Kancho Garry Wilson

I started Martial Arts in 1977 after a short spell at my local Boxing Club.
I heard of a little known Martial art that was being taught from this guy's
house. He in turn had been taught Spirit Combat in the Forces. I went along
and was hooked from there.

I liked the contact side of the Art, from the throwing and locking
perspective. At that time the lower grades were Red, Yellow, Green, Blue.
Blue was (still is) a revered grade, representing the coming together of
mind and body. It was my first experience of a hard grading at that time
they were brutal.

My next grading was quite an experience. It was the first time I had the
opportunity to meet the Man who would have a dramatic effect on shaping the
rest of my life. This was Professor Brian Michael Dossett, to give him his
full title, at that time. I'll never forget our first encounter at Edinburgh
railway station. This larger than life character came bounding towards us,
arms out, smiling as he always is.

Prof Dossett was to grade me for my Brown belt. I'll never forget our first
encounter on the mat He closed his eyes and said Hit Me! so I did or
tried to and ended up flat on my back. That was only the first of many
experiences spent with Brian Dossett.

I went on to gain my Black Belt in 1979 and to progress through my early Dan
grades with many punishing stories and gruelling 4 6 hour gradings.

Early on in my career, in the 80's I began to spread my wings and trained
with other great Masters and Trainers as advised by my own, Soke Dossett.
Master Wally Jay, Master Sken, Master Villaire & Kirby Watson, Larry
Hartsell, Rick Young to name a few. This also helped Tommy, my training
partner, and I, as we grew the Scottish Association. Tommy was very Aiki
based, where I was rooted in my boxing. This had a fantastic balance in our
styles The true Ying and Yang of the Spirit Combat in Scotland.

I began to break down our techniques and found there were more questions
than answers. I felt the distance, the timing, the ability to punch and be
punched was a component that was sadly lacking in what I was teaching and in
many styles that I'd practised. I dabbled with introducing the boxing
routines into my combat which provided a perfect mechanism for introducing
contact fighting into our style.

At that time Tommy and myself travelled the length and breadth of the UK
taking part in many Full Contact Kick Boxing events with at that time the
CKO, Liverpool, Manchester, Blackburn and Scotland, once we started
promoting the shows up here.

I was winning most of my fights some epic battles with Stevie Keeble,
Steve Rhodes, Wayne Hearne, Mark Borratt to name but a few. After securing
Scottish and British title I was beaten by Wayne Hearne in London.

6 Years later, 30 March 2006, I was to meet Wayne Hearne again in a W.C.F.
Lightweight World Amateur Title fight in Scotland. This was to be my
crowning glory. Some still talk about that fight to this day. Wayne brought
the best out of me and I took the fight on a unanimous decision. The next
two fights however weren't so successful; I stepped up a weight to take on
Marty Cox Snr for The W.C.F. Light Welter Weight Title. Marty beat me on
points.

My next and last fight was a Professional fight in The WWF Restaurant in
Times Square New York against Tim 'Feel the Pain' Lane. At 41 I was prepared
for one last outing but unfortunately it was one outing too many. Tim
stopped me in the 3rd Round - time to hang up the gloves!

Scotland has flourished over the last 25 years reaching the heights of our
own Association under the traditional routes of Spirit Combat and combining
this success with many Kick Boxing Clubs. Spirit Combat is still very much
alive in Scotland mixing our traditional beliefs with a hybrid of Mixed
Martial Arts.
We have had and will remain to produce quality fighters and dedicated Spirit
Combat Martial Arts exponents. We have been at the forefront of Martial Arts
in Scotland for many years thanks to the dedication and memory of Sensei
Stevie Nardone & Stevie Mentiplay and are still indebted to the active roles
carried out by Sensei's Alison Lynch, Tommy Bryson, Raymond MacaLoon, David
Pettiglio and Scott Travers.
For interested parties in Scotland contact Kancho Garry on 07727 670 988.