Email Shaun: shaunbolwell@blueyonder.co.uk
As with a lot people, my life was changed after watching the late Bruce Lee, I immediately went to my local Shotokan Karate club to join and become the next Bruce Lee. I was to late the club was already full to bursting point with another 100 or so would be Bruce Lees.
I stumbled across a Martial Art called Tomiki Aikido and never looked back; this was at the age of 13. I am now 47 and still teach Aikido as well as Escrima and MMA.
By the age of 16 I was a 1st kyu (Brown belt) and training nearly every night of the week for my Dan grade, I had won 3 medals at the regional championships in Bournemouth in 1975 and became the West of England Champion. I received my 1st Dan at eighteen.
I joined the Wiltshire Constabulary at 18 and came across someone who would challenge my ideas and concepts on the Martial Arts forever. (Yes concepts were around back then to).
The first time I trained with Master Steve Kinvig I was physically and mentally beaten up, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, here I was, the West of England Champion, physically, in my prime, and he just tore me apart, nothing I did worked and everything he did, did!!!
You have a choice at times like this, walk away with your tail between your legs and become a big fish in a little (Aikido) pond, or swallow your pride and say teach me.
I did the latter, and have known and trained with Steve ever since. I suppose my claim to fame must be that I was the first and still the only student of Steve to get my Technician Grade, he doesn't give them away and you have to earn them the hard way.
In the last couple of years my personal circumstances have change and I am now able to travel all over Europe and the UK helping to teach Escrima Concepts and Referee in all the tournaments.
On a personal note, I enjoy most sports and most music, and relax by learning Magic. I have just bought a place in Turkey and would love to retire early to live there and start Escrima Concepts in Turkey.
