SHARIF HAQUE

Sharif Haque spent many youthful years studying the traditional martial arts only to realize that these out-dated art forms did not provide the level of personal protection they promised. Despite these schools being a perfect means of expressing creative energy, keeping fit and instilling discipline, they could not effectively deal with the threats that existed in the rough areas of London in which he grew up.

Sharif eventually sought the instruction of experienced, battle-tested veterans of the defensive arts including Geoff Thompson, Hock Hochheim, Joe Hubbard and many more. The accumulative military, police, security and real-life street experience of these instructors was an invaluable tool in learning what works and what doesn’t in a live confrontation.

The journey for seeking the true nature of survival – thus far – has also taken Sharif to the Philippines where he trained intensively for two months with grandmaster Ernesto Presas. Whilst there, he was trained and ranked in the stick, knife and hand-to-hand systems native to the Philippines.

As a certified instructor with the British Combat Association and with over 15 years experience in the martial arts, Sharif has trained in various styles including: Goju Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun kung fu, Boxing, Japanese and Brazilian Jujitsu, Filipino Arnis, Iron palm, Self Protection Tactics, Close Quarter Military Combatives, Muay Thai, PAC Jungle Fighting, Self Defence Shooting, and Filipino/CQC knife fighting.

Despite extensive training in the physical arts, Sharif's main areas of focus are psychological self defence and awareness tactics. The input for these subjects has come from his training in conflict management skills, research into neuro-linguistic programming and practical psychology and having lived and worked in high-risk areas. 

Sharif is also the author of The Five Elements of the Ninja