Instructors
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Name | John Atkin |
| Started Training | 1983 | |
| Status | Owner/Instructor | |
| Grades | Chief Instructor Advanced Fighting Chief Instructor Closed Combat Jujitsu 9th Dan Ninjutsu 4th Dan British Combat Association 4th Dan British all style Kickboxing
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| Skills Taught | Ninjutsu Traditional Weaponry Adult/Children Self Defence Stick & Knife Arrest & Restraint Grappling - MMA Kickboxing Thai Boxing Boxing Conditioning
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| Instructors | Brain McCarthy | 8th Dan Bujinkan Brian Dojo (past) |
| Keith Porter | 15th Dan Bunjinkan Ryuko Dojo (current) | |
| Geoff Thompson | 6th Dan British Combat Association | |
| John Dawson | 5th Dan Closed Combat Arena | |
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| Countries Trained in | All over the British Isles, Japan, Holland, America, Ireland, Norway.
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Trained with
Royce Gracie
Rigan Machado
Roger Machado
Ica Medina
John Will
Dan Inosanto
Bill Wallace
Neil Adams
Geoff Thompson
John Dawson
Massaki Hatsumi, Soke
Keith Porter
Brian McCarthy
Norman Smithers
Highlights
I would say my first highlight was receiving my 1st Dan in 1990, not saying 2, 3 and 4 meant nothing, but passing the Saaki test in Norway to gain my 5th Dan was a great achievement for me.
Meeting Geoff Thompson all those years ago is still a main highlight in my life, not only from a martial arts view, but also a personnel one. Receiving my 4th Dan personally from Geoff at a book signing is still a lasting memory and I never get bored of telling the story.
Meeting John Dawson and training with him for a long time is great, as us old men can pass great training techniques to and fro. Everyday we are always learning something new.
Meeting Grand Master Pellegrini (Hapkido) at my gym (BBD).
When Ronnie Green opened my gym in the Bigg market, I was awed at his skill and his friendly nature.
Meeting Ricky Hatton, Chris Eubank and Roberto Duran.
Going to America and having a chance to train with the machados, Ica Medina, John Will, Dan Inosanto and many more. Also meeting Michael Dudikoff, Eric Paulson and more Machado black belts.
In 2007 I was awarded the most innovative Instructor of the year by Martial Arts Illustrated, and was invited to train with Royce Gracie at M.A.I’s Clone Valley academy. To my delight I was asked once again to train with Royce on the 4th May 2008.
When Master Guba (Stick Fighting) just walked into my gym in High Bridge during a stick fighting class it was amazing to me, I was even more amazed when he started showed me his system.
My most recent highlight, and one I will never forget, is when I left my Gym and was on my way to the pub, I walked straight into BJ Penn. He asked me if this was my Gym and would it be possible for him to train, in private with his team, for his up coming fight with Joe Stephenson. The next day BJ phoned and came in to train, so I sat on my own and watched one of the best fighters in the UFC today, in his last training session before his fight, in my very own gym. Just as I thought he would BJ won the title in a great fight, which I also had the privilege to watch first hand at the metro arena.
Classes
Private Classes
Conditioning
Kickboxing
Grappling
Beginners Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
Weaponry
Children’s Classes
MMA
johnatkin24@btinternet.com
Phone
07876043480
