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Martial Arts History :
After many enjoyable years of training in styles such as, Judo as a child in Germany in the early 70’s, Boxing while serving in the Forces in the late 70’s, Hakko Ryu Ju-Jitsu in Ipswich Suffolk with Grand Master Col (Ret) Roy Jerry Hobbs Hanshi in the late 80’s. Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu in Caston Norfolk with Grand Master Kevin Pell Hanshi in the early 00’s.
And also enjoying courses in Tai Chi, Akido and the Filipino Martial Art Rapid Arnis.
I was then lucky enough to experience some very interesting and educational training schedules, seminars and sessions in several Karate styles including Shindo Ryu Shotokan Karate with Sensei Alfred Cassar 5th Dan and Sensei Mike Debarro 3rd Dan (Malta), Shukokai Karate with Sensei Bradley Grant-Smith 4th Dan (South Africa), then back in August 2008 I trained with the Kwon, Jae-Hwa Tae Kwon-Do Association with Gülabi Erkoc 4th Dan (Germany), who also invited us to watch a Demo at a special needs school. And of course sharing many competitions with my good friend and fellow UKASKO / UKMAF member Julius Manyoni 5th Dan where our students have great fun competing and making new friends.
Every single one of my training experiences have been exciting, educational and have resulted in new founded friends.
I moved to Caston a small Village just outside Watton. Upon searching for a close convenient Martial Art, I discovered that there was in fact a Tae Kwon Do Club training on a Friday evening at Her Majesty’s Hotel Wayland, in the Village of Griston no more than two miles from my front door. Perfect !
This was back in 1991, the Instructor, a charming young man and now very good friend Master Dave Robb 5th Dan, and as I was to soon find out, after my first Spar extremely talented too ! This left a marked impression on me, in more ways than one ! Tae Kwon Do had captured my imagination. This combined with the group of new friends I was soon to make at the Club was too strong a magnet. Hence I never got away !
Gradings in those days were held on a Wednesday evening, replacing the regular two hour training session and hosted by the very same charismatic and now friend for life Master Ian Soame 5th Dan. This reflects on how the Club has evolved and grown over the years. Can you imagine a two hour grading day ? Registration alone takes an hour !
I’m sure my two colleagues Ian and Dave can express their memories from their first Club grading too.
However, I remember mine all to well. The un-lubricated taste in my parched, saliva less mouth will stay with me forever. The smell, of the large unventilated, damp and for me cold (I think hot is normally cold though !) Do- Jang. On top of all that, I as we all do on our first grading, also had the uncertainty and coping with the unexpected playing on my mind.
Having graded in other styles, surprisingly the grading format is very different in each. The two different Ju – Jitsu styles I’ve trained with were obviously both grappling arts, as was Judo and through out the gradings you worked with your partner up close and personal, in one area on a couple of mats. Also very close to the Instructor, who’d occasionally intervene and physically show you what he’d want you to do. I guess the style that shares very similar grading experiences, as would be expected , is Karate. Just after I left school I trained with a Karate club at Wymondham, all be it on a smaller scale to what we experience with Saracens, the format was very similar. I find experience doesn’t take away the nerves, but how you channel the nervous energy is what counts. If anyone has been lucky enough to have shared a grading with fellow Instructor Michelle Rogers 3rd Dan, then they’ll have witnessed the channelling of nervous energy first hand !
I think though, the most important ingredient to any grading is to prepare well in the first place. Preparation is the route to success !
I passed my 1st Dan Black Belt in 1996 in Manchester, under the supervision of UKASKO / UKMAF Chairman Roy Stanhope 7th Dan. My 2nd Dan followed in 1998, my 3rd Dan in 2001, my 4th Dan was in 2005, and became a 5th Dan Master in 2010. I guess I must have had a real good feeling about SMA way back in the early days, as I jumped on the Instructor band wagon as early 1993 achieving my Level 1 coaching award. This was followed by my Level 2 Coaching award in 1998. In 2002 I had the honour of sitting alongside Roy Stanhope 8th Dan who assessed me and went on to award me my UKASKO / UKMAF Black Belt Dan Grading Examiner Qualification. In 2011 Grand Master Roy Stanhope 9th Dan appointed me a UKMAF National Coach a position I’ve accepted with the utmost honour, and hoping I can full fill all expectations. Having been appointed National Coach in the Spring I had the opportunity of leading the Great Britain Team to the WMAG / EMAG European Championships in the Autumn of 2011. The Great Britain Team was 20 in number and returned 40 Medals ! 12 of which were Gold ! 16 Silver and 12 Bronze. To say I’m proud of the Team is an understatement ! In October 2011 UKMAF / UKASKO Chairman and Grand Master Roy Stanhope 9th Dan awarded me the position of National Tournament Referee. Like all SMA Instructors I hold a valid 1st Aid Certificate. I have also been CRB checked.
I became a Full Time Professional Coach in 2008.
To date 2011, I have Coached 29 Students to 1st Dan Black Belt Level, 9 Students to 2nd Dan Black Belt Level, 3 Students to 3rd Dan Black Belt level and 1 Student to 4th Dan Black Belt Level.
As far as Coaching goes, this is something I could do from 08:00 to 20:00 every day for the rest of my life. The satisfaction I get from seeing a student progress through the grades or conquer their fears is second to none, and seeing the joy on their faces when they reach their goals has had many a tear running down my face.
Saracen Martial Arts has created ‘An Encyclopaedia of Tae Kwon Do’ CD ROM with the help of producer Dr Phil Davies and large numbers have been sold over the world.
Running Saracen’s Demo Team has it’s moments too ! Performing or asking the Team to, in a field surrounded by cows has got to be the low point ! However there have been many more high points that the Demo team have experienced. Performing on stage at the National Martial Arts Show ‘SENI’ in Birmingham at the NEC with and audience of 5000 must be up there. Having BBC ‘Radio 1’ host a Road Show encouraging you to ‘kick start healthy habits’ at the ‘Sportspark’ in 2004 saw the Demo Team perform again, with the likes of ‘Mcfly’ and ‘Girls Aloud’ looking on. This also gave ‘Radio 1’ DJ’s Scott Mills and Mark Chapman aka ‘Chappers’, along with News Reader Georgina Bowman the opportunity to experience first hand some self defence moves with my good self ! Performing at the ‘Royal Norfolk Show’ in 2008, 2009, 2010 and again in 2011 to an audience running into many thousands is another high point.
Other Media exploits I’ve undertaken are ‘Channel 4’s’ documentary ‘New Boy’ 2005, where I and Michelle Rogers 3rd Dan were asked to coach four young lads from differing backgrounds Tae Kwon Do, helping develop their self esteem and self confidence. BBC Radio Norfolk presenter’s Nicky Price and Roy Waller have taken part in self defence and conducted interviews to promote Safety / Awareness and SMA.
I have been lucky enough to have been blessed with three beautiful Daughters, all who train with the Club. Harriet 19 has reached 3rd Dan level and is a UKMAF National Judge, UKMAF Level 2 Coach, 2011 Double European & Double National Champion, Certified First Aider and CRB Checked. Leonie 18 has reached 2nd Dan level, and Georgina 11 has reached 1st Dan level and became a National Champion in 2011 too. When I sit down and reflect on times gone by, I still find it incredible that they have reached their respective levels in such a short time, and goes without saying I’m an extremely proud Father and Coach.
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