Tang Sou Dao Instructor Profile - Master Jeff Thomas

Master Jeff Thomas

I entered my first Wu Kwan in late 1988 with only one objective at the time, to subtly coerce my youngest daughter to resume training.

I had encouraged my two daughters to take up martial arts but being independent souls, even at the tender ages of nine and ten, they both chose different styles. My oldest daughter (now Master Angie Thomas) chose Tang Soo Do/Moo Duk Kwan (the style Grandmaster Loke taught prior to his founding of Tang Sou Dao in 1997) which she had seen from a leaflet. My youngest, Kelly chose a Shotokan style from a newspaper advert. My youngest attained green belt in Shotokan (equivalent in rank to green in our art) then decided to join her sister in Tang Sou Dao. Three grades later, as is the early teenage way, she decided to stop. So be it. So I took the plunge!

National Championships 2004
with daughter, Master Angie Thomas

Six weeks or so later I was entering the Wu Kwan for a different reason. Never having been a 'hobby only' type individual I had now found an art with an inner intensity all of its own. No wonder it's called 'the Way'!

My initial instructors were Mr and Mrs Prem and Pauline Cunniah at Benfleet class; both affable disciplinarians in their chosen martial art, both strong on technique and the terminology behind it. It was a good start. From two lessons a week I added a third training with Grandmaster Loke at Rochford. I trained with Angie, who was 1st Ji at the time. I've been fortunate to have had her support all these years.

One of the lessons at Benfleet was taken over by Master Peter Jackson. My old training partner at Benfleet, Dave Patson (now Master Patson) and I remember Master Jackson as the 'Stretch King'. Fifteen or more 'bunny hops' with a front kick on the way up was mandatory at most lessons beginning and end. No wonder we started out five feet tall and are now the five feet nine specimens you see today! It stood us in good stead though.

In the nineties the Benfleet lessons were closed and I then trained with Grandmaster Loke three times a week.

I personally take the view that you have to make the 'Art' your own. All those who have stayed the course and become 'old school' in their own right, young and older students, must have taken that view also. Having spent four teenage years in amateur boxing I had been encouraged to be 'fast-fisted, fleet-footed'. Since I unfortunately tend to have a forward-only gear, this may explain why I just about won more than I lost. Ramming forward, taking two hits just to get one of mine in didn't clock up enough points after three rounds if you didn't manage to end it earlier. That I managed to avoid a broken nose in that time is uncanny. Probably it says a lot about the calibre of opponents I had. Fortunate!

In Tang Sou Dao we are also fortunate. Under Grandmaster Loke we have instruction by a highly respected martial art teacher of infinite knowledge, ability and achievement. There's no substitute for 'been there, got the t-shirt'. All Grandmaster Loke's students should be aware he himself has come through the same 'mill' that he now puts us through. Instead of only 'fast-fisted, fleet-footed' I now train for 'good heart-savage hands'.

It has been a good journey so far. I find this art draws predominantly good people, sound in heart and humour. Some memories arise. My good opponent Master David Hopkins' reverse punch that most times when we fought at the Championships meant I got a bronze and he went on for a higher gong. Good stuff! Ronnie Stevens (some will remember Ronnie) who used to charge in at the Regional Championships, flatten you, but didn't realise you weren't upright for some time because he took his glasses off to fight! Top guy though, always smiled when he hit you. The red belt at the UK Championships at Stevenage in 1992 (last Tang Soo Do one before Tang Sou Dao Ren Yi Wu Kwan was formed) who knocked out two teeth with a front kick. I only found one in the ring afterwards. I reckon he took the other home to Yorkshire. Bit cheeky! Still, I won and got a bronze, you can't expect jam on it can you? Championships eh? Game for a day is right!

My youngest has returned to Tang Sou Dao briefly on two occasions. Ever the emerging, but aggressive, butterfly she will probably imitate her old man and start again when she's 40!

Good luck in your 'Art'. Tang Sou to all!

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