Alyas Yasin is a personal trainer with a difference. Having studied martial arts from the age of 10, he devised his own martial self-protection system that many people, including Asians, would find useful. Especially in today’s climate of unsafe streets and neighbourhoods.
Alyas’s father is Gujarati. His mother, who raised him, was a Punjabi, and both were born in Kenya. Alyas was born in the UK.
Alyas works at Eden Fitness, arguably one of London’s best and nicest private gyms. It’s a second home for some in the area and a go-to place for anything to do with physical therapy. Alyas has been a gym instructor/personal trainer there for many years. His always helpful attitude and on tap free advice undoubtedly contribute to Eden’s success.
He studied Pharmaceutical Science and took a course under the auspices of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. He is also a Pharmacy Dispenser, and a qualified First Aider. His knowledge of the world of medicine and nutrition complements his knowledge of physical training.
He credits his mother with introducing him to a subject he loves; martial arts. As a child, he learnt the Chinese White Crane Fist Kung Fu - a traditional martial arts under the respected instructor, Bob Stannells.
Alyas says, “I’ve done and still partake in a mixture of martial arts such as Boxing, Muay Thai, Grappling (Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), Preying Mantis, Wing Chun and Escrima. I decided to incorporate some parts of those martial arts to make them more effective at street level for self-protection and come away from traditional and competition- based rules. I developed my own system through my experience of martial arts and security protection.
I built an effective system to develop someone quite quickly, not in a complicated way. I love martial arts and they all have some benefits. But they tend to divert from the reason for being produced in the first place.
I drew on disciplines like Warriors Escrima under Krishna Godhania and Kamon Wing Chun under Kevin Chan who are great teachers, also friends well versed in other combat systems. I used the same concept as Bruce Lee; use what’s useful and discard what’s useless.”
Alyas’s discipline is “D-Fence (Urban Strategic Combat System).”
It takes around a year to become proficient in it, depending on the frequency of the lessons. “In a year you get a foundation base which will be more than enough to use if you need it,” says the lean, softly spoken instructor. Alyas teaches an armed and unarmed system.
“I teach how to use weapons, how to defend against weapons; like knives, swords, sticks and firearms- the weapons prevalent today. I don’t condemn carrying weapons, but knowing how to use them gives confidence in knowing how to deal with them. The idea comes from thinking like an attacker.”
The D-Fence system is most suitable for teens upwards, says Alyas. “Understanding reflexes and non pattern flow drills are key to the development of an individual. There is no one best system. A child should start in any martial art to give them a foundation. Mine is a follow on; you learn how to crawl before you can walk.”
The D-Fence system can be important for Asians. “Asians have started to do more in the martial arts arena,” he says, “but this is a useful arena for Asians to learn something different.” Alyas knows that his community gives top priority to studying.
“A lot of Asians are pushed into studying, but there should be a balance. They need to be directed into some sort of activity-based exercise that will develop them and also improve their studying. It will develop their reflexes and make them more confident. They will be able to protect themselves. There still is racism today and there will always be problem-causing elements so they will always be a target to some degree. It’s important to build confidence and to learn. It’s not just for them. It’s for the people around them; their family, friends and anyone who needs help.”
Finally, Alyas opens up about his greatest challenge.”My greatest challenge is to prove myself as an individual and to prove that, as an Asian, I have as much knowledge and expertise as anyone else. Sometimes, Asians are not the first choice. The challenge is to become the first choice and overcome that. Through interacting, through showing what I know, through how people see me, I can change the picture of who I am. People hide behind an image. We need to take away the image and show that underneath we are all the same. “
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“Activity-based exercise will develop them and also improve their studying,” Alyas Yasin.
