CHIEF INSTRUCTOR JOHN TITCHEN

John began training in Karate as a 6th former living away from home due to an RAF family. Conscious of a history of being 'bad at sport' he trained every day alongside his classes, unwittingly laying a strong foundation for his future development. In his final year at school he was fortunate to be able to train at 17 hours of classes a week. At this time he also began his cross training journey, taking part in open seminars with other martial arts.

 

Once at University, John had to adapt to different Shotokan associations; he continued to grade with his original association, trained in another at university, and trained at two others as his family moved with the RAF. This cemented his understanding of the importance of cross training and the need to look past superficial differences to common principles.
 

John was awarded his first Black Belt in Shotokan Karate in 1995 by Shihan Roger Hall 8th Dan with the English Shotokan Karate Association. At this point he decided to add Aikido into his core training mix and began training with the National Aikido Federation in Norwich twice weekly, a journey that was to last 8 years as he moved around the country with his career, benefitting at summer camps from instruction by Mike Narey, George Forbes and Pierre Chassang.  John also benefitted greatly from shadowing small-circle Ju Jitsu and Kyushu Jitsu instructor Professor Rick Clark for many years on his UK tours, being awarded a 2nd Dan in AoDenkoujitsu.

While studying for his PhD, John became interested in using the same skills to engage in research to put his physical training into an accurate modern context. This is a process he has used for over a quarter of a century to keep his training grounded in evidence rather than anecdote.

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Alongside his martial arts training John has brought safety, planning, training and coaching protocols to bear from his work alongside Regular and Reserve Forces personnel from his time as a senior officer in the RAFVR(T). 

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John has a broad range of coaching qualifications in Self Defence and Conflict Management. He is registered and insured as an instructor with The Combat Group. John has held Self Defence instructor qualifications in the past with three other organisations. For many years John used to teach workshops on Self Protection to teenagers at schools around the country.

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You can read more about John on his personal website here.

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John has an enhanced DBS and undertakes regular safeguarding and child protection training. He is qualified as a Designated Safeguarding Lead with the Independent Safeguarding Society (CIC) and is the Strategic Safeguarding Lead with the Practical Karate Association. John is a qualified first aid trainer and is a fully insured instructor with the BCKA.

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John is a full time Self Protection & Karate writer and instructor.