Profiles
Director: Sensei Rob King
The ethos of Oxford School of Martial Arts derives directly from its founder, Rob King. Rob learned the lessons of martial arts the hard way - working through crippling shyness as a child. He developed his confidence and perseverance through karate, and discovered a talent and enthusiasm for teaching by being promoted through the ranks to Black Belt and learning to communicate his skills to other students along the way. He took a degree in Sports Science and a PGCE in PE to construct OSMA as a professional modern school, with a uniquely structured syllabus. Rob does not believe in acquiring knowledge by osmosis. His particular talent in teaching is rare – he can deconstruct complicated movements and create bite-sized progressions, and when one teaching method is not working, Rob is guaranteed to find another way to make a goal achievable.
This approach is not confined to physical skills however, and this is the key to the sense of purpose, and ultimately the mission of Oxford School of Martial Arts. Our curriculum is designed to support parents in teaching children lessons for life: to make them safer, happier, better disciplined and ready for whatever the world will try on them when we can no longer be there to hold their hands. With 30 years experience in many martial arts, Rob has developed a character development curriculum that is all-inclusive. You want your overweight child to learn to love exercise? We can do that with you. You want your bullied child to learn more confidence and to be assertive? We can help with that. Is your unruly child making your life hell? We can help him see things from your perspective and learn to change. Rob’s approach is to break down the concepts of martial arts – the discipline, the control and the responsibility and to communicate that to children as young as three, through key phrases, parables and reaction training. His holistic approach leaves nothing to chance, and the success of our school has been built on these foundations.
Sensei Mary Stevens
Mary’s background is eclectic, to put it mildly. She has always thrived on working with children of all ages, and funded her social life through babysitting and nannying during her school and university years. She read history at Oxford University, and began her teaching career in secondary education. She also trained public speaking and debating teams to a national standard, in addition to going professional with her other main interest – fitness teaching. She gave up teaching history during her children’s baby and toddlerhood, choosing instead to focus on aerobics instructing, and studying part time for an MA in English and Popular Music which she completed in 2002. In addition to being a British Gymnastics coach, she has done a huge range of qualifications in fitness (Top Start for 18 months+ Aerokidz, Aerojam, Team Combat, Body Combat, Body Pump, Body Balance, Reebok Martial Arts, Reebok Flexible Strength and Urban Funk to list a few of the most relevant) and enjoys keeping up-to-date with trends in the world of fitness and dance. She has particularly enjoyed using these skills when choreographing for Team Taurus, and her obsession with timing became a hallmark of the Jump Nation experience.
At OSMA Mary has the opportunity to work with students from 3 to adulthood and to draw on all the skills she has gathered in her career to date. Together with Rob, she has worked on making Oxford School of Martial Arts a place of education for life, and gets as excited by a four year old passing his 20 press ups as she does when a formerly bullied child collects her brown belt, bursting with pride and confidence.
Sensei Jake Wilson
A typical week in Sensei Jake's diary involves two journeys to Birmingham to study Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the former world champion, five hours of training under Sensei Rob, four sessions in the gym (although he complains that his schedule sometimes limits this to three), eighteen hours of teaching, daily curriculum planning and consultations with parents over students progress. At the weekends he runs parties and personal training sessions, and can be found 'relaxing'; fine-tuning his marksmanship with rifle shooting. If obsessed is just what the lazy call the dedicated, then one can safely say that Sensei Jake is a dedicated martial artist. From an early age he has applied himself to the art of the bo (6ft stick, his weapon of choice) and honed his skills with patience, precision and power. He applies these same principles to his teaching - he is calm, diligent and even-tempered and is renowned for being steady and clear-headed under pressure - whether refereeing a tournament or dealing with a toddler's 'accident in class'.
Sensei Cath Keyworth
Cath Keyworth has a special understanding of early childhood, having worked on research projects into pre-school education and early years childcare for the Institute of Education and Oxford University. She has worked with pre-schoolers and parents in playgroups, nurseries, reception classes and in their own homes. She is a Youth Sports Trust ‘Top Tots’ Instructor and is an Assistant Instructor on Oxford School of Martial Arts Foundation and Junior programmes. She is also a Paediatric First Aider, former nanny and mother of three.
Sensei Jackie Bryon
Renowned for her ability to humble the men with her press-ups, Jackie has been involved with Oxford School of Martial Arts initially as a parent and more recently as a student of the teachings of Sensei Rob, rising through the ranks to achieve instructor status in 2 years. Having 10 years of experience in the fitness industry (where she has established a reputation for delivering the highest quality) Jackie is excited by the opportunity to be part of the OSMA team, and to add martial arts teaching to her portfolio of fitness qualifications in RPM, Body Attack and Body Pump.
Jackie lives by the belief that the real competitor is the one who gives all she has, all the time.
Dojo Manager - Miss Marie Timms
Marie has been our floor manager for over a year now. She loves teaching, and combines a no-nonsense attitude and a sensitive approach to children. Her ambition is to be a full time martial arts instructor with OSMA, once she has completed her apprenticeship. With two younger siblings in the programme, she has plenty of opportunity to practise her skills outside class time!