27/11/2023
A trainee journalist got in touch with me wanting to know my story and why I started teaching women’s self-defence, so here it is ✨
My martial arts journey started when I was a toddler, my dad who has been training and teaching in martial arts for 28 years used to bring me with him to sit in whilst he did his own practise, classical Yang Style Taijiquan. I’d just sit there entertaining myself with my toys and a colouring book. I don’t remember much about that, but one thing I do remember is my dad doing a loud Kiai whilst he was doing his form, I jumped out of my skin and started crying. My dad came over and comforted me, explaining what the loud noise was and it made sense once he had. My dad is the most committed, dedicated person I have ever met, with his self-discipline being next to none. I attended Bowerham Primary School and when I was at the age of 5, a Shotokan Karate class was starting after school. My dad talked to me about joining and I ended up deciding to go for it, not because I wanted to but because I wanted to make my dad happy, despite him telling me to only go to it if I wanted to. And look where I am now haha.
I attended the karate class every Tuesday night after school and it started to become a big part of me, always wanting to do well and be better than everyone else. My teacher was Sensei Keith Robson, who at the time was a 5th dan in the art. I was also taught by Sensei Andrea Carbon, 2nd dan. After attending her classes at school, I attended classes at Lancaster Boys and Girls club, still with Sensei Keith Robson. I also did some training at the Red Rose karate club with Sensei Pete Danver, 2nd dan (though around 4th dan level). I also trained on my own in the Gregson Centre where my dad trained and did his classes.
I passed every grading first time and attended some competitions, I was never really in to competing but my Sensei persuaded me to take part. I always used to wear my signature white headband, this also helped me to be recognised in all of my gradings haha. I did quite well in the competitions, I think I got to the quarter finals with kata. I always trained and sparred with tall, black belt males, always working uphill. When I was 11 years of age, I was ready to take my black belt grading, I was so nervous and desperate to pass, playing “lose yourself” by Eminem on repeat with my dad on the way to the grading. This was my motivational “black belt grading song”.
I think you were only allowed on your Sensei and someone from your karate club in with you in the grading, we somehow managed to let my dad come in too, probably pretending he was one of my karate instructors. Which in a way of course, he was. I had never tried so hard at anything in my life, 100% effort and 100% focus the whole way through. In the grading I was partnered up with a girl around the same age as me but she was built like a tank, a really strong stocky girl, and there was me, around the same height but slimmer and lighter. If I could have chosen one person that I didn’t want to be partnered up with, it would have been her. When it got to sparring, she really lacked in control and punched me right in the face, knocking me back on to the floor, I immediately stood up and carried on like nothing had happened. I really didn’t want it to get in the way of me passing me grading, although I probably had doubts.
I was graded by Sensei Andy Sherry, 8th Dan, Sensei Frank Brennan, 7th dan and Sensei Matt Price 5th dan (who was also a world and European champion). Everyone’s turn had come to and end and we were all sat on the floor waiting to hear our result. I was filled with nerves and anticipation. Making it even worse, my name was one of the last to be called. They said my name, I had passed! I sat back down and looked at my dad and smiled, not looking at him for too long as I knew that if I did, I’d break down in tears. I was overjoyed and probably overwhelmed. All the hard work and effort had paid off, my main goal and accomplishment in life had come true.
When I was 12 years of age, I still continued my karate training, however, I decided I also wanted to join my dad’s Taiji class, I did both martial arts for a year. I continued training in Shotokan Karate until the age of 13, I was almost ready to take my 2nd dan grading and decided to quit. The reasons were that I felt like my karate journey had come to an end, I was ready to move on and join my dad’s classes and learn the art of classical Yang Style Taijiquan. Not to say that I didn’t learn a lot from karate and get a really good, basic foundation, there is just something more to Taiji, for me it was like the next level. I also used to get really nervous sparring with all the adult, black belt men and I let my nerves get the better of me.
I couldn’t have made a better choice, Taiji quickly became a part of who I am, it’s not just a hobby or a discipline, it’s a way of life. My dad’s group did and still does include a variety of experienced martial artists, from teachers in other arts, to security personnel and doormen, some having black belts in other styles of martial art. Again, I was always training uphill, with bigger and stronger men, and still do to this day. I still get nervous and find it challenging sparring with the guys, but I get stuck in and don’t let my nerves get the better of me, as I know it does me good and will help me if I ever do get in to an altercation.
I have been training in my dad’s group for 11 years, consistently, with only a week off in summer and a week off at Christmas. I train 5 times a week. Taiji is such an amazing art, over the years, the art has been watered down and lost its authenticity, however, in our school, we strive to maintain the integrity of our art and students. Training in the true art of Taijiquan with all of it’s elements. From the martial side to the health and meditative side. Taiji can help a variety of physical and mental conditions and we have seen a number of improvements in our school over the years. From depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addictions, ME, back pain and more. We also practise basic jujitsu hold downs and techniques. In our classes, we also practise some basic jujitsu/submission grappling. I find the ground work challenging with the men, but again, I know it helps me a lot. Although a fight or altercation going to the floor should be avoided at all costs, it’s good to be at least semi-comfortable on the ground, knowing that you know a few basic holds towns, principles and techniques.
I’ve been helping out with bits of teaching in my dad’s classes over the years and have taught some of his classes. In December 2022, I decided to apply for my advanced teaching qualification with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain. The end goal is that I wanted to teach women’s self-defence and help empower women. I had had this goal for a while. I put a lot of effort in to the application, with a huge amount of help from my dad. He helped me with the content, written work, filming and checked everything over before I sent it off, making sure it was as good as it could be. I had to wait several weeks for my result as the TCUGB had to wait for several people to hand in their applications so we could all be graded at the same time. I checked my emails every day and one night when I was sat with my dad, an email from the TCUGB had popped up. With anticipation I opened it, I had passed! Again, all the effort and hard work had paid off.
I had been thinking about starting my own women’s self-defence classes for a while, however, I suffered with anxiety and just didn’t feel ready to start teaching my own classes. Over time, my anxiety had improved a lot and I was thinking more and more about starting my own class. One day I decided to take the plunge! My first class was on the 22nd of April 2023, I planned it about 6 weeks in advance, making sure I advertised well and created a well put together flyer. My dad and a member of our group helped me design the flyers and I dropped as many as I could off in my local town, I created my page, got my own personalised clothing and was ready to go.
In my first class, a friend and member of our Taiji school kindly volunteered to be my uke (demonstration partner). I had 6 people in the class and was really happy with how it went, I did a short talk at the beginning, followed by a demo, then had the group getting stuck in with the basic exercises. My goal was and still is to help empower women, through helping them learn good awareness, practical self-defence skills and to help them to gain more confidence and self-esteem. I believe that every woman should have at least some basic self-defence skills! You hear so many horror stories of women being attacked and abused, it’s heartbreaking. The world shouldn’t be like that, but it is, well people, not the world. We can’t change or predict what someone is going to do, but we can prepare ourselves the best we can and do our best to learn things that could help us in a bad situation, if one was to ever occur. I want women to be able to feel safer and walk around more confidently, knowing that they know at least some basic tactics and skills to be able to help defend themselves if it came down to it.
During my time of just teaching women’s self-defence, I also wanted to start teaching beginner’s Taiji for health and relaxation. I decided to start this class in August, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy teaching this aspect of Taiji as much as the self-defence but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I now continue doing the classes weekly, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever decided to do. I currently have a fantastic group of likeminded students that are willing to learn and grow together. I look forward to teaching them every week and always enjoy it without fail. You learn a lot from teaching and it helps and challenges you in ways you may not imagine.
With being a martial artist for most of my life, I really can’t imagine life without it. I want to make people aware of how valuable and important self-defence knowledge and skills are, and authentic Taijiquan as an art in general. It can change your life, and maybe one day, even save your life.
