Like many other instructors I started because of my children. A very good friend of mine, Andy Perris, had trained with Red Tiger with his son for a few years and had encouraged me to come along, but at the time, with young children, it just didn’t fit in to a busy life. That all changed when Sensei Paul came and did an assembly at St Thomas’ School in Stockton Heath in September 2015. My son, Joey, who was 7 years old at the time was keen to start so I took him along. I lasted one week watching at the side before wanting to join in and my daughter, Luli, and wife Becky, both started the week after me.

Sensei Steve Dargan taught the Tuesday class and Sensei Brandon Lee taught the Thursday class and they both made it fun and challenging and I was soon hooked. I quickly set my sights on reaching my black belt! After a couple of years Sensei Brandon asked if I would like to start the assistant instructor programme. With some trepidation I started helping out in class and very soon, with guidance from Brandon, realised I loved it and found training with the other assistants every other month, under Sensei Mike Beckwith, fantastic.

Around that time Sensei Steve moved on and Sensei Callum took over his class. Anyone who has trained with Sensei Callum knows he is a machine! He inspired me to push myself more and his eye for detail rubs off on you! In July 2019 Sensei Brandon had to stop teaching his class due to a change in job circumstances. When I received the message from Sensei Paul, asking if I would take over the class, I felt very honoured and slightly overwhelmed, however, I accepted and soon settled in to teaching. Sensei Dave Robertson took over from Sensei Callum when he had to stop teaching in Stockton Heath, and again I felt I learnt so much from him, bringing a lot of fun along with hard work! When Dave had to step back from Stockton Heath Sensei Paul asked if I would take on the Thursday too, which I was delighted to do.