For Ollie Batts, the fighting arts are a way of life. As a schoolboy, he practised Judo and later became interested in the martial arts exploits of Bruce Lee. He took up Traditional Korean Martial Arts towards the end of 1973, training with Mok Yang Kim, a Korean Master of Taekwondo, Hapkido and Kuk Sool, who was working with American Airmen at Mildenhall Airbase. At the end of their training sessions, the group would often spar with the basketball players and weight-lifters training in the gym. It was at this time that he discovered the importance of fitness and conditioning, weight categories, and controlled contact, and tells stories of being kicked across the gym by superfit giant basketball players. Ollie gained his first Black Belt in Taekwondo in 1976.
Over time, Ollie became one of the top three Kuk Sool instructors in the country, and was particularly renowned for his skills in joint-locking. In 1989, disillusioned by martial art politics, he moved away from the Korean Arts to set up Cambridge Academy of Martial Arts. This allowed him to explore, diversify and cross-train in other fighting art systems. He was introduced to Savate by Salem Assli in August 1991. As a keen follower of English boxing, Ollie was fascinated by the history of Savate, as well as the elegance and efficiency of the system. Savate became a popular addition to our weekly training schedule.
In addition to Savate and the Korean martial arts, Ollie has instructor qualifications in Filipino Kali/Eskrima, Silat & Panantukan, Russian Sombo, Jun Fan Martial Arts and JKD Concepts. He is fascinated by weaponry arts, and was pleased to include Canne de Combat training at Cambridge Academy when Fred Berst arrived at the University. Although Fred eventually returned to France, the Academy has continued with Canne and Baton, and is preparing a team for the World Championships in Frankenburg later this year.
Ollie shares his love of Savate and martial arts with a wide audience. He runs courses in schools, colleges, youth centres and local businesses. He has particularly enjoyed training young soldiers at the local barracks, and passing on some of his repertoire of skills and techniques to the Police. Ollie has worked with Cambridge City Council for several years teaching on their CitySport programme, at the annual SportsFest and, more recently, for the Forever Active programme for older people. He is a member of the Disability Sport Focus Group, and has taught people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems. He believes that the fighting arts are a route to health and self-improvement that should be available to all.
Initially acting as Treasurer of the Great Britain Savate Federation, Ollie was elected as President in 1999. A practical man, he will find solutions to problems - he visited the office of our insurance company and performed an impromptu display to persuade them to provide cover for weaponry training. He is an independent thinker who values integrity and fair play, and is not afraid to question and challenge. His Presidency has seen the Federation develop into a solid organisation. Several of Ollie's students have represented the country in European and World Savate Assaut Championships. He is especially proud of those young people who having studied Savate whilst at Cambridge University have now gone on to open their own clubs - James Southwood of London Savate, Laura Gilbert of Oxford Savate and Jasbir Nagi of Malvern Savate.
Ollie introduced a national Savate Assaut League in 2006, and hosted 5 of the first 7 events. Although facing a very experienced fighter 20 years younger, he fought the first fight in the first event to set an example of the conduct and contact levels expected from all. The League has developed well, and this year will consist of four events in four different cities - an excellent way of celebrating our 10th anniversary!
Ollie has been a member of the CDI of the International Savate Federation since 2003. Throughout his membership, Ollie has stressed the importance of making Savate accessible to all by overcoming language barriers. He was delighted to see the recent success of the International Federation in gaining FISU recognition for Savate, particularly as the project had involved many people from several federations around the world. He has visions of Savate becoming a true world sport – not simply a French sport – and for it to go on to gain Olympic recognition.
Dr Julie Gabriel, GBSF, 17th March 2008
