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The teacher
and the student.
Grand Master Sken
awarding
Neil Holden
the rank of Instructor.
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Neil Holden.
Muaythai ( Thai-Kickboxing
) :
Trainer of Champions,
Certified Instructor ( 1992 ) by Grand Master
Sken ( Thailand )
Founder - Warrington
Kickboxing Studio :
A gym that
has over 18 years produced several National, two
European and two World Amateur Champions!
Kudo: ( Japanese
M.M.A. system ) :
Black Belt
( 2nd Dan ), Nidan Grade.
Certified by Grand Master Takashi Azuma
( Japan ).
Kakuto ( Combat
) Karate :
Black Belt
( 5th Dan ), Shihan / Master Grade.
Certified by The
British Combat Association
( Reality based Self-defence
organisation ).
________________________________________________
 Neil
began training
when he was just 10 years old. Since
those early days he has dedicated his adult
life to the martial arts and has now been
training in the combat-sports for
over 30 years!
When he was 18 the opportunity arose
for him to train full-time as an Assistant
Instructor.
Neil left home and spent just over
a year as a full-time 'live in' student,
( what is known in Japan as an uchideshi
), staying in the gym in a very basic dormatory
area.
( Pict
Above : Neil Holden - 1992,
lean and fit at 75kgs - 12 Stone )
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During this time Neil's
main training and sparring partner was Steve
Reilly, who
later went on to become
European Champion.
Steve
also opened his own school and is now the
and Head Coach of the Horwich
Kickboxing Studio.
( Pict Above
: Steve Reilly)
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Once Neil
passed his senior student rank,
( Brown
Grade ),
Master Sken
began training him specifically to be
a Instructor, having him assist him at
two of his Schools, ( Irlam and Eccles
), in Manchester.
(
Pict Above : Neil performing a
Jumping Side Kick, 1991 )
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Training as an Assisant-Instructor
under Master Sken,
Neil was taught
first hand, how to prepare fighters for
competitions, as well as the skills required
to be a cornerman.
(
Pict Above : Grand Master Sken and
Neil, cornermen for Nigel Ashton -
W.K.A. Welterweight Champion ) |
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Initially
Neil was teaching
in Chorley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Farnworth,
Eccles, Irlam and Warrington. The schools
had a large following of members, with the
biggest club being the Warrington School which
he opened in 1992.
The Warrington school was based in Bewsey
area and had 3 classes a week.
Picture:
Neil with
Muaythai Instructor Phil
Nurse.
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In 1993 Neil
gained his first two Champions when Rhys
Edwards defeated the respected Simon
Chu by T.K.O. and Dave
Rathbone defeated another highly regarded
fighter, called Peter Davis
by K.O.
It was a great start to Neil's
career as a professional martial arts Instructor,
and there were soon more of his students that would
capture Championships under his guidance.
 Picture:
Neil Holden,
Trainer
Phil Nurse
and
Champion
Mark Matthews
A particularly proud moment for
Neil, was when his brother, Mark won his
first Pro. Championship Title.
Grand-Master Sken.
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Text
from Master Skens early business card:
Neil
is very proud have trained under and be certified
by one of the Worlds most dynamic Muaythai teachers.
 In
the early part of Grand-Master
Sken's teaching career in the U.K.
he was focused purely on the ring-sport side
of Muaythai, and during the 1980's he trained
several prominent Champions, including World
Champions Humphrey and Oliver Harrison, European
Champions Sandy Holt and Phil Nurse and British
Champions Carl Thompson and William Hilditch.
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Following
these successes, in the 1990's Grand-Master
Sken then switched his focus to building
a team of leading Instructors. These included,
along with Neil Holden, trainers such as Colin
Heron, John Craig, Howard Hughes, Dave Croft,
Craig Brown, Richard Lewis, Paul Tite, David Eckersley,
John Steele, Steve Reilly and Darren Phillips.
Some of these trainers focus purely on Professional
Muaythai, others have expanded into other areas
also including K-1 ( Japanese Kickboxing ) or
M.M.A. and run well established gyms across the
U.K. circuit - which is a a further credit to
Grand-Master Sken.
Warrington
Kickboxing Studio - Established 1994:
Most
Martial Art Schools are usually only twice weekly
classes held in hired rooms and in 1994,
after many years of dedication, Neil
completed his lifelong ambition.
He setup
his own full-time martial arts centre
open seven days
a week with state
of the art training facilities, known as the Wolf
Gym - Warrington Kickboxing Studio
with the
Wolf
as the School logo
being worn on the Shorts of his fighters.
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Many
schools like to use a mascot, such as Scorpions
Gym in Newcastle, Golden Cobra in Manchester,
and Tigers Gym from Leeds.
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 In
2001 Neil
took two of his leading fighters to compete
in Japan, Mark
Matthews
(Inter-Continental Champion : W.P.K.L.)
and Rhys
Edwards ( British
Champion : W.A.K.O. Pro. ).
( Pict: Mark and Rhys at the H.Q. of the
All Japanese Kickboxing Federation)
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It was here that the Wolf-Gym
was given its Japanese name. Rhys
Edwards who was facing the Japanese Welterweight
Champion, was introduced to the ring as, "representing
England... and fighting out of.... the Okami
Dojo!!!"
( the Japanese translation
for 'Wolf Gym' ).
 The
Japan experience had a tremendous influence
upon Neil,
his system of teaching, and the way of
running the Wolf
Gym as a martial arts centre.
Upon his return to England, Neil
completely revised his coaching syllabus,
This Kickboxing syllabus now consistantly
produces Black Belts
and Champions
of the highest standards.
( Pict Above : Neil working
Mark on the Pads
the H.Q. of the Japanese Kickboxing Federation)
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KUDO
- A Japanese M.M.A. system.
Continued training in the martial arts, to update
and expand his knowledge, has seen Neil
eventually gain a 5th
Dan Black belt - (
Shihan / Master Grade ) in
Kakuto ( Combat ) Karate
as well as a 2nd Dan
Black Belt in the
Japanese Mixed-Martial-Arts system of KUDO
from Grand-Master Takashi
Azuma ( Japan ).
Picture :
Neil with
KUDO
Grand-Master Takashi Azuma
8th Dan.
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KUDO is a style that combines 'modified'
Japanese Kickboxing and 'modified'
Judo methods.
Three of Neil's
senior students have now also passed their
KUDO Black belts
under direct examination from Grand
Master Azuma, which is a further credit
Neil's coaching.
( Pict Above : Neil during
Judo randori )
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Although
Warrington Kickboxing Studio
does not pursue M.M.A. contests for its members,
two of Neil's KUDO
Black Belts have also competed in Amateur Mixed-Martial-Arts
bouts, and from nine contests in the Octogon,
both are unbeaten.
Neil
has built up a very professional team of Instructors,
that have to date trained over
40 Black
belts, along with several National Champions,
two European and
two World Amateur Champions.
Warrington Kickboxers
have also proudly represented
their country at international level on many occasions,
in both Amateur and Professional
bouts against oposition from...
----------------------------------------Scotland,
--Ireland, --Wales,
-------------------
------------------ ------- France, --Belgium,
--Holland, --Italy,
--Turkey
---------------------NewZealand,
--United
States of America --and
Japan!
All
of which can only be a resounding endorsement
of the Wolf-Gym's
Black Belt Kickboxing
System!
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Pictured
Rhys
Edwards
4
x Pro. Titles
Mark
Matthews
6
x Pro. Titles
Darren
Collins
2
x Pro. Titles
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From
readings Neil's background,
you can see clearly that he strives only for the
highest of standards. Wether in his own training
with the very best teachers, or in his own teaching
during a career spanning more than 20 years.
The most important attribute someone should seek
in a trainer is knowledge and experience. With
regards to the Martial Arts / Combat sports and
fitness training, Neil's knowledge and experience
and is second to none!
If you train personally with Neil,
or train with any of his certified Instructors,
you know you are receiving the very best Martial
Arts tution in the very best system.
THE OKAMI-DOJO
( WOLF-GYM ) BLACK
BELT KICKBOXING SYSTEM.
Further reading - recommended...
( Click
here to see some of Neil's Certificates
)
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