Reviews of Shiro Tora - White Tiger - Martial Arts - Self Defence - Croydon

This Club re-opened after the "Lockdown" period and has gone from strength to strength in their new premises in South Croydon at the edge of Surrey

The Head Instructor is a 7th Degree Black Belt with now over 30 years experience, who knows how to break down the drills, techniques and sessions, and personally makes sure you are doing everything right

The long term Senior Black Belts have been training at the club for over a decade, which shows not just their dedication, but the loyalty the Sensei receives from those who have known him the longest and benefitted from his teaching and guidance

At just £7 for a lesson, or £25 if you pay the month in advance, you will never find such quality instruction for such a low cost anywhere, the reason being that STMA is not a business and run totally non-profit

As they are recruiting over the Summer for the Autumn season, I suggest you do what I did, get in touch, and get yourself along for a FREE trial

Can't wait to meet and train with the next generation of Future Black Belts this season

This school really does have a full training program, in all ranges and phases.

Weapons training includes stickfighting and knife fighting, with sword, staff and spear work for Seniors.

Weapons Defence training against attacks by club, stick, knife and real effective gun defence.

Unarmed Combat is mainly Kempo Jujutsu, a lethal Street fighting system, with a healthy dose of Traditional Karate and Wing Chun, as well as karate sparring, and Wing Chun Chi Sao training and sparring for the Seniors.

Groundfighting is just that, effective ground fighting and finishing methods, not just sport sparring on mats, this is trained on the hard wood floor and the grass.

Kickboxing includes training on boxing pads and Thai pads as well as Sparring in full gear at all ranges.

If you drive to the postcode and try to find the dojo you will find you are unable to.

This is because the dojo is privately owned, not in a commercial gym or sports centre. Nor does it have a sign outside.

This is all quite intentional.

Contact details are given where you can book an appointment to watch a session and then try one. The club us private so not open to the general public. The Kancho accepts each new member as a personal student before they begin their training. As it says on the website people can't just turn up when and they want, walk in off the street, nor does the dojo accept part time occasional members.

This creates a hard core of serious students who turn up regularly and train hard to achieve their goals. By limiting the new intake the club is top heavy with black belts and experienced students so new members achieve a high standard quickly.

Also, due to the syllabus including genuine Unarmed Combat techniques and training with real weapons including knives, potential students are properly vetted before being invited to train.

If you look up the Japanese translation of "Hidden Door", a good clue is there.

Byakko Shiro Tora means White Tiger of The West, an analogy for bringing Oriental Martial Arts to the Western World, in this case Southern England.

While the UFC is sweeping the world and MMA clubs are opening everywhere, and people are looking to Thailand for their kickboxing and Brazil for their Jujutsu, and everyone is looking for sports orientated cage fighting, there are less clubs open to teach the traditional Warrior battlefield arts.

How refreshing to find a club run by a high graded Sensei, teaching weapons and unarmed combat the way they were developed, with a contemporary modern application. Police officers and prison officers train alongside nightclub doormen, officer workers and medical personnel in a friendly, non aggressive environment where the deadliest martial arts methods are analysed and practiced with a rich vein of humour and a strong sense of fun.

Have a great workout, learn something, and have fun!

Well! As a woman wanting to learn a real martial art for self defence I was looking for somewhere that has female instructors and female students, so I wouldn't be the only girl in a class of men beating each other up!

The Master Instructor of Shiro Tora has a program he developed specifically for female students, his wife, his daughter, his nieces, and their friends. What better than a self protection system developed by a martial arts master for his wife and daughter to use to protect themselves?

Everyone trains together in class, young men, older men, and ladies, both young supple dancers as well as mothers in their later years.

As well as self defence, training at Shiro Tora has developed my interest in traditional martial arts and I am proud to call myself a student of a ryuha that goes back many generations over many centuries.

Kunoichi in training!

What can you say about a school run by a 7th degree black belt with 30 years experience, a ten year serving nightclub doorman, whose black belts and senior instructors come from security, police and prison service?

To say that this is THE place to learn real traditional martial arts with proper lineage and history, while learning exactly how to apply them in modern contemporary situations might be a start.

From weapons to unarmed combat to full contact kickboxing and Vale Tudo fighting, these guys leave nothing uncovered. Their grappling, while learned on mats, is practiced on the hard wood floor to make it street ready.

Get yourself down here, meet The Guvnor, and see how REAL really gets!

A high ranking Martial Arts Sensei with over 30 years of teaching experience in authentic Traditional Martial Arts, with a decade of Real world experience. Senior students include Police Officers, Door Supervisors and Prison Officers, as well as Security and Medial personnel.

Weapons training, that is REAL authentic weapons training and realistic weapons defence training.

Unarmed Combat, Effective Street Self Defence.

Grappling and ground fighting, and that is also on hard surfaces for real functional Street defence, not just rolling on mats.

Kickboxing training and sparring, learning to hit REALLY hard.

Come and see what REAL really feels like!