Clubb Chimera Martial Arts : CCMA

Martial Arts Illustrated Columnist Series Part I:
Steve Rowe “The Martial Adhesive”

By Jamie Clubb
“Tony: If I were to use your Star Wars analogy for martial arts, I’d say this chap is Yoda.
Jamie:  (non-committal) Really? What, short and green, puts his words in a funny order?
Tony: Honestly, Jamie, he’s simply amazing.
Jamie: That’s what you said about Mo Teague, Chris Rowen, Russell Stutely…
Tony: And was I wrong?
Jamie: No, but -
Tony: Jamie, have I ever thrown you – for want of a better term – a curve ball?”

An edited summary of various conversations between Jamie Clubb and Tony “Way of the Spiritual Warrior” Pillage:

To the average Martial Arts Illustrated reader, Steve Rowe is the serious-faced “old school” martial arts “white suit” instructor who entertains us with what could be called “tales from the dojo”. These stories, imbued with reverence to all the formalities we associate with the traditional dojos and kwoons, read like mini-soap operas. They often begin in the middle of a conversation, like a short fiction story you might find in a lifestyle magazine, with the initial problem and end with a light-hearted philosophical reflective comment, once the whole drama is resolved. It was the style of these stories, where the teacher was always referred to as “sensei” and looked upon as an all-wise figure of endless knowledge at the centre of a modern-day parable, that led me to make a rather wrong assumption about Steve Rowe.

When I heard about his background in internal martial arts and my good friend, Tony Pillage kept coming back with incredible anecdotes about what he could do, my charlatan alert senses started to buzz. I come from a family that has over three hundred years ancestry in circuses and sideshows, so claims of “amazing physical feats” are not the sort of thing that tends to move me much. However, for the two hours I first trained under Steve Rowe I very quickly began to see why Tony was so impressed.

Steve Rowe the person differed a lot from the image I had imagined. There was no sign of his “white suit” gi and he didn’t even bow. Instead the assembled class was met with a straight talking realist whose philosophy was of the same ilk as Geoff Thompson, Peter Consterdine, Matty Evans, Iain Abernethy, Mo Teague and so on. Like all good self-defence instructors, and particularly those with a background working in security and “on the doors”, Steve advocates the use of the “Fence”. An example he used was very much in line with using the natural defensive hand gestures as a sensory tentacle that could be turned into a pre-emptive strike once the threat of physical violence is evident. This is connected to the eight principles that Steve bases all his training on; eight principles he claims that are the core of all martial arts.

The class were taken through four different very simple methods of defence using the elbows and knees. Steve explained that when he taught people who were working in security he was very conscious about making methods very simple and accessible in order for them to be learnt quickly. He chose elbows and knees as they are straightforward and accessible tools that work well at close range; the only range that really matters in the reality of physical conflict. We were given examples that we drilled with varying levels of pressure and elaborated upon, often in our own unique ways. These drills were given further room to develop and adapt by a rapid change of partners. Steve then moved us back onto the correct way to stand and keep balance in a natural stance. This was followed by breathing exercises and then we revised the partner work we had done. This was all gathered together into a simple physical record we could all use to remind ourselves when training alone. Suddenly it dawned on all those gathered: this is how katas began.     

By looking at principles instead of specific techniques or styles with complete honesty there is no hiding place for the hypothetical combatant or “martial academic”. This also cuts out the prejudices that plague our community, as grown men and women pointlessly argue over which style is best. What I saw in Steve’s training was a path to link all martial arts training, making such academic arguments over intangible things pointless. Much like Iain Abernethy, he brings respect back to kata practice by showing students the essence of what they are learning in a pragmatic way.

The yin, or what Tony Pillage might call the “Yoda”, side of Steve Rowe comes from his extensive knowledge of the ancient internal art of Tai Chi Chuan. And Steve is no different in his no nonsense approach to this side of his training. He simply connects Chinese medicine with western physiology and produces a more focused approach to running a class. For example, rather than beginning a class with an aerobic style warm-up, which ultimately decreases concentration, Steve uses specific breathing and concentration exercises. “How can you focus on what you are doing when your brain is racing” he argues. The intention has to be right, just as the balance has to be right in order for a student to function at an optimum level. This, again, comes back to the eight principles. Once you have a focused mind with the correct intention you can manipulate the intentions of your opponent, just as once you have good physical balance you will understand how to alter your opponent’s balance. 

Steve Rowe triumphs as an insightful instructor because he cuts to the centre of what martial arts is all about. He shows that there is room for everything, so long as you can look at it all in simple and commonsensical terms. 
  
          
© Copyright Jamie Clubb 2005