Sam Wood - Chief Instructor  

I started kickboxing in my late twenties.  I'd done the usual keep-fit, gyms, aerobics, and swimming etc but found it difficult to stick to anything for more than a few months, bouncing up and down to music never seemed to be enough to keep my interest. 

My first Instructor was a guy called Jimmi Heys; I completely caught the Martial Arts bug and was hooked from day one and from Jimmi I learnt the most important foundations of the art.  

I was Self Employed working as a Driving Instructor at the time and the classes suited my schedules but I had to change schools when I went back to office work. Nine years of near death experiences with learner drivers was enough for me ... bit of an exaggeration but the job was certainly stressful.

I then went to a larger organisation, which unfortunately meant I had to start all the way back as ungraded as they didn't recognise the other school's certificates, so all the years of training and back to the beginning .........what a bummer! 

I worked my way back up to Black Belt, completed my Instructor Training and then finally gaining my level 1 instructor qualification.

In April 2007 I opened a club with another colleague but unfortunately as business partners we had different ideas on what we wanted to do in the club, so I left and off I went to start up again on my own.

October 2007 White Tiger was born.

Alongside the kickboxing my own personal development includes training in Self Defence, with Instructor Ian Harrison; Kali (stick combat) training with Sifu John Read and Kyusho Jitsu (pressure points) training with Instructor Jason Dorn (my qualifications are available on request). 

Whenever the possibility arises I try to get to courses whenever I can and have had the honour of training with Andrew Morrell, founder and principal of Cobra Martial Arts Association, Jason Dorn; President & Founder of Paragon Kickboxing Organisation, Dave Turton; founder of the Self Defence Federation, Chris Crudelli (TV's Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves), Professor Steve Stewart; founder of Kyusho International Alliance - Canada just to name a few!

I also hold Instructor Indemnity Insurance, an Enhanced CRB (police check), St Johns First Aid, ACS (Award in Coaching Studies) and am also a qualified Referee for both Semi-Contact and Light Continuous tournaments.

 

Qualifications

3rd Degree Black Belt Kickboxing

1st Degree Black Belt Kyusho Jitsu

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Basic Self Defence Instructor's Award

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Basics Ladies Self Defence Instructor's Award

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Adverse Situations & Gang Attacks Self Defence Instructors Award

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Children & Young Adults Self Defence Instructors Award

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Street Weapons Instructors Award

Self Defence Federation Diploma - Advanced Ladies Self Defence Instructor's Award

Graded In the Self Defence Federation

Graded in Kali (Stick Combat) 

Qualified National Referee

Enhanced C.R.B (Police Check)

FIrst Aid Trained (St Johns)

A.C.S (Award in Coaching Studies)

Instructor Indemnity Insurance