Seikendo

Seikendo (lit: The Way of the Intercepting Fist (Jap)) is the creation of Roy Cullen. Merging over 35 years of martial arts study with his academic training in psychology, the martial art is designed to provide its students with an instantaneous response martial art coupled with psychological self-development techniques. This is provided in a relaxed and non-traditional atmosphere.
History
Roy Cullen began his martial arts training studying karate in 1971. Two years later he began to train in Wing Chun as well. Gradually drifting away from karate after competing at junior national level, he was a leading kick boxer while serving in the Royal Marines. In 1977, he attended the first even Jeet Kune Do seminar in London by Bruce Lee's assistant instructor, Dan Inosanto. His love of Jeet Kune Do continued from that point onwards attending many seminars over the following years.
In 1988 whilst working in California, Cullen met Robert Baker, a close friend and senior student of Bruce Lee from the Oakland school. He was one of only two students taught by Bob Baker. At this time while a student at University in California, he also trained in grappling. In 1995 Roy opened his first club in a small North Yorkshire Village of Brotton. This was followed by clubs in Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.
Roy Cullen studied psychology at degree and doctoral level and decided to include techniques of self-development, fear management and motivation within the training recognising that students seldom developed the confidence to face their fears and not freeze when in combat.
After over ten years of teaching a combination of Jeet Kune Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (He was one of only three UK JKD instructors invited by Linda Lee to attend the 1997 JKD Nucleus instructors seminar and conference in San Francisco and in the same year, also organised the first ever Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar under Pedro Alberto) he decided to merge the disciplines into a cohesive whole.
The essence of the art is to provide students with a limited set of techniques which are simple and drill them until they are instinctive and capable of being added to a flow of techniques designed to keep their opponent off balance and unable to strike back. It utilises numerous drills designed to ensure they are applicable in any situation. It also emphasises several different 'pressure testing' drills which aim to provide students with experience of full contact no holds barred fighting. This traditionally includes the Blitz where students fight full contact against a higher number of opponents.
Ranking
Seikendo has a belt grading system although, as in Jeet Kune Do, it is largely a recognition of time in training. More importantly, the style considers students as being juniors, seniors, assistant instructors and instructors. The style believes in developing the teaching skills from an early point enabling students to develop understanding (via the cascade theory) by helping others. This not only encourages the student to attempt to understand more and think more deeply with regard to the techniques and theories but also integrate with other class members very quickly developing a family atmosphere.
Currently there are only five accredited instructors of Seikendo in the UK the most senior of who is Robert McDonald who has trained in the style since 1995.

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