Great Bear Combat Association G.B
Great Bear is the name of our club, not the name of the style that we teach
This is a very practical bare-
The distant history of Martial Arts is open to many opinions, speculation, several theories and some facts. There is evidence/speculation of ancient fighting forms in Greece, Rome, India, China, Africa, Europe, etc.
Kempo Karate
Chinese Martial Arts found their way onto the Island of Okinawa through the various travellers (seamen, merchants, cultural exchange etc.) Chinese written characters and Japanese written characters are very similar but the pronunciation is different. When the written characters “Quan Fa” are pronounced in Japanese they are pronounced “Kempo”. When this system of Martial Arts was introduced from Okinawa to Japan in the 1930`s it was introduced as Kempo Karate (path of the fist / Chinese fist). In the early forties “Karate” was introduced to the west by returning GI`s (among others). It was introduced as “Kempo Karate”. One of the first Western groups of practitioners of Kempo Karate were based in Hawaii.
Other Eastern Influences on Great Bear Combat System include:-
Western Influences — our “Ancestral Spirit”
We in the west have a very long, deep history of martial tradition., from living in caves onwards! In England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Switzerland, Germany, etc. we have long developed fighting skills.
Britain and the west has a long and distinguished history of martial and military arts. In fact Wirral, England (where our centre is based) is the setting of a conflict between two Knights in a poem written 800yrs ago!
The mindset of European Knights and Warriors is a major factor among the many influences in Master McKinney's Great Bear Combat System. Drawing upon his study and knowledge other western influences include Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Russian Fighting System, Pankration, Krav Maga etc.
The Great Bear Combat System as founded and taught by Master Brian McKinney is beyond the confines of these various styles
The system has developed beyond its origins. It honours the past, lives in the present and journeys into the future.
The future shape of the system is sought through research and practice of eastern and western systems, the path from Palaeolithic times onwards, our ancestral spirit and the contemplation of the practical, social, ethical and spiritual applications.
Eastern Influences on Great Bear Combat System
Quan Fa
There is a long history of martial arts in China, some of which may have come in to China from India but China already had a long tradition of indigenous martial arts. The Chinese called martial arts by many names, one of which was Wushu, ‘Wu’ meaning War and ‘Shu’ meaning Art. Another was Kung Fu, ‘Kung’ meaning Skill and ‘Fu’ meaning Great. Yet another was Quan Fa (Chuan Fa). ‘Quan’ loosely translates as fist or boxing and ‘Fa’ as path, way or method.
© All images on this site are copyright to Master Brian McKinney
The Bear
“The Bear appears clumsy on the outside but is alert and spirited within. Ponderous and solid, sunken and stable, but with lightness concealed internally.
Its powerful flanks shake while moving and can be used to strike. Ch’i sinks to the Dan Tien and remains in the Middle Court.”
The Five Animal Classic, Translated by Paul B. Gallagher. Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T’ai Chi, 1988, p.9.
“The Bear is the symbol of strength, power, and healing wisdom. In ancient China, the shaman healers wore bear masks and may have imitated the stepping of the bear in ritual dance.”
The Way of Qigong:the art of Science of Chinese Energy Healing, 1997, p.200.
