Bob Breen
Encyclopedia
Bob Breen is an author
and professional martial artist
who began martial arts training in 1966. He has trained under a significant number of senior martial arts experts and respected figures in the martial arts world. He has published 10 books since 1988.
under Tatsuo Suzuki
in the early part of 1967. He earned his black belt in Wado Karate in 1970. He then went on to pass his second degree in 1972. Bob continued to study Karate and associated arts, and moved to Japan in 1974 in order to train under a number of Senior Masters.
He competed for Great Britain
in traditional Karate
, captaining the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team who beat the Japanese in 1974, before discovering Jeet Kune Do
and bringing it to Britain. Soon after Bob began boxing and groundwork, he became one of the pioneers of full contact in Europe; fighting and promoting. In 1978 he started Eskrima
with Jay Dobrin. Since 1979 he has been studying Jeet Kune Do
under master and worldwide respected figure Dan Inosanto
, who himself trained under Bruce Lee
, father of Jeet Kune Do. He is one of the foremost experts in knife-defense and close quarter combat, and was the team captain and a competitor at the 1989 World Stickfighting championships and Coach of the British Eskrima
team that won 13 World Championship medals, including four gold medals in 1992.
He is now qualified as a Full Instructor in JKD and Kali.
Regarded as the father of JKD/Kali and Filipino martial arts in the UK and Europe
, he has released a range of self-defense books and DVDs and currently runs a martial arts academy in Hoxton
, London
.
Bob Breen has also worked in training film actors in martial arts and fighting techniques, including working on spear and sword fighting with Gerard Butler
and other actors for the 2007 film 300
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and professional martial artist
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
who began martial arts training in 1966. He has trained under a significant number of senior martial arts experts and respected figures in the martial arts world. He has published 10 books since 1988.
Career
Having begun martial arts training in 1966 after what he described was an early life involving frequent fights brought about by circumstances rather than intent, Bob began studying Wado RyuWado Ryu
is a karate style; three organizations now teach the Wadō-ryū style: the Japan Karate-dō Federation Wadōkai , the Wadōryū Karatedō Renmei, and the Wadō Kokusai Karatedō Renmei .- Philosophy :The name...
under Tatsuo Suzuki
Tatsuo Suzuki
was the founder and head of the WIKF and held the 8th dan in Wadō-ryū karate. He died at his home on 12th July 2011.- External links:* Professor Tatsuo Suzuki 8th dan hanshi...
in the early part of 1967. He earned his black belt in Wado Karate in 1970. He then went on to pass his second degree in 1972. Bob continued to study Karate and associated arts, and moved to Japan in 1974 in order to train under a number of Senior Masters.
He competed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in traditional Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, captaining the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team who beat the Japanese in 1974, before discovering Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
and bringing it to Britain. Soon after Bob began boxing and groundwork, he became one of the pioneers of full contact in Europe; fighting and promoting. In 1978 he started Eskrima
Eskrima
Eskrima is the umbrella term for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines, which emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives and other bladed weapons, and various improvised weapons...
with Jay Dobrin. Since 1979 he has been studying Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
under master and worldwide respected figure Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who is best known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts.-Martial arts:...
, who himself trained under Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
, father of Jeet Kune Do. He is one of the foremost experts in knife-defense and close quarter combat, and was the team captain and a competitor at the 1989 World Stickfighting championships and Coach of the British Eskrima
Eskrima
Eskrima is the umbrella term for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines, which emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives and other bladed weapons, and various improvised weapons...
team that won 13 World Championship medals, including four gold medals in 1992.
He is now qualified as a Full Instructor in JKD and Kali.
Regarded as the father of JKD/Kali and Filipino martial arts in the UK and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, he has released a range of self-defense books and DVDs and currently runs a martial arts academy in Hoxton
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Bob Breen has also worked in training film actors in martial arts and fighting techniques, including working on spear and sword fighting with Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
and other actors for the 2007 film 300
300 (film)
300 is a 2007 American fantasy action film based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant...
.
Publications
- "Fighting" by Bob Breen ISBN 1905005075
- "Sparring" by Bob Breen ISBN 1905005377