Sifu Paul has been training in martial arts for
over 30 years, currenty training under world-reknowned masters Pat
O'Malley (Rapid Arnis) and Samuel Kwok (Samuel Kwok Wing Chun Martial
Art Association). He was a boxing champion and a PTI (Physical
Training Instructor) in the British Army, and has
achieved high grades in several styles, such as;
- 4th degree Black Sash in Wing Chun
- 1st degree Black Belt in Rapid Arnis
- 1st degree Black Belt in Doce Pares Original Multi-Style
- 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate
He has also trained with other great martial artists including:
Grand Master Yip Ching; Grand Master Yip Chun; Antonio Diego; GM
Dionisio Canete; GM Danny Guba; Master Albert Sales; Master Jose 'Joe'
Borces; Master Percival 'Val' Pableo; Master Rey Galang; Carlson
Gracie; Royce Gracie; Gary Spears; Sensei Enoeda, Sensei Kawazoe and
Dan Inosanto.
Paul has completed in many competitions in addition to his boxing
wins in the Army, winning;
- 5 British titles in full-contact fighting
- Gold in the Doce Pares World Championships
- Silver in the 1st Invitational World Arnis Championships
- Class winner in the 2004 Mr Scotland Body Building competition.
Training Abroad
In October 2004, Paul was part of a British
contingent of Wing Chun instructors and students who travelled to Hong
Kong. The group visited the Yip Man Tong, the Yip Man Wing Chun
Athletic Association and some of the first Yip Man Wing Chun schools
in China.
In December 2005, Paul travelled to the Philippines
where he successfully competed in the 1st Invitational World Arnis
Championships, winning a silver medal. He was also made a member of
the Philippine Council of Kali, Eskrima and Arnis Masters.
During the trip, Paul was awarded a 1st degree
Black belt in 'Doce Pares Original Multi-Style System' after grading
in front of a panel of 10 grand masters, including: Master Endring
Casio; Master Bonifascio "Loloy" Uy; Master Rudy Rey and Grandmaster
Eulegio Canete.
The Future
Paul Smith has now moved to the U.S.A. to continue spreading Paul
Smith's Combat Arts, entrusting his classes and his distillation of
martial knowledge to his senior students. He continues to keep in
close contact, giving training advice and tips. For more information
on Paul Smith's current schedule, please see http://www.combatarts-international.com/ . Sifu Smith also has
a blog.
Rapid Arnis Instructor - Scott Marshall
Scott has been training in various martial arts and defence systems
for over 20 years, and has had the privilege of training with some of
the top names in martial arts in the UK as well as abroad. Instructors
such as Sifu Paul Smith, Tuhon Pat O'Malley, Grandmaster Danny Guba,
Master Samuel Kwok and Grandmaster Dionisio Canete are to name just a
few,
Scott has a background in western boxing, becoming Army Welterweight
Champion in 1989 to 1992 as well as being an Instructor in Military
style Aikido. Scott also gained second level grade in Tanashi mizio
freestyle Aikido, and is now the head representative Level 1
instructor for the Rapid Response knife defence system in Scotland and
head instructor for Rapid Arnis in Scotland. He has studied Iaido ,
learning the art of swordmanship as well as many other weapons and
empty hands techniques such as Wing Chun Kung Fu under Sifu Paul
Smith.
