THE UK’S NUMBER 1 MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE

Andy Crittenden’s

MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE

Andy Crittenden is the Owner, Master Instructor & Chief Examiner of Andy Crittenden’s Martial Arts Centre. Andy founded the Centre in January 2003 after working as a Full Time Martial Arts Instructor for the past 6 years.

Andy has been training in the Martial Arts for 19 years starting Tae Kwon Do with Kim Stones in 1987, during his time at Kim’s School Andy also had the chance to learn Kick Boxing & Kenpo Karate from Kim and other Instructors in his Organisation, Andy achieved Dan Grades in both these arts and a 4^th Dan in Tae Kwon Do before leaving in 2002. (Andy has since gone on to achieve his 5^th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do).

Whilst in Mr Stones employment Andy received many awards for his teaching. In 1999 and 2000 he achieved the UK Instructor of the Year Award from the Educational Funding Company, The Professor Award (the first person to achieve this in the UK) from Black Belt Schools of America in 2001 and The Master Instructor Award from Black Belt Schools International in 2002.

When Andy Crittenden’s Martial Arts Centre opened its doors on 4^th January 2003 we had 44 people join during our first week, we quickly grew to 100 and now we are around the 200 mark. Our students have the opportunity to train in Tae Kwon Do, Kick Boxing, SDF Self Defence, Mixed Martial Arts, Fitness, Kick Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling each and every week with our fantastic team of Instructors.

To be able to teach these Arts Andy has trained with some of the best Instructors in the country. As mentioned earlier Kim Stones plus Dave Turton 8^th Dan (The Head of The Self Defence Federation) Dave is Andy’s main Instructor and mentor, he taught him to 1^st Dan is SDF Self Defence and now is teaching him the art of Goshinkwai Combat, also The Centre is a member school of Dave’s Self Defence Federation. Through Dave Andy has had the opportunity to train with some of Dave’s senior Dan grades including the awesome Karl Blackwell whom he has learnt a lot from.

Andy with his mentor Dave Turton 8th Dan after his 5th Dan grading

Andy has also trained with Mick Shore (Filipino Eskrima/Kali, JKD, Boxing, Grappling) for over 5 years as well as Paul Murphy the Centre’s Jiu-Jitsu Coach. Andy was very fortunate to train in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Andy Roberts for a while which led to Andy training and grading to Blue Belt with the legendary 3 time UFC Champion Royce Gracie.

In 2005 Andy spent a lot of time training with Professional Boxing Champion Jason Rushton and his newest Instructor is the Bolton Iron Man Trevor Roberts 8^th Dan. Trevor is a Grappling Master and has studied extensively and competed Internationally at Ju-Jitsu, Sambo, Wrestling & Judo.

In addition to this regular tuition Andy has also trained on seminars with some of the best in the world such as Randy Couture, Dan Inosanto, Hee il Cho, Carley Gracie, Chuck Liddel, Bill Wallace, Hee Young Kimm, Johari Bin Jantan, Dan Severn, Geoff Thompson, Dave Kovar, Rick Young, Matt Lindland, Mark Wiley, Neil Adams, Jesse Elder, Erik Paulson, Tom Muncy, Chris Leben, Nate Quarry and more.

We have a large matted area complete with punch bags and all the training aids you would ever need plus another room half the size, we also have a weight training and fitness room. Each room has its own spectator area and there is a TV lounge and kids play area and also an area where parents and visitors can chill out with a cup of coffee. Our reception area doubles as a Martial Arts Shop that caters for all your martial arts equipments needs, also refreshments and snacks are available.

Our Centre provides the best range of Martial Arts classes in South Yorkshire, with a great team of Instructor’s, we pride ourselves on delivering the best possible classes and giving the best service that we can to our members in the best facility for miles.

Our goals as a school are to help you achieve yours. Whether it’s to achieve a Black Belt, to compete, to learn to defend yourself, to become more confident, to get fitter and lose weight, our Centre will do that. All our staff are friendly and approachable and are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.

Students who wish to compete in Martial Arts have the opportunity to do so in many different ways, in 2005 our students competed in Kick Boxing (both on a mat and in a ring) Mixed Martial Arts (in both a Cage and a Ring) Point Sparring, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Korean Patterns & Submission Grappling.

Andy Crittenden has had some good success in competitions himself. He has won 2 British Patterns Championships and has come 2^nd and 3^rd in the British Open in Point Sparring. He also has won a 3^rd Place in the European Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open and has competed in MMA.

One of the reasons for the Centre’s success is the fantastic staff team that we have. When we opened it was one of Andy Crittenden’s main goals to develop a strong staff team with varied skills. When the Centre opened Audrey Parker, Craig Oxley, Kev Miller, Danielle Telford, Craig Ford & Victoria Rowe made up the team. Since then the team has grown and become a strong blend of youth and experience with a great cross section of skills.

Andy has performed in many demonstrations around the South Yorkshire area including his 2 Black Belt Display Nights and at Kim Stones Black Belt Extravaganza’s that were held at Doncaster Civic Theatre. Andy tries his best to use his Martial Arts Centre and its students to help local and national charities his three highlights would be his 100 person spar for Doncaster Royal Infirmary in 2001, his appearance on BBC Children in Need for a similar event in 1996 and for the raffle held in aid of the DEC Tsunami Appeal in 2005.

As well as Martial Arts accolades the Centre has also achieved things in the world of business. In 2003 & 2004 the Centre was a Finalist in Doncaster Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year Award and also in 2004 we won the prestigious Most Customer Focused Business Award at Business Link South Yorkshire’s Shell Live Wire Event.

Andy after winning award at Business Link South Yorkshire Shell Live Wire Event

As well as teaching in the Centre, Andy Crittenden and other Instructors have worked in various schools and colleges such as Doncaster College, Balby Carr School, Edlington School, Edlington Hill Top School, Balby Central Primary School, YMCA training, Edlington Family Centre and Northcliffe Comprehensive School.

Andy has also taught the SDF Self Defence system to groups such as The Young Farmers and his Martial Arts systems have been taught to various occupations such as Solicitors, Doctors, Teachers and even Doorman. Andy has also appeared in 2 nationally sold Self Defence instructional dvd/video series with Dave Turton & Karl Blackwell as well appearing on instructional clips on the internet.

Andy and the Centre have been featured in various magazines and newspapers including Fighters Only, Martial Arts Illustrated, Combat, Fighters, Sheffield 1^st 4 Business, Doncaster Annual Report 2003-2004, Doncaster Education & Training Yearbook 2004-2005, Doncaster Free Press, Doncaster Courier, Doncaster Advertiser, Doncaster Star and South Yorkshire Times.

Andy with Doncaster MP Rosie Winterton

Our Centre prides itself on being the very best school in the region our goal is to help you achieve yours. Master Instructor Andy Crittenden has dedicated his entire life since leaving school to furthering his Martial Arts education in order to provide the best possible martial arts tuition for his members. Most Martial Arts Instructors spend 40 hours a week doing their day job and only a few hours of Martial Arts. Since the age of 17 Andy has lived and breathed Martial Arts by teaching full time as well as maintaining a very hectic Martial Arts training schedule allowing him to have achieved the following grades at the young age of 25.

5^th Degree Black Belt - Multi Skilled Martial Arts - SDF & CMMA

5^th Degree Black Belt - Tae Kwon Do - SDF

4^th Degree Black Belt - Kick Boxing - SDF

1^st Degree Black Belt - Kenpo Karate - BBSI

1^st Degree Black Belt - SDF Self Defence - SDF

4^th Kyu Purple Belt - Cobra FMA - Andy Morrell CMAA

Blue Belt - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Royce Gracie

4^th Grade Green Sash - Filipino Martial Arts - Mick Shore

3rd Kyu - Ju-Jitsu - CMAA Andy Morrell

Along with various beginner grades in other styles and with years of experience in Ju-Jitsu, Boxing, Grappling & MMA.

In 2004 Andy achieved his 1^st Degree Black Belt in SDF Self Defence under Dave Turton and in 2005 Dave Turton headed a panel of high-ranking Tae Kwon Do Dan Grades and graded Andy Crittenden to 5^th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

On Tuesday 16^th May 2006 Andy was awarded Life Membership to the Self Defence Federation for services and commitment to the organisation. He became one of only five people to be awarded this very prestigious honour by the SDF’s Head Dave Turton and his senior reps

Andy with Dave Turton receiving his SDF Life Membership Award

Andy’s goal is to achieve 1 more Black Belt (to make it 5) and to continue his development in Dave Turton’s SDF/Goshinkwai systems as well as continuing to be able to teach his students new techniques for all the classes and disciplines within the Centre.

Martial Arts has given Andy so much in his life and that is why he wants to give it back to his students, Andy has three times travelled to the USA to train in Martial Arts, he has met most of his friends and become closer to his family because of Martial Arts. He has had chance to meet great people from all walks of life like Rosie Winterton MP, UFC World Champions Royce Gracie & Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell. TV starts such as Cobra (Gladiators), Gabby Logan and Tom O Connor, WWE World Champion Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart, Original Students of Bruce Lee: Dan Inosantoll, Martial Arts Film Stars Bill Wallace, Mike Lambert & Nikki Berwick, as well as Martial Artists from all over the UK and Europe, plus Canada, USA, Korea, South Africa, Malaysia, Brazil and even Iraq. He has also had the opportunity to help hundreds of people realise their dreams and have seen many kids grow up into great adult Martial Artists and contributing members of society.

Martial Arts Changed one young mans life, let it change yours!

If you are interested in training martial arts and your are in the South Yorkshire area you won’t go far wrong at Andy Crittenden’s Martial Arts Centre. For more info contact the Centre on (01302) 858335.

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