Announcement: A New Chapter for The Martial Arts Centre

Sep 1

3 min read

A message from David Wilson

After many years of teaching and being involved in martial arts, I have made the decision that 2026 will be my final year of teaching at The Martial Arts Centre.

This is not a decision I have taken lightly. Martial arts have been a huge part of my life since I first started training, and The Martial Arts Centre has become much more than simply a place to train. It has become a community, and I am incredibly proud of everything that we have achieved together.

I am therefore delighted to announce that Kazen Kai will be taking over the running of all classes at The Martial Arts Centre.

The Chief Instructor of Kazen Kai is Simon Kidd. Simon holds a very special place in my martial arts journey, as he was my own karate instructor, and over the years he has also become a very good friend.

Simon is an extremely experienced martial artist and instructor, and I have complete confidence in him and his son Toby and in Kazen Kai generally to look after our members and continue developing the Centre into the future.

I have had a number of discussions with Simon about the future of the Centre and, most importantly, about ensuring that all of our students and members are properly looked after. I am very reassured by those discussions and have every confidence that our members will continue to receive the same level of care, attention and quality instruction that they have always received.

There should also be a very smooth transition from a teaching perspective. The syllabuses used by The Martial Arts Centre and Kazen Kai are very similar, and consequently I do not anticipate any problems whatsoever with the continuation of teaching, grading or the development of our students. There will be a great deal of continuity, and our students will be able to continue their martial arts journey without unnecessary disruption.

ALL CURRENT BELT GRADES WILL BE RECOGNISED, SO NO CHANGES.

THE TIMETABLE AS IT STANDS WILL CURRENTLY REMAIN.

THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THE CURRENT INSTRUCTORS.

I want to reassure everyone that the things that make The Martial Arts Centre special will not simply disappear. The emphasis on good-quality martial arts instruction, discipline, respect, personal development and, above all, looking after our members will continue.

For me personally, there is something particularly fitting about handing over the teaching of the Centre to someone who played such an important part in my own development as a martial artist.

I am not disappearing, and I will remain very much a part of the Centre and its community. I will continue to support the transition and, of course, I hope to see many of you both on and off the mats, as Kazen Kai would like me to stay involved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member, parent, instructor and friend who has supported me and The Martial Arts Centre over the years. It has been an absolute privilege to teach so many people and to watch generations of students develop, not only as martial artists but as people.

There is a time for every chapter to change, and I believe this is the right time for me to step back and allow the next chapter to begin.

I leave the teaching in very good hands.

Thank you all for your friendship, loyalty and support.

David Wilson

Founder & Chief Instructor

The Martial Arts Centre