Shihan
( Master )
Lee Hasdell
Shin-Sen-Juku
( 8th Dan - B.C.K.A
)
Lee
Hasdell
was born 13th December
1966, in Northampton, England.
He is a former Mixed-Martial-Arts competitor and
Kickboxer and is known as a pioneer for British
M.M.A. as he promoted the first professional mixed
martial arts events in the UK, the first being
held in 1997.
His career as a professional fighter has seen
him win British Kickboxing Championships, M.M.A.
and Grappling titles as well as a Grandprix Tournament
( 3 bouts in a single night ).
Resume and competition highlights:
Hasdell began martial arts in 1979 at the age
of 12. He started training taekwondo, before taking
up boxing as well. Hasdell later started karate
as he felt that it was more of a mixed style that
suited his stand up. After winning a number of
local tournaments he decided to study full-contact
Karate.
In 1985 when he was 18 he started weight training
and kickboxing. In 1987 he moved to Milton Keynes
from Northampton where he began training in Thai-Kickboxing
( Muaythai ) and began his competitive Amateur
career.
In 1991, Lee went over to study in Holland at
the Internationally reneown Chakuriki dojo in
Amsterdam. This is where Lee was first introduced
to Japanese Kickboxing and Kyokushin methods.
Lee's approach to his Kickboxing training and
tuition was transformed by the experience. This
then became his foundation for his Mixed martial
arts style.
During 1991, Hasdell captured the British Super-Middleweight
title defeating and the British Light-Heavyweight
title.
October 1994, Hasdell made a move to Cruiserweight,
defeating his opponent by a first round Knock-out.
Lee was invited to Japan to train at the Seidokaikan
the HQ for the K-1 organisation, he then returned
to Japan on 3 September 1995 to fight at K-1 Revenge
II. Hasdell was one of the first English fighters
to compete on a K-1 event.
After fighting at K-1 Revenge II in September
1995, Hasdell witnessed Rings rules and Shootfighting
bouts on the same card. This marked a turning
point in his career. upon returning to the UK,
Hasdell began cross training in Mixed-Martial-Arts.
On
15 October 1995, Hasdell promoted a Kickboxing
event in Milton Keynes, England. The main event
featured Lee Hasdell against American Free fighter,
Boston Jones in a non-sanctioned Shootfight. The
bout was billed as the first Ultimate Shootfight
in Britain. Hasdell won the fight by knockout
in the second round.
20 April 1996, Hasdell entered the Fenasco Oktagon
Challenge, an eight man Shoot Boxing tournament
held in Milan, Italy in front of 15,000 spectators.
The tournament featured eight fighters from all
over the world, representing eight different martial
arts, Hasdell represented the art of Freestyle
fighting ( M.M.A. ). Hasdell went through to the
final with two knockouts over American Scott Dobbs
and Italian Judo champion Paulo Di Clemente. In
the final he faced and defeated Dutch Kickboxing
legend Andre Mannaart by decision to become the
new World Fenasco Shoot Boxing champion.
This victory raised his profile and Fighting Network
RINGS president Akira Maeda offered Hasdell a
contract as a professional shootfighter. Hasdell
was with RINGS. the leading Japanese Mixed-Martial-Arts
promotion before PRIDE FC, for six years.
On 4 April 1997, Hasdell made his Mixed martial
arts debut in Japan at RINGS: Battle Genesis.
He defeated American fighter Sean McCulley within
four minutes by Guillotine Choke.
On
5 October 1997 at Total Fight Night held in Milton
Keynes, England. Hasdell defeated Dutch fighter
Peter Dijkman for the UTF Shootfighting Superfight
title.
On
7 March 1998, Hasdell fought and defeated Sander
Thonhauser in a Vale Tudo match at Night of the
Samurai 1. This fight was for the vacant TFF Vale
Tudo Superfight title.
Hasdell then fought Hiromitsu Kanehara for thirty
minutes in Japan on 29 May 1998. Hasdell lost
on points.
On
7 June 1998, hasdell fought Dutch fighter Dave
van der Veen in Holland. Hasdell was knocked down
in the first round before forcing Dave van der
Veen to make two rope escapes. Hasdell then won
the match by knockout in the second round.
Hasdell
was promoted to the Shooter category and was given
the nickname The Gatekeeper, meaning if a fighter
from another organisation wanted to join RINGS
they had to beat Hasdell first.
On
21 September 1998, Hasdell lived up to his name
when he knocked out UFC Japan Tournament Champion
Kenichi Yamamoto after eleven minutes.
On 20 November 1998, Hasdell began what would
be a trilogy of fights with Japanese fighter Yasuhito
Namekawa. Their first confrontation was held in
Osaka, Japan and after twenty minutes, it ended
in a draw.
Hasdell's
second bout with Yasuhito Namekawa was held on
23 January 1999 in Tokyo, Japan. Hasdell lost
on points after receiving a yellow card for an
illegal punch during the fight. Hasdell dominated
the stand up and was close to knocking Namakawa
out in the dying seconds, leaving him with a bloody
nose. Although Namakawa was the winner of the
match, he had to be helped out of the ring. Their
first two bouts in Japan went the full twenty
minutes, without a break.
Their
third and final fight was held in Milton Keynes,
England at Night of the Samurai 3 on 7 March 1999.
Hasdell was trailing by two points before knocking
Namakawa out with a knee to the face at 5 minutes
and 55 seconds of round 1.
Hasdell
returned to Japan on 23 April 1999, defeating
Ryuki Ueyama and submitting Ricardo Fyeet four
months later.
On
15 September 1999, Hasdell fought Satoshi Honma
in Tokyo, Japan. After twenty minutes, the bout
ended in a draw. The following month, Hasdell
faced Dave van der Veen for a second time, this
time in Milton Keynes, England. Hasdell won by
Armbar at 1:47 of round one to retain his TFF
Shootfighting title.
On 16 April 2000, Hasdell made his return to Kickboxing
at the K-1 UK Battle of Britain held in Birmingham,
England. Hasdell fought WKA World Heavyweight
Kickboxing champion Simon Dore in a non-tournament
fight. Hasdell won by flying-knee-kick at thirty
seconds of round three.
On 21 January 2001, Hasdell won the Kamon European
Brazilian Jujitsu tournament in London.
Later
In 2001, Hasdell was given an award from Akira
Maeda in Japan for his hard work, dedication and
contribution to the martial arts worldwide.
On
20 October 2001, Hasdell fought Bulgarian Georgi
Tonkov at RINGS: World Title Series 4. Hasdell
won the match with a flying knee at four minutes
and twenty-two seconds of round one.
This
bout was the first round, Quarter-Final of the
Absolute Class Tournament 2001. In the Semi-Final
of the tournament, on 21 December 2001, Hasdell
fought and lost to M.M.A. legend Fedor Emelianenko
by Guillotine Choke.
The RINGS company eventually folded in 2002 due
to the growing success of Pride FC, making this
Hasdell's final fight for RINGS.
On 24 April 2004. Hasdell, now at Light-Heavyweight,
around 10 kg lighter than his fighting weight
in RINGS, returned to competition. His fight was
against Japanese fighter Hiroyuki Ito at Pain
and Glory held at the National Exhibition Centre
in Birmingham. Hasdell won by KO within thirty
two seconds of round one.
In February 2008, Lee Hasdell became the first
Kudo (also known as Daido Juku) black belt in
the UK, under Grand Master Azuma.
On 18 November 2008, Lee Hasdell achieved his
second dan black belt in Kudo.
On
23 May 2009, Lee Hasdell took part in the U.M.A.
International Open Groundfighting and Grappling
Championships. Hasdell achieved Gold in the open
weight masters division.
Kickboxing titles:
British Super-Middleweight
Full-Contact champion (W.K.A.)
British Light-Heavyweight Thai Boxing champion
(B.I.K.M.A.)
British Light-Heavyweight Free Style champion
(B.I.K.M.A.)
World Fenasco Shoot Boxing champion.
Mixed-Martial-Arts titles:
UTF Rings Rules (Shootfighting)
Superfight champion
TFF Vale Tudo Superfight champion
Grappling titles:
Kamon European Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu open winner
UMA 'No Gi' Groundfighting Championships (Mens
Masters Division Open Weight) winner
Grades & Awards:
Kakuto ( Combat ) Karate Black Belt - 8th Dan.
( B.C.K.A. )
Kickboxing Black belt - 8th
Dan. ( W.K.A. )
Kudo Black belt - 2nd Dan. ( K.I.F. )
Ju-Jitsu Black belt - 3rd Dan. ( W.C.J.J.O )
Shin Karate Black belt - 1st Dan. ( A.M.A. )
Olympic Wrestling Coach ( B.A.W.A. )
Combat Magazine Hall of fame

Neil
Holden
: Pictured left.
Kakuto-Karate ( 7th Dan
), KUDO ( 2nd Dan ).
Lee
Hasdell : Pictured
centre.
Kakuto-Karate
( 8th Dan ),
KUDO ( 2nd Dan ).
David Eckersley :
Pictured right.
Kakuto-Karate
( 6th Dan ),
KUDO ( 2nd Dan ).
More Photos : Click
Here
|