Welcome to Combined Martial Arts Academy!

Gordon “Jock” Armstrong, sensei Head Instructor of Zen Goshu Goshin Jutsu and international Batto Do Federation (IBF) sword instructor will visit Jakarta for several weeks in December 2006 at the request of the Combined Martial Arts Academy (CMAA). 

While here he will train CMAA students in Goshin Jutsu as well as Japanese sword iaido and cutting techniques. Armstrong sensei founded the “Zen Goshu Budo Kenshukai” or the All Australian Martial Way Research Group establishing Goshin Jutsu, meaning Unarmed Combat in 1995. 

The word 'karate' was replaced by 'Goshin' due to the radical changes in technique over the years, making the system almost unrecognizable as traditional Karate Do.  The style has its roots in traditional Okinawan Goju karate but has incorporated elements from numerous styles and systems including judo, jujitsu, aikido, grappling, boxing, and Muay Thai.

Armstrong sensei’s martial arts experiences assisted him in formulating his system with a reliance on combative application.  Armstrong sensei is also a student of Ishikawa Tsutomu sensei, who trained directly under IBF founder, Nakamura Taizaburo. Nakamura Taizaburo Hanshi 10th dan Shodai Soke  developed his system, Nakamura Ryu Happogiri Battodo a gendai (modern) iaijutsu form in 1953. 

The Nakamura Ryu Happogiri Battodo style is a result of Nakamura sensei’s experiences as a wartime sword instructor.  Nakamura studied and later taught at the "Rikugun Toyama Gakko" (Toyama Military Academy).  Nakamura Taizaburo sensei was an instructor in the Nanpo kirikomitai Budo Kyokan, or, instructor of sword attack. Armstrong sensei who has a BA in Japanese language lived and worked in Japan between 1999 and 2004 training IBF Batto Do with Ishikawa Tsutomu sensei.  Ishikawa sensei embarked Armstrong sensei on a three month full time training course and at the end of which  granted him permission to teach IBF Nakamura Ryu as an official IBF representative in Australia.  Currently, Armstrong sensei teaches Goshinjutsu (Unarmed Combat), IBF Batto Do (Japanese sword fighting), Okinawa Kobudo, and Cacoy Doce Pares Arnis/Eskrima, Philippine stick fighting with schools and training groups in Townsville, Cairns, The Gold Coast and Canberra in Australia and Jakarta in Indonesia. 

Saturday, 9th December, 2006 will see the 2nd annual Indonesian Submission Grappling Federation (ISGF) championship at the Wrestling Hall (Gate 5), Main Stadium Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan, Central Jakarta.  The event will commence at 11 A.M after registration and weigh-ins.  The Championship is a great opportunity for all students of the grappling arts in South East Asia, including Judo, Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo, Aikido, Hapkido, Jeet Kun Do, Tai-Chi, Karate, Penjak Silat, Kung Fu and any other grappling art to come together to compete and exchange techniques in a friendly and competitive environment, said Niko Han, the event promoter and Synergy Jujitsu Senior Instructor. 

All styles of martial art are welcome to join this competition where the rules have been designed to encourage fast action and submissions without favoring one style over another.  Points are awarded for positions and techniques from all of the aforementioned martial arts.   Submission grappling is the fastest growing martial art in the world and Niko has made it his mission to promote and socialize submission grappling in Indonesia.  The sport is highly competitive with the athlete demonstrating their technique, ability, physical and psychological condition.  The objective is to render their opponent into submission without the use of punching, kicking or any form of striking action.  Valid moves are those which take an opponent to the ground, neutralize, immobilize, strangle them, or apply pressure on the large twisting joints.  The sport is enjoying a growing interest in Indonesia with competitors planned to compete from clubs in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Java, and Jakarta.  Through high standards of ethical behavior, the sport has reached spectacular heights elsewhere in the world and we are doing the same here in promoting the sport in Indonesia, said Niko Han. 

If you have any questions concerning the event or submission grappling in general please contact ISGF at email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel. +62.856.1808804, fax. +6221.7691115.

Ayus and Ivonne from Adidas took the time to visit the Combined Martial Arts Academy (CMAA) to meet some of the members of “Team Indonesia” who will be competing at the Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation 3rd Annual World Title full contact stick fighting event being held in Cebu Philippines from 24th November to 26th November 2006.  Competitors from around the world including Australia, USA, Philippines, Indonesia and Europe will be converging in Cebu for three days of competition.  

Events include single and double stick full contact fighting in men and women’s senior and under 18’s divisions classed on competitor’s weight and age.  The competition also includes the Edgar Canete Challenge involving a non armoured full contact fighting division.  Adidas has generously sponsored the CMAA with Adidas apparel for all of the team’s fighters and support personnel.  In total 15 CMAA members will travel to Cebu as “Team Indonesia”. 

CMAA Senior Instructor Glen Gardiner said that he and the team members were very appreciative of Adidas’s generous support.  Team members are planning to compete in the under 18’s men’s, senior men’s and women’s divisions as well as the Edgar Canete Challenge and have been training for the event for nearly eight months.  Only several weeks remain before the event with members of the team training nearly 20 hours a week focusing on match fitness and ring technique. 

Training is very focused now with a lot of endurance and fitness training with an emphasis on full contact sparring said senior women’s title hopeful Maharani.  Maharani, the only female competitor in the team said that fighting the men was good as it always meant that she was under pressure and challenged to improve her skills and match fitness.  “The guys treat me the same and don’t really make an exception for me, there is a great deal of team spirit and club motivation with everyone supporting each other with Glen the Senior Instructor encouraging everyone to challenge themselves”, Maharani said.