- Sifu Mark Maslen
Black Sash
- Sylvia Pozeg
Triple Sight Studios
"Mr. Beecroft has a warm personality and is the most honest and straightforward person I have ever met. He's earned my trust and respect. This says a lot! Mr. Beecroft will find something that will suit you and I guarantee that you will feel safe and comfortable during classes."
-Therese /Emilie P.
"My passion for the martial arts began with Muay Thai, which introduced me to other styles such as kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While I have trained extensively in facilities in the GTA and around London, the arts that I practice arguably have limited practicality in situations where there are no rules and anything goes. There is a fine line between arts for sport and arts for real life, and Mr. Beecroft's revolutionary program bridges the gap, melding play and practicality. For instance, while a first reaction to threat would be to engage the opponent using the science of eight limbs, in real life perhaps it is better to step back and find an alternative resolution to the problem. If physical contact is imminent, the rules are very different from sanctioned fights inside the ring, so the S.M.A.C. teaches you to deal with these threats in intelligent and practical ways.
"My first experience in the Real World Martial Arts class at the S.M.A.C. sparked my interest in learning the intricacies of the human body and how to exploit them in realistic self-defence situations. As a student completing a four-year degree at the University of Western Ontario, allotting time for my passions is often difficult, but I continue to attend classes at the S.M.A.C. whenever I can. The instructor's extensive background in various martial arts, as well as his sincere passion for sharing his techniques and embracing others; has taught me countless new things. While I normally train wherever there is space, instruction at the S.M.A.C. takes place in a modern and clean facility surrounded by other students whose personalities are conducive to the learning experience. To sum it up, one of the greatest attributes of the S.M.A.C. is that everybody leaves their ego at home: Including the instructor.
"Perhaps equally as important as adapting an open mind, there exists intimate training time with the instructor. In some instances at other schools, training in a class with 50 other students and just one instructor left me feeling unsatisfied; but unlike some commercial gyms, the S.M.A.C. offers much more intimate training with the instructor. I find that while there is a definite sense of respect for the instructor as in traditional martial arts, there is also a mutual respect shown to you, a quality paramount in learning any martial art. So if you are interested in personal fitness, self-defence, or simply expanding a current fight regime, consider the S.M.A.C. and the opportunities that they can offer."
- Scott D. Nguyen
"I wandered in to the Spiritual Martial Arts Center after meeting the head instructor during a "Real World self defence" seminar at UWO. I went because they had good prices, a good location and I needed to get fit. The studio space was well kept, clean and nicely decorated. It felt very professional, so I signed up for Women's Self Defence and the Cardio Kick classes.
"I lost 10 pounds through the cardio classes and developed tighter abs and much better core strength! The self defence classes pushed me to my limits sometimes, but I definitely learned things that will work in real life, high stress situations. The Instructor, Mr Beecroft, was patient but actually covered a lot each class. The classes were always different and always really fun. It made me excited about learning and I look forward to working out each week, which is why I came back again and again! "
"The Real World Martial Arts class teaches more than blunt fighting technique; it encourages a way of life and as we train we're taught to put aside our pride, ego and lust for fighting. Sparring and practice at defensive movement in an attack situation is a crucial component of class and has helped me have the ability to defend myself in my every day life."
2nd Rank Student [RWMA System]
"Through my training at the center, I have learned that pursuing martial arts is a life-long endeavor. The greatest accomplishments in life are often not achieved overnight. Martial arts take practice, discipline, courage to step outside your comfort zone, dignity to accept defeat, and determination to train your body and mind, and continuously try to learn from others. In learning these lessons, I have grown to realize their application to real life, outside of the world of martial arts. The values are crucial when pursuing what you want in life, whether it be academic goals, future occupations, relationships, or learned skills, to name a few."
"I have also learned the importance of being able to think quickly on the spot, adapting to every situation, and that not every technique will work for every individual. Martial arts have given me the ability to strengthen my reflexes and develop my own defense style. Defending my self is not an easy task, and I know now that often I will have to encounter pain, but it is better to try - and receive injuries - than to not try at all. In the real world, pain exists, and you either deal with it and keep going, or you fail."
1st Rank Student [RWMA System]
- Laura Judge
Judge Personal Training & Fitness
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© The Spiritual Martial Arts Center | Phone: 519-902-3833 | E-mail: sbeecroft@thesmac.ca