Instructors
Every instructor is a black belt or a senior coach in what they teach, holds a national association coaching qualification, an enhanced DBS check and first aid, and trained at this club or teaches here because they wanted to. Half of them were students here first.
Began karate in Maesteg at nine, graded to black belt at seventeen and sixth dan in 2022, and has taught in Bridgend since 1995. Founded the club in the unit in 2006. Association senior examiner, coach to the Welsh junior squad for six years, and the man who takes the Monday Little Dragons himself because, he says, that is where the club is made. Enhanced DBS, first aid, and a gi older than some of the members.
Came to the club as a kickboxer in 2014, found jiu-jitsu, and now holds a brown belt under a black-belt affiliation she trained with in Cardiff and Bristol. Runs the BJJ programme, the women's self-defence course since 2018 and the women's open mat. Kickboxing instructor qualification, specialist self-defence instructor certificate, enhanced DBS, first aid, and a nurse at the Princess of Wales Hospital by day.
On the mats
Safeguarding and safety
A national association coaching award for every instructor, on top of the grade, renewed with CPD. Assistants hold the assistant award and are never in sole charge of a session.
Every instructor and assistant holds an enhanced DBS on the update service and the association\'s safeguarding training. Gareth is the welfare officer and the policy is on the noticeboard.
Every instructor holds a current first-aid certificate, the kit and an ice pack are by the door, and every injury, however small, is written in the book and told to the parent.
The club is affiliated to a national governing body and every member is licensed and insured through it from the first month, which is what the £25 a year pays for.
Tell us who is training, how old they are and the discipline you are curious about, and we ring back the same evening with a session that has space. Train barefoot on the mats, ask the instructor anything afterwards, and decide then. Or ring the club.