A family for Martial Arts or a Family of Martial Artists
When we talk about Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester, we often use the word family. For some, this might seem like a simple marketing term, but for us, it is the very foundation of our history and our daily practice. Our Martial Arts Academy was not built by a corporation; it was built by a family, for families. It grew from a shared passion for Martial Arts and a desire to create a training environment that nurtures character as much as it develops physical skill.
The journey began over thirty-five years ago in a small village hall in Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire. At the time, it was just myself putting up posters around the local area. I was nervous about whether anyone would show up. To my surprise, sixty people arrived on that first evening for our initial Children’s and Adult’s classes. My future wife was one of those people. That spark of community interest stayed with us as we eventually moved to Basingstoke and finally established our first full-time, professional academy in Basingstoke and in 2026 we established our first full time Martial Arts club here in Winchester.
Setting up our club in Basingstoke was driven by a very personal motivation. As a parent, I wanted my own children and their friends to have access to the highest quality Martial Arts training. I wanted them to learn from qualified coaches who understood long-term development rather than just short-term results. We started in the Active Life Centre and added various locations, including the Aquadrome and Sherbourne St John Village Hall, before we finally outgrew those spaces and opened our own dedicated facility. Today, that same commitment to quality defines our Winchester location and also sister location in Basingstoke.
The evolution of a multigenerational community
At Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester, we often describe ourselves as a multigenerational club rather than just a family club. While many places offer ‘family Martial Arts classes,’ there is a distinct difference. In our classes, it is not uncommon to see children, their parents, and even their grandparents training within the same academy, sometimes even in the same session.
We have reached a point in our history where students who trained with us as children or teenagers decades ago are now bringing their own children or grandchildren to start their Martial Arts journey. There is no greater compliment or expression of trust than a former student saying, I want my child to have the same experience and guidance that I had. This continuity is a testament to the 250 years of combined coaching expertise held by our Academy coaching team.
Our facility in Winnall is specifically designed to support this community. We have a waiting area designed so that family members can watch the class, allowing parents to be part of their child’s progress without intruding on the training floor. It creates a transparent, welcoming environment where the values we teach on the mats: respect, discipline, and perseverance: are visible to everyone in the building.
Training with Blood and Bond
Winchester-2015-Sports-Award – Winchester coach
One of the most rewarding aspects of my forty-five years in Martial Arts has been the opportunity to train alongside my children. My youngest has been training for nineteen years, and my older two for over twenty years. They have grown up on the mats, exploring everything from Karate and Kung Fu to Catch Wrestling, Aikido, MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Seeing what they are like now, I wish I has half as good as they are when I was their age.
I remember a specific family class around 14 years ago. I was competing regularly and was having some success nationally and internationally. During a drill, the Sensei (coach) leading the class, told the children it was time to fight their grown-ups. I expected to handle the sparring with ease, but my three sons: then my sons: quickly coordinated, came up with a game plan and easily got the better of me. It was a both humbling moment, but also a proud one as I realised that they’d learnt their lessons well.
Today, those same young men are first rate coaches at Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester. They lead our Programs such as our Competition squads, Boxing and Muay Thai along with the Children’s programmes, bringing fresh, modern ideas backed by sports science, while maintaining the high standards of quality they were raised with. I often jump into their classes to train alongside them. I’m not be as fast as I was forty-five years ago, and my kicks don’t reach the same heights, but the mental resilience, determination and grit remain.
I also regularly train with a group of friends, some of who started training with me and some I met through training, .
A Curriculum Designed for Life
The syllabus we teach is the result of decades of refinement and the integration of modern sports science. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. In the past, Martial Arts was often taught rigidly; whether you were five feet tall or seven feet tall, you were expected to stand and move the exact same way. We know now that this is not effective for the individual.
Our Children’s and Adult’s syllabus were designed with self protection in mind and cover long and mid range skills plus close quarter grappling with techniques drawn from Karate, Kung Fu and Judo. Adults can also learn Muay Thai from Thailand, Our Ladies Only classes learn Chinese Kickboxing and for those wanting to look at a more relaxed form of exercise Yang Style Tai Chi.
This variety ensures that we can provide long-term athlete development. A five-year-old in our Children’s Martial Arts programme has very different physiological and psychological needs compared to a teenager going through puberty, or an adult looking for stress relief in our Adult’s Martial Arts sessions. We adapt our coaching to suit the person in front of us, ensuring that Martial Arts remains a lifelong pursuit.
Wisdom from the Masters: The Importance of Being Soft
Throughout my forty-five years of training, I have made it a goal to seek out the very best teachers in the world. I have travelled extensively and invested significant time to learn from masters like Dave Owen Sensei, Asano Sensei, Kanazawa Sensei, Steve Rowe Sifu, Robert Mustard Sensei, and Neil Saunders Sensei. Each of these instructors has shaped not only my technical ability but my character.
I recall a lesson in my early twenties with Kanazawa Sensei. At the time, I was physically very strong and I felt quite proud when he remarked on my strength. However, he quickly corrected my misunderstanding. He told me that being too strong was actually bad; I needed to learn to be soft. All these years later, I am still working on that one lesson. In Martial Arts, softness does not mean weakness; it means efficiency, fluidity, and the ability to adapt to an opponent’s energy.
This philosophy extends to how we handle the trials of life. Martial Arts has taught our coaching team how to deal with challenges with a calm, enquiring mind and a positive outlook. We aim to pass this resilience on to every student who walks through our doors.
More Than Just a Club
The family at Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester extends far beyond my own blood relatives. It includes our wider coaching community and every
member who joins us. We value the long-term relationships we build here.
Take, for example, our student Anne, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday. She chose to celebrate this milestone with a Martial Arts class followed by non-alcoholic wine and beer plus cake with her fellow Tai Chi students. It is moments like these that define who we are. We provide a space where people feel safe, trusted, and supported, regardless of their age, gender, or ability.
For us as a family, it’s really important that we maintain those family values, the trust, the competence, the “Hey, I’ve got a problem. Can you help me with it?” kind of approach that we do with these people. and really know the people like who come into the club, they start training for various reasons, but actually, they grow to love what they do, and they grow to love being here. and for me, that’s actually the best thing, those long-term relationships and friendships that start in the club and then grow and thrive outside of it.
Martial Arts is a journey of constant improvement. It is often hard: not just physically, but mentally. It requires you to think deeply about what you are doing and why. But when you are surrounded by a supportive community of friends who encourage you through thick and thin, that hard work becomes a joy.
If you are looking for a place where you or your children can grow in confidence, focus, and discipline within a professional and inclusive environment, we invite you to join our family.
If you would like to experience our unique atmosphere for yourself, you can book a Free Taster Session today. Alternatively, feel free to comment FAMILY below and a member of our team will get in touch to answer any questions you may have about starting your journey with us.