More than just a dojo: building a multi-generational Martial Arts family in Winchester
When people first walk through the doors of Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester, they usually come with a specific goal in mind. Perhaps they want to get fit. Perhaps they want their child to learn self-defence, develop discipline, or build confidence. Perhaps they are simply looking for something new and different to add to their week.
What they rarely expect is that they will still be here five, ten, or even forty years later and that the people they train alongside will become some of their closest friends, trusted confidants, and in many cases, a second family.
That is the reality of what we have built at Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy. And it is not something that happened by accident. It is the direct result of a set of values that have guided everything we do since the very beginning: family, trust, community, and a genuine commitment to the long-term wellbeing of every single person who trains with us.
What does it mean to be a family run Martial Arts club?
The term ‘family club’ gets used a lot in the world of Martial Arts. But what does it actually mean in practice? For many clubs, it simply means that children and adults are welcome. For us, it means something far deeper.
Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy is owned and led by head coach Bryan Andrews and his three sons. The family dynamic is not just a marketing message — it is woven into the very fabric of how we operate. The values that Bryan instilled in his sons are the same values that govern how every coach interacts with every member: respect, patience, honesty, and a genuine desire to help people grow.
Being a family-run club also means that we are not answerable to a distant corporate head office or a franchise model that prioritises profit over people. We have the freedom to make decisions based on what is right for our members, not what looks best on a quarterly report. When a member is going through a difficult time financially, we can offer support. When a child needs a little extra patience and encouragement, our coaches can provide it without ticking a box on a spreadsheet.
“What makes Shin Gi Tai even more special is that it’s a true family-run club, owned and led by Sensei Bryan Andrews and his three sons. Their experience, professionalism and connection with the children make this club stand out from the rest.”
— Maria D’Ambrosi, Google Review
The power of long-term relationships
One of the most rewarding aspects of running a Martial Arts academy for over three decades is watching the relationships that form and deepen over time. I have members who I have known for over 40 years. People who were children when they first walked onto the mats, who are now adults with children of their own and who have brought those children to train with us.
These long-term relationships are not simply a nice side effect of running a good club. They are, in many ways, the whole point. Martial Arts, when practised correctly and consistently, is a lifelong pursuit. It is not a six-week fitness challenge or a short term hobby. It is a way of life. And a way of life requires a community of people who understand and share that commitment.
We have had members who moved away from Winchester or Basingstoke and continued to travel significant distances to train with us, rather than join a closer club. That kind of loyalty speaks volumes not just about the quality of the coaching, but about the strength of the bonds that have formed.
“I have been with Shin Gi Tai for nearly 10 years now. Joined the dojo when I lived in Basingstoke. I moved to High Wycombe nearly 6 years ago but continue our training as a family at the dojo to this day. This is despite a number of recommendations for local Martial Arts clubs.”
— Long-term member
That review says everything. When someone is willing to travel from High Wycombe to Winchester or Basingstoke on a regular basis, passing numerous other Martial Arts clubs along the way, it is not because of the location or the car parking. It is because of the people, the culture, and the sense of belonging that they cannot find anywhere else.
A truly multi-generational club
Many clubs describe themselves as family-friendly. We prefer to describe ourselves as multi-generational. There is an important distinction. A family friendly club welcomes families. A multi generational club actively trains and nurtures people across every stage of life, from four-year-olds learning their first Karate stance to eighty year-olds practising Tai Chi on a Thursday afternoon.
We have had classes where children, their parents, and their grandparents have all been on the mats at the same time. We have had teenagers who trained with us as children come back as adults and enrol their own children. We have had elderly members celebrate milestone birthdays with a Martial Arts class, surrounded by friends they have made at the dojo.
One of our most treasured members, Anne, recently celebrated her 80th birthday with a Martial Arts class. She brought in non alcoholic wine, beers, and cakes for the members of her Tai Chi class, and we had a wonderful celebration together. Anne is a perfect example of what Martial Arts can offer at every stage of life not just physical fitness, but social connection, mental stimulation, and a sense of purpose and belonging.
“I cannot recommend this school highly enough, my son and my father both attend this school and both really enjoy the classes each week. Would totally recommend this school for your son or daughter.”
— Member
Why families choose to train together
There is something uniquely powerful about a family that trains together. Shared experiences create shared memories and shared values. When a parent and child both know what it feels like to push through a difficult class, to earn a new belt, or to finally nail a technique they have been working on for months, it creates a bond and a mutual respect that is hard to replicate in any other setting.
We also find that children respond differently when they see their parents training. It normalises the idea of being a beginner, of making mistakes, of working hard at something and improving gradually. Parents who train alongside their children model the exact behaviours persistence, humility, respect for coaches and fellow students that they want to instil in their children.
“Brilliant Martial Art academy with high level coaches and friendly classes. My family of 4 is currently training in Karate, Tai Chi and Kung Fu here and we all love every class. The coaches take their job with professionalism, respect for each student and a good pinch of fun. It’s a very special place!”
— Agnese Lyne, Google Review
A family of four, each training in a different Martial Art, each progressing at their own pace, each supported by the same team of professional coaches. That is Shin Gi Tai in a nutshell.
Training for every stage of life
One of the reasons we are able to serve such a diverse, multi-generational membership is our commitment to the sports science principles of Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD). This framework recognises that different people at different stages of their lives require fundamentally different approaches to training.
A four-year-old joining our Rising Heroes programme is working on gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. They are learning how their body moves in space, and they are doing it through games, challenges, and activities that feel like play but are building the physical and cognitive foundations for a lifetime of Martial Arts.
A teenager going through puberty needs a different approach entirely. Their body is changing rapidly, and the coordination and flexibility they had as a child may temporarily diminish as they adjust to a new centre of gravity and new muscle groups. Our coaches understand this and adapt their teaching accordingly, focusing on strength, flexibility, and rebuilding technical foundations.
An adult in their 40s or 50s is looking for something different again, perhaps a combination of fitness, stress relief, technical skill development, and social connection. Our adult classes are designed to deliver all of these, in an environment that is challenging but never intimidating.
And for our more mature members, Martial Arts becomes about maintaining mobility, balance, and mental sharpness as well as the social benefits of being part of a community that genuinely cares about your wellbeing. Tai Chi, in particular, is a wonderful practice for older adults, combining gentle movement with mindfulness, breathing, and a deep understanding of the body.
“Love the combination of fitness and technical work and the friendly environment. Thank you for making a non-sporty old woman welcome, joining SGT is having a big impact on my physical and mental health (in a good way, obviously).”
— Member
Friends on and off the mats
At Shin Gi Tai, the relationships that form on the mats do not stay on the mats. Our members socialise together, support each other through difficult times, celebrate each other’s milestones, and genuinely show up for one another in the way that true friends do.
We have members who babysit for each other. Members who have helped each other find jobs, navigate difficult personal situations, or simply provided a listening ear during a hard week. We have members who go on holiday together, who attend each other’s family events, and who have built friendships that will last a lifetime.
I personally do not have a traditional family setup of a partner, children, and a dog. The club, and the people in it, are my family. And I know that many of our members feel the same way. Martial Arts has given me friendships that I would not exchange for anything.
This is not something you can manufacture or force. It grows naturally when you create the right environment — one built on respect, trust, shared challenge, and genuine care for one another. That is what we have always tried to do at Shin Gi Tai, and it is what we will always continue to do.
What our members say
The true measure of any club is not what the coaches say about it — it is what the members say. Here is a small selection of the feedback we have received from families who train with us:
“When I see my boys enjoying a class and actually having fun. That to me is what it’s all about. Kelly and Bryan achieved that yesterday and I am very grateful. More please.”
— Parent
“My son came out telling me about the new skills he’d learnt. He continued talking about his class during dinner and today was practising Karate whilst waiting to leave the house! Thank you for igniting a fire in his belly. He’s grown in confidence.”
— Parent
“It has been a good experience for me to see my kid going in a good direction and getting stronger day by day. All thanks to Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy and all the members working hard for giving direction to the kids.”
— Jyoti
A lifelong commitment to Winchester
Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy has been part of the Winchester community for many years, and our commitment to this community is as strong as it has ever been. We are not just a Martial Arts club. We are a place where children grow in confidence, where adults find fitness and friendship, where families create shared memories, and where people of all ages discover that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.
Whether you are four years old or eighty, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned Martial Artist, whether you are looking for physical challenge, mental discipline, social connection, or simply something new to try, there is a place for you at Shin Gi Tai.
If you would like to find out more about our classes in Winchester, or if you are curious about what training with us as a family might look like, we would love to hear from you. Comment ‘family’ below or get in touch through our website, and one of our team will be happy to help.
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About the author
Bryan Andrews is the head coach and founder of Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy in Winchester, with over 45 years of Martial Arts training and 35 years of teaching experience. He holds black belts in five different Martial Arts, including a 7th Dan in Karate and a 7th Degree in Kung Fu, and serves as the Shikon England national Karate squad coach. Bryan is also a national-level Tai Chi teacher, a 3rd Dan Shotokan Karate black belt, and holds black belts in both Yoshinkan Aikido and Judo.
His academic and professional credentials are equally impressive. Bryan holds a Master’s Degree in Advanced Sport Coaching Practice (Level 7, Sheffield Hallam University), a British Judo Association Level 5 Coaching Award, a UKCC Level 4 Coaching Award, and a BCCMA Level 3 Coaching Qualification. He is also an active tutor, training coaches to Level 1 and Level 2 standard.
Bryan’s Master’s research focused on how children and adults learn physical skills, build confidence, and achieve long-term success through evidence-based coaching. This academic foundation underpins everything that happens at Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy, ensuring every lesson is structured to maximise progress safely and effectively for every individual regardless of age, ability, or background.