Instructors
Our Academy is fortunate to have four black belt instructors, all of whom are CRB checked and qualified first aiders. All our instructors have been students at the club for many years and as a result possess a wealth of martial arts experience. Our team of instructors are led by the Academy’s founder and Head Coach Alf Love who has over 30 years experience as a martial arts coach and is widely respected as one of the finest martial arts coaches in the country.
Our association with ‘Shorai International’ provides a major benefit to the Academy as we are supported by its president Joe Tierney who is renowned worldwide within the Martial Arts Community. Joe makes periodic visits to the Academy to conduct lessons and student grades; he personally takes all the Academy’s black belt grades.
Joe Tierney (Shorai International President)
Initially starting in traditional karate Joe has competed at the highest level in various styles including traditional karate and kickboxing. With over 35 years of experience in competing, coaching and refereeing combined with holding the positions of WKA national team coach and WKA world chief referee in the 90's Joe is rightly respected throughout the world in Martial Arts.
As a competitor Joe, a black belt 8th Dan, has won many titles including both British and European Championships in traditional karate, he has also been a silver medallist at the Wako World Kickboxing Championship; in 2009 Joe was inducted into the 'Martial Arts Illustrated' hall of fame in recognition of his services to martial arts for over 35 years.
Alf Love (Head Coach)
Alf Love, Head Coach and founder of the Academy, has a wealth of experience in teaching martial arts, a 5th dan black belt Alf has an exceptional talent as a coach which is illustrated by the significant number of World Champion kick boxers and black belts he has successfully produced over the years. Alf is also coach to the England National team.
Chris Simcock (Instructor)
Chris Simcock has been with the Academy for many years and has developed into a fine instructor. Whilst at the Academy as a student he passed his black belt 1st dan grade and has been instructing since 2008. Chris a former winner at the Irish Open which is recognised as being one of the toughest competitions in the kickboxing calendar won his first World Championship in 2009.
Josh 'O' Connor (Instructor)
Josh 'O' Connor, a 3rd dan black belt Josh is another product of the Academy, joining the club as a 7 year old in 1997. During his years at the Academy he has won five National Kickboxing Championships and has attended many World Championships always being placed either second or third, however in Canada in 2005 he deservedly became World Champion. Josh has been instructing at the Academy since 2009.
Chloe Love (Instructor)
A 2nd dan black belt, Chloe is the most successful fighter the club has produced, at the age of seventeen she won her tenth consecutive World Championship. She has been helping with the kids lessons since 2009 and has developed a great relationship with the young ones at the club.
