Black Belt International  Executives Profiles - United Kingdom

 

Name:    Haydn Bridgeland  Apex Martial Arts Academy Nottingham Judo and TKD, Taekwondo, Taekwon do, Tae kwon do                                 

Club Name   Apex Martial Arts Academy                Location: Mansfield, Nottingham

Haydn Bridgeland Right Yan Min Chen left

Martial Arts Styles:  Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Canemaster, Escrima & Chi Do   Grades: 4th Degree Judo, 3rd Degree Ju-Jitsu, 1st Degree Tae Kwon Do, 1st Degree Kickboxing.   Qualifications: WCOMA International Referee, WCOMA International Instructor, PTC Qualified BNMAA, Brain Dojo Instructor, Canemaster Instructor.   Titles and appointments: Masters Degree JSJA   Links and Associations: WCOMA, BNMAA, BBI, Canemaster International.   Affiliations: BBI, BNMAA

Photo Profile

Hadyn Bridgeland Left With Yan Min Chen  - Shaolin Monk from the wheel of life.

Bio

I started my career in Martial Arts after numerous Saturday evenings being spellbound by David Carradine in the TV series Kung Fu. Many a day would be spent imagining what it would be like to possess these seemingly mystical powers. My chance came, when at secondary school I was faced with the tough decision of a cross-country run in the rain, or to go into the gym “and try some fighting stuff”. The experience gained in that first session, of what turned out to be Judo, set me on a path of learning that continues to this day. For this I thank my first inspirational instructor Martin Clarke. In those early days there was much debate about the best system, fuelled in many cases by the instructors. These days most people accept that no one discipline is “the best” and it is far better to gain knowledge in as many varying systems as possible.

After studying Judo and Ju-Jitsu throughout my teens and then in the Royal Navy my interests then took me on to study Kempo and from there, the mental attitude required for effective self-defence. After leaving the Navy my thoughts turned to settling down and raising a family. But and some might say inevitably, once my son was old enough and because he knew his dad was a black belt, Connor, wanted to try a martial art. So it was that I, my wife, son and later my daughter started on the next stage of learning by taking up Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing under the tutelage of Master VJ Marke and his team. From here on my studies grew in both breadth and depth, moving into traditional weapons, Hapkido, Yi Tsung Chung Fa, Canemaster, Qi Gong and many more.

I have studied with many truly great Masters and Grandmasters, in countless styles, over the years, and sincerely thank them all for their patience, knowledge and willingness to teach. As Sir Isaac Newton wrote; “If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”

“Success only comes before work in the dictionary”

 

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