History

Martial arts schools in the late 70s were as not common as they are today.  Kung fu however was the main provider due to the Bruce Lee craze in the mid 70s.  It was then, that a young Steve Joseph practiced Martial Arts in London’s East End, which had increasingly become a mixed community with racial tensions running high.  As an outsider, the need to learn Martial Arts as a form of self-defense was more so in demand than for its discipline and respect.  It was very common for Steve to practice in one school of Martial Art and then go to another directly afterwards.  This was followed on numerous occasions by having to run home, due to being chased by various ‘skinhead’ gangs.

On one incident Steve sustained an injury from training, which caused him to limp on his way home.  He was again chased, but this time caught up by three members of a gang.  Steve fought back using the knowledge of his Martial training.  After a brief encounter, one member of the gang ran, followed by the other and finally the third.  Steve came away with minor injuries no worse than his previous one.  For the love of training he told his family that the bruises were sustained during class.

A few days after the encounter, Steve began to dissect the method of attack and the way in which he fought.  He realised that to fight effectively he needed to utilised strikes as well as throws.  Something he never did throughout any one of the classes he attended.  Although the encounter was a brief 20 to 30 seconds, the attack would have been dealt with more effectively if he knew also how to lock, box, footwork and apply the use of other techniques. He questioned himself continually as to which style of Martial Art was the best for street combat.  His conclusion was neither.  Since each style had its weaknesses and strengths, they all had something over the other to offer.  He began the search for the one art that could give him the answer for total self-defense. He realised that the answers did not lay outward, but inward, so he began to dissect the different forms, which he studied.

Over the years he took down notes read books.  Any material, which he found was helpful, was taken in. After a period he encompassed a total of over 600 books, 400 videos and over 4000 pages of sketches and notes.  Steve had something, which was new and called it his new method.  He did not want to label it as a style of Martial Art.  He thought however, that one day after practising his new method he would like to put it forward.  From the advice of an oriental training partner, his new method was given a more appropriate name. SUN KUNE DO, meaning NEW FIST WAY or NEW/MODERN FIST METHOD.  

In 1984, due to fear that he may be misunderstood by the Martial Arts community, Sun Kune Do was only taught to a handful.  However, if you wanted to learn, then Steve would teach.  As a result his numbers grew, with his pupils establishing their own schools.  In 1985, Sun Kune Do was brought forward and recognised by the Governing body, Amateur Martial Association recognised by the English Sports Council.  In that same year the British Sun Kune Do Organisation was formed, Steve was invited to give demonstrations of Sun Kune Do.  Its method of combined form of self defense attracted members of the Martial Arts community and that of the public. Sun Kune Do continues to grow in Great Britain and fast establishing schools abroad.