Sensei Dawn Hughes (President of the Academy)

Twenty years ago I discovered the Art of Thai Kickboxing and found a real passion for it, I helped out with classes along side my coach at the time with a longing to teach the art myself.

I am now a Senior Kickboxing and Thai boxing Coach with NVQ levels 1,2 & 3 and have reached the Grade of Black Belt 3rd Dan and have a Samurai sword level one qualification.

Over the years I have been honoured with numerous Coaching Awards and nominations through the SMAA, UKMAR and Federation of Martial Arts and Winchester SportsFederation for that I am very proud of.

My Vision for the Future of the Academy

Our Academy has entered students into competitive fight tournaments with fantastic success and the trend continues.  For the future my vision is to encourage more students to participate in this stimulating martial art at this level.  The most recent being at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth. Some pictures of this Kickboxing tournament can be seen on the pictures and videos section of the website.

I  organise inter-club competitions within the academy and this has enabled all students from each class to interact with one another in some friendly tournaments with trophy and medal awards which has been a great success.

As a senior coach it has given me great pleasure in seeing my longest serving students develop into outstanding martial artists and achieve black belt , assistant/junior & adult coaching levels.  Alfie Birks & Bethanie Gale  Black Belt 1st Dans are now  assistant coaches teaching family and junior classes under the umbrella of SDMAA along with Callum Stephens and Billy Hook,  with that in mind my final vision is to encourage more to reach their level of achievements.

SDMAA is recognised in association with MAGB Insurance Company.