After a brief introduction to Judo in my late teens I began training Shotokan Karate in 1975 (The golden years of Bruce Lee), under the direction of Kowaswe Sensei. Deviating for a couple of years to study both Wadoryu and Shukakai Karate, I returned to Shotokan and took my 1st Dan (1989) under Kato Sensei. I thoroughly enjoyed my Karate but was feeling the need for something different and less co
nfrontational. I started my Aikido training in 1990 and was awarded 1st Dan in 1997 by the late Marion Mucha Sensei. I currently hold the Aikido rank of 4th Dan, ratified by Mimuro Sensei (7th Dan) and Hombu Dojo in Japan, and also hold the British Aikido Board Coach Level 2 award. I was slowly introduced to Systema by my good friend Matt Hill (Systema Academy), and a turning point in my life was attending my first Systema Camp in Sweden (2014). Returning from this camp I started training seriously in Systema. Having nowhere locally to train I teamed up with my old friend and Aikido Sensei, Graham Harrison, and we set up our own training group (SystemaNW), under the mentorship of Matt Hill in 2015. In 2016 I qualified as an instructor, with Vladimir Vasiliev at Systema HQ in Toronto. In May 2021 I moved to Wexford in Ireland, to continue my retirement. Having recently set up Systema Wexford, I am looking forward to helping to develop and promote Systema here in SE Ireland.
