

If you had the illusion of becoming proficient in martial arts within a few weeks or months you took up the wrong activity. Nowadays most people train martial arts as an alternative to other sports or hobbies and they want fast results. Learning martial arts should however be seen as a medium to long time project, where some results can be seen within months but decent proficiency comes after a few years of regular and frequent attendance (e.g. 2+ 60-120 minutes lessons per week). My responsibility in this case is about creating an environment which fosters dedicated training and cooperation among all members of the club and continuously challenges everybody’s skills and performance, including mine.

Learning martial arts helps you to rationalise the irrational

In its most essential form fighting is about survival; when our ancestors got involved in a fight it was about defending their homes and families from invaders or from fierce animals or perhaps about invading other people’s territories; it was no game and it was about life and death. Most people react irrationally to a fighting situation because when adrenaline is released, even in a controlled environment like a martial arts gym, it causes some people to lose control. Training martial arts helps to cope with this irrational feeling and channel the energy toward better physical and mental performance. My responsibility in this case is about encouraging everybody to challenge themselves and understand where their threshold and comfort zone are and push them further.

Tough training helps to cope with tough situations

Whether you are training for sports fights or for self-defence it’s essential to test yourself toward a range of tough situations. In a sports fight your opponents will try their best to beat you within the rules of the fight, sometimes trying to bend such rules for their advantage. If you find yourself on the street and need to use your self-defence skills you better be used to tough attacks, the most unpredictable ones; your street opponents will probably have no rules about fighting and potentially go for the nastiest attacks. Here is where my responsibility is about reminding people about their limits and potential pitfalls in their skills and techniques. I am trying to help them to train in a way that pushes their skills beyond their current limits and make them better fighters.

Martial arts can be for everyone but they are not

Training martial arts is in my opinion one of the most satisfying and complete form of exercise for body and mind. Many people start and nearly as many give up with days, weeks or months. Many novices cannot cope with the learning, complexity of movements, fitness requirements and so on. It takes time, consistency and dedication which most people simply don’t have. I encourage most people to try and, depending on a number of factors, I might push them more or less toward a tougher training, sooner or later. In my experience of practicing martial arts for nearly 40 years and teaching for the good part of 30 years I met super talented people giving up at their first hurdle, which they never expected to happen. I have also seen many not talented people becoming great martial artist and champions. My responsibility in this case is about managing their expectations and feedback, in the most constructive and objective way, how they can improve and what they should do.

What I learnt from teaching martial arts

Posted on 26 Jan 2017 by Massimo Gaetani

There is an old saying that goes: “if you can’t do teach”; for me teaching has actually improved my doing. In fact my knowledge about martial arts practice has dramatically improved since I started teaching. When I first learnt martial arts I was in my early teens; I remember struggling initially with coordination and fitness but, with continuous and consistent training, I reached a good standard within months. By all means my technique and proficiency kept improving for years; as most movements and techniques were quite natural for me, I never had to analyse too hard how I was doing things.

Years later, when I started teaching, I realised that people from all walks of life were approaching martial arts and, as it happens, some of them were terrific, some hopeless and the majority in the middle. By teaching martial arts to people who are not naturally talented and/or fit and/or coordinated I realised that many of them require much more explanation than showing the technique a few times and hoping they learn it. Many people need the technique to be deconstructed and explained; in same cases a clear description of the muscles involved is necessary to fully achieve the expected result. By analysing each technique in detail, including what muscle groups are working how and when, I forced my mind to grasp every single aspect of each movement and by improving my awareness about them it has greatly improved my technique.

Hello 2017, good bye 2016

Posted on 3 Jan 2017 by Massimo Gaetani

Happy new year to everyone; 2017 starts with its first lesson today, 3 January, keeping our regular schedule of 4 lessons per week for the next 51 weeks.

We are already planning our usual Town vs. Gown fight in February where members of all clubs we are training (CARISMA, CUKBS and ARUKBC) will fight members of the other clubs. This is a great opportunity for all beginners to have a go at sport fighting in a friendly and controlled environment, before trying other tournaments. Later in the year several members of the club will take part in various regional fights, both light and full contact. CUKBS will be fighting Varsity in Oxford this year and their training regime has been under tight control since the beginning of Michaelmas term in October.

As usual we will be having 4 grading sessions in March, June, September and December. On the second Saturday of June we’ll have the annual CARISMA BBQ and on the first Sunday in December, after grading, we’ll have the Christmas dinner. These events are already on the club’s calendar for your perusal.

As our aim is keeping a critical mass of at least 60 paying members at any given time we will be recruiting beginners any time we need more members but pausing when membership is in line with our expectations. Our first beginners’ course for the year will start on 19 January and, as usual listed on our calendar.

2016 was another good year for CARISMA, with a large number of new interesting people who joined us, and classes consistently larger than previous years. We found ourselves with a reduced percentage of undergrads students, from both University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin; good news is that we replaced them with high school and post grad students as well as young professionals both male and female. This change has increased the retention of our members and the consistency of their attendance as undergrads students are around for about 6 months per year and their attendance tends to be not as regular as we would like.

An individual achievement which is definitively worth mentioning is Meitar Blumenfeld as our first winner for a full contact fight; it has to be said that our whole full contact team to date had a total of 4 people, over a long period of time.

For a number of personal reasons we lost, within a short time, 3 of our instructors; fortunately we were working, in the meantime, to train some of our most promising senior students to be their replacement so it all happened smoothly and according to plans.

Whether you are a regular member or a casual reader interested in joining us we hope to see you soon and looking forward to train with you during 2017.

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