Beginners Kickboxing – April 2026

Train for Fun or for improved Fitness & Conditioning, or simply to make New Friends.

Now recruiting new members! Beginners 3 session trial is just £15 per person.

These sessions are designed for adult beginners, and will introduce the skills in a safe and fun environment. Our instructors are experienced, fully qualified and hold first aid and DBS accreditation. You must be at least 13 years old to join.

If you would like to test for different levels or to compete, we are happy to help you prepare, but it is not compulsory.

Click the button above or use this QR code

If you would like more information first, email: info.camauk (at) gmail.com
Or, if you prefer to speak with someone, please call Ollie on 077 09 814 422

Days & times : Mondays and/or Wednesdays, from 7.00 – 8.00pm
Venue: St Bede’s Sports Hall & Gym
Birdwood Road
Cambridge
CB1 3TB

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!

Taking Bookings Now for the Cambridge Academy Essentials programme

Improve your fitness and increase your confidence at the same time!
The Cambridge Academy Essentials programme is a new training initiative for adults and teens. It is a ten-week rolling programme which covers around 40 of the most needed and most effective techniques for Self Defence.

Experienced instructors will share the essential skills and training methods in a safe and fun environment. In addition, the Essentials programme provides an overview of the martial arts, and the systems in which Cambridge Academy in particular, are involved. You can gain a solid base in the martial arts by working through the 10-week Essentials programme.

The Cambridge Academy Essentials sessions run on Tuesdays, from 7pm to 9pm, at St Bede’s Gym, and include:

balance & footwork

escapes from grabs and holds

striking skills

defence against strikes
defence on the ground

weapon familiarity and disarms
and much more

Certificates will be awarded to all those who complete the Essentials 10-week course. The fee to attend Essentials sessions 1 – 10 is just £80. Any missed sessions along the way can be caught up the next time it comes around, at no extra cost.


If you would like more information first, email: info.camauk (at) gmail.com
Or, if you prefer to speak with someone, please call Ollie on 077 09 814 422

Venue:
St Bede’s Gym

Birdwood Road

Cambridge

CB1 3TB

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.

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!

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.

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”