Mr Malcolm Jones 7th Degree

I was born in Carlisle, in 1961 to Eileen and Graham, with who I have the greatest admiration and love for, I was brought up, along with my older brother Stephen, who I publicly apologise for being a typical 'cheeky younger brother' in a military family, my dad was in the navy for over 25 years.

I've been involved in the martial arts for over 30 years, starting my career in Judo, which I practised for 3 years, then when my parents thought I was old enough I took up Wado Ryu Karate under Tatsuo Suzuki. Three years later my parents moved to Bournemouth, where I unsuccessfully tried to find a suitable Karate class. A friend had previously told me about Taekwon-Do, so I went and had a look, the date was December 3rd 1980. I have studied Taekwon-Do ever since.

One of the highlights of my career was in September 2000 meeting, and grading to V Dan with General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do.

I have studied and taught all over the world, and have been fortunate enough to have been praised and honoured for my teaching ability, however to me I'm not merely teaching a physical skill!

Since I took up teaching 20 years ago I have taught from scratch just short of 200 black belts, all off them being finer exponents of Taekwon-Do/Kickboxing than myself, and even now seeing anyone of my students receive their Dan grades is a highly emotional moment for me.

I always try and make all my students better than me, to me that's the way things should be. Have fun in your training whether it's with me or one of our other fantastic instructors. I'm sure we'll come across each other at some point.

Mrs Kim Robinson 5th Degree

Hi my name is Kim Robinson, I was born in Blandford in 1981, and I'm a V Dan black belt in Taekwon-Do. Here's a little bit about my life.......

I started training with my 'big sis' in 1987 when I was a 'sweet little' 6 year old with somebody called Malcolm Jones, who I have a lot to thank for. School was a breeze, we never had any trouble with bullies because as soon as the kids heard we were 'Kung Fu experts' they didn't want to know. As the years passed quickly!! I started helping my instructor teach in the class and really enjoyed it. I soon grew up and the rest of my family soon followed along, my little sister, brother and then believe it or not my Dad! We'd all go off to competitions most weekends, piled in to the car and chauffeured by our mum and make a day of it. Now we're all grown up and black belts at various levels which is really mad when you think about it, but it just sort of happened.

When I left school I had a few office jobs and went to college and taught one class a week for Mr Jones, simply because I enjoyed doing it. I loved to see all the smiling faces on the kids, and have a good run round with them after a hard day at the office As soon as I walked into the class I was so relaxed and I knew this what I wanted to do. After a while the office job got boring, and I wanted to start teaching all of the time because it was much more fun. I was given the chance by my instructor, which is the best opportunity I could have ever asked for, as now I'm teaching every night of the week at different schools, which is so much more exciting than any 9 to 5 job.

One of my early recruits included my little brother, who started with me when he was 5. And he's also taken up kickboxing too! And yes he does cringe when he has to call me Ma'am, bless him! Overall I have students ranging from 4-13 yrs old, as well as adults. Obviously they're in different classes, but I teach up to 4 classes a night sometimes. Which can be very tiring, but all worth it. I've been teaching for many years now and am very happy with my life. Taekwon-Do has never been easy for me, as I've struggled to make some of the higher Dan grades, but I've got there in the end thanks to my loving family, who mean the world to me and have supported me all the way through. It's been hard work but I would never be anywhere other than where I am today, as teaching is all I've ever wanted to do. And teaching children is easy and so much fun, probably because I'm still a big kid myself!

Mr Richard Winton 5th Degree

I was born in Rinteln, West Germany in 1959 before the Berlin wall came down. I too was born into a military family. I'd not really had much interest in conventional sports but always had an interest in martial arts, but never had a chance to participate until I was introduced to Taekwon-Do in 1985 by a friend who had already started training. I've loved it ever since. I achieved my black belt in 1989 under Master Hee IL Cho 8th Degree, and I became an instructor in 2007 as I wanted to give back some of what Taekwon-Do has given me. From the day I started teaching I have found it to be very rewarding, seeing students flourish and achieving their goals.

Miss Karen Stokes 3rd Degree
Hi. My name is Karen Stokes and I teach Kickboxing with Integrity martial arts. I'm also the kickboxing coordinator for Integrity. I have lived in Blandford, Dorset all my life which is where I first got into martial arts training under Malcolm Jones. I started doing martial arts because I saw my older sisters doing it, and it looked like fun, also I wouldn't want them to be able to beat me up eventually would I !! I've been training since the age of 6. I used to do Taekwon-Do and I managed to achieve 2nd Degree which meant a lot to me, but I then decided to try something different and started doing Kickboxing in 2002. I started teaching in 2005 and I've never looked back, I love it.

My role within Integrity is the Kickboxing technical advisor, which means that I have to check that when it comes to gradings, the standards aren't slipping. I've done all my gradings up to Kickboxing 2nd degree and i've also had three full contact fights, and enjoyed every minute of them. Also in my spare time I like to train in my local boxing club to keep up my skills, i've had some fights in the boxing ring too. My main aim in life is to teach kickboxing full time with Integrity as I feel that's where my heart lies. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and whatever you choose to do, I wish you well.

Ness Walters 2nd Degree

Hi my name is Ness Walters, I've been teaching kickboxing in Gillingham since February 2008 and now have a class in Shaftesbury as well.

I've always been a very sporty person never one to sit still. In my youth I did a lot of running, swimming and hockey. My greatest moments in sports apart from gaing my black belt was completing a 36 mile run in scorching Cyprus from Mount Olympus to Episcopi beach.

I started kickboxing in 2004 along with my daughter and from that very first lesson we were hooked. Lessons are always fun and everyone is very friendly. After a year my husband joined, so it's very much a family sport.

Andy Dobbs 2nd Degree

Hi. My name is Andy Dobbs I'm a 2nd degree black belt instructor with Integrity martial arts. I was born in Grimsby in 1964 and lived there until I moved down to Dorset in 2002. I had always been interested in martial arts but never had the opportunity to get involved with any of them before. It wasn't long before one of my sons came home with a leaflet advertising Taekwon-Do, both myself and my two boys decided to go and see what we thought about it, that was 8 years ago now and the rest, as they say, is history. Mr Les Stokes was our instructor in Sturminster Newton when we started out and I would like, at this point, to say a BIG THANK YOU SIR, because it was you that I looked up to and who made me want to follow in your footsteps.
A couple of years after starting Taekwon-Do traing, Mrs Kim Robinson also became our instructor, a unique position and benefit for all at the school because not many get the chance to be taught by two instructors at the same school. It was a very proud day for me, seeing my son gain his black belt, and six months later, I also gained mine.

With much hard work and determination, and alot of help and encouragement from Mrs Robinson, I gained my assistant instructor's certificate and ultimately, my full instructor position. I am now in the fortunate position of just opening a school of my own in Fontmell Magna, something I would have never thought possible.

Scott Pidgley 2nd Degree

Hi. My name is Scott. I was born in Wiltshire in 1967, in a small village called Downton. I was introduced to martial arts by a friend in 1980. I practised Taekwon-Do and Laugar kung fu, eventually I chose Taekwon-Do and pursued the competition side of the sport and travelled far and wide competing in numerous tournaments with a fair amount of success, especially in sparring and destruction.

I gave up training and didn't return for several years until I moved to Dorset and found Integrity martial arts. I now have my own school in Bournemouth. I also teach self defence to school children in a classroom environment and Team tigers to 4-7 year olds. Taekwon-Do is a fantastic art to study and can help physical and mental development.

TaeKwon

Scott