Al Peasland - The Interview (Part Two)
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11. Have you sustained any injuries through martial arts?
“Yes, a few, but nothing particularly nasty. I’ve broken ribs, toes, fingers, hands and teeth. Both from fighting in the gym and fighting for real. I have the usual aching joints of ankles, knees, wrists and knuckles that all Karateka seem to get as they get older. Blimey – I’m 34 and I’m talking as if I’m 74. ha ha! My nose has held up particularly well though, and it’s stopped a few shots over the years I can tell you. :-)”
12. What has been your most embarrassing moment?
“I can’t say that I can recall one moment where I have acted the fool or done something really silly – probably because I do that all the time and the worst cases have been permanently erased from my memory. If I can think of one before I’m finished with this interview I’ll come back to it :-)”
“Yes, a few, but nothing particularly nasty. I’ve broken ribs, toes, fingers, hands and teeth. Both from fighting in the gym and fighting for real. I have the usual aching joints of ankles, knees, wrists and knuckles that all Karateka seem to get as they get older. Blimey – I’m 34 and I’m talking as if I’m 74. ha ha! My nose has held up particularly well though, and it’s stopped a few shots over the years I can tell you. :-)”
12. What has been your most embarrassing moment?
“I can’t say that I can recall one moment where I have acted the fool or done something really silly – probably because I do that all the time and the worst cases have been permanently erased from my memory. If I can think of one before I’m finished with this interview I’ll come back to it :-)”
13. Have you ever lost faith in your martial art(s)?
“No. I’ve never lost my faith in martial arts, although there has been a time when I have lost my way. Other priorities took over that I thought at the time I had no control over. It pushed my training to a back seat and I got distracted, for want of a better word.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that it was at a time when I was training the least that my marriage failed and I had a particularly dark spell that I couldn’t see any way out of. It was my training, and the people that my training has brought me close to over the years, that got me back out of this place and helped me move on to bigger and better things.
I think it’s fine if people want to try other things. I certainly don’t force Martial Arts on anyway and never would. Whilst I know what benefits it has brought my life, it’s not for me to push that onto someone else. It’s not for everyone and sometimes you have to sample it to find that out.
I’ve trained with countless people over the years who have moved away from Martial Arts for one reason or another, some come back and pick it up again later on in life, some don’t.
All I can say is it’s my foundation and what helps to enhance my own life.”
“No. I’ve never lost my faith in martial arts, although there has been a time when I have lost my way. Other priorities took over that I thought at the time I had no control over. It pushed my training to a back seat and I got distracted, for want of a better word.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that it was at a time when I was training the least that my marriage failed and I had a particularly dark spell that I couldn’t see any way out of. It was my training, and the people that my training has brought me close to over the years, that got me back out of this place and helped me move on to bigger and better things.
I think it’s fine if people want to try other things. I certainly don’t force Martial Arts on anyway and never would. Whilst I know what benefits it has brought my life, it’s not for me to push that onto someone else. It’s not for everyone and sometimes you have to sample it to find that out.
I’ve trained with countless people over the years who have moved away from Martial Arts for one reason or another, some come back and pick it up again later on in life, some don’t.
All I can say is it’s my foundation and what helps to enhance my own life.”
14. What is your most treasured possession?
“My first Black belt and my 1st Dan Black Belt certificate from the KUGB and JKA, signed by Sensei Kawazoe. These were what drove me to train so hard at a young age. It was all I wanted to achieve and was a momentous occasion for me when I got there at the age of 15.
Gaining my 1st Dan with the KUGB in Shotokan Karate was what started my life in Martial Arts properly, so my rice paper certificate is very precious to me.
I also have a small solid gold boxing glove pendant that Geoff gave me when I was 14. (Back in the days when we all wore lots of gold and it wasn’t considered tacky) It was a small token that he gave me when he said I had developed true knock-out power with my punch. At 14, that was a massive thing to hear and a prized reward for the thousands upon thousands of punches I’d thrown at the heavy bag to work on my punching power.”
“My first Black belt and my 1st Dan Black Belt certificate from the KUGB and JKA, signed by Sensei Kawazoe. These were what drove me to train so hard at a young age. It was all I wanted to achieve and was a momentous occasion for me when I got there at the age of 15.
Gaining my 1st Dan with the KUGB in Shotokan Karate was what started my life in Martial Arts properly, so my rice paper certificate is very precious to me.
I also have a small solid gold boxing glove pendant that Geoff gave me when I was 14. (Back in the days when we all wore lots of gold and it wasn’t considered tacky) It was a small token that he gave me when he said I had developed true knock-out power with my punch. At 14, that was a massive thing to hear and a prized reward for the thousands upon thousands of punches I’d thrown at the heavy bag to work on my punching power.”
15. Do you follow a diet geared for martial arts training or take any vitamins/supplements?
“I wouldn’t say I have a specific diet to compliment my training, only that I eat healthily. I eat regularly and small amounts. I eat slowly and make sure I stop when I am full. And I have a little bit of what I love every now and then.
I don’t eat carbs late at night. I get plenty of fish and chicken for protein and as much fruit and veg as I can.
My downfall is not drinking enough water, something I am working on now.
It’s all about balance, and I eat a balanced diet with a balanced lifestyle that suits the way I train and also the way I work.
I tend to get everything I need in the way of vitamins in my diet so I don’t take supplements, with the exception of Glucosomine for my aching joints.”
I don’t eat carbs late at night. I get plenty of fish and chicken for protein and as much fruit and veg as I can.
My downfall is not drinking enough water, something I am working on now.
It’s all about balance, and I eat a balanced diet with a balanced lifestyle that suits the way I train and also the way I work.
I tend to get everything I need in the way of vitamins in my diet so I don’t take supplements, with the exception of Glucosomine for my aching joints.”
16. Who would you like to play you in the film of your life?
“Ha, I’ve never really thought about that to be honest. I fancy myself as a bit of a budding actor so, in true vane actor style I’d like to offer up myself for the role. But assuming the casting director had half his wits about him, he’d probably ask for some other options so.
I would ideally go for a bit of a mixture of people. Matt Damon in Bourne could be a good option, just because his fight scenes closely resemble mine – in my head that is! :-) Maybe crossed with a bit of Kiefer Sutherland from 24 – Jack Bauer rocks.
So that’s the action scenes sorted, but I do have a bit of a dark moody side so maybe someone a little deeper to play the more deep and spiritual roles, I’m open to suggestions on that one.
In reality it’ll probably end up being Tom Hanks in true Forest Gump style.
I was likened to a better looking Robert Carlisle only the other night so perhaps he could chip in too.“
“Ha, I’ve never really thought about that to be honest. I fancy myself as a bit of a budding actor so, in true vane actor style I’d like to offer up myself for the role. But assuming the casting director had half his wits about him, he’d probably ask for some other options so.
I would ideally go for a bit of a mixture of people. Matt Damon in Bourne could be a good option, just because his fight scenes closely resemble mine – in my head that is! :-) Maybe crossed with a bit of Kiefer Sutherland from 24 – Jack Bauer rocks.
So that’s the action scenes sorted, but I do have a bit of a dark moody side so maybe someone a little deeper to play the more deep and spiritual roles, I’m open to suggestions on that one.
In reality it’ll probably end up being Tom Hanks in true Forest Gump style.
I was likened to a better looking Robert Carlisle only the other night so perhaps he could chip in too.“
17. Have you ever had to use your skills in a real-life self defence situation?
“Yes. For about 7 years I worked the nightclub doors of Coventry – so was pretty busy most nights in one way or another.
Lots and lots of fights, a few serious ones.
My training is what got me through every situation, whether that be with the physical skills I’d learned or the mental attitude and shear resilience when it got tough.
My training has always been geared towards real self defence (hence the name of Geoff’s martial arts system) – the Real Combat System.
Working the doors was one arena in which to test what I had learned and use that feedback to evolve and develop my own style that fitted me and worked most effectively for me.”
“Yes. For about 7 years I worked the nightclub doors of Coventry – so was pretty busy most nights in one way or another.
Lots and lots of fights, a few serious ones.
My training is what got me through every situation, whether that be with the physical skills I’d learned or the mental attitude and shear resilience when it got tough.
My training has always been geared towards real self defence (hence the name of Geoff’s martial arts system) – the Real Combat System.
Working the doors was one arena in which to test what I had learned and use that feedback to evolve and develop my own style that fitted me and worked most effectively for me.”
18. What is your guiltiest pleasure?
“Without a doubt, shortbread biscuits and cheesecake are my guilty pleasures.
I’ll eat anywhere so long as it has cheesecake on the desert menu and shortbread biscuits don’t last long in my house.”
19. Who would you most like to step into a ring with (fictional or real, past or present)?
“If it was fictional, I think Hong Kong Phooey would be a good fight. He was faster than the human eye, so he’d put up a good fight, but I don’t think he had much of a ground game so perhaps I’d get the better of him there.
“If it was fictional, I think Hong Kong Phooey would be a good fight. He was faster than the human eye, so he’d put up a good fight, but I don’t think he had much of a ground game so perhaps I’d get the better of him there.
If it was real, I’d have to say Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson. I grew up watching old footage of Muhammad Ali and all the old greats, and also watching Mike Tyson destroy everyone in his path. I love his raw power and aggression and tried to mimic it as best I could in my own training.
Obviously, I’d want some assurance it was only for a demonstration bout though!”
Obviously, I’d want some assurance it was only for a demonstration bout though!”
20. If you could give someone one piece of advice to keep them safe on the streets, what would it be?
“Master the 3 A’s of Personal Security - Awareness, Assessment and Avoidance
Listen to your intuition and control your ego – you’ll stay out of the majority of trouble if you can do that.”
“Master the 3 A’s of Personal Security - Awareness, Assessment and Avoidance
Listen to your intuition and control your ego – you’ll stay out of the majority of trouble if you can do that.”
A massive thanks to Al for providing us with such an interesting, entertaining and in-depth interview!!
Fence Concepts
Al Peasland has produced a book and DVD on the subject of self protection, entitled ‘Fence Concepts’
Al takes us through his own interpretation of the Geoff Thompson Fence concepts.
The Fence is now a well recognized name for the techniques used to control the time and space between engaging with a potential attacker and ending the conflict either with physical or psychological pre-emption.
It assumes things have already gone wrong with our threat awareness and threat avoidance tactics and are already in a potential life threatening situation with one or multiple assailants.
If the thought of a physical confrontation fills you with dread, this book is for you.
If you question whether you would be able to handle a violent confrontation, this book has the answers.
If you’ve never been in a real fight, learn from someone who’s been there, done it and got the torn t-shirt.
Al takes us through his own interpretation of the Geoff Thompson Fence concepts.
The Fence is now a well recognized name for the techniques used to control the time and space between engaging with a potential attacker and ending the conflict either with physical or psychological pre-emption.
It assumes things have already gone wrong with our threat awareness and threat avoidance tactics and are already in a potential life threatening situation with one or multiple assailants.
If the thought of a physical confrontation fills you with dread, this book is for you.
If you question whether you would be able to handle a violent confrontation, this book has the answers.
If you’ve never been in a real fight, learn from someone who’s been there, done it and got the torn t-shirt.
To buy a copy of Fence Concepts in either book or DVD format, please click here!
The Bristol School of Self Defence highly recommend Fence Concepts to all our students, and readers of this interview. Being proud owners of the DVD we can honestly say that it is worth every penny. Al expertly demonstrates how to protect that vitally important personal space each and every one of us has, as well as showing how to effectively turn the fence into a pre-emptive strike. The information contained in this DVD cannot be measured in monetary terms, it is simply invaluable. So visit Al’s website now and treat yourself to a copy!
The Bristol School of Self Defence highly recommend Fence Concepts to all our students, and readers of this interview. Being proud owners of the DVD we can honestly say that it is worth every penny. Al expertly demonstrates how to protect that vitally important personal space each and every one of us has, as well as showing how to effectively turn the fence into a pre-emptive strike. The information contained in this DVD cannot be measured in monetary terms, it is simply invaluable. So visit Al’s website now and treat yourself to a copy!
