At Seal Martial Arts we pride ourselves on providing the highest possible standard of martial arts tuition available, due to this the expectations of our instructors are much higher than conventional sports martial arts systems. After all we aren’t training to score points in a controlled arena but training to survive the often harsh realities of modern society.
So how do we differ from other martial arts schools?
Each of our instructors has earned their place! Racking up thousands of hours of study and training over the years! Ranks are never given out freely but are strived for and achieved with hard work and dedication!
We expect our instructors to have comprehensive knowledge of 9 schools of unarmed combat (Ku Ryuha), 18 skills (Bugei Juhappen), the use and application a huge variety of traditional Japanese weaponry, strategy and tactics, mixed martial arts, understand and teach complex Japanese, the law and much more. Most of the Bujinkan Shihan (15th Dan) have been training for over 30 years.
This doesn’t mean it’s unobtainable but you definitely earn your black belt (Shodan/1st Dan) and the right to be called a Ninja!
We train hard and expect more from our students but keep lessons fun, engaging and energetic.
We don’t just claim to train mini ninjas, we actually do! The results speak for themselves! We have some exceptional students!
All instructors are fully qualified insured and DBS checked to work with children. A copy of our safeguarding policy can be found on the website.
So who wil be teaching in the dojo?
Jamie Seal - 8th Dan Seal Martial Arts Kobudo, 4th Dan Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and FMA - Founder and Owner of Seal Martial Arts.
Shidoshi Ho Jamie Seal has over 27 years experience training in various martial arts including Judo, Jujutsu, Aikido and Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (a.k.a. Ninjutsu).
Jamie started training in martial arts at the age of 10 years old starting with Judo before moving into traditional Japanese Jujutsu. Jamie then started training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (a.k.a. Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu) under the BBD at WarriorCrafts in Portsmouth.
During this time he also cross trained in Aikido under Sensei Fabiano Lemes and Mixed Martial Arts with Buzz Levy.
In 2011 Jamie moved to Newbury in Berkshire and started training under Shihan Dave Giddings (10th Dan) owner of the Bujinkan Newbury Dojo. Jamie obtained his Shodan (1st Dan) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 2013 and then shortly after moved to Rugby, Warwickshire.
At this point due to their being no Bujinkan Dojo in Rugby, He started travelling up and down the UK to meet and train with different Shihan (10th - 15th Dan Masters) to attend lessons and continue his training.
In 2015 Jamie was awarded his 2nd Dan (2nd Degree Black Belt) by Shihan Trevor Robinson founder of the Tesshin Ryu Dojo with the focus being on Koto Ryu Koppojutsu.
In 2016 Jamie secured the backing of the Princes Trust and opened the Bujinkan Rugby Dojo (Seal Martial Arts) and shortly after that set up the shop Ningu UK which specialised in building bespoke Nihonto (Japanese Swords) and historical restoration.
In 2017 Jamie was awarded his 3rd Dan (3rd Degree Black Belt) by Shihan Stephen Boulton and Shihan Colyn Ball founders of the Kanmuri Dojo in Chester.
In 2018 Jamie set up the Mushin Shurikenjutsu Renshu Kai which was a combination of western knife throwing techniques taught by KATTA (The Knife And Tomahawk Throwing Association) and Japanese Shurikenjutsu techniques taught in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu. The Mushin Shurikenjutsu Renshu Kai focused on rotation throwing, half spin throwing and no spin throwing. Jamie also taught alongside well known KATTA knife thrower Mark Bond at the Kaizen Martial Arts Expo 2018 hosted in Nottingham.
In January 2019 Jamie was awarded his 4th Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) by Shihan Stephen Boulton of the Kanmuri Dojo for his study of Kukishinden Ryu. Jamie also launched the Real Mini Ninjas and Shadow Warriors lessons for children. The Seal Martial Arts team also taught a wide variety of weapons skills at the Kaizen Martial Arts Expo 2019 and taught Shurikenjutsu at both SwordPunk 9 and SwordPunk X.
Aside from his experience in martial arts Jamie Seal is also a qualified solicitor and qualified support worker for people living with mental illness but since securing the backing of the Princes Trust in 2016 works full time on the Seal Martial Arts Dojo. Now Jamie focuses on bringing some of the best instructors from all over the UK to host seminars at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo!
Gary Hallett - 3rd Dan - Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu - Black Mountain Combat Concepts
Gary Hallett is a Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu who orginally started training under Shidoshi Ho Jamie Seal over 10 years ago whilst in the Army. Since then Gary has trained with various Bujinkan Shihan in the UK and is an assistant instructor at Seal Martial Arts. Gary was awarded his 1st Dan by Shidoshi Ho Jamie Seal in 2017. He is an extremely talented instructor with a lot of knowledge to impart.
David Hastings - 4th Dan - Hapkido and Combatives - Korean Hapkido Academy and Seal Martial Arts
David runs our Seal Martial Arts Combatives lessons on Fridays at 19:00! David is an extremely experienced martial arts instructor having taught and studied Hapkido for several decades. David has trained police over in the USA, is a qualified firearms instructor, a qualified bodyguard, runs a knife and axe throwing group and teaches military and civilian combatives! David first taught a tactical flashlight seminar at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo in October of 2022 and with him being a local instructor we thought we’d ask him to teach Combatives at the dojo! David teaches Combatives for civilians and law enforcement instead of military Combatives so his classes are excellent if your looking for simple and practical solutions to violent confrontations.
Oliver O’Connor - 1st Kyu - Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and Kickboxing - Seal Martial Arts
Oli O’Connor is an up and coming assistant instructor at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo! Oli has trained in Ninjutsu under Jamie Seal for several years now and has extensive experience training in kickboxing so he runs the Seal Martial Arts Ladies Only lessons on Fridays at 18:00. Oli also teaches some of the kids lessons in the dojo during the week and on Fridays at 17:00. Oli is a very friendly instructor who is more than happy to help the students in any way he can and he’s rapidly becoming an experienced instructor at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo.
Buzz Levy - 1st Dan - Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and Mixed Martial Arts - Seal Martial Arts
Buzz Levy is a Shodan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu who originally started training with Shidoshi Ho Jamie Seal in Portsmouth over 20 years ago! Buzz has a wealth of knowledge about Ninjutsu and Mixed Martial Arts and is an exceptional teacher and fitness fanatic. Buzz has trained with some amazing instructors over the years and was awarded his 1st Dan by Shidoshi Ho Jamie Seal in July of 2021.
© Copyright Seal Martial Arts 2020
