Pressure-Tested Weapons Training for the Real World
At Shaolin Martial Arts Academy, our weapons programme is led by Sifu Vik Hothi — British and Double World Champion in full contact (live) stick fighting, and one of the UK’s most experienced modern and traditional weapons practitioners. With a lineage stretching from Master Steve Tappin (1999–present) to the classical arsenal of Chinese martial arts, this curriculum blends combat-proven tactical efficiency with the depth of authentic kung-fu.
A Curriculum Forged in Reality
Want to train with a world champion? → Join the Weapons Programme
Weapons training at the academy is not theoretical. It is built on real violence, real pressure, and real results.
Sifu Vik spent over a decade as a doorman, close protection, and security, dealing directly with armed confrontations. As such, his skills were sought after by:
- Security teams
- Doormen
- Close protection specialists
- Special forces personnel
…on how to both use and counter weapons under genuine threat.
This real-world background shapes a curriculum that emphasises:
- Tactical awareness
- Rapid decision-making
- Minimal-movement efficiency
- Structural power and timing
Combat-Tested Through Competition
See what pressure-tested weapons fighting really looks like → Book a Trial Class
Sifu Vik has competed extensively in full-contact weapon combat, including the extreme “no armour” format — MMA with a stick.
Unbeaten across 20+ contests, he has never taken a significant damaging strike. That is the level of skill we aim to build in every student.
Why Weapons Training Matters Today
Essential Skills for a Changing World
Concerned about personal safety? → Learn Practical Knife Defence
With knife crime continuing to rise across the UK, understanding weapons is no longer optional. Even if you never use a weapon yourself, you must understand:
- The angles of blade attacks
- How distance changes when weapons appear
- How to control or escape armed aggression
- How improvised weapons work
- How to stay alive in real-world violence
This is not about fear — it’s about responsible, competent preparation.
A Message to Martial Artists from All Styles
If You’re Serious About Martial Arts, You Need Weapons Training
Already train another style? → Add Escrima Concepts to Your Skill Set
Whether you’re from BJJ, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing, or MMA — you cannot be a complete martial artist without understanding weapons.
Weapons training:
- Sharpens your empty-hand skill
- Makes your timing and footwork more efficient
- Improves your reflexes and decision-making
- Deepens your structural understanding
- Exposes weaknesses you can’t see in unarmed sparring
Lineage: Master Steve Tappin & Escrima Concepts (EC)
A Modern European System with Classical Roots
Curious about Escrima Concepts? → Visit a Class and Experience It
Escrima Concepts, created by Master Steve Tappin, is one of Europe’s leading weapons systems, focusing on:
- Principles over rigid choreography
- Adaptability
- Footwork and timing
- Ambidextrous ability
- Seamless weapon-to-empty-hand transitions
Sifu Vik has trained with Master Tappin for over 25 years, making him one of the longest-standing weapons practitioners in the UK.
- Chinese Weapons Expertise
- Classical Weapons with Modern Combat Function
What You Will Learn
- Stick and impact-weapon fighting
- Knife defence and blade awareness
- Improvised weapons
- Tactical footwork and positioning
- Clinch fighting with weapons
- Weapon-to-empty-hand transitions
- Real-world survival skills
- How weapons enhance your unarmed martial arts
This programme is ideal for:
- Martial artists of all styles
- Security professionals
- Beginners wanting real self-defence
- Anyone seeking complete combat understanding