James Stevenson

My martial arts journey

I started martial arts when I was about nine, after being picked on at school. My mum found ZKS on the internet while looking for a local club. What began as a way to help me deal with a difficult experience became a lasting part of my life.

I have trained in Japanese jiu-jitsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. I hold a black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu and a two-stripe purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

From student to instructor

At 15, I joined Sensei Tim’s Leadership Team in Watford and began helping with classes. The difference martial arts had made to my own life, together with the influence of Senseis Ben, Simon and Tim, inspired me to become an instructor.

I now have eight years of instructing experience. In Watford, I teach Little Dragons, Mini Ninjas, Junior Martial Arts, Teen Martial Arts, Adult Taijutsu and Havoc BJJ.

Confidence, compassion and learning together

What I enjoy most about teaching is the impact it can have on students’ lives. Some of my proudest moments have been hearing from students who have faced experiences similar to mine and finding out how training has helped them.

One particularly rewarding moment came during my second year as an instructor. I heard about a student who had stood up for his friends, tried to de-escalate a situation and been able to defend himself when confronted by an aggressor. For me, confidence and compassion matter alongside martial arts skills.

My approach is to share my experience on the mats and work through it with students. I want us to learn together, build trust and help one another improve.

Advice for your first class

You do not need to be good at something before you start. Being a beginner is part of learning; what matters is being willing to try.

My advice to every new student is to be a good training partner, whoever you are working with. When you work together, you can gain more experience and make greater progress.

Beyond the mats

Being part of ZKS feels like having another family. When you regularly place that much trust in another person, you build close, strong connections. Over the next few years, I want to keep developing that close-knit group of training partners and students.

Outside martial arts, I enjoy fixing things and making things. Something members might not know about me: I’m actually only 5 ft 10!