Black Dragon Scotland

27/08/2026

D R A G O N S A S S E M B L E !

BLACK DRAGON SCOTLAND'S DRUM DOJO THURSDAY COMBAT JOURNAL: 27/08/2026 THE GLENURQUHART PUBLIC HALL, DRUMNADROCHIT.

5pm LITTLE DRAGONS/DRAGON WARRIORS/ADULT CLASS.

TODAY: DRAGON STICK, STICK & MORE STICK!

Dragons present: Sensei Luke, Sempai Casey, Sempai Eva and Adam 😊

Dragon Stick: with a small class we decided to concentrate on practical applications of the Dragon stick. After the 5 strike takedown we covered a couple of Mondays ago (see Combat Journal 170826), today we started building on that. Sempai Eva and Adam weren't at the Monday class so we started with the 5 strike takedown. The stick is easy to use once the concept is learned: it's not enough to block the fist, the knife, the baseball bat, the other stick. You have to block and manoeuvre the stick to strike whilst keeping the block in place, only releasing the block once your strike is done or in progress when your assailant can not intercept it.

Once the principle is in place, then the stick teaches you 😊

We moved from the incoming right punch (5 strike takedown), we moved on to left incoming punch, multiple combinations, stick on stick and defences against knife and bat. This is an area of training we are going to continue 😊
.."CIRCLE"

We need new recruits. Not many but a few more would be great. We have a few irons in the fire to try and do this, watch this space. See you all Monday...on the mat.

Let's Stay Safe.

Sensei K & the BDS team ✊🙏

26/08/2026

** DRAGON WARRIOR WORDS OF WISDOM **

4. THE UNICORN or THE RHINO...YOUR CHOICE.

I'm not sure as the memory fades, but I think I was told this by the Chief Instructor of KEA Hand to Hand Fighting, Ron Evan.
The principal is simple: the martial arts and self-defence community is usually broken down into two categories: The Unicorns and the Rhinos. Both creatures with horns, one real, on mythical.

The Unicorns may perform techniques that are visually appealing, but ultimately useless and dangerous, placing practitioners who follow them in protentionally fatal situations with no real form of escape. Be very wary of the Unicorns. Check the viability of any classes in Self-Protection you would like to join.

The Rhinos are the opposite. Given the enough training and drive from the individual, their techniques will work, there's no soft soaping, this is real. It's not pretty, designed only to work and save your life and the lives of your loved one. Find a class like this and your time and money won't be wasted.

At the end of the day...it's your choice.

25/08/2026

18/08/2026

** DRAGON WARRIOR WORDS OF WISDOM **

3. DON'T EVER START A FIGHT...BUT ALWAYS FINISH IT.

I'm not sure who originally came up with this quote, but it's one I learned from the greatest man I ever knew...my Grandad, Deryck Redmill.

Don't ever start a fight...
Sometimes it's necessary to "hit first and hit hard", especially if the odds are against you. This is the popular misconception: it doesn't mean you started the fight. The fight was started by the individual or individuals who presented the threat to you in the first place.
..but always finish it. self-explanatory: when it's over, be the one still standing.

17/08/2026

D R A G O N S A S S E M B L E !

BLACK DRAGON SCOTLAND'S DRUM DOJO MONDAY COMBAT JOURNAL: 17/08/26 THE GLEN URQUHART PUBLIC HALL, DRUMNADROCHIT.

5pm LITTLE DRAGONS/DRAGON WARRIORS CLASS/ADULT CLASS

TODAY: DISSECTING KATA 1 & DRAGON STICK TAKEDOWN.

Dragons present: Sensei Anna, Sensei Luke, Sempai Casey and Pauline 😊

After a quick individual warm-up with it being warm already...

Katas on BOB: over to the BOBs, both Sensei Luke and Sempai Casey started running through the Combat Katas, joined by Pauline practicing CK1. Sensei Luke took Pauline to a forensic look at the four strikes along with the elbow strike from CK2.

Sensei Anna took to BOB for a brisk pounding of our rubber assistant and Sempai Casey moved onto the first Dragon Stick Kata, which lead to a full takedown using the stick. More on that later 😊

The elbow strike has always presented a few problems for Pauline so today Sensei Luke trieed to iron a few of them out. Real progress was made, especially with the palm-heel and vertical punch and the elbow strike is getting there, just proving a little elusive at the moment 😊

Dragon Stick: we moved on to an easy to learn takedown with the stick:

Holding the stick in the ready or "r***e" position. Your assailant throws a right punch, knock the hand away by striking down and slightly out left with the front or high end of the stick, wheeling or with a "rowing" motion, step forward and strike your assailant on the left temple with the lower end of the stick as it becomes the higher end. Step back and wheel the stick to strike the right temple, returning to ready stance and immediately strike the assailant's stomach with the end of the stick. As he/she doubles over, move around until you are almost standing on the left side of your assailant, using the stick on their neck to manoeuvre them to the ground. Use the stick to guard them laying on the ground.

This was re-enacted on the BOBs, then on the mats...very carefully 😊
.."CIRCLE"

Nice to be getting into the practical side of the Dragon Stick as the techniques could be used with walking sticks, umbrellas etc. Substituting for the stick, more of that to come. See you all on Thursday...on the mat.

Let's Stay Safe.

Sensei K & the BDS team ✊🙏

15/08/2026

Based on the original poster...our version ✊🏻🙏🏻

13/08/2026

D R A G O N S A S S E M B L E !

BLACK DRAGON SCOTLAND'S DRUM DOJO THURSDAY COMBAT JOURNAL: 13/08/2026 THE GLENURQUHART PUBLIC HALL, DRUMNADROCHIT.

5pm LITTLE DRAGONS/DRAGON WARRIORS/ADULT CLASS.

TODAY: KATIE'S CRASH COURSE IN SELF-DEFENCE.

Dragons present: Sensei Zak, Sensei Luke, Sempai Casey and Sensei Zak's girlfriend, Katie 😊

Katie's crash course in Self-Defence: a slow class so we didn't waste it. Sensei Zak, home on leave brought along his girlfriend, Katie. She wanted to know how to throw Zak, so we, of course, were going to show her 😊

We started with myth busters, wrist grabs and strangles, well "NOT against a wall front stangles. At this point Katie herself announced she want to learn how to throw Sensei Zak, so we obliged 😊

Starting with the wrist throw, in which she nearly broke Zak's wrist 😊 Sensei Luke took her through the knee throw and we finished off with the hook throw. Katie got a good working knowledge of all three, doing extremely well for a first class 😊

We moved over to a BOB to work on some strikes, up first ear strike, followed by the palm-heel, vertical punch and Tiger mouth/throat strike. Adding to this, a takedown: grabbing the assailant around the neck, moving to one side to centralise your knee and strike the lower stomach with it, then thrown to the ground. For this last part we moved back to the mats to perform it on an actual target...you guess it...Sensei Zak! 😊 to be fair Katie got to take down both Sensei Luke and Sempai Casey also and finally, stomp of the knee or ankle to stop the assailant pursuing. We just demonstrated this, as we didn't want Zak damaged anymore than he already was 😂
.."CIRCLE"

It was a pleasure for us to show Katie just a few techniques, she did very well considering the amount of information we bombarded her with. Great to see Sensei Zak back on the mat again and Katie...she did so well she's now an honorary Dragon 😊 See you all Monday...on the mat.

Let's Stay Safe.

Sensei K & the BDS team ✊🙏

12/08/2026

Did anyone see the total eclipse?