Welcome to the website of the World Combat Association (WCA).
2023 sees the 30 year anniversary of the founding of the UK’s British Combat Association (BCA) by Peter Consterdine and Geoff Thompson; an organisation that changed the face of martial arts, not only domestically but in a wider international context.
Whilst we started the BCA as a ‘home’ for instructors who felt they had reached a ceiling within their existing organisation, particularly for wanting to research practical issues, we had other key principles that we started and have maintained consistently for the intervening 30 years.
The first of these principles was NO POLITICS. Having seen, first hand, the destructive effects on the UK Karate scene of ‘power politics’, Geoff and I were committed to providing a home for instructors and students where an apolitical atmosphere would pervade and where freedom existed for, say, a karateka to train in Judo, or a grappler in punching and kicking systems.
We actively encourage our instructors to look outside the BCA, if necessary, to other groups who may be practising a system that will fit with the individual’s needs. The WCA is run on exactly the same non-political lines. Our view has always been that if you build walls around people, they will only ever look for ways to climb over them.
The other guiding principle we wanted to establish was to create a ‘family feel’ to all our Associations. This we have achieved and I know of no other organisation that has such a friendly, helpful atmosphere, particularly given the awesome ability of our senior instructor cadre.
“These are the principles we have brought to the WCA.”
Peter Consterdine Chairman & Chief Instructor
Iain Abernethy Chief International Coach