09/06/2026
Yorkshire Region Instructor Of The Year 2026
*Sensei Rebecca Flynn*
Some of the highlights from nominations -
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[She] has supported me through the highs and lows of my jitsu. When I failed in my first attempt at dark blue, she was empathetic and non-judgemental, allowing me to come to terms with the negative outcome while also providing useful and constructive feedback that greatly informed my training for the following three months. Throughout my jitsu journey, she has always been very understanding of the mental and physical pressures jitsu can exert on me, and without her, I would not have progressed from purple to dark blue after my 7-year break.
Sensei Rebecca is a fantastic instructor and the heart of our club, and inspires me to become better at jitsu everyday. Winning Instructor of the Year would not only represent the well-deserved recognition of her contributions to the Foundation, but also a small gesture of my deep admiration and respect for her as my jiu jitsu teacher. I look forward to growing in ability and passion for the martial art, long into the future.
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What sets Rebecca apart is her commitment to her students' wellbeing beyond the technical side of the sport. She has built a supportive environment in our club where everyone feels valued, and she sets a high standard for success while giving people the tools and encouragement to meet it.
Personally, Rebecca has shown great care for my wellbeing during training. On sessions where my confidence wavers, she has given me what I needed to continue. A quiet pep-talk, guided technique work to rebuild confidence, or simply giving me the space to step off the mat and reset.
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I believe that running a town club presents its own unique set of challenges but Sensei Rebecca takes all of these in her stride and keeps the club running successfully. Club sessions regularly feature older juniors so she is teaching jitsuka ranging from fourteen to forty across all grade groups with a wide variety of physical abilities.
This year she has taken a novice to Orange in back to back gradings, coached an older student to light blue and added a new dark blue belt to her ever-growing roster.
![Yorkshire Region Instructor Of The Year 2026*Sensei Rebecca Flynn*Some of the highlights from nominations - ---[She] has...](https://img5.gyms1.com/609/002/122261374406090020.jpg)
