n 1989 Phil became the first UK based student to pass Ajarn Surchai Sirisute Thai test. He also received his Iniateur (Instructor) in Boxe Francais Savate under Professeur Salem Assli. Back home Colin Sherred set up the School of Fighting Arts and Phil assisted in teaching the classes.
Phil became an apprentice instructor under Guru Dan Inosanto in 1991 in the Filipino Martial Arts Kali / Silat and in Jun Fan Martial Arts / Jeet Kune Do. It was whilst on seminars that Phil met and became firm friends with Andy Barker from Exeter another devoted martial artist and would regularly meet up on seminars and on trips to the Inosanto Academy.
In 1992 Phil's athletic ability stood him in good stead when he particpated in a television programme called 'Gladiators' Phil went on to win the season and represented the UK in international programmes in USA an South Africa. It was from these TV shows that Phil picked up the fight name 'the Gladiator', a name he has not been able to shake off since!
With most of Phil's instructors being based in the USA Phil found it difficult to get the quality of instruction for his personal training locally. This led him to start training with a close friend who he had met through doorwork, Trevor Ambrose a World Champion kick boxer (later winning 4 other World Title Belts!). Phil trained privately with Trevor almost daily and went with him to compete in France at a KickBoxing event (Both won Trevor by KO, Phil by stoppage). It was shortly after this that Phil suffered a severe prolapsed disc, his doctor told him he would never be able to do martial arts again. Phil was laid up for 6 months and struggled to come to terms with the injury. "I realised I could not rely on my body to make an income, so I took pain killers and went to University and studied sport science" It was during this period that Phil started to make a remarkable recovery and started training again, gently at first with specific back exercises, but it was not long before he was back training in the martial arts. Another person who was to have a big influence on Phil's training in the UK was Judo 5th Dan Dave Kavanagh. Dave was at that time coaching the British Sport Ju Jitsu Team which included the likes of K1 Champion Gary Turner and Alex Reid. Phil was invited to join the team for a training weekend and subsequently asked to represent Great Britain in World Championships. In 1998, 2 years after being told he would never be able to compete in martial arts again, Phil won the middle weight Sport Ju Jitsu World Title, beating fighters from Japan, Canada and USA.
Phil came home and set up Self Defence & Combat Sports the name a result of the qualifications achieved through 2 decades of training. The Self Defence arts such as Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do and the Combat Sport arts such as Kick Boxing. Phil continued to compete and fought on one of the early Mixed Martial Art shows held in the UK 'Night of the Samurai' winning by KO and becoming the British Champion In 2000 Phil took and passed the Shooto exam under Sensei Yorinaga Nakumura and became the first UK student to get 100% pass rate.
Phil completed his University studies passing with honours. He then continued to learn his teaching trade working full time at a local college where he achieved his Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Assessor Awards. In 2000 Phil became one of only 5 Students in the UK to be awarded the honour of his Full Instructorship under Guru Dan Inosanto. Phil has been active in the competition scene winning at MMA events held at the NEC and at Wembley Arena, although he admits he is not as sharp as he used to be he still enjoys being able to compete at the highest level.
2009 with the encouragement of his students the Gladiator Academy was opened in Canford Heath. It should be noted that with out the patience and support from Colin Bascombe the Academy would not be looking as good as it does.
Phil would like to thank all his instructors for their continuing loyalty and comittment to the Gladiator Academy and his senior instructors including those not mentioned above: Sifu Rick Faye, Sensei Erik Paulson and the UK JKD Instuctors Rick Young, Bob Breen, Terry Barnett and Ralph Jones.
