Sheffield Martial Arts Centre
Meet The Team
Who We Are
Mark Hayes
Founder and Chief Instructor
I've been studying martial arts for more than 40 years, so you can relax knowing that you are in capable hands.
During my years of studying Martial Arts, I have gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience in a range of striking, grappling, and weapons-based martial arts.
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I initially started in Karate, experimented in other Martial Arts systems, before moving on to study Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts, this study of JKD and Kali led me to develop my own curriculum Combined Fighting Arts by blending parts of everything that I have studied to date.
I have blackbelts in Karate, Kickboxing and Filipino Martial Arts as well as Instructor levels in JKD and Kali, plus a Brown belt in BJJ
With the experience I have gained from being a student, Instructor and competitor in various Martial Arts systems, I have the perfect mix of functional training methods that will see you make progress almost straight away!
Tony Rixon
Assistant Instructor
After a lifetime of meaning to learn Martial Arts, but never quite getting round to it, Tony started training under Mark in 2003 at the age of 32.
He was never too interested in the traditional arts so when a new "Jeet Kune Do class" started at the gym his wife was working at. “I enjoyed the relaxed environment and the mix of different styles which covered everything from weapons, kicking and punching to grappling”
Tony gained his Black Belt in CFA in 2008, was also promoted to CFA Apprentice Instructor in 2016, and has also recently been promoted to Brown Belt in BJJ.
Tony helps teach the Combined Fighting Arts (CFA) classes and the Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu (BJJ) classes, enjoys helping out the new starters.
“The look on their face when they suddenly "get it" is great. As I've got a bit older, I've found that continuing to be active has helped fend off a lot of mobility and flexibility issues which can affect people as they get age. I also found that it gave me a greater level of confidence, which I think is important in these times.”
Colin McCurdy
Assistant Instructor
Colin has over 40 years’ of experience in Martial Arts, has attained Black belts in 3 separate Arts, he has also competed at World championship level for Kendo and Filipino Stick fighting.
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He has over 20 years of Training in Combined Fighting Arts and assists in teaching during classes, at present Colin is one of only two people to have graded to the level of Black belt in CFA.
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During his time training in CFA he has attended many seminars with some of the world’s highest level JKD and Filipino martial arts instructors, as well as attending the world famous Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles and attended classes there taught by Guro Inosanto.
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“The C.F.A system and club have taught me much about myself and even more about JKD as a system, I enjoy the way we train and the camaraderie that has been built with in the club.
Simon McGovern
BJJ Black belt Instructor
Bio coming shortly
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