Ambassador's
Richard Thomas
Richard left school in June 1991, He went to DARA Fleetlands in order to complete a 4 year apprenticeship in aircraft engineering, after completing his apprenticeship he worked for Fleetlands for a further 10 years during which time Richard attended various courses such as height awareness, manual handling, quality assurance, breathing apparatus and working in confined spaces. He also passed a fork lift truck driving course and a first aid at work course.
In 1996 he achieved is NVQ 3 in engineering along with City and Guilds level 2 and a BTEC national aerospace engineering.
In September 2005 Richard moved in to teaching for Flagship training, he taught sheet metal, hydraulics, pneumatics, hand fitting and BTEC health, safety and welfare.
In January 2007 Richard qualified as an A1 assessor enabling him to assess NVQ portfolios.
In November 2007 Richard qualified as an internal verifier which allowed him to verify the work carried out by the A1 assessors, this was a requirement for his position within the accreditation department for the Navy, this role saw him as the subject matter expert for the whole of the aircraft engineering training carried out by the Navy.
Richard successfully achieved his Certificate of Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector in October 2007.
Over the last 3 years he has worked at further education colleges teaching marine engineering and basic engineering to 16 – 19 year olds.
In February 2010 Richard qualified as a First aid instructor and now deliver first aid training to both civilians and military personnel, the reason for this career change is mainly due to his wife and child having a bone condition that can cause them both to break bones very easily.
Sensei Steve Fyffe 4th Dan Aikido (UK)
Steve Fyffe 4th Dan was
born 24 July 1951, he was registered Blind from birth. He took up Judo from 1957
until retiring 1987, gaining grade 4th Dan. Started Aikido September 1987 and
was awarded (Shodan) 1st Dan Black Belt 1992 from The National Aikido
Federation. Awarded (Nidan) 2nd Dan Black Belt 1999.Joined Shin-Gi-tai Aikido
Society 2000. Awarded (Sandan) 3rd Dan Black Belt 2002.Awarded (Yondan) 4th Dan
in September 2004 He holds Certificates in NVQ level 3 Teaching/instructor (Aikido).Other
interests include: Iaido Golf, Football, Music Reading Listening to the Radio.
He enjoys doing voluntary work and helping others. When he has time, Steve also
likes to play games such as Chess and Cribbage. He has a Guide Dog named Sykes
who drags him all over the place.Steve is a registered Instructor for the Ishin
Ryu Honbu Dojo (Aikido). and is also a member of the CUA Aikido Union in
TynesideSteve is a registered Coach for the BAB British Aikido Board. He is a
member of the Guild of Renmei Yudansha (M.G.R.Y.) and recently from the 1st
March 2007, he has been certified by The Cane Masters International Association
(C.M.I.A.) as A "Cane Master", Instructor, Instructor for the Disabled in Cane
and C.M.I.A. Director (Responsable for all issue regarding people with
disabilities in the UK).
Charles Spring
Charles Spring is a senior lecturer in Martial Arts and Sports Management, for the University of Derby Buxton where he is the Programme Leader for the Joint Honours Martial Arts and various Sports related programmes including the MA in Strategic Sports Management. His Martial Arts career has spanned 35 years that has included participation in competition to international level. His first Chief Instructor was Phil Milner through the International Budo Association. He has instructor grades in Karate, Kickboxing and Krav Maga and currently has clubs based at the University of Derby Kedleston Road and Buxton Campuses as well were he resides in Derbyshire. The joint honours degree at the University of Derby is the first accredited by an academic institution in Europe. Through his work at the University and the running of his clubs he has taught in Finland and Japan as well as at camps for people with visual impairments. He is pleased to be asked to be an ambassador for the Disability Martial Arts Association Previously he worked has in the Leisure Industry as a gym manager, personal trainer, martial arts instructor and coached in various other sports in and around Birmingham. His first degree was in Leisure Management and his Masters degree is in Tourism Business Administration. His key interests are the sociological impacts of sports and leisure on communities and how through sports communities may benefit directly.
Landé Fourie [3rd Dan]
www.colchesterkarateacademy.co.uk
Essex Sport Personality of the Year, 2009, Landé Fourie , 3rd Dan Shotokan karate , 4th Dan Freestyle karate, BA(SW)Hons, BSc (Psych)Hons] UKTKF Shotokan Instructor, started karate 1985 under the JKA in South Africa. Relocating to England in 1994 she continued her karate career where has been assistant instructor at other clubs, before opening her own, now full time, dojo in Colchester in 2007. Landé competes on local, national and international level with many successes including FSKA Team and Individual Kata Titles. She broke her elbow during a national tournament in 2006, yet continued to win national kumite title that year, as well as triple golds at the Five Continents Championships in Ireland a few weeks later. That fracture, that wasn’t diagnosed until almost a year later, and then operated on in January 2007, meant that Landé took a sabbatical from tournaments until 2009 when she took part in the FSKA World Championships regaining her Individual Kata, Team Kata and Team Kumite titles, and received silver in individual kumite. Landé has a post graduate degrees in Social Work and Psychology and worked as a Child Protection Social Worker and Family Court Advisor until 2007 when she changed her career to become a full time karate instructor. Landé short stint (6 months) in a wheelchair in early 2005 gave her a better appreciation for doing sport with a disability. As a result Landé has fully embraced teaching those with various abilities including deaf, blind, with prosthetic limbs, and cerebral palsy through her career as full time instructor.
Wendi Dragonfire, 9th Dan Netherlands
Wendi Dragonfire, 9th Dan Shuri-Ryu Karate en 2nd Dan Modern Arnis, is a direct student of the late Grand Master Robert A. Trias (Shuri-Ryu) and the late Professor Remy A. Presas (Modern Arnis). Dragonfire is one of the leaders in providing Martial Arts and Self Defense to a diverse population including, people with different abilities, women, children, older people, mixed groups, people from diverse cultures to name a few. Dragonfire has been designing programs that speak to the needs of diverse groups while continuing to be true to the integrity of the principles and values of Martial Arts and Self Defense training.
Shihan Antonio M. la Salandra (ITALY)
Was born in 1974 Italy. he started martial art in 1978. He won 1 world title in kick boxing low kicks and 1 in Thai boxing. He was in Special Forces of Italian Army, after he work in Airport police, like counter terror unit. Now he is in Metropolitan police. 2007 he was elected WOSD (World Organization of Self Defence) World president, and International Technical Director actually he's Krav Maga expert and Chief Instructor in Italy; -World Director of real operating Krav Maga system; Kapap level C and Director of Kapap Tactical School; 6 Degree in Ju Jitsu and Italian Director of AIFJJ, JKD AND KALI INSTRUCTOR; Karate full contact Master 5th Dan; Thai Boxing and Kick Boxing Master; Operational Shooting Instructor;
Jenny Treasure 5 Dan Taekwondo (Belgium)
"With twenty years of teaching and 30 years training in Tae Kwon Do, Belgium is the most challenging places to run a club and the most transient on the planet. I started Tae Kwon Do in Singapore in 1970 (please see website for other background information) and one of the first women to take up Tae Kwon Do. I practice the international style of Tae Kwon Do created by the late General Choi but during the last 12 years have studied the UTI style in Holland which includes weapons and a more mentally challenging form of Tae Kwon Do.