A History of the Club
Tae kwon do Instruction in Watton and Shipdham began in 1985, taught by Ian Soame, (the current Chief Instructor of SMA) under the umbrella of the Dereham and District Tae Kwon Do club.
Saracen Martial Arts was founded in 1988, by Ian and his co-instructor Ray Morley, after their Instructor Mr John Wright left Norfolk to start a new life for himself in Scotland. Ian and Ray ,already interested in the United Kingdom Martial Arts Federation (UKMAF) with it's Insurance schemes and coaching courses, decided to break from their colleagues in Dereham (formerly part of the Eastern Region Tae Kwon do Association, ERTA).
A senior student in the old club, Dave Robb, became Saracen Martial Arts' first Black Belt for Ian and Ray. Unfortunately Ray, who worked in the RAF, was promoted and posted to Germany. This handed the sole running of the club to Ian with able assistance from Dave Robb to continue the gradual expansion of Tae Kwon Do in the area.
The growth of the club accelerated following Black belt promotions in the mid 1990's of instructors , who then opened new clubs in both Norfolk and Suffolk. So it continues today with the many experienced and friendly team of Instructors who are proud to be part of the Saracen Martial Arts 'family'
Ian's Martial Arts History
Ian has been practicing Tae Kwon Do since 1982 and achieved 1st Dan in 1987 with the Ji Do Kwan, run locally in East Anglia by Master Richard Cox and club Instructor John Wright. Following a break up of the Association shortly afterwards, Ian joined the UKASKO / UKMAF in 1988 and was promoted to 2nd Dan in 1990.
Ian was in the UKMAF top ten Instructors since 1997, in the top five since 2001 and in the top two since 2003 (often being the top Instructor in the UK). This level of success has been made possible with the help and co-operation of the club's many capable Instructors.
In 2013 Ian and his Senior Team of Instructors took the difficult decision to leave UKMAF, certainly not through any issues with this wonderful Association, but that the time was right for the club to stand on it's two feet.
Ian has always maintained that the black belt gradings should be carried out by an Independent Grand Master - this not only gives the Black Belt candidates a greater experience, but this keeps Ian and his team 'on their toes' ! So it was fortuitous that through our International Competitions at the time we had struck a lasting friendship with Grand Master Freddy Kleinschwaerzer, who then agreed to be our Guest Examiner at our Black belt gradings .
Ian's Dan grading successes have culminated in his promotion to 7th Dan, in 2017, under Grand Master Freddy.
Apart from a 7th Dan Black Belt, Ian is a qualified Black belt examiner (Initially through UKMAF , latterly through KIAB) and Ian undertakes many Dan Gradings. Also holding a level 3 coaching course qualification (coaching assessment officer) Ian conducts regular Instructor Coaching courses.
Ian's success as Chief Instructor can be measured by the success of our Clubs students – which amongst the 269 Black Belt Dan Grade passes (as at December 2019) include 166 - 1st Dans, 61 - 2nd Dans, 22 - 3rd Dans, 11 - 4th Dans 6 - 5th Dans and 2 - 6th Dan Black Belts.
Ian founded Saracen Martial Arts in 1985 with Ray Morley, a serving NCO in the RAF. Following Ray’s departure to foreign soils, Ian took over the running of Saracen Martial Arts in 1988 with the capable assistance of Saracen’s First Black Belt, Dave Robb, now 6th Dan.
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.
Ian is married to Teresa and have 3 children- Portia , Connor and Sadie. Portia and Connor hold 2nd Dan Black belts (Sadie is quite handy with a hockey stick apparently!)
Dave's Martial Arts History
Dave started training with Master Ian Soame 7th Dan Black Belt in 1984 and achieved Black Belt status in 1989. This was followed by his 2nd Dan in 1996, 3rd Dan in 1999 , 4th Dan in 2003 and 5th Dan in 2008 . Dave was successful in achieving his Masters 6th Dan 2014. Apart from Tae Kwon Do Dave has enjoyed training in various Martial Arts, which have included Wingchun, Judo, Aikido, Rapid Arnis and Jujitsu.
Dave achieved his Level 1 Coaching in 1996, Level 2 Coaching in 1998 and his UKASKO / UKMAF Black Belt Dan Grading Examiner Qualification in 2000. Dave is also a qualified First Aider.
Dave was was Saracen Martial Arts first Black Belt and is currently running training classes at Great Hockham in Norfolk.
Dave married to Lynne (also a 5th Dan Master and Level 2 Coach) and has 2 children Lauren & Megan. Lauren & Megan are both 3rd Dan Black Belts.
Saracen Martial Arts - the name
Many people have queried the name 'Saracen' over the years. To help understand the reasoning behind the name, you need to know a little about the state of Tae kwon do in Norfolk in the mid 80's (plus a little bit of English history) :-
Tae kwon do was definitely taught as a 'hard' style, with a large element of contact, painful forced stretching and ancient warm up techniques. Many students were forced to stop training due not to accidents but to inadequate and inappropriate stretching and warm ups. This was the 'way it has always been done' and not for question.
During the Great Crusade, our Christian fighters called the Saracens (who were defending their holy land) the 'unbelievers'. This was because they did not believe in Christianity and had their own God. The Saracens did believe in a god but not the same one- and because of this we English considered them unbelievers. No one questioned their fighting ability though
At Saracen Martial Arts we did not believe that things always had to be done a certain way - Insurance for all should be encouraged, warm ups should reflect the most modern scientific ideas and that a Tae kwon do club should interact with other martial arts styles. We were the 'unbelievers' in the then current world of Tae kwon do and hence Saracen was adopted for the name of our association.
Of course recent history has proven us correct with most martial arts styles now being forced to modernise or risk the possibility of legal proceedings.
Tae kwon do is being taught with traditional respect and discipline, and with no weakening of techniques - they must still work. Just that members are all protected by quality insurance, Instructors undergo quality coaching qualifications and complacency is outlawed!
Tae kwon do Instruction in Watton and Shipdham began in 1985, taught by Ian Soame, (the current Chief Instructor of SMA) under the umbrella of the Dereham and District Tae Kwon Do club.
Saracen Martial Arts was founded in 1988, by Ian and his co-instructor Ray Morley, after their Instructor Mr John Wright left Norfolk to start a new life for himself in Scotland. Ian and Ray ,already interested in the United Kingdom Martial Arts Federation (UKMAF) with it's Insurance schemes and coaching courses, decided to break from their colleagues in Dereham (formerly part of the Eastern Region Tae Kwon do Association, ERTA).
A senior student in the old club, Dave Robb, became Saracen Martial Arts' first Black Belt for Ian and Ray. Unfortunately Ray, who worked in the RAF, was promoted and posted to Germany. This handed the sole running of the club to Ian with able assistance from Dave Robb to continue the gradual expansion of Tae Kwon Do in the area.
The growth of the club accelerated following Black belt promotions in the mid 1990's of instructors , who then opened new clubs in both Norfolk and Suffolk. So it continues today with the many experienced and friendly team of Instructors who are proud to be part of the Saracen Martial Arts 'family'
Ian's Martial Arts History
Ian has been practicing Tae Kwon Do since 1982 and achieved 1st Dan in 1987 with the Ji Do Kwan, run locally in East Anglia by Master Richard Cox and club Instructor John Wright. Following a break up of the Association shortly afterwards, Ian joined the UKASKO / UKMAF in 1988 and was promoted to 2nd Dan in 1990.
Ian was in the UKMAF top ten Instructors since 1997, in the top five since 2001 and in the top two since 2003 (often being the top Instructor in the UK). This level of success has been made possible with the help and co-operation of the club's many capable Instructors.
In 2013 Ian and his Senior Team of Instructors took the difficult decision to leave UKMAF, certainly not through any issues with this wonderful Association, but that the time was right for the club to stand on it's two feet.
Ian has always maintained that the black belt gradings should be carried out by an Independent Grand Master - this not only gives the Black Belt candidates a greater experience, but this keeps Ian and his team 'on their toes' ! So it was fortuitous that through our International Competitions at the time we had struck a lasting friendship with Grand Master Freddy Kleinschwaerzer, who then agreed to be our Guest Examiner at our Black belt gradings .
Ian's Dan grading successes have culminated in his promotion to 7th Dan, in 2017, under Grand Master Freddy.
Apart from a 7th Dan Black Belt, Ian is a qualified Black belt examiner (Initially through UKMAF , latterly through KIAB) and Ian undertakes many Dan Gradings. Also holding a level 3 coaching course qualification (coaching assessment officer) Ian conducts regular Instructor Coaching courses.
Ian's success as Chief Instructor can be measured by the success of our Clubs students – which amongst the 269 Black Belt Dan Grade passes (as at December 2019) include 166 - 1st Dans, 61 - 2nd Dans, 22 - 3rd Dans, 11 - 4th Dans 6 - 5th Dans and 2 - 6th Dan Black Belts.
Ian founded Saracen Martial Arts in 1985 with Ray Morley, a serving NCO in the RAF. Following Ray’s departure to foreign soils, Ian took over the running of Saracen Martial Arts in 1988 with the capable assistance of Saracen’s First Black Belt, Dave Robb, now 6th Dan.
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.
Ian is married to Teresa and have 3 children- Portia , Connor and Sadie. Portia and Connor hold 2nd Dan Black belts (Sadie is quite handy with a hockey stick apparently!)
Dave's Martial Arts History
Dave started training with Master Ian Soame 7th Dan Black Belt in 1984 and achieved Black Belt status in 1989. This was followed by his 2nd Dan in 1996, 3rd Dan in 1999 , 4th Dan in 2003 and 5th Dan in 2008 . Dave was successful in achieving his Masters 6th Dan 2014. Apart from Tae Kwon Do Dave has enjoyed training in various Martial Arts, which have included Wingchun, Judo, Aikido, Rapid Arnis and Jujitsu.
Dave achieved his Level 1 Coaching in 1996, Level 2 Coaching in 1998 and his UKASKO / UKMAF Black Belt Dan Grading Examiner Qualification in 2000. Dave is also a qualified First Aider.
Dave was was Saracen Martial Arts first Black Belt and is currently running training classes at Great Hockham in Norfolk.
Dave married to Lynne (also a 5th Dan Master and Level 2 Coach) and has 2 children Lauren & Megan. Lauren & Megan are both 3rd Dan Black Belts.
Saracen Martial Arts - the name
Many people have queried the name 'Saracen' over the years. To help understand the reasoning behind the name, you need to know a little about the state of Tae kwon do in Norfolk in the mid 80's (plus a little bit of English history) :-
Tae kwon do was definitely taught as a 'hard' style, with a large element of contact, painful forced stretching and ancient warm up techniques. Many students were forced to stop training due not to accidents but to inadequate and inappropriate stretching and warm ups. This was the 'way it has always been done' and not for question.
During the Great Crusade, our Christian fighters called the Saracens (who were defending their holy land) the 'unbelievers'. This was because they did not believe in Christianity and had their own God. The Saracens did believe in a god but not the same one- and because of this we English considered them unbelievers. No one questioned their fighting ability though
At Saracen Martial Arts we did not believe that things always had to be done a certain way - Insurance for all should be encouraged, warm ups should reflect the most modern scientific ideas and that a Tae kwon do club should interact with other martial arts styles. We were the 'unbelievers' in the then current world of Tae kwon do and hence Saracen was adopted for the name of our association.
Of course recent history has proven us correct with most martial arts styles now being forced to modernise or risk the possibility of legal proceedings.
Tae kwon do is being taught with traditional respect and discipline, and with no weakening of techniques - they must still work. Just that members are all protected by quality insurance, Instructors undergo quality coaching qualifications and complacency is outlawed!
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