C.O.D.A.
Founded in 1993 by Paul Child, Dave Smithers and Peter Robins, now run by Paul Child and Peter Robins in Essex, UK. Based partly on their former traditional martial arts training and Defendu, the system devised by W.E. Fairbairn and taught to the men of the Shanghai Municipal Police Force in the 1920's and 30's. The curriculum is an unarmed system with some aspects of stick work. Fairbairn was the chief instructor to the SMP, considered to be one of the world's best trained police forces and it is the wish of Child and Robins to keep alive his skill and knowledge.
Both men are registered and insured with the premier British organisation for self protection training, the British Combat Association, run by Peter Consterdine and Geoff Thompson, who are highly respected internationally. (see
www.geoffthompson.com and www.peterconsterdine.com)Child and Robins have been guest instructors on BCA seminars on two occasions.
Many of the members of CODA are instructors in their own right.
CODA is based on developing maximum impact in simplistic techniques that can be retained under situations of high stress.
CODA operates as a "closed shop" - that is, it works on quality and not quantity; not for commercial gain.
Major Sykes died in 1945, Lt. Col. Fairbairn in 1960; Today much of their skill and knowledge has been lost. There are very few instructors left from the old days, but there are a handful of people scattered around the world who wish to keep their memory alive. This is why the name Defendu has been used in the acronym of CODA. It is part of their inspiration that CODA remembers those who trained in Shanghai and later (WWII) in the system developed by Fairbairn & Sykes; they are after all the founders of what we today term "close quarter combat". Their great skill, spirit and teaching ability should be remembered and honoured.
S.T.A.B.Strategy & Tactics Against Blades
Founded in 1995 by Paul Child, Steve Carter and Peter Robins. The syllabus is based on common lines of attacks and on combating them by utilising simplistic moves, the emphasis being on counter-attack. No locks, holds or throws are taught, nor the usual disarming techniques. The system has been taught to two major British police forces and to other police instructors in the DTTA ( Defensive Tactics Trainers Association ) Child and Robins do not claim to have the answer to this massive and problem but simply an answer. They state that it is an insurance policy and not a guarantee.