MEET THE TEAM.

"WE HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SAMURAI FAMILY FOR 6 YEARS NOW & WE WOULDN’T CHOOSE ANY OTHER COMPANY FOR OUR GIRLS. WE THINK YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!"


All our Instructors are qualified martial artists & have:
Advanced DBS
Paediatric First Aid
Child Protection Certification

Every Instructor is fully trained in the Samurai kickboxing syllabus, which is age group specific to ensure students are taught appropriate to their developmental stage.


Matt
Founder, CEO & Chief Instructor
3rd Degree Black Belt

Matt first got in to martial arts when he attended his University Sports Freshers Fair in September 1998. It was there that he met his Tae Kwon-do Instructor, Master Malcolm Jones (7th degree) & he hasn't stopped training since!

Matt has a Black Belt in:
Tae kwon-do (1st degree - 2001)
Kickboxing WKA (1st degree - 2003)
Judo (1st degree - 2007)
Kickboxing IKF (1st degree - 2016, 2nd degree - 2018 & 3rd degree - 2020)

Matt lived in Japan for a few years before he set up Samurai Kickboxing in the UK. He moved to Jersey in 2017 & introduced Samurai Kickboxing there, setting up classes in schools & public venues across the island whilst managing the UK from across the water.

Matt loves to eat out with friends, is a big fan of sea swimming all year round & loves to travel.

"YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES IN LIFE YOU, JUST BY CHANCE, MEET AN AMAZING PERSON. MATT IS ONE OF MY FAMILY'S CHANCE FINDS. HE'S KIND, FUN, PATIENT, COURTEOUS, CARING & QUITE SIMPLY, A GREAT ROLE MODEL. MATT & HIS TEAM HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR SON'S CONFIDENCE AS WELL AS HIS KICKBOXING."

 

Paula
Managing Director


Paula is Matt’s sister & has worked for The Samurai Fitness Group Ltd almost as long as Matt! She works in the UK office looking after every aspect of the business. Without Paula, Samurai Kickboxing would not be where it is today. She has been pivotal to the growth of the business & keeping her brother in check!

Pre-children, Paula worked in an Incentives & Events Agency doing a number of roles ranging from Incentive Specialist to Marketing Manager.

She has 3 boys who have all learnt kickboxing with Matt & is at her happiest by the sea, in the sunshine with her family & 2 Border Terriers, Jasper & Oscar.
 

Polly
Office Manager



Polly is our Office Manager based in Jersey. She was born in Plymouth & moved to Jersey aged 11. Polly spent 4 years living in Luxembourg, having 2 children whilst there. On her return to Jersey, she worked as a school secretary for 15 years before joining The Samurai Fitness Group Ltd having been based in finance prior to that.

A keen Bikram yoga student but when not stretching can be found running or dog walking.

 

BUCKS & BERKS

Alex
Leadership Team & Senior Instructor
2nd Degree Black Belt

Alex is Spanish & comes from Madrid. He had a very clear vision that teaching was his future - he completed his PE Education Degree & worked as a PE Teacher for a year, before he moved to the UK.

Alex achieved his Black Belt 2nd Degree in Kenpo Karate competing in National & World Championships where he obtained 1st position in the Team Kumite World championships. He then specialised in Muay Thai for 5 years before transitioning to Kickboxing & achieving his Black Belt 1st Degree in 2020 & his 2nd Degree in 2022.

Becoming an Instructor with Samurai Kickboxing meant Alex was able to put together his two passions; martial arts & teaching.

"ALEX IS A REAL ASSET TO SAMURAI KICKBOXING. WE ARE FOREVER THANKFUL FOR HIS KIND & THOUGHTFUL APPROACH & HIS GUIDANCE TO HELP NURTURE OUR DAUGHTER."

 

Kelly
Leadership Team & Senior Instructor
Designated Safeguarding Lead
1st Degree Black Belt

Kelly has been with Samurai Kickboxing since 2016. Before that she was a Special Constable for Thames Valley Police which she loved because she felt like she was making a positive difference to people’s lives.
She also lived in South Africa for a while & worked as a Game Ranger in the African Bush. Her days were spent taking guests out on safari & educating them on the flora & fauna in the game reserve!

"I'M FOREVER INDEBTED TO KELLY FOR HER CONTINUED PATIENCE & WILLINGNESS TO CARE FOR & MOTIVATE OUR SON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, DEDICATION & COACHING OF HIM. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT - YOU ARE THE GREATEST! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART."

 

Mike
Senior Instructor
1st Degree Black Belt

Mike has been been a student of Samurai Kickboxing since he was 7. He achieved his Young Samurai Black Stripe when he was 11 & recently gained his 1st Degree Black Belt. He has also trained in MMA & Boxing.

Mike started with the Samurai Kickboxing team as an Apprentice but it didn't take him long to become a fully fledged Instructor!

Working & training with Samurai Kickboxing has really helped boost Mike’s confidence & technical knowledge of kickboxing & it's been lovely watching him develop.

"IT'S BEEN SO LOVELY TO SEE HOW MIKE HAS GROWN AS A TEACHER. THOSE WHO HAVE NURTURED & MENTORED HIM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. HE NOW HAS THE COURAGE TO STEP UP TO THE DEMANDS OF A FULLY FLEDGED TEACHER & DOES SO BRILLIANTLY." 
 

Tarkan
Instructor


Tarkan has recently joined the Bucks & Berks team from training & teaching martial arts in Turkey. He is a very experienced martial artist, specifically in Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Wushu Sanda & Kickboxing. He has competed at a high level in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Dubai & Russia.
 

HERTS & LONDON

 

 

DORSET

Amanda
Leadership Team & Senior Instructor
4th Degree Black Belt

Amanda joined The Samurai Fitness Group Ltd in 2020.
She is a 4th Degree Black Belt & has trained for many years with her daughter.
Amanda previously ran her own business but now enjoys teaching children kickboxing particularly seeing students grow in confidence & achieve their goals.  

Amanda has three children & loves to spend time at the beach with them & her dog, Wilson.

"MY 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOVES AMANDA'S SESSIONS. SHE IS SO ENTHUSIASTIC & MAKES TRAINING FUN WHILST MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE. SHE ENCOURAGES ALL HER STUDENTS & IN DOING SO, BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN THEM. AMANDA'S TECHNICAL KICKBOXING KNOWLEDGE IS SECOND TO NONE. WITHOUT DOUBT, MY DAUGHTER HAS GROWN IN CONFIDENCE. AMANDA IS A 1ST CLASS INSTRUCTOR."
 
 

Luca
Instructor 


Luca has always been passionate about sports, fitness & wellbeing. From a young age, Luca attended rock climbing classes & since then, has gone on to take part in a multitude of sports, including whitewater kayaking, surfing, competitive running, swimming & cycling. Luca has found a new passion for Kickboxing & looks forward to progressing further.

"SINCE HE'S BEEN ATTENDING YOUR CLASSES, MY 6 YEAR OLD HAS FLOURISHED. HE HAS SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF, HIS LISTENING & HIS GENERAL ATTENTION SPAN HAS IMPROVED SO MUCH. HE'S ALSO DEVELOPED A STRONG SENSE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. I CAN'T RECOMMEND THE CLASSES ENOUGH. I WANT TO SAY A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO LUCA FOR ALL THE TIME & EFFORT HE'S PUT IN TO MAKING THE CLASSES FUN & FULL OF LEARNING."

 

Adam
Instructor
2nd Degree Black Belt 


Adam actively trains in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts & has competed in a number of semi-professional K1 & Mixed Martial Arts events.

Since he began training, Adam has won several British championships & a
World Championship in K1 Kickboxing. He has also competed in Germany
representing team Great Britain!

Before joining Samurai Kickboxing as an Instructor, Adam coached children of all ages Kickboxing including a number of students who achieved their own British & world titles.

 

JERSEY

Ryan
Instructor
1st Degree Black Belt

Ryan is an ex-competitive Muay Thai fighter & high level rugby player. He has vast experience in many different martial arts & started Kickboxing from the age of 4, moving to Thai Boxing at 11. 
Ryan has taught in mainstream schools & with children who have special educational needs where he worked for the past 4 years. 

Ryan moved to Jersey from the UK at the end of 2022 to start working with Samurai Kickboxing.