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NEST Newsletter
October 2015 Issue 43
October 2015 Issue 43
An Interview
with Dr Richard
Catterick
Exeter Martial Arts traditional Jiu Jitsu black belt, Dr Richard Catterick started
teaching full time in Exeter back in 2006 after giving up his job in Oncology.
Since then he has become one of the youngest national governing body Jiu Jitsu
6th dan instructors in the country and one of only a handful
to run a successful full time academy. Today he has over 500
students in his main and satellite academies across the country
and has taught over 50 students to black belt level or above.
NEST: Tell me about
yourself and your
school(s)
Richard: I have been
training in Jiu Jitsu for
approaching 30 years. I
started while at University and
trained throughout my 12 year
University education opening
up several clubs along the way
and developing my own style
of Jiu Jitsu - Seishin Mizu
Ryu (which now has satellite
clubs in Leicester, London,
Southampton and Welwyn
Garden City). I had never
taught full time until I moved
to Exeter in 2006. Initially I
was asked by Exeter University
and Exeter College to set up
clubs in their institutions,
and taught my other classes
out of village halls and school
premises. My classes soon
expanded so much that it only
made sense to open a large
full time location in the heart
of Exeter in 2010. Three years
later we built an extension
to increase the matted area
from one mat to two, so
that two lessons could run
simultaneously.
I have a really great
team here and am often
complimented on the quality
of instruction and how my
staff are inspirational teachers,
full of energy and with great
knowledge and passion.
through to our adult classes.
Originally we taught children
over the age of seven the adult
syllabus, but quickly realised
they would benefit more from
surrounded by inspiration,
from my teachers Sensei Henri
Vilaire of Kaze Arashi Ryu &
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu professor
Sidney Silva, to each of my
students. Also my amazingly
supportive wife and business
partner Helen keeps me going,
along with our three beautiful
daughters. Each of these
people in their own unique way
inspire, motivate and challenge
me... this is what keeps me
going.
experienced, competitive and
non-competitive coaching to
my students across a variety of
Martial Arts styles.
We also run events and have
a good social structure that
helps to create a very friendly
and welcoming atmosphere.
We have entire families who
train with us so it’s important
that we are welcoming to
everyone and try to be a hub
within the community.
Exeter Martial Arts
in the area, which helps feed
students to our school, as well
as gaining us valuable word
of mouth marketing amongst
parents.
What kind of
marketing activities
do you undertake to
attract students to
your school?
I’m still learning things on the
marketing front, however we
put up posters for seminars/
classes in and around Exeter
which helps to gain students
and mainly use website and
social media channels. We’re
lucky enough to gain a lot of
word of mouth marketing too
which is also really valuable.
Overall we have a really
healthy organic intake, so don’t
need to do too much extra
marketing activity, however I’m
hoping that when our website is
updated it will help drive some
extra leads.
What are the three
most valuable lessons
you have learnt
setting up
your schools?
• To have process in everything
• That rolling syllabuses are the
way to go
• If you delegate, ensure you
give exact directions
Tell me about your
Lionhearts programme?
The Lionhearts programme
was set up in 2006 by my wife
Helen and is designed to take
children from ages 4-15 years
their own curriculum, so
developed a syllabus with the
focus of having lots of fun while
teaching coordination, fitness
and self-confidence. As the
popularity of the Lionhearts
classes grew, we developed
separate syllabuses for more
age ranges and split the age
groups for classes down to
4-6, 7-11 and 12-15 years.
This not only helped our
students learn at a higher level,
but also helped increase our
retention rates too!
The success of these classes
has helped develop a large
outreach programme in local
primary and secondary schools
Why do you think
people choose your
school?
Many reasons, but it’s probably
a combination of the quality
coaching (by fully trained
and certified instructors)
and the variety of classes
we offer. I personally hold
black belts in Ken Jutsu and
Jo Jutsu/weapons and am a
purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu
Jitsu. I have also medalled
many times in the BJJAGB
national championship
competitions and coached
my MMA team to win the UK
MMA league championships,
so am well placed to offer
What is next for you
and your business?
Well, September is always
our busiest time as not only
do the schools go back, but
the Universities and Colleges
Do you have any
advice for other
Martial Arts
Instructors out there?
NEVER STOP TRAINING!
I have had several friends
who stopped training but kept
teaching classes and eventually
they lost ‘the love’. This came
through in their teaching on
the mat and in the end their
clubs failed.
Why did you decide to
join NEST?
go back too, so we start to
get really busy again. Also,
currently we are further
increasing our Little Lions BJJ
classes on the back of 2 of our
students winning gold at the
inaugural children BJJ national
championships earlier in the
year and are further developing
our website and student
registration system with the
help of NEST.
I always wanted to have my
own fulltime dojo but never
thought I could make a living
out of it, especially teaching Jiu
Jitsu, which unlike Taekwondo
is not known for big classes and
doesn’t really have mainstream
popularity. Sensei Martin
Dixon, the chairman of the
BJJAGB (governing body)
introduced me to Gerard in
2004 where he opened the door
to my dream of earning a living
from my passion!
Richard and Helen Catterick
Threes
of me
In the time you have
been practising
Martial Arts, how
have you seen them
develop to keep with
the times?
• There are more full time
academies opening up following the US
• The growth in popularity of
Martial Arts like MMA and
BJJ, as well as others mean
that generally there are more
prospects and people looking
to take up Martial Arts
• The increased knowledge and
resources now available can
help instructors set up their
own schools and fulfil their
dreams.
NEST Newsletter
What are the 3
words that best
describe you?
What aspirations do
you have in the future
for your school?
What do you like most
about using their
services?
Honestly, I think I have already
achieved my aspirations for the
school. I have great students
and a great instructor team,
whom I can trust. The classes
are really well attended and
we have a regular and healthy
student uptake... although the
Dojo does need a new roof
(Rich Laughs).
We find NEST are
tremendously helpful, even
taking the time to visit our
academy in Exeter! You can
phone the office anytime (9-5)
and they are always happy to
help immediately. Additionally,
Gerard is a font of knowledge
about business and the UK
Martial Arts industry, which
can be really helpful. We also
use the marketing tool kit for
promotional material and the
swipe card system to track
attendance – all of which help
me to increase the time I get to
spend teaching.
What is it that keeps
you going and where
do you find your
inspiration?
I’m lucky enough to be
Practical
Positive
Honest (Brutally according
to my wife!)
Name 3 of the best
books you have
read?
Magician
Dear Zoo (I love to read
this to my daughters)
SAS survival handbook
What are your three
favourite foods/
meals?
Steak and Chips
Bacon Sandwiches
Strawberry Pavlova