Meet the team

Our Instructors and Senior Student Assistants

Sensei Ben Mills

Lead Instructor

Sensei Ben is a 3rd Dan (Sandan) in Wado-Ryu karate. He is fully DBS-cleared, first-aid and safeguarding-trained and is a British Martial Arts and Boxing Association- accredited martial arts instructor, fully insured by them to deliver training in karate and self-defence.

Ben also has 30 years’ experience as a schoolteacher. He is passionate about karate and sharing the far-reaching benefits of martial arts training in people’s lives.

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Sensei Lynn Bedford

Assistant Instructor & Safeguarding Officer

Sensei Lynn is a 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate. She is fully DBS-cleared, first-aid and safeguarding-trained and BMABA-registered assistant instructor.

As well as being an assistant instructor, Lynn is our club safeguarding officer.

Lynn is also a highly experienced school teacher.

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Rich Fry

Senior Student (Senpai) & Little Ninjas Instructor

A Senpai is a senior grade student, who mentors junior grades and assists with their instruction.

Senpai Rich is a 4th Kyu senior student and instructor to our Little Ninjas – our class for 3 to 7 year olds.

As a Deputy Head in a local Primary School, of many years’ standing, Rich brings a wealth of teaching and safeguarding experience,

HIs passion for karate, attention to detail and desire to see others thrive and progress make him a huge asset to the club.

Charlotte

Senpai & Little Ninjas Instructor

Charlotte is a 1st Dan in Wado-Ryu and a highly experienced karate-ka.

Her quiet capability, modesty and grit make her a fantastic role model to other students and an invaluable member of our team of Little Ninjas instructors.

Charlotte has a natural flair for one-to-one mentoring and teaching and she fully embodies our club values of personal development through respect, discipline, determination and hard work.

Toby

Little Ninjas Instructor

Toby is a 5th Kyu student and highly valued Little Ninjas instructor.

As a quiet, observant student himself, he is ideally placed to help our youngest students navigate what can at times feel like the daunting demands of getting our minds to master our bodies learning karate.

Andrew MIlls

Senior Student ('Senpai')

Senpai Andrew is a 1st Dan in Wado-Ryu Karate, and a gold medal winner at advanced combat kumite.

He has trained in the martial arts for over 13 years and is an excellent role model to both younger and adult students with his thoughtful and patient instruction and mentoring.

Alec Mills

Senpai

Alec is a 1st Dan in Wado-Ryu Karate and a gold medal winner at senior combat kumite.

Alec’s passion for the martial arts, his attention to detail and desire to invest in others make him an excellent mentor to younger students and adults alike.

Alec trains and competes for us when back from university, where he is broadening his martial arts experience training with Southampton University  MMA society.

BMABA MEMBERSHIP
Ben Mills: Registered & Authenticated member of the
British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA)
BMABA INSTRUCTOR
"Ben Mills: has declared all of the criteria required to be
listed as holding an authenticate grade, competence or
entitlement that may warrant him to instruct freely Wado
Ryu Karate within the our most prestigious organisation."
DAN GRADE CERTIFICATE
Lead Instructor Ben Mills:
3rd Dan (Sandan) grade certificate
BMABA INSURED
Ben Mills: has been assigned instructor insurance under
the BMABA group cover policy
BMABA SAFEGUARDING
"Safeguarding is not an optional matter - it is compulsory,
and it should be treated with the seriousness that is rightly
demands." [click image to view/download policy]