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If you want to ask something else

The questions you want to ask 

1. How do I get there?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Where can I find the student guidelines?
4. Who are the instructors?
5. What is our student creed?
6. When can I come along?
7. How much does a grading cost?
8. How much will my license be?
9. Where can I get a uniform?
10. What is the 'Black Sash Club'?

How do I get there?

We are at 32 Westburn street in Greenock, Inverclyde.

above Iceland frozen food store.

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How much does it cost?

At Watsons center of excellence all prices are set to a bare minimum, and most kids classes are only £2.50 per class or just £30.00 per month!

Adults will be required to pay £3.50 per class or £40.00 per month for which they can participate in all but the kids classes.

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Where can I find the student guidelines ?

The student guidelines are as follows, which all students are required to adhere to...

• Show respect to all instructors and fellow students.
• Arrive 10 minutes prior to class starting.
• Please remove all jewelry before class.
• Keep Uniforms neat, clean and odor free
• Always use the formal bow upon entering and leaving the centre.
• Memorize our student creed.
• Always focus your eyes on your instructor.
• Attend class regularly and consistently.
• No chewing gum or eating sweets during class
• Student guests must also be well behaved.
• Prepare for class in an orderly and quiet fashion.
• Enter class with energy and enthusiasm.
• Exhibit "Q.T." Quick Take-off in your reactions.
• Always have respect for the schools property and other peoples.
• Always keep fingernails clean and cut short.

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Who are the instructors?

The Chief Instructor is James Watson.

Our other instructors are Louie Pastore, John O'Donnell, Michael Darrah, Stephen Daisley and Glen McIntosh.

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What is our student creed ?

I intend to develop myself,

 in a positive manner,

 and avoid anything,

 that would reduce,

 my mental growth ,

or my physical health.

I intend to develop,

 Self Discipline,

 in order to bring out,

 the best in myself and others.

I intend to use,

 what I learn in class,

 constructively and defensively,

 to help myself,

 and my fellow human being,

 and never to be abusive or offensive.

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When can I come along ?

Full class times and timetable for all centre related and other classes to follow..

classes out-with the centre that are operating just now are as follow...

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How much does a grading cost ?

All students will be required to pass exams or gradings.  the grading syllabus is on this page.  These gradings are normally done every 3 months at a cost of £18.00 per child & £20.00 per adult per grading.

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How much will my licence be ?

You, as a student of Watsons Center of Excellence, will be required to have a membership package which costs £50.00 per year.

This may seem a lot, but you get ...

1. A licence
2. Insurance
3. Membership to the Center. 

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Where can I get a uniform ?

Uniforms are not immediately important, but you will be asked to purchase one at some point during your time at the Center.  Uniforms cost £40.00 for kids and £45.00 for adults these consist of :- 

• Jacket
• Trousers
• Sash.

These items are readily available for purchase here

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What is the 'Black Sash Club' ?

Joining our Black Sash Club will be the most rewarding part of your training.  This will be of an advantage to you whilst you learn.

To join the club will not cost you a single penny, all you have to do is show your Instructor that you are keen to learn from the school and continue to train as often as possible.

A note will be taken from your first (or last) grading date and we will calculate how long it will be before you can grade for your 1st Degree Black Sash!

On a select placement in the center there will be a large notice board area, where there will be a 'Black Belt' for every student who is in the Black Sash Club next to or on this 'Black Belt' your name and a date will be attached detailing when you will be eligible to grade for your 1st Degree Black Sash in Chi'ang Shou Fa Kung Fu.

ON ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE

Information for Door-men Stewards / Bouncers / Martial Artists

Our thoughts on the Psychology of fighting & confrontation.

Psychology is not an area that doormen are over qualified in, but is something they deal with everyday without realizing it. An understanding of psychology would help doormen greatly in dealing with confrontations with a different approach. Psychology is the study of the individual - finding out what makes them tick. Also within psychology, there are many areas of study like child psychology, criminal psychology, animal psychology, and so on. 

The area that I want to bring to your attention is the psychology of confrontation. What makes individuals confront each other or confront you? If you try and understand a little about this area, you will be much more able to understand what's going on and will be able to better deal with defusing a situation, thus avoiding unnecessary fights. 

Most situations find two sides in conflict with each other with neither side wanting to back down in front of their peers. All groups will have their own unwritten codes of conduct and things that they do which is the norm for them. If a member of the group fails to comply with the way they are expected to, as a member of that group, they will receive tremendous pressure from their mates. To deal with this, you must firstly defuse the situation as I have explained in the section "Defusing situations", by separating the groups or individuals. You then need to get the explosive individual to calm down before he fuels the others in his group with bravado Dutch courage. This minimizes the likelihood of a kick-off even further. Now you can get this lone individual and explain that the management have asked for police presence within the area, and that they will be on the premises when they receive a secondary call, should this situation turn into violence. 

Due to the fact that you happen to be one of the good doormen, you would rather advise them of the consequences of their actions rather than see them taken away by the police, only to spent the night in a cell and face court tomorrow, along with the probability of their employers and family being contacted with regards to the incident. Its all crap, but you are using psychology to stop the drama rather than using your fists. The important point here is that you are giving the customer a way out without them feeling cowardly. If you do not give them a way out, you are in effect, putting their backs up against the wall, leaving then no other choice than to fight. 

Backing off and backing down are two different things and feel totally different to each other. Nobody likes backing down. It is always worth reminding them that their faces have been captured on the clubs video cameras, which are all over the Greenock area and are linked to the police & security network, whether you have them or not. Most people I have dealt with in this way calm down and leave the club of their own choice. The hint of a police cell is not too inviting when you compare it to waking up in your own bed the next day. If you think that you cannot be fussed with all this, then you will have your work cut out for you, unless of course you have another method, which remains undiscovered to the rest of us. Always remember though, you are a door supervisor who is expected to act in the Prevention of crime, rather than cause it as some do. You have to understand how something works if you are going to fix it. People are the same. 

You need to understand what is going wrong inside their heads before you get out the repair kit. To use an analogy: A skilled watchmaker understands what makes a clock tick, and can deal with any problem it creates. Yet the numskull, who understands nothing, will find it easier to smash it to pieces in frustration. Some people are beyond reasoning through alcohol or controlled drugs, so in this situation, I try to single out another member of the party he is with, who I will be able to talk to, if I feel they have the ability to encourage their enraged friend to leave the premises. In this situation I use psychology, but from a slightly different approach. "Why don't you get your friend home safely, so that things don't escalate. The manager is only seconds away from phoning the mobile security unit who are not as understanding as me, and right behind them will be the police to remove anyone who is left, to spend the night in the cells etc." Things won't always work with the psychology approach but it's worth a try. 

When I worked with my team as a mobile unit, we were called out as often as the fire brigade to deal with situations. After a deeper look into how situations were handled before we had to be called, we realized that applying a little psychology early on the event, did wonders for getting situations resolved peacefully. We were called out less and more aggrieved people were walking out of clubs of their own accord rather than having to be thrown out by the heavies. If it turns out to be you that they want to kick off with, things are going to be slightly different for you due to not wanting to appear cowardly or inadequate to your peers. Just remind yourself that you may end up taking a trip in a police car, ambulance, may meet your death, and may never see your children or loved one again? Then compare your rate of pay to professional Boxers who get paid to fight, and ask yourself if the risk of fighting is really worth it? 

Does this individual really have a grievance with you! Or is it just alcohol talking. Alcohol tends to exaggerate many aspects of an individuals behavior, often making them more difficult and unpredictable to deal with. Basically I am telling you to not let psychology work against you, forcing you into fighting. Reverse it so you apply psychology to defuse situations. If you find that no matter what you does, it's heading for a kick-off, you will of course have to prevent that person from committing a crime, that being, attempting to cause you harm. I'm sure you can interpret that one for yourself. On a one to one confrontation, you need to know how to psyche out your opponent at the same time as preventing him from psyching you out.  

You should see your role as a door supervisor from a different perspective, realizing that being "Hard" is not the only way to deal with a problem. Take on board what I say about the adrenal rush and fear in confrontation and you will take great strides towards using psychology in confrontation.

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