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Stav Martial Arts Training
5th April 2025, 10 am to 4 pm
At The 23rd Salisbury Scout Hut, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3JR, UK
Come and join us for a day of practical martial training. The course will be led by Graham Butcher, Stav teacher with 30 years experience and black belt in Lee Style Whu Shu. Please watch the video above in which Graham explains and demonstrates some of the principles we will be exploring. (You can watch it full screen once you have opened it).
Back to Basics
What are the essential elements of MA training and practice and how do we explore these aspects?
Learning martial arts is not a linear progression from beginning to end. We start where we are and there is no end unless we just lose interest and give up. Development is more of a shallow spiral, working round the same pattern over and over again, coming back to the same point with a little bit more knowledge, skill, and understanding than the time before.
The essential elements of martial practice are all interrelated, however the six basic aspects can be described in the following ways:
Technique
In Stav the basic practice is the runic stances. The stances develop good posture, stretch and tone muscles, ligaments, and sinews, and promote deep and natural breathing. Beyond the stances there are also drills to develop an awareness of lines and cultivate the ability to integrate action, intention, and movement.
Strategy
Strategy in Stav terms means knowing and understanding the five principles. The principles provide five options for dealing with a conflict situation. The intention in the basic drills will reflect one of the principles expressed through a combination of action and movement. The operational art is the ability to effectively match tactical assets to strategic intentions. If the available tactical assets are inadequate to achieve a particular strategic intention, then choose one that is viable this time.
Mott
The physical body of blood, bone, and sinew is known as Mott. The body is strengthened and conditioned by exercise and practice. Good nutrition, adequate sleep, and careful hygiene will also cultivate a strong and healthy body capable of vigorous training and combat if required.
Megin
The energetic body consists of Megin, roughly equivalent of Chi, Ki, or Prana in other cultures. Our planet is maintained and protected by a massive electrical network. The sky is positively charged and the earth negatively. Practicing the stances out of doors, when possible in bare feet on the earth, our megin energy will renew, cleanse, and improve the flow of our megin energy.
Learning
To a point martial arts can be taught and the cultivation of good technique is essential. However, real knowledge and ability has to come through actual practice and learning from that practice. Training in other styles, especially when no one knows what you know can be very useful for testing your knowledge and abilities. A sound understanding of body mechanics especially can only be developed by controlled contact training. The problem with grading is that they measure what has been taught, but cannot measure what you have learned for yourself through your own training and practice. We need to become confident in our ability to learn from any experience or opportunity.
Detachment
At a certain level a person will fight hardest when then are filled with rage and hatred. The more effort that is made the harder we seem to be struggling. However, to be really effective we need to conquer the ego and have no concern with winning or losing. At some point it becomes clear that if we are conscious of making a great effort then all we are really feeling is our own resistance. When we have no inner resistance we are free to release our power without effort. The strange paradox is that in order to release our potential power we need to be in state of inner calm where the very idea of expressing hate or rage through violence becomes impossible. You may act to protect yourself or another who is in danger, but there will be no fear or anger involved.
Of course none of these aspects are separate from the others. All six work together to create a fully rounded martial artist whose objective is to be centered and free from ego and the problems which the ego creates.
Programme
In order to explore these concepts the basic timetable for the day will be:
From 0930hrs refreshments available
1000hrs: Session 1 Staff Exercises and Opening Stances
The exercises with the staff are a dynamic way of working with the stances, developing the ability to handle a staff, and stretching and strengthening the body or Mott. Followed by opening stances which promote the flow of Megin energy. The rest of the session will focus on the five strategic principles using well proven two person staff drills.
1130hrs: Break
1145hrs: Session 2 Close Quarter Weapons
Working with the cudgel/walking stick and dagger/tein for developing close quarter weapon skills which develop into unarmed skills. We will be working with very simple drills which are quite easy to master and then you can start learning from what you are practising
1300hrs: Lunch
1330hrs: A short talk and discussion on managing the mind in high stress situations.
1400hrs Session 3 Five principles Knife Defence
These five drills are another way of exploring the five principles and how they might well be applied for self defence. With enough practice these drills also develop a useful understanding of body mechanics.
1500hrs: Break
1515hrs: Session 4 Releasing Your Power
Working with mott, megin, and relaxed state of mind to raise energy and direct force without effort.
1555hrs Closing stances and dismissal
1600hrs Finish
Venue:
5th April 2025 – The 23rd Salisbury Scout Hut, 67 Stratford Road, Salisbury, SP1 3JR, UK
Other Details:
Please wear loose comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for indoor training. Training in bare feet is fine if that is what you prefer.
There will be a short break for lunch, please bring your own food. Drinks will be provided. A note book and pen might be useful too.
Cost:
Ice and Fire Stav Members £15
Non–members £35
Booking:
Please email Graham to ask for BACs details, or please use the Paypal form below.