About Jim Coaching

Life is for Enjoyment and Fun

I have trained and coached fencers to a high standard achieving many awards; British Cadet Epee Champion, Army Champion, Army Master of Arms, Inter-Services Champion and Inter-Services Master of Arms; British Cadet Foil Champion.

Over the past 15 years I have trained hard to constantly improve my coaching skills, and have passed the Diploma in Foil, Epee and Sabre of the British Academy of Fencing. I am now a Professor.

I have spent six years on the committee of the British Academy of Fencing as the

· Proficiency Star Award Administrator. Updating the scheme.

· Merchandising Officer. Designing clothing.

· Webmaster. Designing and maintaining the website.

I have trained, assisted and tutored on the Academy’s residential courses to become a Senior Coach Educator and Examiner of the British Academy of Fencing. I am also a member of British Fencing, British Academy of Fencing, Academie d’Armes Internationale and the National Association of Sports Coaches

I have produced an up to date coaching manual: Coaching Today.

I teach/coach in Schools, Colleges, Universities, Sports Centres, choreographed a fight scene in a stage production of Dick Turpin and various other groups.

I have three trainee coaches serving a two year apprenticeship to become fully qualified coaches. I have ongoing coaching courses in Dublin, Southern Ireland; Jersey, Channel Islands. I have spent a period of time in Perth, Australia, running a coaching course for the Australian Sports Council. I also run training days in the U.K. each year. I have choreographed fight scenes for stage productions. I am currently training and preparing a fencer for the 2008 cadet and junior World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

I am the Senior Coach Educator and Coaching Co-ordinator for the Royal Air Force.

I am a Senior Examiner & Coach Educator for British Fencing, and I am listed on the Child Protection and Coaching Register.

I am registered and have been checked by the Criminal Registration Bureau (CRB), and I have Ofsted clearance for the Tigers Club holiday play scheme at Churchill Sports Centre.

Available for:

Presentations, Demonstrations. Activity & Taster Sessions,

Individual & Class Sessions, Birthday Parties.

I began coaching in 1976 at the Army school of PT in Aldershot. Basic and Intermediate was then termed “ Parts 1 & 2 “ under the joint coaching committee. In 1977, I returned and passed Epee Part 1 & 2, In 1978, I returned once more to study Sabre.

Between 1976 and 1980, I became manager/coach/team member for a team in Germany. The team qualified for the Army finals every year. I also qualified personally. We were very successful and toured Europe fencing in competitions regularly. I have also fenced for two clubs in Germany.

During the next eight years I qualified in all aspects of mountaineering. On returning to the United Kingdom in 1988, I dusted off my swords and started fencing/coaching once more. In 1989, I passed the Advanced Foil of the British Academy of Fencing.

I spent a number of years organising competitions and preparing fencers to take to competitions here in the UK and throughout Europe, all of which proved to be very successful.

In 1990, I became a full time professional fencing coach, in attendance throughout the South West of England covering Dorset, Devon and Somerset.