Martial Arts Refereeing Services is the brainchild of Chris Eaton and Ian Womersley. Both highly-respected martial arts practitioners as well as world-class referees and judges, they identified an opportunity to bring a level of professionalism to martial arts and now offer refereeing and judging services to contests and tournaments nationwide. He started with Andy Derbyshire in Wythenshawe, where
he trained in Shotokan for five years. He then joined Clayton Murrain and Patrick Scanlebury at the E.W.S.K.A. the English Wado-Ryu Sport Karate Association. He became instructor and taught classes for them in Sheffield, Stockport and Manchester. During this time he also trained with the famous Thai Boxer Ronnie Green in Partington, where for over two years he learnt all aspects of Thai Boxing. In 2007 he joined the F.S.K.A (the Freestyle Sport Karate Association) in Manchester and opened his own club in Sale. At present there are just over thirty students who regularly attend classes. Some of the students have already gained trophies at many of the competitions which the club attends. Chris was awarded his 5th Dan at the 2014 WKC World Championships in Albufeira, Portugal. In 2016, he was appointed to the role of WKC England Team Manager (All Disciplines). Chris is a qualified referee and judge for all martial arts fight contests (points, semi-contact continuous) as well as a world-class kata/forms judge. Ian Womersley
With nearly 50 years of experience, Ian is one of the UK's leading martial artists. Starting his martial arts journey in Wado Ryu Karate, Ian also holds black belts in Judo, Aikido and Kickboxing. A former British and World Champion, Ian teaches martial arts and self defence to students of all ages, including OAPs and nurses in A&E departments. Ian has used his skills and strength to raise thousands for charity, for example a barefoot ascent and descent of Mount Snowdon, and breaking 10,000 roof tiles with his feet in 15 minutes. Awarded the MBE in 2002, Ian is now best known as a leading martial arts referee, covering fight contests at British, European and World level.
