Geoff Thompson
Encyclopedia
Geoff Thompson is a writer, teacher, and self-defence instructor. He has written several of books on self-defence, martial arts, and fear control,
as well as Watch My Back, an autobiography about his early years and how he came to be a nightclub doorman working in his hometown of Coventry.
training in the Eastern arts including karate
, Aikido, and Kung-Fu. However, during his time as a nightclub doorman, he found that what he had learned was inadequate for the reality of violence. Thompson came to realise that the techniques encouraged and practised in touch-contact and semi-contact martial arts were not always suitable for self-defence. Though he utilizes a small core of these techniques as part of his teachings, Thompson prefers more pragmatic full-contact martial arts and combat sports such as boxing
, Muay Thai
and wrestling
(Greco-Roman, Judo
, Jujutsu
, and Freestyle
).
He holds the ABA Boxing Instructor certificate and high-level coaching awards for wrestling, as well as a 1st Dan in Judo
, and a 6th Dan in Shotokan Karate.
Geoff Thompson was also the first instructor to name and extensively teach "the fence", a revered technique in real-life defence involving keeping your hands in front of you in a non-threatening manner so as to protect yourself in case a situation escalates but without provoking violence.
. In 2004, Thompson won a BAFTA award for 'best short film' for his screenplay "Brown Paper Bag".
His short film "Bouncer" starred Ray Winstone
.
His most recent work "Romans 12:20
" directed by the Shammasian Brothers and starring Craig Conway
has finished production and was shown at a private screening in London on 23 January 2008. It toured the film festival circuit in the early part of 2008.
Thompson's first feature film Clubbed
is an underworld drama set in the early 1980s. It was released in the United Kingdom
on 16 January 2009.
as well as Watch My Back, an autobiography about his early years and how he came to be a nightclub doorman working in his hometown of Coventry.
Fighting disciplines
Thompson began his martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
training in the Eastern arts including karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, Aikido, and Kung-Fu. However, during his time as a nightclub doorman, he found that what he had learned was inadequate for the reality of violence. Thompson came to realise that the techniques encouraged and practised in touch-contact and semi-contact martial arts were not always suitable for self-defence. Though he utilizes a small core of these techniques as part of his teachings, Thompson prefers more pragmatic full-contact martial arts and combat sports such as boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
(Greco-Roman, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, and Freestyle
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
).
He holds the ABA Boxing Instructor certificate and high-level coaching awards for wrestling, as well as a 1st Dan in Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, and a 6th Dan in Shotokan Karate.
Geoff Thompson was also the first instructor to name and extensively teach "the fence", a revered technique in real-life defence involving keeping your hands in front of you in a non-threatening manner so as to protect yourself in case a situation escalates but without provoking violence.
Video and film
In addition to his books, Thompson has written and presented a series of martial arts and self help DVDs. In 1995, he and his self defense school featured in the Channel 4 documentary PassengersPassengers (TV series)
Passengers was a mid-1990s and early-2000s Channel 4 television programme about youth culture.Passengers was first broadcast in late 1995. The programme was later revived for a new series in spring 2001....
. In 2004, Thompson won a BAFTA award for 'best short film' for his screenplay "Brown Paper Bag".
His short film "Bouncer" starred Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
.
His most recent work "Romans 12:20
Romans 12:20
Romans 12:20 is a short film directed by the Shammasian Brothers and written by Geoff Thompson. It was released in 2008.-Plot:The film stars Craig Conway as 'Malky', a nightclub doorman with a violent character...
" directed by the Shammasian Brothers and starring Craig Conway
Craig Conway (actor)
Craig Conway is a British actor. Conway has appeared in a number of stage plays and British television series in addition to his film work.Conway is the husband of actress Jill Halfpenny, with whom he has a son.-Filmography:...
has finished production and was shown at a private screening in London on 23 January 2008. It toured the film festival circuit in the early part of 2008.
Thompson's first feature film Clubbed
Clubbed
Clubbed is a 2009 British drama film about a 1980s factory worker who takes up a job as a club doorman, written by Geoff Thompson and directed by Neil Thompson.-Synopsis:...
is an underworld drama set in the early 1980s. It was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 16 January 2009.