SPOT: Crawley Combat Academy

Send us Fan Mail SPOT: a slightly different format to the Roundtable discussions where we step back from the debate to Spotlight a social initiative, local event or charity. The Soapbox recently tackled knife crime with special guest Keith Collyer, Crawley Combat Academy. A knife threat isn’t just a physical problem, it’s a decision-making problem under pressure. We head to Tilgate Huts in Crawley to sit down with Keith and two coaches, Laura and Andy from Crawley Combat Academy, following on from our earlier conversation about knife crime, to dig into what realistic self-defence training actually looks like when the goal is simple: get home safe. Keith shares the academy’s story, from building classes across Sussex while working demanding shifts, to growing a full-time programme at Tilgate Park, and even pushing through the COVID shutdown by improving the space and preparing to reopen. We talk about his background in Wing Chun and modern systems, the challenge of instructor training, and how those experiences shape the club’s calm, practical approach to personal safety. Then we get into the heart of it: the psychology of knife threats. Keith explains why a threat, a demand and an attack are not the same situation, and why protocols, positioning, awareness and legal boundaries matter. Coaches Laura and Andy add their lived training perspective on desensitisation, scenario work, group attacks and the confidence that comes from knowing what “doing enough” looks like. If you care about self-defence in Sussex, knife awareness, street safety, or simply want a supportive place to train, listen now and tell us what you think. Subscribe, share with someone who walks home at night, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.