A Shodan Black Belt returns to Seishin Mizu Ryu to develop as an instructor and learn how to run a professional martial arts academy.

‍

‍

We’re delighted to welcome Costin to the team at Exeter Martial Arts (EMA).

Costin’s martial arts journey with us actually began some years ago at our Seishin Mizu Ryu Jiu Jitsu club in Leicester, where he trained in Traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu and progressed to Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt).

After completing his Master’s degree, Costin’s career took him overseas to the British Virgin Islands, where he spent several years working and experiencing life in a completely different part of the world.

But martial arts has a way of bringing people back.

Having now returned to the UK, Costin has chosen to continue his development by joining our Centre of Excellence in Exeter not simply to continue training, but to learn what goes on behind the scenes of a successful martial arts academy.

Learning to Teach and Lead

Achieving a black belt is an important milestone, but we believe it is only the beginning of a martial artist’s development.

There is a big difference between knowing how to perform a technique and knowing how to teach it effectively.

Costin will be working alongside our senior instructors, gaining experience in lesson planning, coaching, class management, student development and the many practical aspects involved in running a professional martial arts academy.

He will also be learning about the things that students don't necessarily see  from building a strong club culture and developing instructors to managing the day-to-day operation of a busy academy.

In short, he is coming to learn from the best and develop the skills required to eventually build something of his own.

Costin said“I wanted to come back to the UK and continue developing not just as a martial artist, but as an instructor. EMA gives me the opportunity to learn from the best instructor I know ,Sensei Rich and understand what it takes to build and run a successful academy.”

The Next Chapter

Costin has ambitious plans for the future. Alongside his martial arts development, he is hoping to begin a PhD next year, continuing his academic journey while developing as a martial artist and instructor.

That combination of academic curiosity and martial arts development is something we’re particularly pleased to support.

At EMA, we have always believed that martial arts is about much more than learning how to fight. It is about continuous learning, personal development, discipline, leadership and passing knowledge on to the next generation.

Costin is now beginning the next stage of that journey.

We’re very pleased to have him back in the Seishin Mizu Ryu family and excited to see where this next chapter takes him.

Welcome to the EMA team, Costin!

Your journey from Leicester, to the British Virgin Islands, and now back to the UK has certainly been an interesting one.

Now the real learning begins.