Dave Carnell began his training in the martial arts at an early age. The inspiration for his pursuit, like most people, took its direction because of the movies and television shows of that time. This was where he took his first glimpse of the impressive and infamous Bruce Lee .

Dave's foundations were becoming firmly fixed as he dappled with various systems trying to find what suited him best. From Judo, in the beginning, to his first serious training at the local Lau Gar school of Kung Fu, his passion was shaping itself. Training at this school lasted about twelve months until he met a teacher that introduced him to Chi-San-Tao, which was a blend of many arts including Wing Chun. He knew that this was the same art where Bruce Lee himself gained his foundation, so he made the next step and explored deeper. His teacher also happened to be in contact with James Demile, a member of Bruce's Seattle Gung Fu school, so this connection was taking him that little closer to realising and achieving his dream.

With his interest in Wing Chun growing, Dave decided that it was this system that he would like to delve deeper into. He met many people during this period and was eventually introduced to Samuel Kwok, a Wing Chun sifu living in the North of England with whom he trained privately for some time. Sifu Kwok introduced Dave to his own teacher, Ip Chun, the oldest son of Yip man (Bruce's original Wing Chun teacher).

During this period, Dave was Studying on a three year college course in art, which was to lead onto a degree. However, he never went on to do the degree due to his desire to pursue his martial studies on amore committed basis. With work during the day and teaching his own class at night, his schedule was packed for the next three years until he made the important step to opening his school full-time.

In 1984, while training with various Wing Chun sifu's, Dave wanted to expand his knowledge as far as the martial arts were concerned. He noticed that each sifu that he trained with had their own views as to the way they wanted things to work. Each teacher had their own individual interpretations of the art so he wanted to find out more about this idea of individual perspectives. Dave found out during this time that Dan Inosanto was coming to England to give a seminar and he decided to go to it with the view of exploring and experiencing another angle. This was to be an major turning point for Dave; he was, “blown away!" as he states in his own words. On this seminar, Dave had his eyes opened by the speed, skill and sophistication of, not only Dan, but his two young assistants at the time, Chris Kent and Cass Magda. Dave describes them and the feeling they instilled in a 1992 interview in Martial Arts Illustrated conducted by Andrew Staton; “These guys were so laid back, so cool. This was what I had been searching for.”

After this proverbial "bomb" was dropped, not only did Dave continue to go to all of Dan lnosanto's seminars, but everyone that came over: Larry Hartsell, Chris Kent, Cass Magda, Richard Bustillo, Ted Wong and Tirn Tackett to name but a few. This continued until Dave himself was inviting them over to conduct seminars for him. After a couple of years of training in this way, Dave was invited over to the states where he was to continue his training on a private basis with Cass Magda. It was from his study and hard work there, that he became authorised to teach. He is now honoured to be a Senior Supervising Instructor of the Magda Institute, one of only three in Europe and one of only a handful of people that are authorised to teach the arts of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Kali /Escrima and Pentjak Silat. Dave is deeply respectful of his teacher Cass Magda, and he continues to draw on him for his Inspiration. Dave is a man that does not believe that the pursuit of knowledge ever stops, and as such has continued to train closely with Cass Magda. Sifu Cass comes to England at least twice a year, and Dave travels to the Magda Institute frequently to see and train with his sifu. He has also travelled all over the world to gain that deeper understanding in not only JKD, but Silat and Kali too.

With such knowledgeable and inspirational people behind him, it is not surprising that Dave is now a big name in his own right. He is the director of the Impact Martial Arts Academy which he established well over a decade ago, and is now a well sought after Instructor on the seminar circuit where he teaches on a regular basis throughout the country and even recently became the first person to take Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do into Poland. With his headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent, the legacy which he shares with his students is now expanding with satellite schools across the country. Dave now runs a comprehensive instructor training Program which allows a privileged few to represent his name and that of the Magda Institute. Dave also writes extensively showing that he not only possesses the physical attributes of perfectly executed technique, but also that he has some of the deepest technical and philosophical understanding of the arts that he teaches. With a regular column in Martial Arts Illustrated; the JKD editor of the same magazine; and his first book behind him, Dave is now preparing for even bigger things for the future in his usual relaxed, casual and humble way. With another book planned and a series of training videos on the horizon.

Now the laid-back coolness that he found in the young Magda and Kent floods from him. It shows a man that has a deep, skillful and limitless understanding of what he does and he never ceases to impress even his oldest students. He is at ease and confident with his knowledge and the way that he teaches, yet forever lives his life with the attitude that there is always much more to see and to learn. With Cass Magda as his guide Dave continues to grow. And, in turn, guides his own students. His greatest asset is his deep seated desire to pass on and share what he has learnt; to show the world the beauty of JKD and South-east Asian martial arts; and finally, to put the Impact Martial Arts Academy on the martial arts map as one of the major runners in the quality stakes.

Cassimore A. Magda, a Canadian by birth, at the age of twenty-eight years earned the prestigious title of Certified Full Instructor - the highest honour in the elite inner circle of Bruce Lee's martial arts clan - under Guro Dan Inosanto.

Through years of sacrifice in training, research and dedication to the arts, Cass Magda stands as a world-renowned martial arts specialist, covering a sophisticated collection of arts from the South-east Asian archipelago and has an international reputation as a unique martial artist, teacher and author. Few ever reach the height of achieving true martial arts excellence and respect throughout the world and Magda, blessed with natural talent and ability, easily caught the discriminating eye and -acceptance of Bruce Lee's personal friend, training partner and student, Dan Inosanto. He literally took Magda under his wing, like father and son and soon, after many devoted years of training under his mentor, Magda emerged as his prized student.

Cass Magda began his training at the age of fourteen, thanks to an article written in 1972 by the late Bruce Lee. Lee’s article Liberate Yourself From Classical Karate, inspired the young Magda and led him into the world of martial arts' training. At eighteen he had soon earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do yet felt that he could not stop there. In order to pursue his studies, he sought the guidance of the worlds foremost authority of Jeet Kune Do, Inosanto.

In 1978, Magda and Inosanto first met in Colorado. It was at that moment Magda's life would change drastically, and he was soon devoted in studying and training one-on-one with Inosanto in the ancient arts of Kali / Escrima / Arnis and Jeet Kune Do. Exposed to a high level, magnificent and deadly systems not meant for just anybody, Magda already knew about having a "belt". However, many black belt martial artists were in no way even close to the level of sophistication that Kali and JKD possessed. Like others who followed him, Magda threw his black belt away and immersed himself totally in the study of the ancient arts of the Philippines. Cass, being a student at McMaster University, would return each summer vacation to Los Angeles to study JKD and Kali privately with Inosanto. On the day following his graduation and earning a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, he packed his bags and left for LA to pursue his goal. A lasting friendship between the two ensured as Magda became Inosanto's personal protege, and the only individual to be privately trained to instructors level by the master himself. In the four years that Magda spent with Inosanto, the pair never held a conversation that was not related to the study of martial arts. The master then took Magda with him around the world as his personal assistant teaching seminars and demonstrations.

In 1983, Cass Magda blitzed through and emerged a champion at the Full-Contact Stick-Fighting Championships and captured four first-place and two second-place titles. He excelled at dagger fighting, single / double stick as well as self-defence techniques.

Through discipline, training hard and literally, a one pointed life, Magda became known throughout the martial arts world for being as intense about the subject and practice as anyone you could meet. With more than twenty years of martial arts training and teaching, including having published articles and featured in countless magazines, Magda's impressive field of expertise covers the gamut of the East and South-east Asian martial arts which include: Filipino Kali / Escrima / Arnis; Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do; Indonesian Pentjak Silat; Wing Chun Kung Fu; Muay Thai; Malaysian Bersilat; Western Boxing and Grappling.

For further information on Cass Magda please visit www.cassmagda.com

Hailing from Brazil, Carlos' first contact with martial arts was at the age of 4 and he studied Taekwondo for few years, starting Judo at the age of 11 and becoming state champion by the age of 13. At the age of 14 he started Thai Boxing and it was at this time that members of the Gracie family moved to his neighbourhood and all his friends started train with them, including his first girlfriend's brother. After they broke up she started dating a guy who trained in JJ for another team and Carlos hoped he could win her back by training with the Gracies, Ralph Gracie, Soca and Gordo in a Gracie Barra filial and beating her new boyfriend. This proved to be a hard mission as the guy was BJJ state champion on the Blue belt divison!

When Carlos started training JJ in Gracie Barra, he found that it was much more than just beating people or getting beaten by them, it was a way of life a philosophy; JJ was about understanding yourself and the world around you, was about discipline, loyalty, brotherhood and more than anything JJ was about honour. what seems. in these days, a forgotten word. That was it. Carlos had got the bug and years later he beat the new boyfriend in an internal championship because he had joined a Gracie Barra filial'

In Gracie Barra Carlos had access to the best, such as Soca, Renzo Gracie, the great Roberto "Gordo", the creator of half-guard style and Carlos Gracie Jr, who is his master but learning from the best was not his my single experience in Gracie Barra; there he had the opportunity to train and spar with the best in the world such as the Machados brothers. Roleta. Nino schembri, Sal Rangel, Filipe Jerry. Lucio Rodrigues, Braulio Estima, Roger Gracie, Marcia Feitosa and Carlos Gracie himself. This experience of different sparring gave Carlos the opportunity to build his own style based on the flamboyant Brazilian Footballers such as Garrincha and Romario, creativity akin to the Capoeira fighters have.

Carlos looked at JJ in a different way and realized that if JJ was giving him so much pleasure, he should give it back to the crowd and enthusiasts on the championships. Back In the early 90's the standard of fighters in Brazil was very even, so the matches were a little boring to watch and that's when Carlos introduced his own different style of fighting, something based on the beauty of the movements, speed and more than anything, the finishing the submission.

Today he's proud to have influenced a whole generation of fighters, not only in Gracie Barra. but in his whole country and maybe World-wide. He has been busy with trips all around the world. preaching the Gracie Barra JJ in the USA, Brazil. Europe, Israel and Asia. Carlos believes that BJJ is so good because it is not only a martial art, a group of techniques to beat people, it also helps you to understand your body without years of pain because the movements are based on leverage and balance, the strength is secondary. The fact that there are no strikes is what makes it a fighting style that anyone can do without getting hurt or hurting others and in this way JJ is more, much more, than becomiing a fighter, it's a way of life that if you want to be good at, you must first become a better person, 'The jiujitsu taught to me by Carlos Gracie Jr made me a man, a master of myself ready to take on all challenges in my life and help other to surpass their own challenges'. As a fighter Carlos has been a multiple champion but his most memorable moment came when he won the 'King of the Hill' tournament in South Carolina, Because he fought a local champion, 120 kls 'lean' for the title belt and was losing the fight with just 20 seconds left, Then, Carlos jumped over his head, got his back in the air and chocked him out in the last 5 seconds, Another happy memory was the 2002 World championships, when he won all the fights by submission, made more poignant by the fact that it was the first time that his dad had ever seen one of his matches. Although he has had many memorable moments, when asked who is toughest opponent was Carlos has no hesitation in stating:

'Myself, because I'm the only one who can really beat me in my weight class. My state of mind is imperative to my fight and training performance'.

His influences and inspirations reflect the quality that has surrounded Carlos and he cites such luminaries as Rolles Gracie, Nino Schembri, Jean Jaques Machado, Marcio Feitosa, Carlos Gracie Jr, Filipe Jerry, Lucio Lagarto ,Braulio Estima, Roger Gracie, Mauricio Gomes, as well as all his own students and last, but by no means least, his creator, God, When asked what he believes makes a true champion, Carlos answers 'faith, dedication and love! Love of what you're doing', adding that 'loyalty is the most precious quality that a man can carry in his heart', This reflects his nature, which he concedes is based on being loyal, dedicated, creative, sincere, optimistic, and impetuous but merciful. As for his future ambitions, Carlos wants to form a really good team of fighters, all black belts, with a really high level in BJJ in the UK but more than that, help them all through Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu to become better people.

Read more about Carlos here.