Rick Young has been studying martial arts since 1975. Beginning his training under Shaun Shanley. Rick then began to study Wado Ryu Karate along with western boxing and grappling. In 1979 Rick first met Sifu Dan Inosanto and in 1980 attended his first seminar under Sifu Inosanto which radically transformed his understanding and training in martial art. 

In 1984 Rick travelled to Los Angeles, USA to study further with Sifu Dan and other prominent martial artists. Since then Rick has trained at the Inosanto Academy almost every year and for the last five years has been visiting the Academy twice a year. In 1995 Rick was awarded his full instructorship by Sifu Inosanto in Jeet Kune Do, Jun Fan Gung fu and the Filipino martial arts ( the certificates were backdated to 1993 ), making him the first person 
outside of the USA to be given this honour. 

Rick is a Full instructor under Sifu Larry Hartsell in JKD Jun Fan grappling and a full instructor in progressive fighting systems under Sifu Paul Vunak. He also has instructor credentials under Sifu Rick Faye, is a senior instructor in the British combat association and he also holds a second degree black belt in Karate and a first Dan in Judo. 

Rick has also trained with the Gracies and Machados. 

This seminar was entitled "Ground Fighting: Your last chance".  Every martial artist should have ground fighting in their armoury because although the ground is the last place you want to be in a fight, without the benefit of rules or a referee it's where most street fights will end up.  Following a stretch and aerobic warm up from Sensei Darrin Richardson Rick started on some of the basic arm and leg locks.  Rick's control and skill at this range was obvious for all to see but most impressive was his ability to communicate effectively the techniques to the students and get results.  From applying simple locks Rick then went on to show how minor adjustments to a technique could make a major difference to the efficiency of the lock. Next, from one or two simple moves counter moves were added and the students were soon working drills, all the time Rick was going around helping everyone and explaining the moves in greater detail.  The drills were expanded with more moves and counters,  a great tool for developing skill and understanding but it was good to learn that it's the simple ideas that work. 

Rick demonstrated how to move around your partner, interlocking their arm, legs and head switching from one technique to the next in quick succession.  The speed with which he flowed from one move to another made this drill seem effortless, until of course we tried it for ourselves.  This stage of the seminar has us all pushing to the limits of our ground fighting ability, but as always Rick gave plenty of encouragement and we all did well. 

Towards the end of the seminar Rick took us through a training and conditioning drill,  with the students partnered off in groups of four.  One person started on the floor with 10 push ups, next, one of the other holds them down for one minute while they try to get out, 10 more push ups and a fresh partner holds them down for another minute.  This was done in quick succession and until all three had held down the first, then the next person starts with 10 push ups.  Believe me, by the time you have finished your three rounds you are fit to drop and you still have to go on and hold the others down but you are given constant encouragement by your partners and the sense of achievement at getting through the drills is tremendous. 

Rick thanked Alan for inviting him to take part in the seminar and hoped everyone had enjoyed the day which was greeted with overwhelming applause and afterwards, he didn't rush off but took time to answer questions about his training and pose for photographs.  It was a great day that we will remember for a long time but the knowledge and respect we have found for the ground fighting systems will last forever.