please Advise

Hi, As I said in my introduction im new to the greater manchester area and looking for some quality self protection training. I've come to learn it doesnt get much better then the SDF Ive searched for my local clubs and have short listed them to just 3 clubs id like to train at- andy crittidens , neil halls , paul oxtobys. What id like to ask is has anyone here trained with any of the above, and who is the best man to train with? and what is the diffrence in what they teach. many thanks in advance.

Also what would compliment the sdf training better muay thai,boxing or I have a club local that teach kick jitsu which is very much like mma Its the main club for cobra martial arts run by andy morrell and chris lowe.

Hello pre-emptive.

You won't go far wrong training with either Andy,Neil,or Paul.Why not go and talk to each of them,and see what they can offer you.

...and personally,i don't believe you have to do anything to compliment SDF training.It is as complete a system as i have come across.

good luck with your training!

Ade (SDF bloke! )

Thanks for the quick reply Ade. Neil halls club is the closest to me but from what I can see on his site, he teaches a combat jujitsu style of sdf?? well paul and andy teach the modern street combat style?? whats the diffrence?? sorry it might be very obvious to you im abit of a newbie

plus have you heard of jack howarth as neil only helps teach the class from time to time its mainly taught by jack howarth thanks mate.

It is my understanding that the Modern Street Combat Style is "distilled" from the Combat Ju-Jitsu SDF system,using the most applicable street techniques...so they both have the same roots.



Dave Turton (SDF Head) can probably answer those questions better than i can.He pops in here almost daily,so should be around soon.

Thanks Ade hope he can... as it will help me decide where to train and what will be better for me thanks.

Spoilt for choice there!

Yeah it would be much easier if i didnt have so many options

@ Ade and peter who would you guys pick to train with out of the three.

I'd try 'em all and see which one i "clicked" with best.

I have trained at Andy Crittendens place once and not with him nor have I trained directly with the others you mention so I am in no position to advise I'm afraid. I have heard good things about all of them mind.

I would follow Ade's advice.

Please let us know how you get on.

Hi mate
if you are in Manchester and looking for reality stuff, we have a great guy in JIMMY KELLY, he is based in Wythenshawe.. so a lot closer. and a great instructor

of the cluubs you mention, they are all my guys, but Paul & Andy do a tad more geared towards reality stuff, whereas Neil is 5th Dan in my style, but his club does more on the MMA stuff, so might not be teaching SDF stuff as often as the others

checkout our website on: www.asmaa/org.uk for more details, contacts etc

good luck mate

Thanks Dave

Just to throw in my two pennorth here as I know all of the guys mentioned above.

They are all great guys, they all have the same conceptual framework that they are working from and they are all very very good at what they do. The differences where they exist really come from the personal preference they have developed for delivery systems.

You wont go wrong with any of them, have a chat with them, go and visit a class and see which "atmosphere" fits you best. A lot of the time the selling point for me is the training group I become part of!

Thanks for the reply chris. I think I might go with andy crittedens place, its abit of a way but im sure it will be worth the drive