Chief Instructor
Chief instructor 4th Dan 
Jamie originally began training at the age of 8 in Judo but was forced to stop after a year after suffering a broken leg (not in judo). With an interest in martial arts due to the influence of his father who was a martial arts follower himself, Jamie continued to look into various schools and styles but nothing really grabbed him until he found Taekwondo. Training in Taekwondo was where Jamie’s martial arts journey was to start. In 1998 he achieved black belt 1st Dan with the T.A.G.B, the largest taekwondo group in the country at the time. After Jamie’s club split from the T.A.G.B, he continued his training with the Professional Unification of Martial Arts achieving second Dan but felt like he needed a change.” I had trained hard for many years but felt as though something was missing from what I was learning so I decided I needed to look into other styles of martial arts to practice, this is where my training took a massive turn, I found a fantastic Instructor who taught Thai Boxing and many other arts, this was what I was looking for!”. Training in his new club Jamie realised that most of what he had learned would not prepare him for this level of martial arts. His fitness would greatly improve along with the wealth of knowledge he would receive from his new instructor. Training 4 – 5 times a week plus private tuition most weekends Jamie soon began to learn the things he had only previously seen, things like The amazing pad work drills from boxing and kickboxing, judo and ju-jitsu, trapping from wing chun Gung-fu, Filipino arts including the sticks and Blending the arts using a system called progressive fighting systems plus so much more. Jamie eventually achieved his first rank in this style being the first person to achieve this level within total fighting systems.
Wanting to carry on with his previous training in Taekwondo, Jamie wanted to blend some of what he was learning with the traditional side of the arts. It was at this point that Jamie found Sensei Mark Junday, an instructor from the Midlands and president of Black belt academies of Great Britain. Sensei Junday was a world and European champion at that time and a school owner in Coventry. Looking to start teaching, Jamie thought he was equipped to Instruct as he had previously taught Taekwondo with his old club for years. Jamie soon realised that being a black belt did not qualify you to teach as Mr Junday soon pointed out when his knowledge of running a school was overwhelming. Joining Sensei Jundays organisation was the best thing Jamie could have done for his new to be students. On opening Jamie Woodlands black belt Academy in 2001, he received masses of information and instructor tips and ideas which he never would have got before. Students were taught a complete mix of martial arts providing them with a higher level of fitness and expertise in the arts. With Sensei Jundays guidance the academy introduced various forms of weaponry and a new grading system that would push students to their limits. Jamie says of the gradings “Having graded at black belt level elsewhere I can safely say that the gradings with Mr Junday are without doubt one of the toughest physical gradings I have seen. To become a black belt with us takes something much, much more and is a true test of human spirit and determination. Having now taken my 3rd and 4th Dan with Mr Junday I can personally say this is tougher than any grading I have ever taken and really raises the bar for other martial arts groups” In 2006 Jamie achieved his dream and opened the first Full time martial arts studio in the area. For the first time he had the premises to teach in professionally. Kitted out with various punch bags, pads, matted floor and studio mirrors this was a major turning point for the club. Now students could train in the right environment, several times a week in a place that would become theirs. Jamie believes that it is this level of professionalism that has seen over 40 students now achieve black belt 1st Dan, nearly all of whom continue to train regularly, and countless students becoming champions in competition. At this time Jamie teaches over 300 people every week in the Norton Radstock area and this number is still growing. He is constantly contacted to bring his demo team to functions across the area, to give talks and teach within local schools and to bring his unique style of teaching to those who can benefit. In 2007 Jamie won Instructor of the year from black belt academies of Great Britain (BBAGB). Jamie believes that it is important for instructors to continue to achieve and maintain their skills to the highest level. Equally important though is what they will do for the student. Jamie says “Our way of instructing here at my academy is to instil the attributes of discipline, respect, confidence, motivation, humility and hard work but to do it in a fun and rewarding way. Many parents comment on the balance we use regarding discipline. When a student is maybe not listening as they should or using their energy in a negative way, we will point out what they are doing wrong but then encourage the student with positivity. Our methods will leave a child not dwelling on something done wrong but proud of all the things they do right. I personally feel that having been a part of many other so called ‘leading schools’ that this approach is missing from all of them which is why we have the success we do and the large number of students regularly coming to our school. The academy is definitely leading the way thanks to instructors like the following:
Black Belt Instructors
- Sarah Smart
- Dave Smart
- Karen Fielden
- Mark Fielden
- Daniel Woodland
- Rebecca Lynch
- Taylor
- Jed
- Katie
- Calum