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Mark Thomas Sensei 2nd Dan M.G.R.Y. |
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I was born in Colchester Army Barracks 1967. My family moved to Reading when I was quite young and I was diagnosed with Asthma at five. My parents enrolled me for Judo classes from the ages of five through to ten.
After leaving school I started work and was located in Gloucester, there was a very high martial art culture with plenty of schools to choose from. I chose to study Ninjitsu for 3 years until work demanded that I returned home. I moved back south and trained in Savate Kick boxing for 2 years. I struggled with my Asthma as this was a very energetic art, I also struggled with the high kicks and decided that I would never be a stylish kick boxer. It was through close protection that I had a chance meeting with Kevin Pell Hanshi and I was introduced to Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu. I joined the Borehamwood Dojo in June 1999 and discovered what I had been looking for all along, a no-nonsense style of self defence. Since joining the club I have travelled the country with Hanshi on numerous seminars and courses. |
In March 2005, Pell Hanshi and Mark Hayden-Smith Renshi, after much deliberation, invited me to join them full time and become a professional instructor. So I hung up the old work boots (metaphorically speaking) and now I pick up my Zori in the mornings instead. It's an exciting time and as always my family have been behind me all the way, Sian has been so supportive and encouraging in this venture.
On the 10th December 2005, that will be a date I will never forget, it was six years in the making and a lifetime's wish come true... I successfully passed my Black Belt Grading. There's not enough room to highlight all that was involved, suffice it to say that over the course of 2 days my metal was put to the test and I came out the other side a Shodan, battered and bruised and bewildered, emotionally and physically drained but elated beyond words that can describe the way I was feeling. It is an honour to wear the Black Gi top and Black Obi and I will always wear them with pride.
I enjoy working with Renshi Mark and I know that as head of children's development I am going to learn a lot from him. I'm sure keeping hundreds of kids motivated and making it fun for them to learn is a skill all in itself. As well as the Borehamwood and Bushey Dojos I now teach infants, juniors and the largest class of intermediates at The Venue on Wednesday evenings and infants and juniors at the Potters Bar Dojo in the Furzefield Centre on Thursday evenings.
On Saturday the 25th of March 2006, Mark was inaugerated into the Guild of Renmei Yudansha by Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu's founder and chief instructor, Kevin Pell Hanshi at the organisation's 16th Anniversary presentation dinner.
On Saturday the 17th of March 2007, Mark was awarded his 2nd Dan by Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu's founder and chief instructor, Kevin Pell Hanshi at the organisation's 17th Anniversary presentation dinner held in Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.
On Wednesday 2nd July 2008 another venue to the already growing list of Dojos I teach in opened at the Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre. This time it is a completely new venture, new dojo and new students, anyone joining on the first night will be part of the ever expanding Ishin Ryu History as they will be founding members of the new Dojo.
As with all the other Dojos classes will be available for Infants, Juniors, Intermediates and Adults all with their own time slot, making Hemel Hempstead the only Dojo to run for 5 consecutive hours in one evening.
I also currently teach at the following dojos:
The Hawksmoor Centre
The Furzefield Centre
Bushey Grove
Manor Lodge
Garston Manor
St. Columba's
The Independent Jewish Day School
The Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre
