Auron Hamza Akiva Asst. Instructor

I began martial arts around the age of nine, after about a year I had to stop as we moved.  I recall being very sad about it but had a feeling I would come back.  A few years passed and although I didn’t return to my karate school, I did find another karate school.

I remained there for almost 4 years while cross training in taekwondo.  Having reached my brown belt in Shotokan, I decided to leave and focus on my Taekwondo and Kung Fu that I had also taken up at that time.

I reached my red belt in Taekwondo when the school closed down so I decided to then focus on my Kung Fu.

Even though I had spent many years learning various martial arts, I felt something was missing.  It lacked some form of cohesion and fluidity in combining and correcting my techniques and knowledge.  At the age of 18 I came across Loong Keun Do in a gym I attended in Southgate.

After a short but detailed and informative conversation with Sifu Panos Georgiou, I decided to take part in the class.  It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, the class was amazing, dynamic and practical.

It completely changed my out look on martial arts and what I wanted to do with it.  The way the techniques were taught and explained and how we were encouraged to apply them was very innovative for me.
 
After a few months, I stopped training at my other schools and focuses solely on LKD, the training was invaluable and my development there within a year was the equivalent to two or three years elsewhere.  My development was way ahead of that in other martial arts schools but it was taught with the highest degree of professionalism.

For me LKD was the missing link in my development as a martial artist and I enjoyed every moment of it.  Unfortunately, personal circumstances forced me to take almost 3 years out of my training but upon my return, I threw myself back into training and haven’t looked back since. 

Having been part of the school for more than 12 years, I have seen many amazing things but what amazes me the most is in all these years I have never found anything that comes close to the practicality of the system or the dynamic teaching methods of the classes.

In summation I would say that if defending yourself in real life situations is what you want, whilst developing discipline and balance then LKD if definitely for you.  All you need to bring is commitment and patience and let the rewards pour in.

 
Enjoy

Hamza Akiva