Professor Patrick Martin

Bio

Hi my name is Patrick Martin, i am the head instructor of Allegiance Martial Arts Academy Derby, This is my 40th year training (2025) over the years i have gained various qualifications and experience, some are listed here -

I started training when I was 17 yrs old, ABA Boxing, which i had numerous bouts winning most of them and although it was amateur, I'd sometimes get a small purse, the fights were all black tie events with cigars and waitresses.

Although this was a great experience at prestigious venues, I wouldn't always know if i had a cornerman/coach coming to support me. Sometimes it was a person I'd never met, sometimes without anyone. This was a learning for me! Years later when I became the coach, I made sure all my fighters had full support, with every aspect of their training, fight camp, weigh-ins and fight day and of course coaching/cornerman.

During this time, I started learning Karate, at my work place was a Wing Chun Kung Fu instructor, and every dinner time a small group of us would train Wing Chun, I sought out more classes and a Chinese instructor who had just arrived in the UK opened a school, I was his only student for 18 months, others came and went, he moved the school to his garage and we continued to train there. (it was a 3x Bus journey) I continued Wing Chun along side my Karate training.

A friend introduced me to kick jitsu which was Japanese kickboxing, after some training I had a few bouts and I took to it quickly, at the school, on the other side of the mat, I could see these guys throwing each other around, doing locks, chokes, various submissions, I had to give it a try! Japanese jujitsu.

Years later, I had reached the rank of 5th degree black belt in Japanese jujitsu, and there would be a hype about Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ), I had been very successful at all aspects of Japanese Jujitsu, especially the ground fighting. Knowing that Brazilian Jiujitsu had a strong ground game, I arranged a private lesson with a Brazilian world champion, at the end of the session the instructor said, "now we spar!" (practice fight), I said yes great! He very quickly made me tap out, let's go again, I said, again he tapped me out! Again I said, and yes again he tapped me out!

After a few more tap outs! He asked me if I was alright, I said YES! I'm loving it, I've found someone who I can learn from!

I realised BJJ had a stronger ground game that Japanese jujitsu, so I put a white belt around my waist and started to learn a new martial art, Brazilian Jiujitsu, move forward a number of years and I achieved rank of 3rd degree Black belt Brazilian jiujitsu!

I like to run our school with an element of old school approach, we have discipline on the mats, no swearing, hats off when enter our school, we believe folding arms, hands on hips, leaning against the wall, all cause the student to only partially focus on the techniques being taught, therefore the information absorbed is reduced and an increased possibility of missing some of the details of the technique being taught could increase the risk of injuries happening.

Therefore, we encourage students to stand up straight, unfolded arms, to increase their attention, increase the amount of knowledge being absorbed and reduce the risk of injury. We have an excellent injury record!

I am also a fully qualified Hypnotherapist which we have a practice at our academy, and I am fluent in British Sign Language holding a level 6 qualification.

I look forward to meeting you and seeing you at our fun, family friendly martial arts school.