Instructor Profiles

Classes are taught by highly qualified martial arts practitioners and they ensure your training is conducted in a professional, friendly and safe manner.

Mr. Steve J Newby

5th Degree Black Sash Lau Gar Kung Fu
Regional Chief Instructor for PKA Kickboxing and Lau Gar Kung Fu. Founder of the SJN Martial Arts Academy (Scotland and Central England) British Kung Fu Association Lau Gar Council of Guardians Founder Member.

Early in 1979 Steve joined his first Lau Gar club in Harborne, Birmingham, and Steve's early practice as a tournament competitor was eventually taken over by his interest in the traditional aspects. Steve excelled with additional private training at the Lau Gar centre under the tutelage of Master Jeremy Yau.

In 2000 Steve was personally chosen by Master Yau to stand as a guardian of the Lau style. Steve will uphold the styles traditionalism, formidable reputation and ensure the continual development of the British Kung Fu Association.

In 2005 Steve was asked by the principal of the Professional Kickboxing Association, Mr. Mike Haig to be the Chief Instructor for Scotland.

Mr. Glenn Parry

3rd Degree Black Sash Lau Gar Kung Fu
2nd Degree Black Belt PKA Kickboxing
1st Degree Black Belt IAKSA Kickboxing
1st for Sport level 2 coaching certification (RVQ)
Coaching Certificate (B.K.F.A)
Enhanced CRB Check
1st Aid at Work
Herefordshire City Council Sports Development external trainer for Schools

Other instructor profiles

Mr. Dean Williams

Sports Coaching (NCF)
Sports Coaching (first4sport)
Instructors Coaching Certificate (P.K.A.)
CRB Police check
Instructor Indemnity Insurance
First Aid Certificate
Business Management City & Guilds level 1 & 2
Black Belt 5th degree in Kickboxing and Karate

Dean "crazylegs" Williams started in Martial arts with traditional Wado Ryu Karate back in the 80's he then went on to study such arts as Boxing, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, Capoeira, freestyle Karate and Kickboxing.

Dean has choreographed fight scenes for TV/film and stage performances and music videos and has appeared in over 20 films and TV shows.

Having competed internationally representing England in both Karate and Kickboxing, Dean won a British Middleweight Kickboxing title in 1999 after winning many Midlands and National competitions. In 2002 Dean won won the coveted Martial Arts instructor of the year award. The following year Dean successfully led a team to Austria to compete and the Austrian open, also in 2003 Dean featured on the cover of the worlds biggest martial arts magazine Combat. Since then Dean has been focusing on his coaching trying to help develop students maximum potential aswell as spending time working on his big passion the Movies.

Mr. Martin Cutler

3rd Degree Black Sash

Martin has trained Lau Gar for 28 years. He is a long time friend of Mr. Steve Newby, starting in the same club in Harbourne. He is a lover of traditional Kung Fu and has a personal motto: "it dont have to be pretty but it sure has to be effective."

"I try to combine traditional training with modern coaching techniques and I am CRB cleared. I try to teach techniques in an effective way with traditional values and self learning with the modern concept of good training methods."

Mr. Glenn Symington

2nd Degree Black Sash
1st degree IAKSA Belt Black

It's a long time past since I began training Lau Gar. In that time I have been able to express many changes in my training attitude, through personal fitness and confidence to competition, traditional kung fu and internal training for good health and for the devastating reality that is a formidable combat art. When I look at what other martial arts are available I feel fortunate to have made the decision that I did, that is to be part of a true style which is not afraid of change, embraces the future an honours the past.

Mr. Bruce Rutter-Parr

Over 20 years experience of the Martial Arts, mainly Lau Gar.

Bruce has a 1st 4 Sport Coaching certificate from the Martial Arts Coaching Foundation, is CRB checked and has first aid at work training. Bruce has been working within the SJN Academy for 4years, training many students along the
way.

Mr. Matthew Hudd

2nd Degree Black Belt PKA Kickboxing
1st Degree Black Belt Freestlyle kickboxing
1st Dan Tae Kwon Do
1st for Sport Level 2 coaching Certificated, CRB checked, 1st Aid at Work.

Matthew originally began training with the SJN Academy in 1999, but soon had to move from the area. On returning in 2005 to Hereford Matthew got straight back in to the training and in October this year gained his 1st Degree in PKA Kickboxing.
"After studying Martial Arts for quite some time I have come to the conclusion that it's not the style but the Instructor and the students willingness to learn that makes a good Martial Artist.
I am very pleased to be training in such an excellent academy. I have seen vast improvements in myself due to the friendly and professional guidance of the instructors at this school."

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