Tag: Cambridge

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Train, Test and Challenge Yourself at the CAMA 2026 Savate Summer Camp

Looking for an exciting way to improve your martial arts skills this summer? Whether you’re taking your first steps in Savate or preparing for your next grading or competition, the Cambridge Academy of Martial Arts® (CAMA) invites you to join us for our 2026 Savate Summer Camp.

Taking place over Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2026, this action-packed weekend offers high-quality instruction, technical development, and plenty of opportunities to put your skills into practice in a friendly and supportive environment.

A Weekend of Training for Everyone

The CAMA Summer Camp is designed for students of all experience levels. You can attend either one day or the full weekend, making it easy to fit around your summer plans.

Throughout the weekend you’ll benefit from:

  • Savate General and Technical Training
  • Savate Coloured Glove Promotional Testing
  • Pre-arranged Inter-Club Savate Assaut Challenge Matches
  • Savate Defence training
  • Canne de Combat training

Our experienced instructors will help you refine your technique, improve your movement, develop tactical understanding and build confidence, whether your goal is grading, competition or simply becoming a better martial artist.

Challenge Yourself

One of the highlights of the weekend will be the opportunity to take part in pre-arranged inter-club Savate Assaut challenge matches. These friendly bouts provide valuable experience in a safe and well-supervised environment, allowing students to test what they have learned against partners from other clubs.

Students working towards their next grade will also have the opportunity to undertake Coloured Glove promotional testing during the camp.

More Than Just Savate

The weekend also includes sessions in Savate Defence and Canne de Combat, giving participants the chance to experience additional disciplines that complement their Savate training and broaden their martial arts knowledge.

Stay for the Whole Weekend

Training runs from 10:00am until 4:00pm on both days, with the possibility of additional informal training and social activities for those staying overnight.

For visitors travelling from outside the area, local campsites are available, making it easy to enjoy the full weekend and meet fellow martial artists from around the country.

Event Details

Dates: Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th August 2026

Venue:
St. Bede’s School Sports Hall and Gymnasium
Birdwood Road
Cambridge
CB1 3TD

Times:
10:00am – 4:00pm each day

Attend one day or both.

Reserve Your Place Today

We believe in making high-quality Savate training accessible to everyone, with flexible attendance options available.

Adults

  • One Day: £20
  • Both Days: £30

Youths & Pre-Teens

  • One Day: £12
  • Both Days: £16

Coloured Glove Promotional Testing
Participants wishing to undertake a Savate Coloured Glove Promotional Test during the camp should add £20 to the appropriate attendance fee (all Adults, Youths and Juniors).
Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

For information and bookings:

📞 Call Ollie: 07709 814422

📧 Email: ollie.cama@gmail.com

We look forward to welcoming CAMA members and visitors from other clubs for a weekend of learning, hard work, friendly competition and plenty of fun.

Train. Test. Compete. Have Fun!

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Training Fees

We currently offer three different Training Fee Plans payable by Direct Debit. Bronze, Silver and Gold plans are available for available for Adults and Youth/Young Teens (13-17yrs). Bronze and Silver plans are available for Juniors (7-12yrs).

Bronze = training any four nights in each calendar month
Silver = training any eight nights in each calendar month
Gold = unlimited training in all regularly timetabled nights

Training Fees for Adults
Bronze = £32 per calendar month for training any four nights in each calendar month.
Silver = £48 per calendar month for training any eight nights in each calendar month.
Gold = £64 per calendar month for unlimited training in all regularly timetabled nights.

Training Fees forYouth/Young Teens (13-17yrs)
Bronze = £30 per calendar month for training any four nights in each calendar month.
Silver = £45 per calendar month for training any eight nights in each calendar month.
Gold = £60 per calendar month for unlimited training in all regularly timetabled nights.

Training Fees for Juniors (7-12yrs)
Bronze = £28 per calendar month for training any four nights in each calendar month.
Silver = £42 per calendar month for training any eight nights in each calendar month.

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CAMA Summer Savate Open

The CAMA Summer Savate Open took place on Sunday 17th August at St Bedes Sports Hall. We were pleased to welcome Savate clubs from Birmingham, Coventry and Guildford to join our members for the day.
The morning began with a Canne de Combat session run by instructors Jon and Jacob. This was followed by an introduction to judging and refereeing. Julie explained why it’s useful for competitors to understand judging, and the importance of being objective.
Competitors from Cambridge, Birmingham and Guildford then took part in a friendly competition. Alisa and Misha showed great fighting spirit for CAMA, and instructor Morgan had a good workout as referee for most bouts.
To finish the day, instructor Ollie ran a Savate Defence session, whilst instructor Julie ran some grading tests for our Birmingham guests.
Thanks to all participants for a fun and productive day!

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CAMA Members in the British Championships

Cambridge Academy hosted the Great Britain Savate Championships, at St Bedes Sports Hall, on 13th April 2025. Nine members of the Academy participated in the event, supported by instructors, Ollie, Julie, Morgan and Jon.

CAMA members showed great enthusiasm and technique, with a variety of attacking and defensive moves. All participated with good sportsmanship and supported other team members throughout the day. Photos at the end of this article – thanks to Ollie for these.

CAMA Results
Friedemann Waldert 2 fights, 2 wins
Seraina Blumli 2 fights, 2 wins
Arabella Jolley 1 fight, 1 win
Isaac West 2 fights, 1 win
Shea Ostani 2 fights, 1 win
Imaltzin Wong, Srihary Pratheeparaja, Sebastian Ostani and Shree Sharma also took part.

We were honoured by Anglia TV coming along to make a report, and interviewing Ollie and three of our members, who spoke about the origins of the sport and why they enjoy it.

Many thanks are due to the West family – for Clare who organised food for all participants, and to Jacob and Isaac who put on an excellent demonstration of Canne de Combat during the break.

Also during the break, Friedemann Waldert was presented with the Great Britain Savate Federation “2025 Martin Ross Fighting Spirit Award” for his performance at his international debut in Budapest in January. Congratulations Friedemann!
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CAMA Members Win World Medals

Twenty members of Cambridge Academy of Martial Arts participated in a worldwide online competition, SavatePlus, hosted by the International Savate Federation, in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

The origin of Savate can be traced back to 19th-century France, where kicking styles practised by sailors in Marseille, merged with the street-fighting techniques of Paris. The influence of English boxing, and the work of pioneers like Charles Lecour and Joseph Charlemont laid the foundations, both technical and philosophical, for what would become Savate, a sophisticated, ethical and modern combat sport.

SavatePlus is an online event in which pairs of athletes demonstrate their abilities in Savate Assaut – a light contact discipline – competing against other pairs. More than 250 entries were received from 40 countries, so we are very proud of our member’s results:

Juniors:
Alisa S & Konrad W took bronze medal
Arabella J & Sebastian O took 4th place
Elsie T, Neha B, Shea O, Mikhail S, Jason Z, Maya Van Wyk, Srihary P, Kajus L and Arman H all came in the top 20 places.

Teens:
Friedemann Waldert & Vikram John came 13th overall in the highly contested teens category.

Seniors:
Jon West & Isaac West, a father and son combination, came 14th in the senior category.
Hamzah Husseini and Juraj Rievaj also put in great performance.

Inclusive category:
Luca LM with partner Jason Z took gold medal with a great performance.

Canne de Combat:
Jacob West & Isaac West took silver medal in the Canne category.

Some of our savate Tigers members with their International Certificates

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Ollie Batts

Ollie Batts, senior instructor at CAMAOllie Batts is the main founder and senior instructor at CAMA. He has over 40 years experience in the martial arts, and has black belt and instructor grades in several martial arts.

These include: fourth degree black belt in Combat Sombo® (UK Sport recognised), third degree black belt in Doce Pares Eskrima, under Grandmaster Danny Guba, and second level instructor in Jun Fan JKD/Kali, under both Rick Young (Edinburgh, UK) and Rick Faye (Minnesota Kali Group, USA).

Ollie is a Professor in the art of Savate, and internationally recognised as an instructor of Savate Boxe and Savate Defence. Several years ago, he was presented with an Savate instructor diploma by the Federation International de Savate. He was a founder member of the national Savate organisation, and its President for several years.

Prior to 1989, Ollie taught traditional Korean martial arts for many years in Cambridge, holding black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Kuk Sool (one of the UK’s top instructors in 1989). More recently. he wrote a book on Combat Sombo, helping to popularize the art in this country. 

Ollie Batts, senior instructor at CAMAIn 2012, Ollie was honoured with a top awarded for his services to martial arts. Accompanied by several senior students and members of his family, Ollie was presented with the award at the Martial Arts Illustrated Hall of Fame presentation. 

Ollie also conducts private sessions, and self-defence courses and seminars locally, throughout the UK, and abroad. Please enquire if you would like to host Ollie for a training seminar with your group.

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Julie Gabriel

Julie Gabriel, senior instructorJulie Gabriel has over 30 years experience in martial arts, training mainly with Ollie. As one of his senior students, she supported him in founding the Academy in 1989. She holds a third degree black belt in Combat Sombo, second degree black belt in Doce Pares Eskrima, first degree black belt in traditional Korean martial arts, and has been awarded instructor grade in Kali and Jun Fan / JKD under Rick Faye (Minnesota Kali Group, USA).

Julie is a Professor in Savate and was presented with an Instructor Diploma by the Federation Internationale de Savate. She teaches regular Savate, Canne de Combat and Kali classes, as well as private sessions, and self-defence and related topics in schools, colleges and companies.

Julie wasJulie Gabriel, president of FISav a member of the Great Britain team in World and European Savate Assaut Championships from 2005 to 2009, and was the GB league champion in the 52-56kg category three times. She earned a bronze medal in European Savate Assaut in 2005. She was placed 5th in the European Canne de Combat Championships in Strasbourg in 2006 and 13th in the World Canne de Combat Championships in 2008.

Julie has been involved in Savate and Canne de Combat at the international level for several years. She was elected as President of the Federation Internationale de Savate in September 2010, and has attended Savate and Canne events in many of the federation’s member countries, from Canada to China, from Finland to Madagascar!

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Savate Grading Success – April 2023

Three adult and six junior members took part in the Savate grading held on 16th April at St Bedes, in Cambridge. Members had been working hard to prepare, so we were pleased to see some good results:
Josh Emms and Kyrill Tkachov were both awarded red glove, and Seraina Blumli gained her blue glove, with merit. All 6 juniors passed, 3 gaining Savate Tiger 1, level 1 and 3 gaining Savate Tiger 1, level 2.

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What people say about us

Here’s a small selection of the messages we were delighted to receive in July 2009 when we celebrated the 20th birthday of the Academy:

Rick Faye, Chief Instructor, Minnesota Kali Group:
As far as Ollie Batts goes…that horrible man – He has only been one of the truly solid pillars of martial arts in the UK for as long as I have known him. His knowledge is vast and his ability to communicate and inspire students has helped thousands.
I have grown a deep respect for Ollie (and Julie as well) over our years of association. His attention to detail and ability to use new information has kept CAMA on the forefront of this field for many years. I have always looked forward to my trips to Cambridge and I hope this year’s is as good as always.
Deepest Respects and best wishes

Continue reading “What people say about us”