Participated in the ‘push hands’ workshop and intend on starting some regular classes. Jim is a great instructor, makes the learning fun and did a great job of keeping what may seem like an intimidating experience, light-hearted while still sharing valuable knowledge to help build confidence for those like me who are beginning their martial arts journey. Would highly recommend!

Just completed a workshop at Raw Combatives. Great instruction in a truly fun environment. Jim Armstrong is an incredible teacher with the rare ability to demystify profound concepts and then create exercises to make learning them immediately engaging; never a dull moment! Whether you are new to martial arts, or have trained for years, I can't recommend Jim and his crew too much.

Just had my first stick fighting lesson with Jim. This was absolutely brilliant, where Jim is an expert Instructor, as well as being a really nice person.. We worked on elementary technique from warmups to basic movement.. but at all times with consideration for overall health and a calmness that will support all other parts of my Life. Cant wait for my next lesson. Thanks Jim

An immersive hands-on class with a great sense of play and exploration. I really enjoyed the friendly and welcoming community as well! Jim is an engaging and real teacher with insights to share from many directions. Whether it is developing physical practice, somatic enrichment or psychological strength there are many gems to be found here. Highly recommended!

Great place, great people and Jim is an amazing coach, trainer and mentor. You always leave with more knowledge than when you arrived, taught to you in way that makes perfect sense. Highly recommended!!!

Jim has been teaching my 11 yearold son Huddy self defence for a few years now. Jim is amazing, he is one of the best self defence teachers and more importantly a fantastic person and role model for Huddy. He has so much fun whilst learning valuable self protection and life skills. He is always asking me when the next session is with Jim. Thanks Jim for everything you do for Huddy and me, it is much appreciated.

I went to attend Raw Combatives bare bones Ground work Structure, balance and movement work shop the other day. I arrived early and meet Jeremy de Silva (jezz) who made me feel very welcome right from the start that was good since I've never meet anyone from down there before. I got introduced to everyone and then Jim took the time to come over and work with me directly at the start. I found him to live you to the RAW side of the personality straight up. He has a great out look on life and very unique outlook on body movements. It was a pleasure to learn from that group and I highly recommend them.

My first encounter with Jim brought back a quote from a book I had read ages ago (The Illuminatus! Trilogy): "They haven’t mastered the Gita: the art of fighting with a loving heart." Jim clearly has. He has also mastered teaching with a loving heart, which can become learning with a loving heart if you give it a serious try. Sometimes, self protection can feel like a dark place filled with paranoia, hate and anger. There is a better way to approach this subject, and Jim has found a unique way to share it. He gets rid of useless dogma and helps you explore your body and mind to transform you into a person anyone will regret attacking. If you embrace the change he offers, you will live in a sunnier place and enjoy more degrees of freedom - regardless whether violence crosses your path or not. I have spent more than three decades in the martial arts/self defence space, and I can honestly say I have never enjoyed anything similar.

I've been training martial arts for over 30 years. Recently I started diving deeper into real self defence, not restricted by rules, no hocus pocus stuff. And after years of searching I found Raw Combatives. The tip came from my mate who lives and trains in Europe! Jim is an absolute legend, very experienced and knowledgeable. By experienced I mean the real thing, he's certainly done the hard yards. On top of all of that, he also teaches amazing mental resilience and incorporates it neatly into his Raw Combatives. If you want to learn how to truly defend yourself, how to be confident and stand your ground, how to be resilient, then Jim's Raw Combatives is definitely your path forward.

Giving Raw Combatives 5 stars is definitely not fair enough. I had the pleasure of experiencing Jim´s teaching skills in a workshop in Germany and even though I had absolutely no idea of self-defense I felt totally connected with the group and the topics Jim brought up. Jim´s approach is fun, knowlegeable, rough, personal, comforting. All at once. An unforgettable experience indeed!

My son Jack was unfortunately physically assaulted early this year , however what has come of that is that he has met Jim , who is just an awesome, kind , caring guy. Jack has been doing 1:1 Self Defence classes with Jim for a number of months now. Jack hit it off with Jim straight away and Jack has been learning so much from the class, his confidence has soared, his now back catching public transport and feeling more in control of himself and the ability to fend off if he has too. I highly recommend Jim and the self defence classes, especially the 1:1. Jack gets taken there by support workers who have also said wonderful things about Jim and his ease at being able to connect with all types of people. We are very happy and Jack loves and looks forward to going ever week . Highly recommend getting in touch with Jim . Marion and Jack

I have been training with Jim for many years and I continue to benefit from his unique style of teaching combatives and martial arts which is delivered in a friendly, safe and supportive environment. I had no background in any form of martial arts when I started training in my late 30's but since then Jim has drawn upon his deep knowledge and experience to train me in boxing, kickboxing, combative techniques and real world self defense. But that is just one dimension of the benefits I have received through Jim's training. I have been able to rectify my body mechanics and posture, improve my mobility and have become more aware and focused on better breathing. Jim's focus on mindset and thought patterns have simply been a game changer for me. His multi-dimensional approach to teaching has directly led to improvements in my life. This is a key reason why I continue to come back year after year to train with Jim. I highly recommend Jim to anyone who is looking for the whole package in one person.

I went to a push hands seminar with Jim Armstrong and what I learned definitely deepened my practice. I came away with alot more than just increased technical skills as Jim presented martial arts as a foundation for living a better life everyday, all day. I have been practising the simple, straightforward methods presented in the seminar and they are making a noticeable difference in my life. Jim is a terrific teacher, knowledgeable and humorous. It is obvious that he lives his teachings. Highly recommend!

Jim is an exceptional personal fitness trainer and mentor who is experienced and focused in your wellness. His ability to connect direct and learn all about you helps him understand in what to do to make you better. His extraordinary knowledge on physical fitness certainly makes you feel great after every session leaving you to walk away pumped with confidence.

Jim is an exceptional guy who is passionate about teaching his craft. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he uses to create a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on developing physical fitness, discipline, and self-confidence in his students. Over the last two years, My son has benefited greatly from Jim's expertise and guidance. Under Jim's tutelage, my son has improved his physical abilities and become more disciplined. He has also gained a sense of confidence in his abilities that has spilled over into other areas of his life. What sets Jim apart from other instructors is his ability to connect with his students on a personal level. He takes the time to get to know each student individually and tailors his approach to their specific needs and learning style. This personalized approach has helped my son to feel comfortable and confident in his abilities, allowing him to feel great about himself. Thank You Jim

I give 5 stars to Raw Life My son has been training with Jim since August 2022 and loving it! Jim makes every session challenging (& somehow fun). Jim is definitely not your average personal trainer. My son is achieving his fitness goals because of the personal attention given in every training session. Jim is always very encouraging and has a vast knowledge of his profession. I would recommend Raw Life to anyone looking to learn self defense or improve their fitness with dedicated trainers.

After doing Jim's boxing/kick boxing classes for the past 18 months, I stepped out of my comfort zone and attended one of his seminars. Jim creates an all inclusive environment that automatically makes you feel comfortable whether you have been doing this for decades or weeks. His approach to teaching and communicating is easy to understand, relaxed and relatable. A master at his craft! If you have ever been hesitant to do a class or seminar, take the plunge. Lots of fun and a great way to learn what you love.

Can't quite explain how fortunate I am to have had a training session with Jim. His methodology, understanding, outlook and delivery was simply stunning. I learnt so much and was genuinely gutted when the session ended. A brilliant man. I now have an additional toolkit to work with, and much to contemplate. If you read this and get the chance to train with Jim.....TAKE IT!! Massive thanks. S

Jim came down to our class and gave us a taster of his Barebones system. After 30 years plus training I have to say it was probably the most enjoyable training session I have ever had! It was a real eye opener and got me questioning not just my approach to combatives/self defence but also my daily interactions....basically just to be "fooking better". Just awesome, if you get the opportunity to train with Jim just do it, you won't regret it!

Jim is an awesome trainer, very knowledgeable and he provides a completely different on Combatives. He creates a great atmosphere and it is fun to train with him. Dr. Ralph Lubich, Chief Punching Bag of Urban Combat Academy, Frankfurt

I attended Jim's seminars in Germany/Karlsruhe last week. Jim is a great instructor! his knowledge and teaching methods are awesome! If you get the chance, I would highly recommend training with him.

I attended a two day seminar in Karlsruhe / Germany with Jim. He is a great teacher who has a very high level of professional and social skills and also implements this in the classroom. Jim teaches how to move more efficiently, not just muscle power..... So I was able to take a lot of useful information home with me. I can definitely recommend Jim and his seminars! That's why it gets 5 stars from me

I was lucky enough to attend a seminar with Jim where his passion, knowledge and ability to impart an incredible amount of teaching in a brief time was incredibly impressive. His belief in developing the character as well as the physical side of the techniques will stick with me. The session flew over and I hope I can get the opportunity to study with Jim again in the very near future.