About SENSEI PAUL WEBBER
My History
In 1995 I joined the British Army as a member of the Royal Military Police. During my 22 years service I found that the level of self defence taught to myself and my colleagues was insufficient for the tasks required of me. I sought out my own training and my Martial Arts journey began when I joined a Kickboxing and Self Defence Class taught by Sensei Wayne Timlin in Tidworth, Wiltshire. This Sensei was responsible for instilling in me much of the values and standards I still hold today and also awarded me my First Black Belt in Kickboxing and Self Defence.
Moving Forward
As I was still serving with the British Army the requirement to move location soon came along and I was forced to find a new club to continue my learning. I soon settled with Sensei Steve Batchelor based in Colchester, Essex. During my time with Steve I joined Cobra Martial Arts Association (CMAA) which offered me the opportunity to learn more styles and to qualify as an Instructor. Within the year I had gained my Level 1 Martial Arts Instructor UK and as well as continuing to develop my Kickboxing I had started to learn many other styles.
Strike Martial Arts is Born
As a newly qualified Instructor I created Strike Martial Arts initially to pass on what I had learned to my colleagues within the Royal Military Police in order for them to better protect themselves whilst carrying out their role. The training proved to be so popular that soldiers from many different units joined and trained together. As well as teaching, I still regularly travelled to CMAA Courses where I learnt new skills, graded in new syllabus and developed my teaching.
Strike Martial Arts: North Devon
In Apr 2017 I completed 22 years service with the Royal Military Police and returned home to North Devon. After initially searching for clubs to train with I concluded that what I was looking for was not provided by anything available locally. As a result I started Strike Martial Arts: North Devon, slowly building from several students and one location to the three locations and over 80 students that we have today.
Military to Civilian Life
As the club developed it became apparent that the needs of a civilian community were somewhat different from a Military one. As well as more traditional students wanting fitness or just to learn a new skill we have young children struggling to deal with bullying, adults and children who have suffered domestic violence and assaults as well as those worried by rise of violence, particularly knife crime.
Training Ethos
With all the different reasons that students now come to us my training ethos was born. We teach 5 different styles and they all have something to offer. In addition we teach Self Defence Theory dealing with what is legal, what we can do and what we can't. Students can grade in whatever style they wish and can train in more than one at the same time if they so choose. However students also have flexibility in their learning, if something is happening to a student and they don't know how to deal with it, they can let us know and we will drill it and the techniques to deal with it until they are happy. Our students don't just have to follow syllabus they can ask to learn about something they want or need to know and we will provide it.
Qualifications
I have now been teaching for over 10 years, have been a student myself for much longer and am still learning and progressing in my chosen styles.
I currently hold the following qualifications:
4th Dan Black Belt - Kickboxing.
3rd Dan Black Belt - KickJitsu.
3rd Dan Black Belt - Freestyle Martial Arts.
2nd Dan Black Belt - Freestyle Karate.
2nd Dan Black Belt - Self Defence
Self Defence Instructor.
Martial Arts Instructor UK Level 1.
Royal Life Saving Society Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work
Royal Life Saving Society Level 3 Emergency Paediatric First Aid
I have recently started training in Krav Mag and hope to add this as one of our syllabus in the future.