Combat Hall Of Fame 2001

How many places can you go at night, with thousands of people, live music, good food, glitzy party atmosphere and know there will be no trouble?   Probably only one, the combat magazine ‘Hall of Fame’ awards.

The 2001 ceremony, held on the 6th October 2001 at the Aston Villa conference suite in Birmingham, was no exception. It also had a special significance for the Sil Lum Kune Chinese Boxing Association with an award for Chief Instructor, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw.

Group line up at headquarters before traveling awards

The evening was attended by several members of the School, including the former Si Tai Gung of the association, Grand Master John Holden, Sifu Aaron Marsh, Sifu David Richardson as well as Kevin Redgrave, Robert Buckler, William Burbury, Mark Pritchards, Dan Amphlett and myself. Also accompanying were Louise Burkinshaw, Paula and Alan Hill, Chris Pritchards and Natalie Hill.

William Burbury, Kevin Redgrave, David Richardson, Robert Buckler, Dan Amphlett and Alex Hyde arriving at the conference centre

The atmosphere was electric, the meal was served first with a starter of melon and berries, a main course of roast chicken, vegetables and potatoes, correctly cooked! And a chocolate dessert with a raspberry sauce, delicious, followed by coffee and mints.   During the meal, different events took place; there was music, magicians and general entertainment.  The award ceremony took place directly after the meal ended and covered many categories, from those who had excelled in competition to those at the other end of the scale without whom the competitions couldn’t take place.

Scenes from around the dinner table

There were categories for people dead and alive, with posthumous awards to those who deserved recognition but who had never received any thanks.

Combat magazine does not give out awards lightly; there are thousands of clubs throughout the UK and Europe with thousands of people training in many different types of martial arts.  Only those who shine, work harder, give more and do more than anyone else in martial arts stand out.

There are those who receive awards with contempt and those who receive awards with humility and humbleness and accept them within the context they are given.

  As a member of Sil Lum Kune we are taught the values of :-

Courtesy

Integrity

Perseverance

S elf control

Indomitable Spirit

These values are instilled into us by Sifu Paul Burkinshaw and these values shone through when he received his award.  In part it was because of these values that Sifu Paul Burkinshaw was given this award. As he said during the award ceremony, it was both the love of his family and friends plus the support of many besides his love of martial arts that ensured that he is still here guiding, training and helping us today, after his near fatal car accident. 

Paul Clifton (Combat Magazine Editor) ushering Paul to make a speech

In many respects it is his training in martial arts that ensured he is still here today.  However, the training not only makes us physically fit and strong, it is the mental side of the art that reinforces our indomitable spirit which gives us the strength to survive.  It was Indomitable Spirit that was focussed on during the thank you speech, which should be common to all martial artists.  Paul believed that his recovery back to a normal life, and his return to martial arts (Kung Fu) was down in the main to this Indomitable Spirit and the will to succeed.

This is something perhaps all of us should remember, our training in martial arts is more than just a combat sport, it is a way of life, a code to be followed, and our future health and fitness is dependent upon what we put into it.

Sifu Paul Burkinshaw accepts his   'Achievments Within Martial Arts' award.

With the award ceremony over the splendid band donned Abba gear and the partying went on well into the night.

I am pleased to say that all our ladies looked stunning in their elegant evening wear and all the lads looked particularly splendid resplendent in black evening suits with red bow ties and cummerbunds, black and red, of course, being the school colours.  I did note, however, that not one of them made it to the dance floor!

Written by Alex Hyde. (student of Sil Lum Kune)