5:50pm Thursday 10th July 2003
By Wanstead and Woodford Guardian
A SELF-DEFENCE fitness system, said to originate from ancient Tibet, is coming to a venue in Wanstead.
Known as KIXA – the teaching of inner strength through a series of breathing exercises, mind concentration and physical training – the regime is said to increase stamina and relaxation while reducing stress and weight.
According to KIXA guru Phil Davis, people of all ages and abilities can improve co-ordination of balance and movement, strengthen their stomach, arm and leg muscles and increase their overall confidence.
The former Kung Fu instructor from Brentwood, who works as a bouncer and appeared as an extra in a Jean Claude Van Damme movie, looks like the kind of guy who would never have sand kicked in his face on the beach.
In fact, his KIXA Central Power training enables him to withstand the breaking of a house brick on his stomach, punches to his abdomen, strangulation with a rope and punching an iron plate – all without suffering pain or injury.
Yet despite the physical nature of the training KIXA's philosophy is strictly anti-violent, according to the Kung Fu black belt.
He explained: "Fighting plays no part in KIXA Central Power. The aim is for the individual to develop a peaceful mentality and the primary concern for KIXA Central Power is the discovery, development and maintenance of Central Power.
"These abilities can only be achieved by the intensive training in self-discipline, mind concentration and control over one's anger and aggression.
"In all the 23 years I have been teaching KIXA, I've never seen an accident or injury. You can get marked but there will not be any pain, broken bones or damage to the internal organs.
"It is not mind over matter, it's a pure knowledge or ability the body has for self-defence which has been lost over the past 5,000 years. The aim of KIXA is to reawaken this ability."
He continued: "Beginners in the white belt stage must first gain the level of physical fitness required before entering the more challenging yellow belt stage.
"For the beginner, the aim is to increase stamina and improve co-ordination. Intensive guidance will be given throughout the training programme by KIXA qualified instructors and masters."
Students who successfully achieve their yellow belts then begin the second stage of Central Power whereby they are given a series of intensive breathing exercises and learn to control their internal muscles.
Commenting on the overall benefits, Mr Davis said: "You can join the classes at any stage of fitness – men and women are both welcome and people who are overweight will also benefit.
"It's fantastic for getting you fit. People shouldn't be put off by the physical training as they work to their own personal abilities and the training itself will increase fitness.
"Anyone can come along, whether they are overweight or suffer from asthma. In fact the breathing exercises help people suffering from asthma and can also help lesson stress.
"The course builds self-confidence, self-control and discipline. Even after one or two lessons, you'll notice you are walking more upright and looking more confident."
He added: "People sometimes run away from confrontations but KIXA is self-defence for the body and mind. The inner strength you learn from KIXA enables you to face confrontation in a calm, strong and peaceful way."
The rediscovery of KIXA teaching was made by a Himalayan man called Tagashi who found an ancient leather bound book containing the teachings of the art in 1907 in northern Tibet.
It is said he studied the book for 40 years, naming it the Seven Secrets, having translated the symbols into seven different characters.
He described the teaching as "a structural anatomy of human inner force, built by the seven purest elements of natural inner strength".
After the book was fully translated, the discipline then evolved into KIXA, meaning the highest stage of Central Power, and was brought to the UK in 1976 by one of Tagashi's students.
Shortly afterwards it was discovered by Mr Davis, now a master of the discipline, after he attended a class in Fulham. The martial arts expert had competed in the King Fu World Championships in Malaysia the same year.
He and his wife Marti have one son, Maxwell, aged 10, and the family lived in Los Angeles for five years from 1989, when Mr Davis had an unexpected brush with celebrity stardom.
He said: "I worked as manager for a car valet company in Los Angeles and we sometimes helped provide cars for private parties and events. I organised cars for events such as the MTV awards and Oscar after-parties.
"It was quite interesting meeting the celebrities. We knew before anybody else that Whoopi Goldberg was going out with Ted Danson – they would turn up separately to parties but always ended up dancing together.
"My favourite celebrities were Jeff Goldblum, who is really polite and down to earth, Whoopi Goldberg and Ria Pearlman.
"I also met famous American footballer Lester Hayes. I was doing a KIXA demonstration and pulled out the biggest guy in the crowd to ask to come and punch me. I didn't have a clue who it was at first but he seemed quite impressed."
Mr Davis also appeared as an extra in the film AWOL, starring Jean Claude Van Damme, whom he had the opportunity of meeting on set and joining him for lunch.
If you want to discover KIXA, join Phil at the Blake Hall Sports Club, Blake Hall Road, Wanstead, every Thursday at 7.30pm for the two-hour lesson which costs £3.50 for people over 16 or £1.75 for 12 to 16-year-olds.
He also has a class at the United Reformed Church, West Avenue, Walthamstow every Monday night at 7.30pm. For more details about classes, ring him on 01277 226456 or 8459 5210.You can also e-mail him at w=8management@ kateda1.freeserve.co.uk or visit his website at www.kateda-intl.com
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