Clear Mountain is a relatively new martial arts academy on the Isle of Man. It was established to provide no-nonsense training in the fighting arts. Our goal is mentor every student to develop their self-defence and combat skills and to earn the coveted Black Belt.

Clear Mountain is registered with and insured through the British Combat Association, which is run by Peter Consterdine and Geoff Thompson. Both of these men are legends in their own time. Through this association the instructors get to train regularly with the top martial artists in the world such as Karl Tanswell, Iain Abernethy, Russell Stutely, and of course, Peter and Geoff. Recently Bernard was granted a 2nd Black Belt by Russell Stutely. Russell is a member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the leading exponent of pressure points usage in combat in the UK and probably the world. His is a complete no-nonsense approach that combines pressure point knowledge with power generation to form a devastating fighting system called the Open Circle Fighting Method. This method is the basis of what is taught at Clear Mountain Martial Arts.

BERNARD DE BEER

Bernard is the founder and chief instructor. Bernard began his martial arts training in Tenshinkan Karate Do in 1983 in South Africa. He opened his first Academy in 1985. After attaining his Shodan (first degree Black Belt) Bernard became disillusioned with traditional martial arts. He believed that the Black Belt was the beginning of the martial arts path, not the end. He found, however, that most of the post black belt training was simply repeating what he had already learned. So he began to search for something more meaningful. After several years studying Wado Ryu he then trained for several more years in Ishin Ryu. At the same time Bernard also gained knowledge of Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Aikido.

Bernard used this diversity of knowledge in his classes which became very popular. He was also contracted to train security guards for a local college. In 2000 Bernard moved to the Isle of Man where he continued to train on his own until, in 2004 he was persuaded to open an Academy on the island.