As a soldier, it is a reality that you may be put into a situation where you must be able to defend yourself by the means of hand-to-hand combat. It is for this reason that the military should implement realistic Combative (hand-to-hand combat) training. The only obstacle is to find a credible Martial Arts Academy which can assist in implementing a realistic and effective system. The Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts is the place to train. If you want to become a well rounded fighter and be able to defend yourself effectively and instinctively, then you should train at OAMA. As a Pathfinder instructor, it is important to evolve and maintain unique skill sets. Some of these skills are better understood and utilized if we tap into professionals who practice these skill-sets on a regular basis.

In the fall of 2005, I had the opportunity to see Pat Cooligan and Matt Hache instruct Combative to Pathfinders. During this phase of training, the students were exposed to realistic techniques and concepts which they could utilize both instinctively and effectively in a real-time situation. The level of professionalism and experience far exceeded any previous martial arts instruction taught to the military. The instructors at OAMA demonstrated a great sense of discipline and control in all the lessons taught. They were very respectful and understanding throughout this phase of training. The versatility combined with knowledge and experience, enabled us to implement such an outstanding accomplishment. I am confident that these guys are the real deal and should be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for hand-to-hand combat in the Canadian Forces

Pat Major

Peter Wilkes

Heart Surgeon, Ottawa Heart Institute

I am a 55-year-old physician from the Ottawa Heart Institute. I started martial arts training over 30 years ago with traditional, non-contact Shodokan karate and then progressed into free style kickboxing during the 1980s. However, work and family pressures have been such that my training has been limited to bag work for the past 10-15 years. As my kids have grown up and the job pressures became less demanding I realized how much I missed the comradery of belonging to a martial arts club. I have had an interest in learning something other than kickboxing, and on the advice of a friend, looked into Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts where they teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai and Mixed martial arts.

The club offers instruction at seven am, lunch hours during the week, as well as in the evenings and on Saturday. There are classes for all levels, including for kids after school and for women. Private lessons are also available.

The instructors exhibit a very high degree of professionalism. They approach both beginner and advanced classes with the same level of enthusiasm and concern.

In addition to teaching, the instructors are themselves continuously learning through numerous competitions and training sessions outside of the club. Each instructor knows every student by name. They have regular follow up discussions with each student to ensure that they are getting what they want from the club, and are always looking for ways to help where needed. A great deal of emphasis is devoted to going over the basics in the beginner classes, yet classes are never boring or repetitive. The beginner classes are structured so that there is time for warming up, detailed instruction, and time to practice one on one. The philosophy the instructors impart on the students is that while competition is encouraged, everyone is either helping a less advanced partner or learning from a more advanced partner. There is a wide range of students – from the police and military to those who just want to learn something different and get a good work out.

I cannot speak highly enough about OAMA. The club is extremely well organized and the instructors make every attempt to help both the beginner and advanced student. The emphasis is on improvement rather than simply achieving higher belt degrees. I have personally found BJJ to be a very nice compliment to kickboxing, indeed it seems that most students in the club have had some form or another of martial arts training in the past. For me the club offers not only the chance to continue learning and physical exercise, but also a mental break from day to day pressures.