On this week’s podcast, the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to 9th Degree Black Belt Master Clive Harrison.

Master Clive Harrison has over 50 years combined experience in the art, helping hundreds of students achieve their goal of Black belt and beyond. But where did he start? Master Harrison started martial arts in his 20s inspired by Bruce Lee he joined a local Kung Fu school he trained here for 5 years and then progressed into Traditional Wodoru Karate before joining one of the first UK Taekwondo schools run by Grand Master Don Adkins.

Over the years clive  has helped over 400 students to achieve their Black Belt and above. Together with his wife Rachael, herself a 3rd Degree Black belt and World Champion, they are dedicated to helping students achieve their personal goals and fulfil their ambitions within Tae Kwon Do, whether it is to train to Black Belt or above, be successful at competition, become an Instructor or to improve themselves as a person by developing a strong character and positive attitude while increasing their confidence, self-discipline, flexibility and stamina.

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to 2x WPMF Muay Thai World Champion and BJJ Purple belt, Rich Cadden.



Rich is a seasoned Thai boxer with over a decade of experience in the Thai boxing world. He has held some prestigious titles, such as the ISAK British Champion belt at 62kgs, IKF European Championship belt at 64kgs and WPMF World Championship belt at 67kgs. He has also spent some time in Thailand both training and fighting,  gaining experience and developing his knowledge as a fighter, to be able to return to York to pass it on.

Rich now runs a successful martial arts school In York focussing on Freestyle Wrestling, Thai boxing, Muay Thai, aba boxing, MMA and brazilian Jiu Jitsu and today's episode was on the 10 year anniversary of the Chokdee Academy.

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to martial arts expert Tod Wurr

Born and raised in Norfolk, United Kingdom, Tod Wurr has over 30 years experience studying, training in and teaching Martial Arts. His desire to breakdown techniques to better understand power, self-defense and develop the ability to modify what he had learnt took him all over the United States in search of a way to continually improve and challenge himself. Tod has spent decades analyzing the techniques and moves used in karate, boxing, taekwondo, judo, cage fighting and much more to understand those most effective.

He became one of the youngest martial artists to achieve a blackbelt in Taekwon-Do at the age of 16 and went on to compete at international level before setting up his own martial arts academy in 1991.

In 2015 Tod was awarded the honor of seventh degree by Taekwon do association of Great Britain making him a globally recognised World Master.

Tod has impeccable credentials when it comes to developing power and technique and is well placed to assess, evaluate and improve fighters’ abilities in these areas. His knowledge of body mechanics and the application of Newtonian physics reflect perfectly the Principles of Power, which underlie the application of each and every technique.

Tod has led many martial artists to success, many of which have become World Champions. His work with MMA Blackzilians and his on-going development of international fighters also draws on his abilities to prepare fighters mentally.

As a qualified clinical hypnotist, Tod is able to employ hypnosis and other auto-suggestion techniques to offer psychological development alongside physical development. It is essential that fighters are mentally prepared for competition, and just as peak performance is calculated and controlled in the physical sense, so it needs to be in the emotional sense.

What stands Tod apart from other martial artists is his ability to adapt himself to any situation or opponent. He teaches his students skills that can enable a 120lb girl to effectively defend herself against a 250lb man. He challenges their mind by encouraging a thought process designed to really understand the principles of power and how to use their own build, size and mass to their own advantage whether that be in competition or real life.

To the fighters, Tod is the key that unlocks the Champion, combining all the advantages of the 21st century with thought, wisdom and understanding.

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to Emelia May Taekwon-Do, Infinite Tai Chi, Chi Kung & Meditation Teacher & Complimentary Therapist.

22 years experience in the field of Health & Wellness,working as a Complimentary Therapist & the past 10 years spent training & teaching Martial Arts.

​Beginning as an Energy worker & Massage therapist, with the intention to ease pain and discomfort in the physical body and to understand the pathways to health on all levels an interest in complimentary medicine grew.  In studying various disciplines, the common denominator to increasing well-being appeared to be in viewing how the energy systems are working and to assist strengthening any weakness’ so they work as a whole.

In observing how Taekwon-Do training, provides a unique ability as a martial art to promote health through increased confidence, strength, skill and focus, a profound and deep passion grew. To further increase knowledge, the understanding and skill set already gained I studied under Master Jason Chan and became a teacher of the Infinite Arts: Tai Chi, Chi Kung & Meditation.

 Martial Arts acknowledge the powerful role of the mind, and idea of the 'self' in order to break through limitations and fulfill true potentials.                                           

The years spent studying these chosen fields have created a unique skill set and many understandings to share.

Qualifications

• ITF style - 3rd Degree Black Belt
• WT- Level II British Taekwondo Coach
• Infinite Tai Chi & Chi Kung Teacher 
• Infinite Meditation & Guided Visualisation Teacher 
• Energy worker ~ balancing the systems of the body & mind     
•  (Reiki Master, Advanced Colour Therapist, Aromatherapy, Massage Therapist)

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to young and upcoming TAGB fighter Kieran Sullivan

Kieran was born in Newport and started Karate when he was 4 years old he did this for a few years before finding a local TaeKwonDo club and joining with his older brother. He fell in love with the sport with lots of support from his parents training 5 days a week Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Keiren is now in university at nottingham and continues to train in taekwondo as a black belt and keen fighter.

Keiren recently burst onto the fighting scene, but his journey hasn't been easy, one of his biggest setbacks was the year of the world championships in Roana Kerien began having seizures, at first doctors thought was just epilepsy, but as the seizures became progressively worse the doctors realised it was a brain tumor that he had to get removed. This stopped his competitive career for 10 months but he still continued training desperate to get back into sparring and fighting as well as joining his local gym and trying to get physically fit and keep him active.

Keiren is motivated by being the best and always improving. Tune in this week to hear his inspiring stories.

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook talk to martial arts legends Bill ‘SUPERFOOT’ Wallace and Kenny Herrera chatting about everything from grading with Chuck Norris to teaching Elvis Presley martial arts and making films with everyone from Jackie Chan to John Belushi.
 
Bill Wallace-
Wallace was born in Portland, Indiana, and trained in wrestling during his high school years. He began his study of Judo in 1966 and was forced to discontinue his Judo related activities because of an injury he suffered to his right knee during practice. He then began to study Shōrin-ryū Karate while serving in the U.S. Air Force. After entering the point fighting tournament scene and achieving success there, he switched to full-contact competition. 

With the coaching help of veteran fighter Jim 'Ronin' Harrison, Wallace won 23 consecutive professional fights between 1974 and 1980, becoming the Professional Karate Association middleweight world full-contact karate champion and retiring undefeated. He was known for his fast left leg kicks, especially his roundhouse kick and his hook kick, which was clocked at about 60 mph. 

As well as Martial arts champion Bill also has many other accolades, from being  Elvis Presley's martial arts trainer to an actor, acting, most notably in A Force of One starring Chuck Norris. Wallace was the play-by-play commentator for the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event UFC 1 in 1993 alongside fellow kickboxer Kathy Long and NFL Hall of famer Jim Brown where in which he burped as he said "Hello, I'm Bill Wallace, and welcome to McNichols Arena" in what has become a much beloved blooper from that event. Wallace administers an organization of karate schools under his "Superfoot" system. He was elected to Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame in 1973 as "Tournament Karate Fighter of the Year" and again in 1978 as "Man of the Year." His film credits include A Force of One with Chuck Norris; Killpoint, with Cameron Mitchell; Continental Divide and Neighbors, with John Belushi; The Protector, with Jackie Chan; Los Bravos with Hector Echavarria; A Prayer for the Dying, with Mickey Rourke; Ninja Turf; and Sword of Heaven 

Kenny Herrera-
Raised in Southern California Kenny was obsessed with Ringo Star and wanted to become a drummer, he started playing in bands around his local area and when girls would wink at him their boyfriends would try to beat him up he realised he needed to learn some self defence. He joined the YMCA and found a local martial arts club with Chuck Norris and Sherman Oaks after Chuck just brought the club off Joe Lewis. Chuck convinced Kenny to start fighting at competitions and this is where he met his wife after seeing her sparing he fell in love with her ended up taking her on the road with him playing music while also keeping up his training.

Kenny then came back home to California and joined Chuck again at the martial arts school. One weekend he went to a black belt seminar with Chuck hosted by Bill Wallace. He was blown away by Bills technique and became great friends with him traveling round together doing seminars up and down America and all over the world!

On this week’s podcast the Motivated Martial artists – Jackson White & Gavin Cook chat to the truly inspirational World Taekwondo Para (WT) Olympian & Multiple World International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) able bodied Sparing and Patterns champion, Amy Truesdale. 

Amy Truesdale (born 20 January 1989) is a taekwondo practitioner who won Gold at the 2014 and 2017 Para Taekwondo World Championships. She was born without a left hand or forearm. She has been a competitor in Para Taekwondo since 2009.

Amy is one of the pioneers of Para Taekwondo and talks openly about her achievements, successes and motivations within the 2 Taekwondo styles and how her disability has spurred her on to successes and celebrity status. 

Spurred on by her childhood heroes Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan Amy recently won one of the bronze medals in the women's +58 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Toyko, Japan.

 This week the Motivated Martial Artists Jackson White and Gavin Cook talk to 15 time world champion Colin Boxshall.

Colin started martial arts in his late teens at a Wadō-ryū karate club with his older brother and trained there until he was a first dan. He then moved to a kickboxing club after leaving karate as he got older. He found a passion for point sparring while training in kickboxing but felt like he could do more. One of his friends James Welsh then invited him to TaeKwonDo club ran by Kenny Walton and after learning the hard way how much taekwondo sparring differed from any other martial arts he tried he fell in love with it and continues practicing TaeKwondo and kickboxing to this day 30 years later.

Colin is soon to be a 3rd dan in TaeKwonDo and 3rd dan in Kickboxing and although he can no longer spar due to a life changing chain of strokes due to blood clots and brain damage he still manages to train and runs a TAGB TaeKwonDo club in grimsby with around 30 students including World champion Liliana, 11, who over the lockdown raised money for NHS by doing four miles of taekwondo kicks in her garden.

Tune in this week to hear inspirational stories from a true martial arts renaissance man.

This week the Motivated Martial Artists Jackson White and Gavin Cook talk to Owner / Head Instructor of Ninja Tots and Kids, Victoria Foote.

Victoria is a 4th degree black belt and started doing Martial Arts when she was just 17 years old joining a local class with her friend and falling for the art she carried on with taekwondo all the way through to university even starting up a taekwondo class at her university that still stands to this day.  Victoria achieved her black belt when she was 21 and has competed around the world including the Olympic Trials.

Victoria decided to take on being a taekwondo instructor full time after attending a martial arts seminar by Melody Shuman about the original concept for SKILLZ™ (Little Ninjas). The seminar blew her mind and Victoria decided to be one of the first in the UK to teach with the Little Ninja Program. Victoria fell in love with teaching children and the benefits of teaching kids and paired with degree and studies of Child Development she started Ninja Tots and Kids using the age-specific Martial Arts training programs known as SKILLZ™

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO THIS ONE 

This week the Motivated Martial Artists Jackson White and Gavin Cook talk to Former 3x TaeKwonDo World Champion Debbie Hill 

Debbie's first love in sport is Tae Kwon do which she is has been doing for over 29 years and she is a 6th dan Black belt. She has been teaching since 1996 in Wincanton and Gillingham. She was also in the British Tae Kwon Do team from 1996-2004. She has been fortunate enough to have competed all over the world from Holland, Poland and Russia to America and Australia, winning many titles including British, European and 3 consecutive individual world championship titles and a world team title. Retired from serious competition now, she is more focused on coaching her students.

As a qualified fitness instructor, with over 28 years of experience in the fitness, leisure and sport industry, plus her years of teaching Tae Kwon do, makes her well placed to pass on her knowledge in a fun, safe and effective way. Debbie works in sports development and believes sport/ activity is for everyone.

Tune in this week to hear some truly gripping stories from Debbie kicking off The Motivated Martial Artists Podcast Season 3 in style!