User:Chris Parker Martial artist

Martial arts
Chris Parker began training in the martial arts in Shotokan Karate in 1973 under Shiro Asano sensei in Nottingham. He moved to Cheltenham in 1976 where he met Bapak Guru Hajji Idris bin Alimuda, who introduced him to Malaysian Pencak Silat and became his life-long Guru. Several years later, Chris stopped training in Shotokan to focus only on Silat. The primary purpose of his study was to understand how to use Silat as a life art, applying apply martial principles in non-martial settings to the benefit of self, family, community and organisations.

In 2007 Bapak Idris named the art that Chris was teaching Silat Fitrah. Explained as ‘the Malay art of natural self defence’, Silat Fitrah comprises a simple syllabus based on a number of psychological and physical principles that encompass both martial and non-martial applications.

Publications
Fictional publications:

Amok. 1996. Paris Books. (Novel. Adult Fiction.)

Insights: Along The Warrior’s Path. 1992. Kris Publishing. (Short stories; martial philosophy.)

Kyoki. 1987. Malvern Publishing. (Novel. Adult Fiction)

Chaney's Choice. 1986. Malvern Publishing. (Novel. Adult Fiction.)

Chris Parker Martial artist
The last samurai with the wooden sword

Contributed to:
The Business of Sport Management. (2004) Beech J. Chadwick  S. (Eds)

Pearson Education. Harlow, Essex.

Total Strategy. (1999) Sondhi, R. Airworthy Publications. Bury, Lancashire.

Journalism:
Columnist and features writer for ‘Martial Arts Illustrated’ magazine 2010-2011 and 2001-2004.

Columnist for ‘Leisure Manager’ magazine 2006-2007.

Columnist & features writer for ‘Terry O’Neill’s Fighting Arts International’ magazine 1986-1996.

Other work:
Born Fighter. (2007) John Blake Publishing. (Ghostwriter for the autobiography of the legendary martial artist, Dave Hazard.) Harry. (1995.) Stage musical.

Scheduled publications:
Campaign It! with Alan Barnard. (Feb.2012) Kogan Page. London.

Five Essential Ingredients for Business Success. Stories and lessons from four of the UK’s greatest restaurants. (Jume 2012) Ardra Press. Hull.

Lecturing, Management training and Consultancy
Chris is currently Principal Lecturer in Sport & Leisure Management at Nottingham Trent University. He has a broad and varied background in teaching, training and development. He has taught on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes throughout the UK and Europe.

As a management trainer and business consultant, Chris has worked in many countries providing Communications, Leadership and Creativity training for a wide range of clients including blue-chip organisations, professional sports clubs, politicians, actors, nutritionists and health-care professionals, LEAs, universities and public and private leisure providers.

Chris began studying interpersonal communication as a result of meeting Bapak Idris in 1976. His MAPS training programmes (Martial Arts Principles for Success) are the result of his holistic approach to martial arts training and his on-going research into communication principles and skills.

Chris is a Licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and has an international reputation as a highly accomplished presenter and trainer.