One of the Baldock Institutes champion wrestling teams, 1938
The combat sports school a division of the Todd Group has been involved in the sport of wrestling for over 90 years through our founder, the late Harry Baldock.
The headquarters facility in Dunedin has only had two chief instructors in 91 years, the late Harry Baldock and for the past 32 years Geoff Todd a military CQC/MSD Master-Chief Instructor.
The group is a primary training provider of European military CQC close quarters combat and MSD military self- defence.
The Baldock Institute has produced many wrestling champions and when Harry ended the competitive error of wrestling at the old headquarters facility, the training was still continued to a lesser degree.
The military catch and kill wrestling has always been part of our specialist military close combat training.
Geoff Todd began training from Harry in 1973 and from 1983 to 1986 worked closely with Harry in preparation to take over the facility.
This included being trained by Harry in unarmed combat, self-defence, fighting styles, combat sports
and physical culture.
The Todd Group’s direction was primarily focused on military armed and unarmed combat and military self- defence but we have always maintained our combat sports practices.
One of the schools of instruction with in the Todd Group is the Combat Sports School.
The combat sports school has trained many champions in wide ranging combat sports from boxing to wrestling as well as kickboxing, submission grappling and mixed martial arts.
Alan Rolton was the next generation head wrestling coach after Harry Baldock at the Todd Group, Combat Sports School.
Alan trained many national champions including Jessica Todd his most successful wrestler who won more than 20 National titles as well as gold medals at the down under games and Australia cup.
At the height of Alans coaching at the combat sports school there were more than 10 national titles held in a single season.
Some of the leading wrestlers included.
Craig Miller, Flo Rades, Jessica Todd, Drew Handcock , Lee and Ryan Van der Lem, Ben McKinlay, Oliver Wilson, Caleb Steven, Simon Ussher, Ben Herring, Scott Hewit, Joe Jansen, Vinnie Roxburgh.
Jessica Todd was Queen of the mat at two consecutive New Zealand grappling and wrestling Association National Championships winning all her wrestling and submission grappling matches.
Jessica Todd NZ Grappling and Wrestling Association Queen of the mat
Simon Usher a first-time competitor in wrestling competition at national championships took national open weight titles in both freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling.
Caleb Steven is a Todd Group phase 2 advanced CQC/MSD exponent and is the combat sports school head wrestling coach.
He also coaches competitors in submission grappling, kick boxing and MMA. .
He has competed in multiple combat sports codes and is a top coach with a considerable competitive background.
Caleb was coached in wrestling by Steve Wylie and is dedicated to growing wrestling at the Combat Sports School in Dunedin.
He is an innovative coach and developer of techniques and training concepts who attracts not only combat sports school members but also other combat sports stylists to his training sessions.
Caleb has taken wrestling training for our CQC courses including on our exported military CQC courses.
Caleb instructing wrestling in Thailand on the beach to military pers
The history and vibe of the old Baldock institute now the Todd Group provides a great environment for those that are serious about self-improvement and achieving their goals.
At the 2018 national wrestling championships at the Edgar centre in Dunedin a first-time wrestling competitor Joe Dobson took out both the freestyle and Greco Roman titles in the heavy weight division along with the trophy for the best Greco-Roman wrestler at the national championships.
Joe is also a phase 2 advanced CQC exponent who has been a Todd Group member for the past 12 years.
He adapted well to his first wrestling competition after less than ten hours of training and is keen to continue in the sport and assist with growing wrestling at the Combat Sports School.
Joe wrestling in Greco Roman at the 2018 National Championships
Caleb cornering Joe at the Nationals
Joe taking out the Freestyle title at the National Wrestling Championships 2018
Joe at Fight Times with his Best Greco Roman Wrestler trophy
After not putting teams in the National wrestling championships for several years and only deciding to a few weeks before the national championships our small and relatively inexperienced team of four males and one female wrestler all medalled.
The team was made up of Lewis Vaughan, Michael Casey, Joe Dobson, Conor Middleton, Paul Knight, Sylvia Amor.
Coach Caleb Steven and Manager Geoff Todd.
Harry Baldock always believed wrestling would come back to be a dominant combat sport and this has proven to be true through so many modern days champions being wrestlers.
Training will continue at the Combat Sports School through until the Christmas break and start up again in the New Year.
We are planning an end of year final small tournament with all wrestling clubs being welcome, inquiries [email protected]
Our team very much enjoyed attending the New Zealand National wrestling championships and our aim is to grow our competitive team and increase the interest in wrestling in Dunedin city.
