Mother of two Sarah began training with the club from its beginning in 2001. Along with her husband and two children, Sarah became one of the original students to progress to black belt. As someone who is a very nervous person at grading time, Sarah showed true grit and determination to achieve black belt with the added pressure of being quite unwell the week of the grading.

Whilst working with many children both pre school and secondary, Sarah was the first most obvious choice to teach within the little ninja program and continues to teach them to this day. She continues to help instruct in adult classes and is a member of the theory section on the grading panel.

Dave originally came along to watch his wife and children train in the early days of the club then decided he would give it a try himself. Training regularly since 2001 Dave achieved his black belt in 2005 along with wife Sarah and son Thomas making it a real family achievement. A keen footballer Dave’s fitness level was very high anyway which was demonstrated in his relentless work ethic in all areas of training and his tough sparring ability.

One of Dave’s and wife Sarah’s many qualities which is always apparent to others is how they will always put themselves out to help others, whether that would be in the academy or not. Dave gave up many hours to help renovate the premises in turning it into the academy we use today. He is also a member of the grading panel.

Karen is also one of the original Students of the club starting at much the same time as Sarah. Originally Karen came along to the classes with her two daughters Katie and Victoria and later husband Mark. Karen achieved her black belt in 2005 and not unlike Dave and Sarah showed a dedicated training ethic leading up to the grading and really achieved a fantastic level of expertise and fitness.

Karen assists teaching both junior and adult classes and is a member of the xtreme martial arts group and the 2008 demonstration team. Along with Sarah Smart, the dynamic duo help prepare for the annual xmas presentation night where they cater for up to 300 people. Karen is also on the grading panel.

Known as the Terminator or military Mark for his full on approach to training, Mark started at the club after watching wife Karen and his two children take classes. He achieved his black belt in 2006. A motivational figure in classes he is popular for the way in which he pushes people to train harder with a no nonsense approach. He also trains extensively outside of the club with circuits and weights classes. Mark has competed at numerous competitions taking away silverware at many events.

Like many of the other instructors he plays a key role in the running of the academy taking both junior and adult classes and supporting all of the clubs events, demonstrations and tournaments. Mark is on the grading panel and calls the commands for the students on grading day.

Daniel started his training a couple of years after Jamie with the T.A.G.B but was not impressed with martial arts at that time due to being injured by the seemingly uncontrolled instructor in his first lesson. Years later he decided to try martial arts again and came along to the academy. In 2006 he achieved his black belt with an A pass. It was towards this time that he delved into his training a lot more and started implemented more diverse training methods into his routine. As an assistant instructor with junior and adult classes he is widely regarded as exceptional with his sparring, and his boxing/kickboxing skills are highly developed.

In a recent kickboxing competition he fought out a tough match with a former Muay Thai champion whom many thought he had beat but lost the decision. Never the less he still has an impressive haul of medals in martial arts and also football and golf.

Becky started her training at the club in 2003 after watching her two daughters take part in the little ninja classes. A keen netballer she had always wanted to train in martial arts and decided to give it a go.Like many other people that later join our academy, she had tried classes elsewhere but had left with a bad experience of martial arts due to poor instruction and unprofessionalism.

After seeing how well her daughters had settled into the classes and the friendly but professional approach from the instructors, she now had the environment in which to progress. Passing most belt tests with the highest A pass she achieved black belt in 2008 with the highest grade again. Also in that year she became British sparring champion and patterns silver medallist.

Becky also has a pre school background with an early year’s level 3 qualification, so was an obvious choice to instruct in little ninja classes and also junior and adult classes. In 2008 Becky earned her diploma in sports therapy, massage and injury rehabilitation and nutrition and also became a registered personal trainer and was placed on the register of exercise professionals. She now brings that expertise to the club providing a method of ensuring those who utilise her skills can maintain optimum health and fitness levels.

15 year old Taylor has come up through the junior classes achieving many accolades and awards along the way. Always performing well in competition and at grading, the Bruce Lee fanatic had his toughest trial at his 2007 black belt grading. Over the two weeks of the test and some of the toughest training during his 5 years at the club, Taylor found his energy levels were low and getting lower but he didn’t know why. Never the less he achieved the highest marks achieving his black belt.

A week later doctors told him on admission to hospital that he had the most severe strain of diabetes. Continuing his training and monitoring his diabetes, he is a great role model for all at the club proving that something as difficult as diabetes won’t stop him. Taylor helps teach on a Saturday with little ninjas and juniors and also trains in the masters program, the toughest of the training classes.

Jed began his training when the club first opened in 2001. At that time he was a very shy and quiet 7 year old who obviously was lacking in a bit of confidence. At that time he was seeing doctors who were trying to help a problem with his upper body strength which had probably occurred since birth.

Over the coming years he struggled with the physical side of training due to this but never the less wasn’t deterred. In 2007 Jed achieved his Black belt and has really impressed others in class with his complete physical turnaround.

He is now extraordinarily powerful as a junior and performs the most difficult techniques seemingly easy. He is a member of the academy demonstration team with his amazing use of the nun chaku and assists the instructors helping other juniors including his two younger brothers.

Daughter of Mark and Karen, Katie was an original junior member of the academy. As a shy 14 year old, Katie was probably unaware of the amazing talent for martial arts she possessed. With fantastic kicking ability and techniques that inspire most people who know her, Katie achieved her black belt in 2006.

Studying at Plymouth University at the time she has now returned to the club with her degree and for the time being is the welcoming face of our reception desk

Calum started as a junior along side fellow assistant instructor Jed and was much the same in that he was very quiet and a little shy. He is true testament to the confidence that can be built training at the academy. Achieving his black belt in 2006 he has continued to flourish and show the true qualities of a black belt, he is very respectful, still quiet but modest of the fantastic level he has achieved and a really great role model for all of the students who meet him.

Calum assists the instructors with Tuesday’s little ninja’s classes.