About the Instructors

• All Blackbelt instructors were trained in Tyne and Wear and have over 25 years experience. They are all members of N.A.K.M.A.S and are licensed to instruct and grade students. We have a qualified first aider, a Physical Education teacher, Sports Leader and another qualified school teacher making up our senior instructors. 

Instructor Profiles

Sensei Gary Glover (Nidan)

• Sensei Glover has been training and instructing at local clubs in Newcastle and Sunderland for a number of years. Sensei is a degree qualified professional teacher

• He started his martial arts career by starting Jujitsu when he was 11 at the local community centre. He enjoyed that for a while before the club closed and he left it for a couple of years. At 15 he was asked by a friend to join the local boxing club which he did and spent a while training there. Again that closed and he started to concentrate on fitness training.

• In his mid 20's he saw an advert for a Wado Ryu karate club which he decided to join, he joined that club under Sensei B Crossley (6th dan) and trained there for a couple of years before a job change meant he couldn't attend the sessions so he looked for another local club.

• He found another Karate club which were training in the Style of Shotokan under another senior grade instructor. He trained for a number of years training and teaching 6 days a week until recently. He also started a club at a School in Newcastle which is now run by Sensei Rowley.

Comment from Sensei Glover

• As my martial arts career continues to change I find this a very exciting time to be able to join up with the other instructors in the North East Karate Kai and NAKMAS. The chance to modify and develop my training to include not only traditional Shotokan Karate but also to further develop self defence, groundwork and a mix of other martial arts is something I am really looking forward too. I look forward to working with all our new members, both transferring my knowledge to those and learning from them.

 

Sensei Lee Mullaney (Nidan)

Sensei Rowley (Shodan)

• Sensei Rowley started her training while at school a number of years ago under the instruction of Sensei Glover and graded with another local high graded instructor. Throughout her grading career she excelled and on several examinations was seen to be so good she was asked to perform a series of moves and Kata from the next grading and was awarded double grade! She has won numerous trophies from competitions and is known for her very good kicking techniques.

• Sensei Rowley continued through her career earning her Blackbelt after 3 years of continuous training. After completing her sports leadership qualification she  started assisting Sensei Glover in his Newcastle clubs and showed such a skill was awarded her own club.

• She continues to develop her own club and is on way to producing her first group of blackbelt students.