Instructors
Damien Alexander began training in the martial arts at a very early age, and growing up next to the largest US Marine Corps base in the world, he was immediately exposed to arts from all over the world by marines returning from overseas stations or from visiting military personnel from other countries, starting with Kajukenbo and Judo. (Damien has always maintained he was taught to break-fall by the greatest break-fall instructor of all time. How many people can say their judo instructor had a parachute malfunction and still survive a fall from 3,500ft using a side breakfall?!) He then went on the achieve black belts and instructor status in the Okinawa systems of Shotokan and Shorinryu, free-style kickboxing and attaining a high level of knowledge in TKD and Savate, as well as beginning studies in Greco Roman Wrestling while still in high school and continued training in many other art forms and systems through out his life to this very day. In fact, he hasn't a single "tournament" since he was a teenager.
BUT, he has survived much more in his life, where the "trophy" was life, and he is
still here to talk about it.
As the saying goes: "you learn something new every day. If you don’t, then the day is a waste."
With over to 37 years in the pugilism game and 20+ in
the security industry , and many of those years teaching on both sides of the Atlantic, to LEO’s, military personnel and close protection personnel and everyday citizens, Damien has decided to forgo the traditional way of doing things and created his own way.
Coming from a "gun culture", he has managed to survive some of the worse areas the US has to offer without having to resort to a gun, himself, through mental preparedness, physical training and determination. (Not to mention, a whole LOT of praying when needed!)
Needless to say, Damien has been a "hidden gem" in London and is quite sought after for his knowledge and being able to cater to the individuals needs and not just the "McDojo" machine.
Damien teaches with a light-hearted style, but rooted firmly in practical application. His experience of both military and civilian confrontations has given him an insight into not just what a person needs to be able to do to survive a confrontation not only physically, but, psychologically as well. By discussing the psychological effects as well as the physical when you are called to use your martial skills, the student puts themselves in a much better position to be able to react appropriately in any given situation.
Damien is also assisted by Thomas Letherby. His oldest serving student/friend since moving to London and is far more than worthy of this title and much more.