Muay Thai:
Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is considered by many to be the most devastating form of stand up fighting in the world. The origins of Muay Thai can be traced back to the Asian battlefields of the 15th Century in the wars between Thailand and its most ancient rivals Burma. Known as ‘the art of the eight limbs’ because Muay Thai is a complete fighting system that utilises all of strike effective points of the human limbs (hands, elbows, knees, and shins/feet). In reality Muay Thai can also make use of the striking capacity of the shoulders and head. The Art of Muay Thai has more recently become a core component of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). An MMA fighter with capable Muay Thai skills will posses a range of techniques that can cause severe damage to an opponent, good Muay Thai can often mean the difference between victory and defeat in the ring, cage or on the street. The Muay Thai Coach at Centuar Combat Academy is none other than Kru Frankie McConville, quite simply the best there is.
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Western Boxing:
Western Boxing or otherwise known as “the Sweet Science” by enthusiasts, commentators and practitioners can trace its origins back to 700 BC and the ancient Greek Olympics. Modern Western Boxing has evolved into an Art with a sophisticated array of punches, punch combinations, defensive and offensive movements and footwork. In MMA for example many of the great champions have sought the advice and training of professional boxing coaches in order to make their punches more devastating e.g. GSP and Freddie Roach. Geoff Thompson the renowned Street Fighter, Martial Artist and Author said in his famous book Animal Day, “Real fights mostly start in punching range and if the puncher is a good one, end there also. For this reason, if I had the choice of only one art for the physical aspect of self defence it would be boxing”. (Animal Day, pp 52-53) Ireland has had a long and proud tradition of international success at Western Boxing so you would expect high level coaching. At Centaur Combat Academy we have one of the undisputed raising stars of Boxing coaching in Ireland, Gerard McManus.
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ):
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu took the Martial Arts world by storm in the early years of MMA when Royce Gracie destroyed larger and stronger opponents in the first cage fights. The world began to see the BJJ system developed by the great Gracie family as one of the most effective martial arts ever devised. Jiu Jitsu operates on a principle of maximum efficiency in technique allowing smaller fighters to overcome and comprehensively defeat larger opponents. In terms of MMA fighting frameworks the takedowns, guard, grappling and finishing skills of BJJ are considered mandatory. Famous Jiu Jitsu practitioners and UFC Champions included, Royce, Renzo and Rickson Gracie, BJ Penn, Matt Serra and Frank Mir. At Centuar Combat Academy we are proud to introduce the Carlson Gracie Revolution Team and our coaches Waqar “the Doc” Ahmed and James Gallagher.
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Olympic Freestyle Wrestling:
Wrestling is one of the most ancient martial arts, with its western origins be first recorded in 708 BC at the ancient Greek Olympic Games. Since 1920 every Olympic Games has featured both Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling. At Centaur Combat Academy you will learn simple to advanced applications of techniques common to both styles of wrestling, techniques such as: takedowns, rides, defensive positions, escapes, reversals, pinning combinations. Wrestling as a base for MMA is considered to be one of the crucial grappling forms that must be mastered, the techniques of wrestling have been used to devastating effect by UFC greats such as Randy Couture, Matt Hughes, Brock Lesnar and Mark Coleman to name but a few. A Centaur Combat Academy our wrestling coach is one of the best in Ireland or Britain, non other than John O’Rawe.
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Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that combines both striking and grappling techniques. It is considered by many to be the most complete form of Martial Art or Combat System because it can draw on so many forms and styles of striking and grappling. With the emergence of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has gained global popularity and a viewing audience of millions. In addition MMA is now incredibly popular worldwide with people who wish to participate in Martial Arts, either to get fit and learn to defend themselves or to compete in the sport and fight in the cage. We have developed the Centaur Combat Academy in a way which allows people to participate in the full range of component martial arts that go to make up MMA. But we also have a dedicated class where all of these elements are brought together. The Centaur MMA class is taught by one of the most innovative MMA coaches in Ireland Marty Donnelly. Marty’s MMA style is pressure tested, devastating and 100 percent effective for the student.
Read about Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Coaches at Centaur Combat Academy
