Award to Bulphan-based fight instructor (From Thurrock Gazette)

Jim McAllister receives 8th dan Black Belt

6:00pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport

MARTIAL ARTS: BULPHAN-based Jim McAllister has just been awarded his 8th dan black belt – making him one the highest ranking martial artists in Great Britain.

This award is sanctioned by tradKA UK, a member of the Federation of English Karate Organisations.

It was presented to him at a Kickboxing tournament in Pitsea by chief instructor Shihan Albie O’Connor.

The award took place in front of many top South East Essex martial art instructors.

These included Mark Adams, Gary Hogben, Danny Howard, Stephen Jones, Steve Knight, Ricky Lock and Taggy McTaggart.

McAllister has been training for over 40 years.

He has travelled the world to further his knowledge in places such as the USA, Japan, Okinawa, Malaysia, Thailand. And his training has included many disciplines including karate, jujitsu, Thai boxing, aikido, kickboxing, pencak silat and oriental weapons.

Jim consistently studies to enhance his skills. And he takes part in weekly closed training sessions with sensei’s Albie O’Connor (seventh dan) and fifth dan Gary Hogben, developing and adapting their martial arts and self defence techniques.

He also trains regularly with Basildon’s Master Kam and oversees his own organisation – the Jim McAllister Academy of Martial Arts, which has classes throughout South East Essex.

McAllister is also head of the British Fudoshin Association and teaches regularly weekly Fudoshin Combat Karate classes.

The Bulphan man can trace his history back to the 1960s when, being poor at football, he decided to give boxing a try, starting out at Chadwell Boxing Club.

At Chadwell, top training expert Mick Malt – the man who trained Fatima Whitbread – took him under his wing.

Malt was the British Army’s heavyweight boxing champion and fought at the Royal Albert Hall, so McAllister became more involved in the fighting arts. In the early 1970’s, Jim’s path took him into non-sport, traditional karate. In the 1980’s he added kickboxing to his training and travelled to the USA and trained with the undefeated World Champion John Longstreet.

Jim McAllister is always interested in passing on his knowledge and if anyone is interested in training at one the classes in his academy, they are welcome to call him on 07752298237 or visit his website. www.mcallistermartialarts.co.uk McAllister Academy of Martial Arts classes are at Basildon, Benfleet, Brentwood, Grays, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Langdon Hills, Little Baddow, Pitsea, South Woodham Ferrers and Wickford.

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