Hi there

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Hello to everyone, also good to be here.
My name is Alban Balliu, I'm 25 years old, living in London, UK. Originally from Albania.
I've always been intersted in the fighting arts and through a friend who worked at the door where i was working as a barman,i heard about Combatives, i went along with him to one of Lee Morrrison's classes some 4 and a half years ago and got hooked to his training and from there got to know and train with some of the best people in UK.

I have trained in Combatives with Lee Morrison where i've just gained my instructors grade.
Trained with John Skillen and have completed the 5 phases of the Pentagon System as well as Geoff Thompson, Dennis Martin, Peter Constardine, Bob Spour, Karl Tanswell and various other people.
In addition to this i've trained in Thai Boxing, Freestyle Wrestling a bit of Boxing and weight lifting supplemented with a few real life "hairy scraps" lol!

Looking forward to visiting here and pick the brains of the "silverbacks" of the real world operatives.
I'm gonna stop here now before i bore you to death.

Thanks to all of you. Very Happy

Subject: Re: Hi there Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:41 pm

And even butted heads with little old me.

Hi Alban, how are you doing buddy, it's great to see here.

Alan

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Hey Al nice picture buddy.
I'm very good thank you, things going well so far just keeping up with training and stuff also starting my weekly classes this friday so i'm looking forward to it.

How are you Al? long time no see bud. how your training and teaching going?

Subject: Re: Hi there Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:50 pm

Hi Alban

Not bad at all mate, got four or five regular guys in the senior class at the moment and a shed load of juniors that pay the rent, have'nt been to any seminars since the international and struggling to make this years but all in all life is good.

Take care
Alan

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Good to hear things going well mate, just keep it up.
cheers Alban
_________________
When you were born you cried and the others laughed. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you die laughing and the others cry for you.

Subject: Re: Hi there Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:28 pm

Hi Alban,
Welcome! It's good to have you aboard. Thanks for being here.

You've got an impressive martial background. Good for you on taking advantage of your youth and, assuming you have no kids, freedom. If indeed, you have no wife and kids, this is the stage of your life (20's) to focus on yourself.

On another note, you mentioned you just attained your instructor's credentials under Lee. First off, congratulations! I spoke with Lee yesterday and he was telling me about the grading he put his instructor candidates through. Did you participate in yesterday's gradings? If so, from what he described to me over the phone, it was hardcore. He sure put you guys through a comprehensively brutal session. Hat's off to you on passing. You certainly earned you credential.

On a related tangent, Lee told me that his own son went through the instructors grading yesterday and did extremely well, passing it with flying colors. He was very proud of him (and all those who partook in the testing) especially since he was harder on him than anyone else and earned everything on his own merit.. He doesn't ever want anyone to say his son earned it just because he's dad's boy. Anyway...

Please feel at home putting your two cents (or whatever the British equivalent is) whenever the mood hits ya.

Take Care,
Lito
_________________
The essence of true love is purposeful effort.

True happiness is attained through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

Winners take chances and perceive pressure as a privilege.

Whatever you believe, it's true.

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Hi Lito thank you for you kind words sir.

Being single with not many comitments and passion to train but mainly neccesity to learn to look after my self since a child led me to where i am today and also how can i not train when there are so many great and experienced people in UK ? I'd consider it a sin if i didn't.

Yes i was there on the grading day and i must say that i physically felt my guts coming to the throat, so i'd say it was a hard one.

I'd truly say that Dan(Lee's son) is a mini Lee and he fought really hard all the way through and at the end we all made it hard as hell for him, so i'd say he's more than earned his credentials.
Thanks again Lito.
All the best
Alban
_________________
When you were born you cried and the others laughed. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you die laughing and the others cry for you.

Joined : 01 Sep 2007 Posts : 106

Hi Alban Nice to have you on board mate, Lito this man is a dedicated hard trainer and very strong minded. He is a brilliant allrounder as you can see by his post he has put himself out there and he always gives 100% and he's a real nice guy.
Take care Alban
John

Joined : 01 Oct 2007 Posts : 51

Hello mate nice to see you Smile

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Hey John thanks a lot man and also good to be here.

I've not logged in for a while as had to change jobs and house so been pretty busy but appart from that is all going good.
I've started running my own classes and is all going well and picking up every time i teach, also training for MMA now hopefully i can give it a go in the next year or so.
John, i received th certificate from you mate thanks a lot and it looks really good indeed.

Cheers Alban
_________________
When you were born you cried and the others laughed. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you die laughing and the others cry for you.

Joined : 15 Aug 2007 Posts : 29

And I've had the honour of being on the end of Alban when in the suit - he hits like a train wreck. d**n it hurts.

Nice to have you here bud.

Dik x

Joined : 17 Jun 2008 Posts : 7 Location : London

Dik i thought you guys don't feel pain after all you been through you'd think that your pain receptors are all out of date. ha ha ha

Good to have you here, too mate.
_________________
When you were born you cried and the others laughed. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you die laughing and the others cry for you.