Sensei Bill Atkins is the chief instructor for the GMAU UK. He began his martial arts instruction in 1989 with Goju-Shorei instructor Kurt Spivey under Master Steve Anderson. After attaining his instructor certification, Sensei Atkins worked for Master Anderson as a lead instructor for three of his schools for two years. Bill then moved on to study Okinawan Goju under Tom Everette, again rising through the ranks to be Sensei Everette’s “keeper of the knife”–a title given to the second in command of a school in the lineage of Shihan David Overstreet. Following this, he moved from Okinawan to Chinese martial arts, attaining instructor certification in Chinese Kenpo after two years of intense study. Sensei Atkins has progressively moved from style to style spending decades accumulating knowledge. He currently teaches Shuri-Ryu, Shuri-Te, Okinawan Goju, Chinese Kenpo, Systema, Kali Silat, Pankration, and Jujitsu. Sensei Atkins has been serving in the GMAU since 2006 under the instruction and headship of his Shidoshi, Kyoshi Johnny Russell. He has been privileged to study under such Master instructors as David Merrell, Al Tracy, Mike Proctor, Robert Bowels, Karl Marx, George Brich, Eddie Bethea and Doug Perry. Sensei Atkins also holds two master’s degrees–one in Theology, and the other in Science and Religion–and is currently reading for his PhD in Systematic Theology at the University of Edinburgh. He and his family are fully committed followers of Christ who have served and continue to serve in missions.
– Assistant Instructor –
KoSempai Adrian Chiu is an assistant instructor within the GMAU at Edinburgh. He has studied Okinawan Karate, Jujitsu, and full contact kickboxing under Sensei Bill Atkins since 2014 and was his first venture into martial arts. Adrian serves as one of the leaders in the children’s ministry as part of the Chinese Evangelical Church in Edinburgh. He also plays the bass guitar in the worship team as well as lyric projection for the English Ichthus ministry. He didn’t grow up in a Christian family/environment. He was invited to Ichthus in 2011 and since then, has accepted Christ into his heart and his life and is a core member of the Ichthus Fellowship.
– Assistant Instructor –
Kosempai John-William Noble is an assistant instructor within the GMAU at Edinburgh. He has studied Okinawan Karate, Jujitsu, and full contact kickboxing under Sensei Bill since 2015. He has also worked with his brother to complete many choreographed fight sequences for their Christian based film group ‘Noble Brothers Productions’. Kosempai John-William has a Bachelor of Theology Degree and worked as a teacher for many years. He has been involved in many ministries with children and young people and has a heart to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to make disciples for His Kingdom.
– Assistant Instructor –
KoSempai HoLam Cheung began his martial arts training at age 18. He earned his first black belt in Taekwondo then studied advanced close quarter combat and practical self defence with Tactical Edge before coming under Sensei Atkins to learn the GMAU system. In addition to his service in the martial arts ministry, Ho Lam serves on the church committee and the worship team of the English Ichthus ministry of the Chinese Evangelical Church.
