'Since starting with the Antonio Santorelli's Black Belt Academy I truly can't remember the last time I felt this good. Spurred on by my new found fitness levels, I took part in the Cancer Research Race for Life in Sutton Park. I ran the entire course (5km but a marathon to me) which compared to my efforts of a few years back was nothing short of astounding'.

Michelle, Orange Belt

'I joined the club to keep fit at first, but now I have become interested in competition fighting. Although the class can be physically hard work, I get, a great sense of achievement afterwards and feel more confident.'

Rie, WTKA Midland Champion, ITS English Champion

'I go kick boxing because I got bullied at school but now that I have started martial arts, it has stopped. Now I am a purple stripe and looking forward in achieving my black belt. Its lots of fun and I've learnt loads'.

Darren, Purple Stripe aged 9. (Now Black Belt)

Dear Antonio,

Thank you for helping me with my Black Belt grading and all the support and encouragement you gave me. You're the best teacher in the world. From Karis

A letter written by Karis, Black Belt, Aged 10

I started training in 2002 in Oxford with two good friends, I was looking to keepoff a large amount of weight that I had lost the year before and to learn some selfdefence techniques. I quickly found that two nights KB a week was better than threenights at the gym and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of training within a group oflike minded individuals.

I moved to Birmingham in 2005 and joined ASBBA to continue my education in thesport. Antonio, Adam and Rachel have been a great influence and have taught me notonly more about KB but how to teach and coach others.

I now not only enjoy the endorphins and adrenaline from training, but I feel pridein helping others to achieve their potential. The club is a good friendly yetdisciplined environment and I have made many good friends though the club oftenmeeting socially outside the club.

Carl-Jon Taylor, Brown Stripe (Now 1st Dan Black Belt)

Our club members at the Cerebal Palsy Midlands really enjoyed your visit and demonstration and being able to take part in your group. The whole club experienced something new and I'm sure we will be working together in some capacity in the near future. Thank you

Gary Watson, Cerebal Palsy Midlands Manager

I have trained previously in Kung fu, Shotokan and Jujitsu, and I joined ASBBA to support my daughter who wanted to take up a martial art.  She has since left to go to university but I have carried on training with Antonio and the team because ASBBA is quite simply the best and most friendly martial arts club I have encountered.  I am 48 now and I train for fitness and weight control. I do enjoy sparing but don’t have time to get involved in competitions and so on.  In other clubs this can be a problem but there are no cliques in Antonio’s club – everyone is made very welcome – whatever their training goals are. 

Neil Bentley