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 most martial arts schools. 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 Seal Martial Arts Kobudō, 18 warrior skills (Bugei Juhappen), 18 Ninja skills (Ninja Juhakkei), 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.
This doesn’t mean it’s unobtainable but you definitely earn your black belt (Shodan/1st Dan) and the right to be called one of our instructors!
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 Kobudō, 4th Dan Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, FMA, Combatives and Shurikenjutsu - Founder and Owner of Seal Martial Arts
Sensei Jamie Seal has over 27 years experience training in various martial arts including Judo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (a.k.a. Ninjutsu), FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) and Combatives.
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. In 2023 Jamie licensed his own martial arts system called Seal Martial Arts Kobudō which clearly guides students up to 7th Dan. Now Jamie focuses on bringing some of the best instructors from all over the UK to host seminars at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo in Rugby!
Gary Hallett - 7th Dan - Seal Martial Arts Kobudō - Black Mountain Combat Concepts, Wales
Gary Hallett is a Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt) in Seal Martial Arts Kobudō who orginally started training under Sensei Jamie Seal over 17 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 7th Dan by Sensei Jamie Seal in June 2023. He is an extremely talented instructor with a lot of knowledge to impart.
Oliver O’Connor - 1st Kyu - Seal Martial Arts Kobudo and Kickboxing - Seal Martial Arts, Rugby
Oli O’Connor is an up and coming assistant instructor at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo! Oli has trained in Kobudō under Jamie Seal for several years now and has extensive experience training in kickboxing. Oli also teaches some of the kids lessons in the dojo during the week. 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.
Marco Guerra - 1st Kyu - Seal Martial Arts Kobudō and Wing Chun - Seal Martial Arts, Rugby
Marco is one of our assistant instructors and he has a real passion for martial arts! Marco often assists Sensei Jamie Seal with the kids lessons throughout the week and he is rapidly becoming an extremely knowledgable instructor in his own right. Marco has a history practising Wing Chun Kung Fu as well as Kobudō and he is very good at breaking the techniques down for the junior students. One thing Marco definitely doesn’t lack is dedication to training he is in the dojo most days of the week and we can tell one day he will run his own branch of the Seal Martial Arts Kobudō Dojo.
Krzysztof Herdzik - 1st Kyu - Seal Martial Arts Kobudō - Seal Martial Arts,
Krzysztof is one of our assistant instructors at the Seal Martial Arts Dojo and you will often find him assisting in the adult lessons. Krzysztof is an extremely knowledgable instructor and has trained with us for years now! Krzysztof is also one of the most intelligent people I have ever met with a doctorate in physics, The students often joke with him that he could be a bond villain if he wanted to. All jokes aside Krzysztof is brilliant teacher and he is a stickler for detail when it comes to performing techniques and kata and he takes his training extremely seriously. He also has extensive knowledge on the use of long weapons having trained with them extensively throughout the COVID lockdowns.
James Stewart - Seal Martial Arts Combatives, FMA, Irish Stick Fighting, Yawara
James Stewart is an excellent instructor with many years of experience in a wide variety of martial arts systems. James has practised FMA for over 20 years, teaches Irish Stick Fighting and also has a particular love for the Yawara (Short Stick) and flashlight techniques. James teaches Combatives under the Seal Martial Arts Combatives banner all over the UK. James also has a particular interest in wildlife and spends a lot of time out in the country rescuing animals. We first met James years ago when he came to teach a tactical flashlight seminar to our students and it was brilliant! James is available for seminars so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested in learning some Combatives, Irish Stick Fighting, Yawara or FMA.
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