Master Faith Carmichael
Founder & Chief Instructor | Snow Herons Martial Arts
My Martial Arts Journey
More Than 40 Years — And Still Learning
My martial arts journey began in 1984 with Judo, and what started as learning a martial art gradually became a much bigger part of my life.
Over more than four decades, I have trained in Judo, Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido, experiencing martial arts as a beginner, competitor, Black Belt, instructor and Master Instructor.
I have had the opportunity to train in the United Kingdom, United States and South Korea, compete nationally and internationally, work with children, work in security, train as a stunt woman and eventually make the decision to turn the martial art I loved into my profession.
Each experience has contributed something different to the martial artist and instructor I am today.
1984 | Where My Journey Began
I began training in Judo in 1984 at the age of 14 and was immediately drawn to the Martial Art Way. As my training developed, so did my interest in the wider martial arts. Over the years, my experience expanded into Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido, allowing me to explore different approaches to striking, kicking, throwing, joint manipulation, forms, sparring and practical self-defence. The martial arts I trained in often reflected where I was living at the time and the opportunities available to me. This gave me experience of different instructors, styles and approaches to teaching. Martial arts gradually became more than something I simply did. It began shaping my discipline, confidence, resilience and approach to challenges, both inside and outside the training hall.
Training & Competing in the USA
While living in the United States, I worked as a children's nanny while continuing my martial arts training under Grandmaster Yong Man Lee in Connecticut. Training with Grandmaster Lee was an important period in my development. Alongside my regular training, I had opportunities to compete in both Judo and Taekwondo.
In 1993, I achieved my 1st Dan in Judo through the American Judo Association and competed successfully in several events, including:
United Taekwondo Championships — 1st Place & Best Performance Award
Connecticut State Judo Championships — 2nd Place
Mansfield International Judo Championships — 3rd Place
Valley Shore International Judo Championships — 2nd Place
At the same time, working as a nanny gave me considerable experience caring for and working with children. Looking back, these two very different parts of my life complemented one another. Martial arts was developing my discipline, resilience and physical skills, while working with children was developing my patience, communication and understanding of each child's individuality.Living and training in another country also reinforced something that would later become important to me as an instructor: there is always more than one way to teach, learn and develop a skill.
1994 | Training in South Korea
In 1994, I was accepted to train at Yong In University in South Korea for three months, alongside the International Judo & Taekwondo Training Programme. During my time there, I had the opportunity to train alongside multiple national Judo teams and the University Taekwondo Demonstration Team. Being surrounded by athletes training at such a high level gave me a very different understanding of what dedicated martial arts training could involve.
I saw first-hand the importance of repetition, conditioning, discipline, precision and consistency, and how seemingly small technical details could make a significant difference to performance. It also showed me that reaching a high standard does not mean that you stop working on the basics. In fact, the higher the level of the martial artist, the more attention I saw being given to strong foundations, correct technique, fitness and flexibility, body weight conditioning and continual improvement.
Training in South Korea became an important part of my development. The experiences and training principles I brought home influenced not only my own martial arts, but eventually the way I would train and prepare students at Snow Herons Martial Arts. Over the years, SHMA students have gone on to achieve success at British, International and World Championship level, including multiple British Champions, International Champions, Student World Champions and World Champions. That approach to training has continued through SHMA. On one occasion, a team of eight SHMA students travelled to the USA to compete internationally. Seven of the eight achieved medals ranging from Bronze through to Gold, with one student achieving the title of World Grand Champion. As proud as I was of their individual achievements, I was equally proud of how they trained, travelled and competed as a team. They encouraged one another, supported each other through the pressure of international competition and celebrated each other's successes.
Although each student ultimately stepped onto the competition floor as an individual, they had prepared together and were working towards a shared team goal. The experience demonstrated something I have always valued within SHMA: individual achievement is important, but so too are teamwork, camaraderie and taking genuine pride in the achievements of the martial artists training alongside you. The medals and titles were an achievement, but the team they became in achieving them was just as important.
Returning to the UK
1994–1997 | A New Direction
From 1994 to 1997, I continued developing my Taekwondo, competing regularly and achieving awards at a number of tournaments. During this period, I achieved my 1st Dan in Taekwondo through the British Taekwondo Society, achieved 1st Place at the British Taekwondo Championships and was selected as a reserve for the Great Britain National Team. A move from North London to Surrey then brought another important change in my martial arts journey. I met and resumed my Tang Soo Do training under the guidance of Grandmaster Suresh Nar.
Tang Soo Do was the direction in which I wanted to fully develop my martial arts, drawing on the experience I had already gained through Judo, Taekwondo and the initial training of Tang Soo Do/Taekwondo with Grandmaster Yong Man Lee, Connecticut, Usa over a 3 year period from1991 - 1994. This martial art would ultimately become central to my future. It was during this period that the idea of opening my own martial arts club began to move from an idea towards something I genuinely wanted to pursue. Martial arts was not yet my full-time career, so I continued working while training and competing. But my focus was beginning to change. I was no longer thinking only about my own training, grades and competition achievements; I was beginning to think about teaching, developing students and what kind of martial arts club I wanted to create.That next step would come in 1998 with the opening of the first Snow Herons Martial Arts school in Merton, London.
Security, Stunt Training & Real-World Experience
During this period getting SHMA off the ground, I worked in security within London's club scene, an environment very different from a martial arts Dojang. Security work reinforced an important lesson: being physically capable of defending yourself does not mean physical confrontation should be your first response. Awareness, communication, judgement, confidence, positioning and de-escalation can often be more valuable than knowing how to strike. Knowing when not to use physical skills is an important part of knowing how to defend yourself, and that experience would later influence the defensive attitude I teach at SHMA. I also trained as a stunt woman, exploring another possible direction for my martial arts and physical abilities. Stunt training gave me another perspective on movement, timing, coordination, physical control and safely performing demanding physical skills. At that stage of my life, there were several directions I could have followed. I would choose martial arts!
1998 | Snow Herons Martial Arts Begins
In 1998, I achieved my Tang Soo Do 1st Dan through the International Martial Arts Association. That same year, I opened the first Snow Herons Martial Arts school in Merton, London. SHMA did not immediately become my full-time occupation. I continued working while teaching and gradually developing Snow Herons Martial Arts part-time. While developing SHMA, I continued competing and progressing within Tang Soo Do.
1999 — International Martial Arts Association Tang Soo Do British Champion
2000 — Tang Soo Do 2nd Dan
2000 — Tang Soo Do World Grand Champion
2000 — Tang Soo Do Instructor of the Year
2001 — Tang Soo Do British Champion
I am grateful for those achievements and for the instructors and Grandmasters who helped me reach them. But as the years passed, and after a number of surgies for a Judo injury, my priorities began to change and becoming a full time instructor was my goal and in 2002 I became a full time Instructor.
My training continues and In 2005, I achieved my Tang Soo Do 3rd Dan through the World Tang Soo Do Association. Then, in 2008, another important chapter of my martial arts education began when I became a direct student of Grandmaster Brian Manna in California, USA. I continue to benefit from Grandmaster Manna's knowledge, experience and guidance throughout my development as a senior instructor and Master Instructor and In 2011 I was graded, Tang Soo Do 4th Dan have been guided into Mater Instructor Certifiaction, not only by Grandmaster Manna but by his Senior Masters, Christopher Brandt and Janet Manna, who have been instrumental alongside Grandmaster Manna in my continued development and my students .
Becoming a full-time instructor gave me the opportunity to concentrate on building the kind of martial arts school I believed in — one that maintained the traditions, values, discipline and technical standards that had been passed on to me, and one that I hoped my own instructors and Grandmasters could be proud of. I wanted SHMA to reflect not only what I had achieved as a martial artist, but also the knowledge, guidance and values my instructors had invested in me — and to give me the opportunity to pass those things on to another generation. Becoming a full-time martial arts instructor did not mean my own education stopped. Alongside running and teaching at SHMA, I completed my BSc (Honours) in Rehabilitation & Injury Prevention at Middlesex University and became a Personal Fitness Instructor through the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM). I deliberately chose an area of study that complemented my martial arts experience and developed my understanding of the human body, movement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. My studies allowed me to look more closely at the physical demands martial arts places on the body — including strength, flexibility, mobility, balance, rotation, jumping, kicking and recovery — and how appropriate conditioning can support better technique and safer long-term development.
My qualifications and professional development have also included:
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BSc (Honours) Rehabilitation & Injury Prevention — Middlesex University
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Advanced Sports & Exercise Nutrition Advisor — HS Academy
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CrossFit Certified Adult / Child Trainer — CrossFit USA
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National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Training studies (NASM)
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Teaching Assistant Level 2 Diploma
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Special Educational Needs & Disability Level 2 & 3 Diploma
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Special Educational Needs Advanced Diploma
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Promoting Positive Behaviour
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Mental Health Awareness
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Mental Wellbeing in Children & Young People
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The Prevent Agenda – WRAP
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Safeguarding Children & Young People
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Continued First Aid, Child Protection and Safeguarding training
Becoming a Master Instructor with TEMAS
My own martial arts training did not stop when martial arts became my profession. In 2014, I was awarde the rank of Tang Soo Do 4th Dan Master Instructor through the Educational Martial Arts Association and in 2019, achieved Tang Soo Do 5th Dan Master Instructor and became TEMAS UK Region Head. For me, The title of Master Instructor brings a greater responsibility to continue learning, maintain standards and pass knowledge on appropriately. I am a lifelong member of the Educational Martial Arts System and with training remains an important part of my life. I continue my studies as a direct student of Grandmaster Brian Manna, including annual training in San Diego, regular weekly Zoom training and hosting biannual international seminars in the United Kingdom, giving SHMA students opportunities to train directly with and benefit from Grandmaster Manna's knowledge and experience. I am particularly thankful and honoured to be a member of TEMAS – The Educational Martial Arts System.
Grandmaster Brian Manna, Senior Master Christopher Brandt and Senior Master Janet Manna have continued to guide, encourage and support me since I became a direct student of Grandmaster Manna in 2008, and each has played an integral part in my continued development as a Master Instructor. One of the things I value most about traditional martial arts is the connection between generations. My instructors passed their knowledge to me. My responsibility is to continue learning, preserve what I have been taught and pass that knowledge and its values on to those who follow.
More than four decades after I first stepped onto a Judo mat: I am still training.
My Martial Arts Journey
At a Glance
1984
Began my martial arts journey with Judo.
1992–1993
American Judo Association — Judo 1st Dan
United Taekwondo Championships, USA — 1st Place & Best Performance Award
Connecticut State Judo Championships — 2nd Place
Mansfield International Judo Championships — 3rd Place
Valley Shore International Judo Championships — 2nd Place
1994
Yong In University, South Korea — International Judo & Taekwondo Training Programme
1997
British Taekwondo Society — 1st Dan
British Taekwondo Championships — 1st Place
Selected as reserve for the Great Britain National Team
1998
International Martial Arts Association — Tang Soo Do 1st Dan
Opened the first Snow Herons Martial Arts school in Merton, London
Began teaching SHMA part-time
1999
Tang Soo Do British Champion
2000
Tang Soo Do 2nd Dan
Tang Soo Do World Grand Champion
Tang Soo Do Instructor of the Year
2001
Tang Soo Do British Champion
2002
Became a full-time professional martial arts instructor
2005
World Tang Soo Do Association — Tang Soo Do 3rd Dan
2008
Began direct training under Grandmaster Brian Manna, California, USA
2011
Educational Martial Arts Association — Tang Soo Do 4th Dan
2014
Educational Martial Arts Association — Tang Soo Do 4th Dan Master Instructor
2019
Educational Martial Arts Association — Tang Soo Do 5th Dan Master Instructor
I am still learning, and I am still a student.
Master Carmichael
What Snow Herons Martial Arts Means to Me Snow Herons Martial Arts has developed considerably since that first school opened in Merton in 1998. But the reason behind it remains remarkably simple. I want students to learn real martial arts skills, but I also want them to develop qualities that extend beyond the Dojang. Confidence. Respect. Self-discipline. Resilience. Integrity. Perseverance. Leadership. Self-control. A student may not practise a particular kick or form for the rest of their life. But the confidence to stand up for themselves, the discipline to work towards a difficult goal, the resilience to recover from disappointment and the judgement to make a better decision can remain with them long after a class has finished. That is why our philosophy places such importance on the physical skills and who the student becomes while developing those skills matters even more. Developing the Whole Student: My approach to teaching has developed considerably since I first opened SHMA in 1998. Traditional martial arts remain at the centre of what we do, but I believe effective teaching must consider the whole student. Students need strength, mobility, coordination and physical control to perform martial arts effectively. That is why our classes can incorporate bodyweight fitness, calisthenics, circuits, games, agility work and physical challenges alongside traditional training. Depending on age and class level, students might work with hurdles and agility ladders, complete bear crawls, wall squats, lunges, planks, press-ups, jumping jacks or take part in dice-throw fitness challenges. Many classes finish with a group physical challenge, where students might complete shoulder touches, sit-ups, squats, planks or other exercises together. For younger students, games and challenges help make physical development engaging and enjoyable. As students mature, that foundation progressively develops the strength, speed, balance, flexibility, core stability, rotation and explosive movement required for more demanding martial arts techniques, including advanced and jumping kicks. The physical development supports the martial art — and the martial art develops the individual. My Approach to Self-Defence: One of the most important lessons I want my students to understand is that self-defence begins before a physical confrontation. At SHMA, our first defensive principles are awareness and avoidance. Students are progressively taught to recognise potential danger, communicate confidently, create distance and move towards safety. The physical skills develop with the student. Our youngest children begin with simple, age-appropriate concepts such as using their voice, “Stop” techniques, creating space and push-away skills. As students become older and progress through the grades, we introduce Ho Sin Sul and Hapkido principles, releases, redirection, controls and appropriate defensive techniques designed to interrupt an attack and enable the student to create distance and escape. At Intermediate Green Belt grades and above, defensive training becomes progressively more technical, introducing more complex attacks and responses while increasing the emphasis on judgement, restraint and responsibility. From secondary school age, appropriate students can also be introduced progressively to our Dagger Defence – Tactical Rapid Defence training. Even when dealing with a weapon, our first principle is not to fight for the sake of fighting. Students are taught to recognise the likely line of attack, evade where possible, create distance and escape. As age, maturity and experience develop, carefully controlled defensive and disarmament principles may be introduced under supervision. Our philosophy remains consistent: We defend to protect and stop an immediate threat — not to continue a confrontation unnecessarily. The more effective a student's martial arts skills become, the more important their judgement and self-control become too. The Experiences Behind the Instructor: Looking back, I can see how experiences that once appeared completely separate have all influenced the instructor I am today. Working with children taught me patience, communication and that students do not all learn in the same way. Competition taught me preparation, perseverance, resilience and how to perform under pressure. Security work reinforced the importance of awareness, avoidance, communication, judgement and de-escalation. Stunt training developed another perspective on movement, timing, coordination and physical control. International training exposed me to different instructors, cultures, methods and approaches to martial arts. And more than four decades of training has taught me that greater martial arts ability must come with greater self-control and responsibility. All of those experiences influence the way I teach at Snow Herons Martial Arts today. Those early years were about building something gradually — teaching classes, developing students, continuing my own training and discovering what kind of martial arts school I wanted SHMA to become. I knew I wanted to maintain the traditions, discipline and technical standards of martial arts, but just as importantly, I wanted to preserve the values that sit behind them — respect, humility, integrity, perseverance, self-control and inner strength. I wanted SHMA to become more than somewhere students simply attended a class. I wanted to create a family of martial artists, where students could feel that they belonged, support and encourage one another, learn from those ahead of them and, as they progressed, begin helping those following behind. Students may join us at different ages, with different abilities and for different reasons, but the values we share connect us. My hope has always been that students don't simply remember the techniques they learned or the belts they achieved, but carry the confidence, friendships, values and sense of belonging developed through martial arts with them long after they leave the training floor. My Greatest Achievements Are My Students: I am proud of what I achieved as a competitor. I am proud to have become a Black Belt, World Grand Champion and Master Instructor. But after teaching since 1998, some of the achievements that mean the most to me belong to my students. I have had the privilege of seeing students progress from complete beginners to Black Belts, and of seeing SHMA students achieve international recognition as World Champions, International Champions and Grand Champions in sparring, weapons and forms. Every medal represents dedication and determination. But not every success comes with a medal. I have taught students who have faced physical, emotional, educational or developmental challenges and watched them develop confidence, learn to work independently and within a team, progress through belt grades and achieve goals that may once have seemed beyond them. Some have become Black Belts. Some have become competition medalists. For another student, simply having the confidence to walk onto the training floor, participate with a group or complete their first grading can represent an equally meaningful achievement. Every student's journey is different. My responsibility is not to make every student the same. It is to recognise the person standing in front of me, challenge them appropriately and help them discover what they are capable of achieving. The Next Generation: Of all the different roles martial arts has given me, being an instructor has given me the greatest opportunity. Every new student who walks through our doors is beginning a journey of their own. Some will train simply because they enjoy martial arts. Some will become fitter or discover confidence they didn't know they had. Some will compete. Some will achieve Black Belt. Some will become champions. And some may eventually stand where I stand today and begin teaching the next generation themselves. I cannot know where every student's martial arts journey will take them. What I can do is give them the knowledge, opportunities, encouragement, standards and values to discover what they are capable of achieving. That, more than any belt, medal or title, is what I hope to continue achieving through Snow Herons Martial Arts. “I am truly grateful for all my students and take pride in every student I have trained, every student I am training and every student I will train.” Master Carmichael