My first joy and experience of unarmed combat was boxing, I trained regularly with my brother who boxed for the army and little did I realise at the time he practiced on me! We were both very committed, the training included heavy weight training schedules.

This led to me taking up weight training more seriously (for 10 years), occasionally training with world champions, which was very inspirational and believe it or not I won various inter club competitions. However, as much as I enjoyed the weight training I missed unarmed combat and tried both Karate (for 2 years) and Judo (for a year), although I enjoyed the sessions it wasn't really for me. In 1995, I then saw an advert promoting Taekwon-do and decided to go and have a look and from that day on it released a new lease of life and have not looked back since. I met some very friendly and dedicated people, which included (Mr & now MrsTizick). I also trained with Mr Keith Hutchinson, who was very competitive; we tended to push each other, (a little too far sometimes) but it was in the true spirit of taekwon-do.

Our instructor Mr Paul Footman III (GTF) was very disciplined and demanded we performed high standards every time! Our club was very successful when entering competitions; I personally won the open English championship in 1996 and various team tournaments with my colleague Mr Tizick. I reached black stripe with Mr Footman and took my gradings under Master Oldham. Sadly Mr Footman left and the club finally closed.

I then joined the UKGT federation training with Mr Barry Parson VI. Mr Parsons again demanded very high standards and is an outstanding taekwon-do technician with an exceptional club record within the tournaments circle. I thank Mr Colin O'Donnell II and Mr Duncan Hogg Snr II, who persevered and helped me in achieving my first milestone 'black belt first degree'. I progressed and became an instructor under Mr Parsons who guided and supported me in achieving my 2nd/3rd degree and graded under Master Sahota.

Having spent seven very happy years training with Mr Parsons, like many martial artists, to improve to the next level I set up an academy with Mr Tizick. As like my previous instructors Mr Footman and Mr Parsons, we maintain and demand very high standards. Our academy currently has over eighty hard working, enthusiastic and talented members that give no less than 100% effort. We're very proud of you ALL.

Favourite Techniques

· Turning/Reverse turning kick combination
· Jumping back kick

Qualifications

§ Certificate in Education
§ A1 Assessors Award
§ BTC/UKGT Instructors Course
§ First Aider

Achievements

Attended the following Seminars
· Grand Master Park Jung Tae IX
· General Choi Hong Hi IX
· Master Choi Jung Hwa

English Open Champion 1996

GTF Coventry teams tournament winners 1996

Coventry v Northampton Team Winners 2003

UKGT 1st degree black belt

UKGT 2nd degree black belt

UKGT 3rd degree black belt

UKGT/BTC /APTI Instructor

UKGT Tournaments Official

Instructor TST Martial Arts Academy