Coaches
Zoltán Dienes was
captain to the Cambridge
and Oxford karate blues teams in the 1980s. In 1994, after meeting
Terry Wingrove , Zoltán
became interested in martial arts as self
defence rather than sport - "jutsu" rather than "do". In 1995 Zoltán also started
training with Rick Clark on each of his biannual visits to the UK. Rick helped Zoltán disregard
the boundaries of styles
and to train in all areas of self defence. Some training with
Steve Morris in 2003 and 2004
profoundly influenced all aspects of Zoltán's training, to make it more functional,
be it on the ground, grappling, or striking. Zoltán
continues to draw from
the evolving methodologies of Mixed Martial Arts, as well as the old ways of jutsu, to create fun and functional self defence training.
Zoltán is a member of Rick
Clark's Ao Denkou Kai, an organisation constantly exploring and developing concepts for self defence training. Some
of Zoltán's own research (with Mike Flanagan) on the use of pressure points is reported in Rick Clark's 2000 book Pressure
Point Fighting and Vince
Morris's 1999 book Kyusho Secrets 2. Zoltán started teaching martial arts at Sussex University in 1990 and
was awarded Coach of the Year 2003 by the University of Sussex Sports Federation.
Neil McLatchie
Neil started training at the club when at sixth form in Kent - travelling all the way to University of Sussex because he could find no other club nearby that was so progressive in its training methods and philosophy. In fact, he chose Sussex for his BSc precisely so he could continue training at the club! While in his first year at Sussex he won gold at the first (and so far only) British Universities Vale Tudo competition. Neil achieved his blackbelt in Integrated Martial Arts in his final undergraduate year at Sussex. He was awarded USSU (University of Sussex Students Union) Martial Artist of the Year 2009. He is now a PhD student at Kent University.
Pete Kolarz
Pete started training Integrated Martial Arts in 2007. Barely missing a lesson since then, either during term or holiday time, Pete trained to black belt in just over three years, the fastest time possible. Embodying the true spirit of an IMAniac, he shows what it is possible for a student starting university here to achieve during the course of their degree, if they show commitment and enthusiasm.
Joe Wareham
Since joining the club in 2008, Joe has progressed rapidly as a virtue of training hard and often, as well as constantly thinking about martial arts critically both inside and outside of the dojo. Joe stepped into the cage to compete in his first MMA tournament in February 2011 (at Fightskool), where he was runner-up in the Welterweight division, and he obtained his black belt in IMA later in the year. He will continue training at this club as well as others in order to further grow creatively as a martial arts instructor (as a part-time distraction from being a rockstar).
