Karen Sterling (Blaze Firewalking)

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO?

Blaze is aimed at initiating innovative mind expanding experiences for individuals and groups as well as bringing teams together, enhancing communication, raising huge amounts of money for charities and at the same time having a great time!

The Blaze approach is fundamentally different. Through their unique skill sets and ways of viewing things, they have been instrumental in enabling participants to look to the future more creatively and to develop dynamic strategies and organizational solutions. Far more than a ‘chalk and talk’ course or the ‘walking memo’ approach, Blaze are committed to a ‘total impact’ presentation, firmly believing that the most profound ‘learnings’ are in the ‘doings’

The major event that we have introduced to the UK over the last 27 years and utilised to great effect with many major charities is the Blaze Firewalk Challenge. This is an inspirational and barrier-breaking experience for all concerned! In simple terms, sponsored individuals, after a motivational training session, walk across 20 feet of wood embers burning at 1236 degrees Fahrenheit without experiencing any pain or injury at all!

The fundraising aspect has proven very positive. It is not unusual for an individual to raise £1000 or more! With something of this nature people are more inclined to offer higher sponsorship than you would get for a normal sponsored walk or similar event, In addition to raising funds, the participants find the experience to be empowering, inspirational and horizon expanding to say the least! The effects of the motivational training session have long lasting benefits in their personal life, with increased awareness of how to achieve their goals, an enhanced view of their potential to succeed and a general ability to recognize when Fear is preventing them from moving forward in their lives. 

After all – If you can walk on fire – What else can you achieve if you put your mind to it?

Professionalism and safety are the keywords at Blaze. We have an impeccable safety record. Our safety checks and procedures are second to none. Our teams are the most experienced anywhere, and the fact we are most proud of is, that out of all the events we have facilitated and of all the people we have trained for events, not one refused the opportunity to firewalk which is a testament to our approach and professionalism.

If you think that firewalking is necessarily a solemn affair, let us show you just how entertaining it can be. If you want an enjoyable, fun event, which is both “Laugh out loud” funny yet thought provoking, not to mention utterly different from anything you have seen before, then this is the event for you. The training session we deliver will be specifically tailored to the size and characteristics of the participants, the venue and any special requirements that you may have.

Firewalking is genuinely thrilling. Everybody finds their first firewalk not only great fun but thoroughly exhilarating too. What is more, everyone who takes part will discover for themselves the truth about firewalking. It could easily be the most memorable, enjoyable and fun event you have ever, or will ever, organise. Your supporters will never forget it and will be talking about it for a long time afterward.

Glasswalking: Shattering Illusions

Have you got what it takes when it comes to the crunch? Attend this workshop and learn to make fear your friend.

Walk barefoot across 15 foot of broken glass without any pain or injury – GUARANTEED

The interesting thing about Glasswalking is that anyone can do it!  The hardest part isn’t walking on the glass; it’s a matter of walking through the wall of fear that hangs around you, that inhibits you.

What is Glasswalking?

Until recently, Glasswalking has been the exclusive domain of mystics and fakirs, versed in the ancient disciplines of yoga and the martial arts. The methods have been hidden from prying eyes in order to promote magical myths about those people fortunate enough to share in the secret “knowledge” – initiated few

When a human being manages to pay attention 100% on what he/she is experiencing, something unique and spectacular happens. When we commit 100%, no part of our mind can “wander off”: We become the experience itself.

To walk barefoot on razor sharp pieces of broken glass is an “extreme” way to reach this total “is-ness”, the here and now, thus learning to be completely awake and present in the many daily challenges. It is almost a Zen practise which totally focuses you “in the moment”.

What is Board Breaking?

It’s the practise of shattering a one inch thick pine board with only your bare hands!!!

This action packed event is perfect to create the impact needed to breakthrough whatever has been holding you back from being, doing or having whatever you really want in your personal relationship, your career and/or your life.

Attendees learn to tap into their reservoirs of personal power and effectiveness when facing an ‘obstacle’ (a wooden board) and learning to break through it with their bare hand!

Not only is it an empowering experience, it forces participants to change their mental perceptions in order to overcome challenges.

Overcome challenges that are impeding top performance.

Turn the power of mental focus into measurable results.

Thrive with change by changing perception.

Achieve goals with 100% focus.

By using the powerful metaphor of board breaking, you will break through your limiting beliefs and power forward to new, inspiring realities.

The Breakthrough workshop provides the challenges and techniques to break the chains on your brains and achieve the seemingly impossible.

The techniques, exercises and concepts are Ours.

The achievements will be all Yours.

History

The creator of Blaze was Martin Sterling. A career martial artist, he learnt the art and science of firewalking on a research trip into Indian martial arts in 1983.He studied the art at the feet of the masters in India for many months before returning to the UK in 1984. The first ever recorded fundraising firewalk in the world was held by Martin Sterling on the 5^th of November 1984 for his martial arts group, there were 17 participants and we are still in contact with 12 of them today. Blaze has been running events involving firewalking since that time.

Blaze Instructor Training

As far as accreditation is concerned, the reality is that there is NO recognised, legitimate credential in the teaching of firewalking. There are various bodies which offer 'certification' at a price but that certification is not worth the paper it is written on. (Compared to the legitimacy of a driving license or an NVQ in anything at all) The most reliable way to check out a firewalk instructor is to talk directly to 100 of their previous clients. Experience is the criteria on which to base your judgment, not paper.

Now, compare this 'be an expert in a week course' with the THREE YEARS it takes for a Blaze instructor to qualify for their teaching license. A rigorous training programme includes having to work their way up from fire team to head fire team, also to have tended at least 200 separate firewalks before they begin their Firewalking Instructor’s training. Blaze teaching licenses are renewed at six monthly intervals as a measure towards controlling the quality of firewalking instruction. Since we started our training programme for firewalking instructors, we have qualified only nine people to that position in 27 years. Of those, five are actively working for Blaze. We always reserve the right to strip an instructor of their Firewalking teaching license. Because we don't "sell' the right to teach - it always remains a discretionary thing that we can revoke at any time. What Blaze giveth, Blaze can taketh away!

We do not run instructor training courses to the general public. We do not view it as a 'commodity' to be sold or to be a job for 'weekend experts'.

We have even been called as expert witnesses in three cases on behalf of the prosecution for injuries received whilst firewalking with other companies and have advised the Health and Safety Executive on the safe management of firewalks.

I was a registered nurse for 22 years, working in surgical, A&E, Trauma and yes even a Burns Unit  I spent the last 11 years of nursing as a Sister in Intensive Care.

I am incredibly proud of our 100% safety record at Blaze, we only have happy faces, healthy mucky feet, raising awareness of the charity and raising much needed funds.

As well as my nursing qualifications, I'm also an NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, EFT Practitioner specialising in fears, phobias and pain management. I also study Human Behaviour, Body Language, Micro Expressions and recently Forensic Linguistics - its usually at this point that people sit on their hands and adopt a bland expression :-) Despite this I've dont win at poker, take off my specs and after a couple of ciders I cant see beyond my cards! It was at a poker game that I lost a bet and the forfeit was to dye my hair red. That was two years ago I've kept it because not many people forget a tall, red headed, Scottish firewalker.

I absolutely love what we do, I get to meet the most amazing people who have raised an enormous amount of money for a cause that close to their heart, which is why our training has relevance and meaning. We want to show them exercises that can be applied to their every day lives if they choose to, small changes that get better results. If I'm not the trainer, I'll be on the fire team. I would never expect anyone to do something I'm not prepared to do myself, which is why I always walk first, fire and glass.