OSTMA instructors

Sensei Tom is a 4th Dan Karate instructor and has been involved in martial arts for over 21 years. He started training with Sensei Paul Wood at the age of 6 years, as a very shy and nervous child. Martial arts helped him grow in confidence and self believe.

Sensei Tom quickly fell in love with karate and in particular competing, he would be competing at every opportunity and regularly taking medals. Within his time competing he has been English National champion and won numerous medals at international level including Gold in the Venice cup event, U.S.A silver medallist, junior World cup bronze medallist & undefeated junior league champion. He has also been previously involved in selection for the English National Karate team.

Over recent years Sensei Tom has switched his focus to coaching, with a number of his higher graded students competing regularly. In 2015 Sensei Tom had his first National medallist, with one of his black belt students taking Bronze at the English National championships. Since this he has had numerous national medallists in team Kumite events and is looking forward to more national and international medals in the near future. In 2022 Sensei Tom had his first student selected for the England Karate Team, selected to represent their country at the European Championships. Sensei Tom is only the secound instructor in Oxfordshire to have a student selected for the National team, behind chief instructor Sensei Paul.

Along side Karate Sensei Tom successfully gained a diploma in sport & fitness. He is currently a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has spent many years training in mixed martial arts. Within this time he has trained with many top name martial artists including Ian Cuthbert, Christophe Pinna, Luigi Busa, Jordan Thomas, Joe Kellaway, Kevin Capel, Neil McLeod, Roger Gracie and Glenn Stevens to name but a few.

Away from martial arts Sensei Tom’s main focus is his family and spending time with his two young daughters. Both of whom now train with him 3 times a week and are starting to take an interest in competition themselves.

Sensei Tom: “OSTMA and martial arts in general has given me the confidence to thrive to succeed in many of my goals and ambitions”

Goals: “To continue to develop as a Martial Artist, both in my own training and as an instructor within OSTMA. I hope to give my own students the same confidence, guidance and opportunitys that both martial arts and OSTMA has given me. I will continue to create classes with a fun and friendly atmosphere, while helping my students to stay safe from life's dangers”