Instructors

Chief Instructor John Titchen – Founder, DART Karate

One of the UK’s foremost self protection and practical karate instructors, John Titchen is best known internationally for his highly acclaimed safe self defence scenario training and his critically acclaimed books and blog on traditional karate kata application and self protection.

John’s books, articles, youtube videos and seminars are recommended worldwide by the growing number of groups and individuals looking to enhance their training through a pragmatic and safe approach to effective self defence.

John gained his first Black Belt in Shotokan Karate with the English Shotokan Karate Association in 1995 under Shihan Roger Hall 8th Dan. A former University and Secondary school teacher and co-curricular education specialist, he has nearly 30 years experience of teaching in the field of martial arts and self protection. John has taught seminars in Canada, Europe and the USA.

In addition to his Qualified Teacher Status John has a number of different coaching qualifications and Dan grades in Shotokan Karate and AoDenkou Jitsu. John is also registered as an instructor with the British Combat Karate Association and has Dan grades with them. John has a passion for research and has shared his knowledge in interviews with magazines and podcast channels. He is a former regular columnist for Traditional Karate Magazine and the ezine Jissen. John is also recognised as one of the leading providers of safe scenario training for self defence in the UK. You can read more about John on his personal website here.

John has an enhanced DBS, undertakes regular safeguarding and child protection training, has up to date first aid qualifications and is fully insured.

Books

Written in 2004, John’s first book Heian Flow System: effective karate kata bunkai was published in 2007. In 2014 and 2015 John published his internationally best selling four part book series Pinan Flow System: karate kata application for beginner to black belt and in 2016 he published his sixth book: Karate and Self Defence – Thoughts on Training. John featured as one of the guest authors in the 2018 book The Problem of Practical Karate. In 2020 John published Karate Beyond Kata – melting ice into water. John also contributed to the free ebook Rules for Success in Karate in 2020. In 2021 John released Karate and Self Defence – The Reality of Karate and Close Quarter Combat. John’s books are popular in the UK, North America, Europe, South America, Australia and Asia.

Instructor Paul McGuire – 2nd Dan Shotokan

Paul started his karate journey in 1986 when his father enrolled him in the local Wado-Ryu karate school. This early experience has given him a lifelong interest in martial arts and self protection.

After an extended break Paul returned to regular training in Shotokan karate with his eldest daughter. They both qualified to 1st Dan in 2016.  Since gaining his Shodan, Paul has maintained a keen interest in applied karate. Paul enjoys attending seminars and training with instructors who focus on using karate for effective self defence. In recent years Paul has trained with John Titchen, Bill Burgar, Leigh Simms, Graham Palmer, Iain Abernethy, Les Bubka, Don Came, Brian Bates, Robert Davis, Andi Kidd and many other interesting practitioners!

Paul has also continued his own Shotokan training and instructor development. Paul was awarded his 2nd Dan in 2018. In Autumn 2019 Paul started training with the Kyohan Shotokan group on a regular basis.

Paul now splits his martial arts interests between teaching and training Shotokan karate and applied training around the Pinan Flow / DART system. He has an enhanced DBS and undertakes regular safeguarding training.