Instructors


Gill Harrison I joined White Lotus 10 years ago (2001) at the age of 40 with no intention of it being a permanent thing. It was for the benefit of my children and husband who talked me into joining to make it a family thing, something we could all do together. I enjoyed it so much I got hooked, am still there now and have worked my way up the grades and am now a 3rd dan blackbelt in kickboxing. I have also trained in Tai chi and kenjutsu (with White Lotus) and trained as an instructor so I now love teaching it to others too in the club I run with my husband Rob.	Rob Harrison I took up kickboxing with White Lotus in March 2001 at the age of 39. I have also trained in Jui Jitsu , Tae Qwon Do and Spirit Combat. I am the Assistant Chief instructor with White Lotus and gained my 3rd Dan in September 2009. I also have a full N.V.Q. level 3 in Adult training and development done through White Lotus Martial Arts. I run the Herefordshire club with my wife, Gill who is also my training partner. I love training and always get a buzz when I teach and see students learning and enjoying Kickboxing. TOP	Kathryn Smith I have been doing Martial Arts since 2003. I am currently a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Freestyle Kickboxing. I am a Senior Instructor and I am responsible for the Health & Safety of the association. I gained my NVQ 3 Learning & Development with White Lotus; I am also a qualified First Aid Trainer and have trained all of the instructors within White Lotus. I am known to most as 'Flo' as I was given this nick name after 'Florence Nightingale' as I patch people up. My specialisms are the Bo and I am also studying Aki - Jitsu. I have just recently started my own class in Evesham.

Darren Edwards I originally started with White Lotus at the age of eighteen with my brother, with the aim of building my confidence. My brother stopped training, but I continued moving on to the instructor training programme and specialising in weapons instruction for the association. (See videos.)	Kat Baker Current Grade 3rd Dan Blackbelt I joined White Lotus Martial Arts Association in 2003 at the age of 15. My main reason for joining was to learn self-defence but soon this took a back step as I began to enjoy the fighting and fitness aspect even more. I was soon moving up through the grades and in 2005 I took my 1st Dan Blackbelt in Kickboxing. Apart from my aim of becoming a Blackbelt, I began to realise I wanted to further my fighting skills and represent White Lotus in tournaments. In 2006 I became the BKBU Ladies English Champion after being asked to step in at last minute. Since then I have competed in many tournaments both locally and nationally learning and improving every time. During my time and experiences of training, I decided that I wanted to become an instructor. I gained my NVQ Level 3 in Learning and Development and I am currently working towards my Instructor Diploma. In March 2011 I gained my 3rd Dan Blackbelt, which was awarded to me after three months of continual assessment. Currently I am concentrating more on fitness, fight training and competing with the aim of one day starting my own classes. TOP	Karen Fisher Blackbelt (1st Dan) In 2005 I went to my first Kickboxing lesson with a mate to "keep her company". I loved it and am still training today and gained my Blackbelt in April 2011. When I first started going to lessons I never thought I could achieve Blackbelt grade but through my hard work, dedication and encouragement from my Instructors here I am today. I enjoy all of the training that is covered in the syllabus from self defence to fighting, from fitness to tai chi, from ground work to weapons. There is something for everyone. I am now beginning to work towards my Instructor Diploma with White Lotus Martial Arts Association, with the aim of starting up my own classes in Cheltenham and one day to have my own club covering many aspects of Martial Arts. I have always been "sporty" gaining sports qualifications throughout my years. These range from a GNVQ in Sport and Leisure Management, ISRM Sport and Recreation Technician's Certificate, B.A.W.L.A Leaders Award, Football Leaders Award, Football Referee and Pre-School Gymnastics Coach Class 5. Some of the benefits I have got from Kickboxing are confidence, fitness, discipline, fun and friends.

Hannah Brunt I started Kickboxing classes in March 2010 as learning a martial art has been something I had always wanted to try - but never thought I could do! A few weeks after starting, I caught the bug and started attending classes up to 3 times a week. I am currently a purple belt and I have taken part in tournaments in White Lotus and in London. I enjoy learning the Kata's, self-defence, helping out in the kids' classes and pushing myself (and others!) beyond what I thought were my limits. My confidence has grown as has my self-esteem. I am enjoying the instructor training immensely.	Patricia Kerr I started kickboxing in 2005 as a way to lose weight and get fit, however after the first couple of months and taking my first belt I became hooked. I love the emotional and physical benefits it gives me. I am 1st Dan blackbelt. I have taken my 6th Kyu grade in Tenshin Ryu (Japanese sword). I have a keen interest in the Art of Japanese weapons. TOP	Deanne Wilkins

Andrew White - Instructor	Neil Turberfield I am 47 years old. I have been training in martial arts since I was 13 years old. After starting with Karate and training for five year I started to train in boxing and boxed on an amateur level for Worcester. I then started to train in traditional Ju Jutsu and after three years training I took a job as a long distance lorry driver driving in the UK and Europe. Regrettably I had to stop training then as I was not home a lot and when I was I needed to spend time with my family. When I stopped driving across Europe I took up kick boxing just to keep fit and to get rid of my "lorry driver's belly" but as with everybody else I got really into martial arts again and currently hold a Black Belt 1st Dan in Freestyle Kickboxing. I specialise in the combat side of our sport.	Natasha Smith - Trainee Instructor TOP

Darren Hitchings - Trainee Instructor I started kick boxing in January 2005. The reason for this was to get fit and I wanted to do something a bit different to just going to a gym. It was never my intention to grade, but after only 2 weeks training, I was encouraged to try for my white belt. Once I had passed and the belt was tied around my waist, then that was me with the Kick boxing bug. I gained my green belt in August 2005, but then during a game of football I tore the cruciate ligament in my right knee. After nearly 3 years of treatment and finally an operation to replace the ligament, I returned back to training and in March 2010 passed my 1st Dan Black belt grading. I am training at the moment towards my 2nd Dan, with my specialism being Tonfa's. I am currently training to become an instructor with the intention of one day setting up my own class. I also help out at the Worcester kid's class on a Wednesday, which my twin daughters attend.	.	.

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