|
About our Instructors
Owners Mark & Jacqui Davies
This is the website for 'the BEST defence' martial arts centre. The BEST defence was the first Professional Martial Arts Centre in Angus. We hate to blow our own trumpets, but we pride ourselves on offering the HIGHEST standard of instruction in TaeKwon-Do, Combatives & Reality Based Self Defence (through our Tactical Edge system), Korean Kickboxing, Little Ninjas, Russian Kettlebells, & Cardio Kickboxing that you'll find in Tayside!
Chief Instructor Mark Davies with his TaeKwon-Do Instructor, former ITF World Champion, Master Gordon Wallace
The pedigree of your instructor is VERY important in the Martial Arts, & it is a sad fact that in styles such as TaeKwon-Do & Kickboxing these days you are seeing an increasing number of inexperienced & unqualified people starting classes. Our Martial Arts Studios chief instructor is Mr Mark Davies. Mr Davies has 30 years of experience in the Martial Arts. Starting out training in Judo & Karate in 1980, he moved into ITF TaeKwon-Do in 1983 training with the original TaeKwon-Do school (& for many years the only) in Tayside. He was one of the first members of that school, & was the first person to gain a TaeKwon-Do Blackbelt there.
Chief Instructor Mr Mark Davies, 5th Degree Blackbelt
Mark started teaching in 1987, & has been instructing people in the Martial Arts ever since. Unlike most instructors though, Mark threw himself totally into Martial Arts training, & spent many years travelling to train with some of the worlds top Masters & Instructors in some of the worlds lesser known, more arcane & effective fighting arts. This has made Mark one of the most widely experienced & qualified Martial Arts Instructors in the entire UK. He now holds Instructors/Blackbelt credentials in EIGHT different fighting arts! This means that students at 'the BEST defence' get a MUCH wider breadth of experience & knowledge than they would get anywhere else! Mark was the first Professional Martial Arts Instructor in Angus!
Mark Davies performing Two Direction Kick back when he was a 3rd Degree Blackbelt
Mark Davies is now an Internationally reknowned Combatives & Reality Based Self Defence specialist. Mark teaches seminars Internationally on Close Quarter Combat & personal protection, & is widely known as an expert in Edged Weapons. Mark currently trains under the World Famous instructor, Master at Arms James A Keating. Mark is the only person in Europe to have been certified by Master at Arms Keating as a full instructor in his Combat Technologies system, & Mark is his European ComTech Affiliate.
Mark Davies & Master at Arms James A Keating at The Riddle of Steel
Mark training with Master at Arms James Keating at his home in Walla Walla, USA
One of the things that sets Mark totally apart from most instructors is his real life combat experience actually applying his training in real life situations. Mark strated working as a door supervisor before he was actually old enough to get into nightclubs! He has 19 years of experience working in some of the most violent places in the UK, & has experienced literally thousands of violent incidents. He has faced every kind of unarmed & armed attack many many times, & has a deep understanding of the reality of violence & the mindset of the violent sociopaths who prey on decent people. Mark went on to be trained in specialised security, & has advance specialist weapons training & Tactical training from some of the best instructors in the world. He is a Close Combat Instructor to elements of UK Special Forces, & has provided specialised training over the years for some of the worlds most elite units & agencies.
Mark Davies on the firing ranges with Special Forces
Mark Davies with Special Forces
As well as teaching 'regular' Martial Arts, Mark is the founder of Tactical Edge. Mark originally created Tactical Edge as a Combatives system for use by Special Forces soldiers. Over the years it has developed into a full civilian Combatives System as well. Tactical Edge is spreading quickly across the UK, with some of the UK's most experienced martial arts instructors training under Mark to become Instructors in his system.
Tactical Edge Founder- Master Instructor Mark Davies teaching on a seminar in London
Mark Davies teaching a Tactical Edge seminar
Jacqui Davies is Marks wife & the co-owner of 'the BEST defence'. Jacqui assists Mark with the Little Ninjas, TaeKwon-Do & Korean Kickboxing classes; & she handles all of the Fitness Classes at 'the BEST defence'. As well as holding a 2nd Degree Blackbelt in Korean Kickboxing, advanced grades in TaeKwon-Do, & being a Certified CardioKickboxing Instructor; Jacqui is Taysides authority on the Russian Kettlebells. Jacqui is the only Certified Kettlebell Trainer with the International Kettlebell Fitness Federation in Tayside.
Jacqui Davies demonstrating the Windmill with the Russian Kettlebell
Jacqui has a unique insight into the effectiveness of Martial Arts training for women. Prior to meeting Mark she had been in an abusive marriage where she had been the victim of physical & mental abuse. Martial Arts training built her confidence & self esteem back up after they had been beaten out of her; to the point where she is now one of the top Kettlebells Instructors in Scotland.
Assistant Instructors
Mark & Jacqui are assisted by a team of excellent assistant instructors.
Mr Carl Dickenson & Mr Ross Cairney
Mr Dickenson & Mr Cairney teach our Dundee classes at Energie Fitness, & assist in our other classes. Mr Dickenson holds 1st Degree Blackbelts in TaeKwon-Do & Korean Kickboxing, & also Advanced ranks in Tactical Edge; & Mr Cairney holds a 1st Degree in TaeKwon-Do & Advanced ranks in Tactical Edge. Both have been training with Mark Davies for several years, & are very talented & committed Martial Artists.
Mark Davies & Montrose Assistant Instructor Caitlan McLean
Ms Caitlan McLean has trained with Mark Davies since she was about 8 years old. She is now a 1st Degree Blackbelt in Korean Kickboxing, & assists Mark with the Montrose Little Ninjas & Kids Kickboxing classes.
Why choose our classes?
It's quite simple really- your ability as a martial artist is really dictated by the ability of your instructor. Mark Davies is one of the UK's most qualified & experienced instructors, & has taught an excellent team of assistant instructors to help him offer the highest standard of Martial Arts tuition. You can choose to train at a class taught by a part time amateur instructor, who rarely trains or develops their knowledge or material. Or you could choose to train with a full time professional instructor who is able to devote all his time to developing his programmes & skills; & who is invited all over the UK & abroad to teach!
Mark Davies teaching Self Defence on a TaeKwon-Do seminar
Mark Davies teaching Edged Weapons to FBI Agent in the USA
Pictures taken of some of the seminars Mark has been invited to teach
Page changed on: 28/12/2009
|
