Team "All Or Nothing"
   

    Many apologies for this late report, I have been waiting for the photographer to get the pictures to me but still not sorted so this will make do for the time being.

     The Bridgwater Town Football Club was once again the setting for Bridgwater's second cage event and it was, by all accounts, the best ever. Great weather , great atmosphere, great fights.

      The show started with an absolute belter between two young kickboxing novices Luke Hardwell versus Pete Curtis. Hardwell of Bridgwater stuck to a basic game plan of working simple boxing skills with the basic front and roundhouse kick. Curtis of Heron Kickboxing was more ambitious with his legs trying to catch Hardwell with hook kicks and spin kicks as well as big punches. A very close contest that saw the fight sway one way then the other but Luke Hardwell's fitness toward the end confirmed the points win over a very strong opponent. The crowd loved this opener and were warmed up for more.
      Lewis Jordan faced a last minute replacement from the Spartans camp in Chippenham. Grant Mallinson, brother of Carl who would be fighting Audrius Budrys later, is only fifteen but has quite a bit of experience on the Cimac open free style tournaments. But this was his first full contact contest and Jordan has now racked up eight fights in the full contact sport. Mallinson's huge height advantage was always going to be a factor in this contest but Jordan did what he had to do and got in close to Mallinson and tried to swarm him with close range shots. Mallinson looked unsure at first but then started to warm to the task and fought cleverly with growing confidence and made sure he was not to be phased by Jordan's tactics. Mallinson used his reach to keep Jordan away and score vital points to secure a points decision. Once again another cracking contest.
      Bridgwater's Karen Meek was next into the cage taking on Paula Plugg of Bath Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu.This was an amateur mma contest and between two first time fighters in the sport although Karen Meek is no stranger to full contact fighting with some kickboxing experience behind her. It was therefore going to be a predictable match with the grappler versus a striker. Plugg, from Trowbridge, made a fast start with an immediate attempt at a takedown the minute Meek attempted to kick. However, Meek stayed on her feet resisting the takedown and sunk in a guillotine attempt that looked a possible fight winner. Plugge's resilience was tested and proven as she managed to avoid the full choke being sunk in and she finally escaped to take Karen down to the canvas. Karen's half guard defence was decent and while she was unable to sweep her opponent off or make any submission attempts Paula was unable to pass the guard.The second round started much the same as the first but this time Plugge was able to take Meek to the floor a bit earlier and with a few submission attempts look the more likely winner until Karen finally pulled off the reversal that saw her in top position with the chance to let go some big body shots. However the time had run down too quickly and it was a little too late to make any difference to the outcome of the fight. Points win to Paula Plugge.
      Will Clark, formely of Bridgwater, now living in Bristol but training with Arthur Meek in both towns was up next against the local KJ2 Jiu Jitsu club representative Ryan Dunford. Two big lads who tipped the scales at around 100k and were both in their first ever contest. Clark started fast with some good punch kick combinations that saw Dunford struggle to keep his balance. Clark then shot forward to clinch and using sheer strength threw his opponent against the cage. Following up quickly Clark took Dunford down and rained down some huge punches to the body of his opponent. Clark then regained his feet to show his composure and eagerness to keep the fight in the stand up phase but no sooner had Dunford returned to his feet Clark moved in with more combinations then forced his opponent to the floor where he sunk in a gullotine to end the match.
      Bridgwater's John Allen stepped up next to take on Barnstaple's Alec Gayson in a light heavyweight amateur bout. These were two fit, well prepared, well matched fighters who gave a good display of stand up skills that seemed to go Allen's way, hence the takedown attempt from Gayson that backfired when Allen ended up on top. In the guard Allen dominated with constant body shots that gave Gayson no chance in the way of submission attempts. First round to Allen but the second round saw Gayson step up the boxing and come back into the fight with more pressure. This evened up the fight and a draw was a fair result.
      Seventeen year old Shaun Luther of Bridgwater took on Ed Matthews from the KJ2 Bridgwater club. This was a busy fight that saw both fighters mix it up with good hand skills, heavy leg kicks and knees. Both fighters are no strangers to the grappling game but both seemed to want to keep it on their feet. High voltage stuff from these two youngsters who both gave no quarter and little in the way of backward steps either. The second round would have to be the deciding round for it looked too close to call after the first. However Luther changed tactics a little and pulled off a couple of impressive takedowns that was maybe enough to earn him the points decision.
      Former amateur boxer Danny Poulsom of Taunton was next to represent the Bridgwater All Or Nothing stable of fighters. Poulsom faced Paul Dilling of The Lion's Den, Exmouth and seemed at home as soon as he stepped into the cage. If the opposing team were expecting Poulsom to box his way around the cage for two rounds they must have been shocked when after a short exchange of fists Poulsom drove in with a text book takedown where he pressed Dilling up against the cage and dominated his opponent for much of the round. Despite Dilling's attempts at reversals Poulsoms relaxed but stable position enabled him to work his body punches effectively, scoring all the way. The second round was pretty much the same although Poulsom did also get to show his close range boxing skills in the clinches, and a clever reversal that saw him walk the cage from off his back to sweep Dilling over and back onto his back. Points win to Poulsom.
      Southern Area Welterweight Kickboxing Champion Rob Ellick was up against Weston Warriors' Paul Healy who had beaten Ellick a few years back. Ellick was now determined to prove he is a different class to those nervy novice bouts. Both fighters have good all round skills with Healy showing perhaps more flair in the kicking department. But Ellick soon got down to business with his trade mark raiding techniques of fast head punches and follow up kicks. Often Ellick would catch Healy with the more telling blows, and despite Healy's game resistance and good ringcraft the fight became a little one sided by the third round that saw Ellick even pushing for an early finish to the fight. That wasn't to be but Rob Ellick won the three rounds with a convincing points decision.
      Professional mma hewavyweight fighter Mark Godbeer had a nervous build up to only his second fight in front of his home crowd. First losing one matched opponent then getting a replacement who then pulled out with days to go. The original opponent Paul Pestell then declared himself fit to fight and at last Godbeer's training was to be put to the test. Pestell of Newport outweighed the Bridgwater fighter by some thirty kilos but Mark Godbeer was hoping his technical ability would even up the weight difference. At the start Godbeer and Pestell circled a little but Godbeer began to let some punches go before dishing out a couple of decent leg kicks that clearly hurt Pestell. Pestell came to fight however, and rushed forward fast to trap Godbeer against the cage mesh. Godbeer remained calm and worked his clinch skills to turn his opponent and free himself. After a brief exchange of test punches from both fighters a cracking uppercut from Godbeer staggered Pestell and a quick follow up of one or two more head shots saw a brave Pestell hit the canvas where he was finished with one more knock out punch. Godbeer remains unbeaten and will look for a return to the cage in late August or September.
      Chris James was the top of the bill fight in an International Prestige professional bout against Wales' James Wallis in the Super Middleweight division. Both these fighters have eyes on the British title in the future so it was fitting that this bout was the headline fight, even though no belt was at stake. This six rounder was a feast of clean kickboxing skills that saw some drama and quality. Early pressure from the Bridgwater fighter seemed to have Wallis searching for his rythmn, and although Wallis had some attractive techniques James was still looking to back him up. Then, as Wallis started to apply some closer pressure during the second round James landed a dynamic short left hook that dropped Wallis to the floor. The crowd were on their feet sensing a quick end to the fight from their local lad but the bell went and James' sudden advantage was taken away. From that moment Wallis was not going to be caught again, and with hands high he looked to close James down and work some clever inside work along with sharp head kicks. James pressed relentlessly with good body and head combinations but would often be caught by Wallis own left hand after either stepped away. James' chin was tested but never in question although these eyecatching techniques from Wallis were probably the difference between the two fighters. A split decision gave James Wallis the fight. James will be disappointed but on reflection it was very close and will not be a disastrous result for the Bridgwater fighters hunt for glory.

     
                                     Luke Hardwell                                                                                      Audrius (left) vs. Carl



Rob Ellick vs Paul Healy



John Allen vs Alec Gayson


   
                          Mark Godbeer vs Paul Pestell                                                        Karen Meek with a guillotine attempt



Thumbs up from Danny Poulsom


Lewis attacking

            
                                    Shaun in mount                                                                                      Wills sinks guillotine

     Audrys Budrys was in good form at our Head to Head show to successfully defend his Southern Area Amateur Light Heavy Weight Title. The IKF champion was tested to the max in this thrilling battle that was probably fight of the night. Carl Mallinson of Spartans Chippenham had the pedigree and the experience to take the belt from Budrys and although he caught the Bridgwater champion clean on many occasions the work rate of Audrius Budrys proved the deciding factor when the judges awarded him the fight. The Spartans' camp came in their numbers to support their fighter and they were already fired up after seeing a younger Mallinson win in his debut fight earlier in the evening. Audrius Budrys, like Mallinson, is a technician in the ring and those who know both fighters were excited at the prospect of these two facing off.

     Both Budrys and his opponent circled and feinted at the start, looking for openings, settling their nerves. Budrys started the brighter with some early pressure that ruffled the confidence of Mallinson a little.His cheeky counter punching was catching the taller opponent out and the sweep and high kick combinations plus flurries of punches saw Budrys determined to hang on to his unbeaten record and the belt. But Mallinson had his moments and in each round saw him answer with his own counters and combinations. Then during the middle rounds of this five rounder Mallinson started to work out the local fighter and press his own attacks catching Budrys with straight right hands that seemed to have Budrys in some trouble. Going into the last round both fighters knew they had to do more to convince the judges. The crowd by this time were on their feet as they urged on their fighters. The work rate in the fifth round from both fighters was phenomenal but the advantage seemed to be with the Bridgwater fighter who gave it his all in the style of the club's motto; All or Nothing. It was enough for the title belt to remain with Audrius Budrys, still area champion.


Kids Contest


They are next


Girls line up


Demi scores


Ethan kicks


Lawrence and Matthew


Aaron


Harry scores


Leah scores


Louie faces Callum



ALL OR NOTHING is the slogan used by the members of BudoJukuMartialArtsSchool



BUDO JUKU means ‘martial arts school’ and was set up in 1992 when club instructor Arthur Meek moved his Karate club, then known as Ken-yu-kan, from a school premises to a full time dojo. Arthur decided to introduce a Kickboxing club into the weekly curriculum and so felt a more appropriate name would be suitable.

 WADO RYU KARATE in Bridgwater has been in existence since the late sixties and Arthur Meek trained in the original club in 1975 at the age of fifteen. Its original concept of ‘reality fighting’ by its founder Hironori Ohtsuka has always been in the mind of Arthur Meek when training and teaching

KICKBOXING in Bridgwater has also been established for some time at different venues but the Budo Juku club has been instrumental in producing top quality full contact fighters and bringing them into the public domain with the highly successful Fight Night series of events at The Palace Nightclub.

ARTHUR MEEK feels the blend of Wado Ryu Karate fighting methods together with its discipline and etiquette, plus the contact element and physical training of Kickboxing can produce an all round Martial Artist with both skill and courage.

The future of BudoJukuMartialArtsSchool is to maintain the traditional discipline of its long history but to allow technique to evolve and adapt to the requirements of an all round martial artist. Above all the diligent training should help develop outstanding character.