INSTRUCTORS

Head Instructors

Hanshi Alan Gibson – Chief instructor

Chief Instructor Hanshi Alan Gibson 9th Dan is originally from Govan in Glasgow. He is one of Britains highest graded black belts. Training for over 67 years he is highly experienced in different styles of karate and other martial arts. He has trained with some of the worlds top masters he himself is also regarded as one of the most experienced karate teachers in the world.

He has been awarded Sussex County’s top bravery award by the Head of Sussex fire service and presented by the Lord Mayor of Brighton for his courageous actions in saving the lives of a mother and her three children from a house fire by punching through a double glazed window!

Commended on local & national television for his karate skills and power and nominated for the Queen’s award for bravery and earning the nickname ‘IRON FIST ALAN’!

Click here to read more about Hanshi Gibson’s history.

Shihan Lee Gibson – Head Instructor

Shihan Lee Gibson 6th Dan oversees the Eastbourne through to Battle areas. His father and trainer is Hanshi Gibson the chief Instructor of SAMA whom he admits is his role model within martial arts. Brought up on a strict daily training schedule. He follows his fathers philosophy of showing by example and feels it is important to practice what you preach.
 

  • Years Training: 43 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 1991
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2002
  • Passed Karate 3rd Dan (Sandan): 2006
  • Passed Karate 4th Dan (Yondan): 2013
  • Passed Karate 5th Dan (Godan): 2019
  • Passed Karate 6th Dan (Rokudan): 2025
  • Passed Kickboxing 1st Degree Black Belt: 1999
  • Brown Belt in Judo
  • Full Contact: 15 Fights Undefeated
  • Semi Contact Karate: Over 100 Competitions
  • Represented England Squad in France
  • Trained in Kobudo
  • Trained in Japan and the USA

Senior Instructors

Yondan Liam O’Hara

Yondan Liam O’Hara 4th Dan is a senior instructor who teaches karate and kickboxing classes in Eastbourne and Bexhill. He also oversees and runs the SAMA Ashford area. His classes are diverse and high tempo including strength and fitness work and he leads by example.

He started his karate training at the age of five under Hanshi Alan Gibson in Brighton and then expanded into assisting at classes and training with Shihan Lee Gibson whom he now teaches under.

Always training hard to keep in top shape he has had success in both full contact kickboxing as well as karate tournaments over the years.
 

  • Years Training: 31 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2000
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2010
  • Passed Karate 3rd Dan (Sandan): 2015
  • Passed Karate 4th Dan (Yondan): 2021
  • Fought in Full Contact Kickboxing
  • Competed in Karate tournaments
  • Graded in Kobudo with Southern Kobudo Association

Sensei Matt Harford

Sensei Matt Harford 3rd Dan is a senior instructor who teaches karate classes within the Hastings area.

He started training with SAMA at a young age. When he passed his black belt at 14 he began helping out at classes and gradings to gain as much experience as he could.

At the age of 15 he expanded his training into kickboxing. He has also graded under Hanshi Gibson in Kobudo (Weapons training) with the Southern Kobudo Association.

He has also taken part in many demonstrations as well as competing in karate competition and having refereeing experience at tournaments.
 

  • Years Training: 28 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2004
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2011
  • Passed Karate 3rd Dan (Sandan): 2016
  • Competed in karate competition
  • Trained in Thailand
  • Graded in Kobudo with Southern Kobudo Association

Sensei Kyle Hobgen

Sensei Kyle Hobgen is a 3rd Dan instructor teaching karate and kickboxing classes in Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne. Sensei Kyle has quickly established himself within his classes and is very popular with his students.

Sensei Kyle has always put in 100% when it comes to his martial arts. Also a black belt in kickboxing he has competed in both karate tournaments as well as numerous times within the ring in kickboxing fights.

Sensei Kyle is training hard looking to compete again along side his teaching.
 

  • Years Training: 22 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2012
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2018
  • Passed Karate 3rd Dan (Sandan): 2023
  • Passed Kickboxing Black Belt: 2016
  • Fought in the ring in Kickboxing
  • Competed in Karate Tournaments
  • Graded in Kobudo with Southern Kobudo Association

Class Instructors

Sempai PJ Lee

Sempai PJ Lee is a 2nd Dan instructor teaching karate classes in Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hailsham. PJ has been training with SAMA since 2007. Once he achieved his karate black belt he began helping at classes, gradings and other events. Once he left school he served his government recognised apprenticeship with SAMA.

PJ, now a full time instructor keeps himself fit, training every day. He is also a black belt in kickboxing which he has now started teaching alongside his karate.

PJ has competed at kumite, kata and weapons at many karate tournaments as well as competing in the ring in kickboxing.
 

  • Years Training: 19 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2012
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2021
  • Passed Kickboxing Black Belt: 2016
  • Fought in the ring in Kickboxing
  • Competed in Karate Tournaments
  • Graded in Kobudo with Southern Kobudo Association

Sempai Callum Jefferson

Sempai Callum Jefferson is a 2nd Dan instructor teaching karate classes in Eastbourne, Bexhill, Hailsham and Hastings.

Callum has been training with SAMA since 2007. Once he achieved his karate black belt he began helping at classes, gradings and other events. Having completed an extra 2 years assisting full time within classes before moving on to become a full time instructor teaching his own classes.

Callum keeps in good shape by training every day with his karate and also at the gym. He is also a black belt in kickboxing which he will expand his teaching into soon.

Callum has competed at kumite (sparring), kata and weapons at many karate tournaments as well as fighting in the ring at kickboxing.
 

  • Years Training: 19 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2014
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2021
  • Passed Kickboxing Black Belt: 2025
  • Fought in the ring in Kickboxing
  • Competed in Karate Tournaments
  • Graded in Kobudo with Southern Kobudo Association

Sempai Callum Kilbey

Sempai Callum Kilbey is a 2nd Dan instructor teaching his own karate classes in Ashford as well as assisting at classes in Eastbourne and Bexhill. Callum has been training with SAMA since 2010. He completed his apprenticeship which helped further his teaching skills and followed on to become a full time instructor.

Callum who has also achieved his black belt in kickboxing which he also teaches, has been successful in competitions where he has competed regularly over the years. He continues to train hard and expand his martial arts knowledge by attending advanced classes and courses alongside his daily training routine.

Callum is looking forward to expanding his teaching timetable with more classes this year.
 

  • Years Training: 14 Years
  • Passed Karate Black Belt (Shodan): 2016
  • Passed Karate 2nd Dan (Nidan): 2026
  • Passed Kickboxing Black Belt: 2023
  • Competed in Tournaments
  • Trained in Kobudo (traditional weapons)