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| (Last updated: 31st March 2009) The Beginning Andrew Morrell was born in 1968. His Martial Arts Career started during his teens in traditional Shukokai Karate. (Shukokai Karate Union). He actually graded upto 2nd Dan and passed his Instructor exam with the EKGB. (English Karate Governing Body as it was back then). During his time in Karate he competed in both Local and National Tournaments and earned himself a place on his clubs Kumite and Demonstration Teams. Also, just after his 1st Dan, he began training in Muay Thai Kickboxing. Over the next few years his style started to change to such an extent that the Karate style was no longer comfortable for him as it was too restrictive. So he left the SKU and joined a freestyle Organisation, the BFKKO. Here he was more at home as he could be himself. However he had to be assessed in both Karate and Kickboxing before his grades were accepted. He then triled for and was placed on the Organisations England Squad. He later graded to 3rd Dan in Freestyle Karate & Kickboxing was promoted to Senior Executive Instructor. Years later he received 4th Dan / Degree and was again promoted by the Organisation to Executive Director. It was at this time that he joined the BJJA (British Ju-Jitsu Association) and began to officially train in Ju-Jitsu. He had only until this time had samples of the style taught to him by past Instructors. Again he began to compete, but this time in "Knock Down Budo". Andrew was very much at home with this style of fighting and indeed did win most of his fights due to his mixed skills. The club he was with later left the BJJA and became the SJJA. Here he graded to 1st Dan. Again, due to the addition of Ju-Jitsu, his style began to change and Andrew now wrote his own training and grading syllabus combining all 3 styles together - Cobra F.M.A. (click here to see the full syllabus from 8th KYU to 5th Dan). The syllabus has proven to be a great success within his own clubs. At this point Andrew would like to thank all of the Instructors who have trained and guided him along the way, there are far too many to mention on this page, but you know who you are and thank you to you all. In September 2001 he was interviewed by Fighters magazine where he appeared on the front cover. View Fighters Mag'. This later resulted in the formation of the C.M.A.A. as Instructors around the UK read the article and contacted Andrew due to his open minded approach and expressed an interest in joining him, some of who now teach from his syllabus'. 2002 and the formation of the C.M.A.A. In June 2002 he decided to further his Martial Arts career by going his own way and forming the Cobra Martial Arts Association as a National Supporting Body for all Martial Arts at the request of other Instructors who had contacted him after the 2001 magazine article.. On the 20th of June 2002 Andrew had his Karate & Kickboxing 4th Dans ratified by the World Karate & Kickboxing Association (WKA), he is now listed on their website. On the 30th he had all his grades and experience recognised by the Self Defence Federation (SDF, Chief Instructor Dave Turton 8th Dan). Later on, in August, Andrew became an authorised signatory with the Criminal Records Bureau. This allows him to personally vet any new Instructors under the child protection act. To view the CMAA Child Protection Policy click here. or go to www.disclosure.me.uk 2003 In February 2003 he again appeared in Fighters magazine with Danny Robertson. In May 2003 he submitted his own syllabus, Cobra FMA, to the International Sungja-Do Association for review. The ISA is a mixed martial arts World Body with clubs in 48 states in America and International affliates and members in over 40 countries around the globe, including the UK. To gain recognition as a new style, by the ISA, the style must be different to any other and must also be a combination of several of the Arts. Also the Founder must be able to prove he or she holds Black Belts in the styles combined. After studying Andrew's syllabus in great detail George Petrotta, 8th Dan, recognised it as an eccleptic style in its own right within the ISA. He also appointed Andrew as an International Master Instructor and after consulting with other ISA Masters, worldwide, combined the years in the various Martial Arts he had studied to date and awarded Andrew the Founders grade of 6th Dan based on the fact that several clubs now teach it. This was then backed up within the UK by ratification from Shihan George T Ross, 8th Dan, of the Wang Tang Martial Arts Federation and Dave Turton, also 8th Dan, of the Self Defence Federation - both who know Andrew and his skills having trained with him in the past. To endorse the grade George Ross actually took Andrew through his own syllabus, Kagaku Michi Tekio Bujutsu which is George's own style of mixed arts, due to it having the same ideas and concepts of street combat as Andrew's containing techniques that he was more than able to complete. In August 2003 he was interviewed, and again appeared in Fighters Magazine, about his involvement with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and it's importance to the Martial Arts. As a result of this interview Mr Paul Ingram, the head of the World Kickboxing Association (WKA), appointed Andrew as the official WKA rep' for Child Protection and the CRB. On the 19th of October 2003 Andrew joined the World Elite Black Belt Society (WEBBS) headed by Shihan Bryan Cheek, 8th Dan. Since founding the C.M.A.A. Andrew has been contacted by various groups and been invited to join, most of which he declined after checking. As a result of this he did some historical research after noticing more and more "Soke" Boards/Master Councils appearing around the world. His research led him to the International Society of Head Founders and Head Families (previously the World Headfounders Council). Unlike many other "Founders Councils" the ISHH only sponsors New Western Styles who's Founder has a proven and traceable back ground. Andrew sent an email and was contacted by their Board of Directors. They answered Andrews questions and actually invited him to apply for membership. Most who apply to the ISHH are rejected as they often cannot prove background, grades etc. At the time the ISHH was very stringent about it's membership requirements. The ISHH B-O-D studied Andrews profile and decided to grant him membership, and recognise him as the Founder of Cobra FMA with the style being registered as a new Western Martial Art. Further more they appointed him as U.K. Director. He held this position for 2 years but later, as the C.M.A.A. grew and he got more involved with the SDF and WKA, he stood down in 2005 as he could not give it the commitment that it warranted. At this point it should be noted that Andrew is listed on many websites around the world, too many to mention on this page and some he does not even know about!. He also holds many titles, but uses just one - his name "Andrew". 2004 On the 2nd of May 2004 Andrew attended (as a student) the Dragon Society International Torite Jutsu seminar in Burnley, Manchester. Here he met Grandmaster Tom Muncy, from the USA. During the course Andrew & GM Muncy talked and exchanged ideas, realising that they both had the same views with regards to the Martial Arts in general. Following on from the meeting GM Muncy expressed a desire for the DSI and the C.M.A.A. to affiliate to each other in order to further share ideas and support each other. Andrew was both honoured and very happy for this to happen as it would strengthen both groups as DSI Students in the UK would then have a "home" Association to join should they wish to. On the 11th of August 2004 Dave Turton, head of the Self Defence Federation, appointed Andrew as an SDF Tutor / Assessor and awarded him life time membership of the SDF. This means that Andrew is now added to the SDF's team that will be running courses where people with experience in any field of Self Defence or restraint, such as Martial Artists, Door Staff, Security Guards etc can gain an SDF Registered Diploma allowing them to the go on to teach Self Defence classes with the full backing of the SDF and Dave Turton. On 8th September 2004 Andrew Morrell was appointed as the new World Kickboxing & Karate Associations Semi Contact England Team Manager (All Disciplines). A role he held during 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Andrew took over the role from Keith Lomas who has now retired from the position after many years. Along with this appointment came the promotion and increase of Andrew's Freestyle Karate & Kickboxing grades to 5th Dan/Degree. Also during this month he again attended and taught on a Seminar in aid of Teenage Cancer Research (View DVD Sample) In December 2004 Andrew was graded again in Ju-Jitsu by Dennis Butler, 7th Dan. This grading increased his Ju-Jitsu rank from 1st to 2nd. The grade was also sponsored by Ray Bell 5th Dan, John Greenhalgh 7th Dan and Mark Wood 5th Dan all themselves highly skilled a respected Ju-Jitsu Instructors. During his years studying the Martial Arts Andrew has trained with, as you have read, many Groups and Instructors. What confused him the most was the difference in Instructor Training that was offered by each one. In 2002 he began to develop a standard training programme to specifically target the areas of training required to produce safe and efficient Instructors irrespective of Style. The programme was used and developed over 2 years, constantly changing and evolving. He, along with other Senior C.M.A.A. Instructors and Members, studied the NVQ / VRQs in depth and using a similar "format" finalised it in late 2004 into Martial Arts Instructor UK. While studying the NVQ Andrew wrote the following article as a comparison study, it also helped to clear up the much spread confusion relating to the myth of the "Martial Arts NVQ". Read Article. Martial Arts Instructor UK is now used through out the C.M.A.A., and by some external Groups as well, to train Students who wish to become Instructors and is proving to be very successful. www.martialartsinstructor.co.uk 2005 In February 2005 he was invited to attend his Local Sports Council Awards Evening as he had been nominated for a Special Recognition in Sport Award for the hard work and dedication he has put into the C.M.A.A. and also in bringing the Martial Arts together. In May 2005, in order to increase the quality and level of training provided by the Martial Arts Instructor UK Training Programme, he decided it was time to re-qualify himself as a HSE Accredited First Aid Trainer / Verifier. Andrew had spent 18 years of his life (from the age of 10 to 28) as a member of St John Ambulance with 8 of them as an Instructor. During his time as a St John Instructor he did in fact run several accredited First Aid Courses for Martial Arts Groups including the EKGB and the BJJA. The re-qualification went ahead and The C.M.A.A. also became an Approved First Aid Training Provider with all courses being fully HSE accredited - hence Cobra First Aid was launched as a subsidiary to the C.M.A.A. www.cobrafirstaid.co.uk In August 2005 Kevin Pell, 8th Dan, Chief Instructor of Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu contacted Andrew and offered him life membership expressing a wish for both groups to also Affiliate to each other and work closer to together. Both men had known each other for a while up to this point and had infact built up a mutual respect having worked together on a few issues. The affiliation went ahead which inturn increased the size of both groups within the U.K. Also in August Bryan Cheek, 8th Dan, of The World Elite Black Belt Society (WEBBS) asked Andrew to write a foreword for his new book. Andrew was very humbled by this request but was of course more than happy to do so. Since the launch of Martial Arts Instructor UK many other Groups have shown an interest in using the programme to train their future Instructors. In September Andrew heard about that Martial Arts Standards Agency. This was a new Body set up by a group of high ranking Senior Instructors from varying disciplines and Martial Arts Bodies. Their aim was to set a standard requirement before a person could be accredited as an Instructor by them as there are far too many people, some below Dan grade, teaching classes when they have little or no training in teaching techniques, First Aid, Child Protection etc. Our programme was submitted and accepted at once resulting in full accreditation for all Level 1 Instructors. This accreditation took the Martial Arts Instructor UK Programme to an even larger National Level. In October 2005 Andrew joined with several other well known Senior Ranking Instructors from various Martial Arts Groups around the United Kingdom to form The Senior Instructors Guild. The Guild was formed to act as an information resource to enable back ground checks on applicants to each Members MA Group to be carried out much easier and also for general Martial Arts related enquiries. Each Member contacts the other if they require further information on a subject or person before granting Membership to their own Group. In November 2005 he travelled to Canada as England Team Manager to the 200+ WKA Team. They had great success over the 4 days competing and came back home with 37 Gold, 26 Silver and 33 Bronze Medals. View photographs: The Managers | The Team. Later the same month Andrew was graded in Self Defence / Self Protection by Dave Turton of the Self Defence Federation. Although Cobra FMA contains alot of Self Defence, Dave felt it was time for Andrew to be graded by him as he had been involved with The SDF for some time and was after all the North West Senior Assessor and had to date already taught 4 Self Defence Instructors Courses on their belhalf. Andrew's knowledge of Self Defence along with his physical skills were tested and he received 4th Dan Self Defence / Self Protection. December 2005 saw the launch of the C.M.A.A.'s very own unique Children's Programme "Cobra Kids". Andrew had spent several months working on this project to ensure that it was different to the others already in operation. "Cobra Kids" not only offers Children a way of learning the Martial Arts, it also educates them with valuable life skills and contributes towards their Long Term Athletic Developement (LTAD). 2006 On 21st February 2006 he was elected on to the Board of Directors of The Martial Arts Standards Agency as Members Director. This new appointment means that he will now, along with other MASA Directors, be assisting Clubs and Groups to gain MASA Accreditation helping to ensure safety within the Martial Arts. May 2006 saw the introduction of the Cobra Quality Club Award. Andrew spent many years as a Production Manager and during that time he received qualifications as both a Health and Safety Risk Auditor and Quality Systems Auditor. Using these skills he had worked on and developed the Cobra Quality Club Award for over 6 months and introduced it as an option for C.M.A.A. members to work towards. The Cobra Quality Club Award helps to demonstrate high standards in the running of the respective Club(s). Also this month he was entered into the Sekai Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu Guild of Renmei Yudansha (Black Belt Guild). As Andrew is the main signatory for the C.M.A.A. registration with the Criminal Records Bureau, legislation prevents him from carrying out Disclosure on himself. To date, in order to demonstrate his good character, his Disclosure has been done via his Local Council. But this month he applied to the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) to work with the Youth Offending Teams providing support. Andrew went through the same vetting as a Police Officer and once cleared took on a voluntary role within the GMPA serving Police Stations in his local area. August 2006 saw Andrew writing the C.M.A.A. Referee Training Programme. Having been a Referee himself for many years he had experience varied situations both good and bad. This experience was used as the building blocks for the new training programme which not only includes rules but also area and conflict management skills. To compliment the programme Andrew also produced a comprehensive manual. In November he once again took on the role of WKA England Squad Manager as he travelled to Spain with them for the 2006 World Championships. (view photos) December brought a new challenge as he applied to Sport England to take the C.M.A.A. through their Club Mark in order to add more credibility to the Cobra Quality Club Award. He was told that as the C.M.A.A. are not a part of Sport England that this cannot be done. Andrew then made an appeal, in writing, to his local Sports Trust under equal opportunities. They looked at the case and granted permission for him to go through the Club Mark accreditaion process and receive The Greater Manchester Sports Partnership Club Mark. This is the local equivalent to that of Sport England, infact it's the Sport England Club Mark Pack that is used during accreditation. The process went ahead with a completion date estimated at being the early part of 2007 based on the fact that the C.M.A.A. already meets the requirements in full as a result of the Cobra Quality Club Award. All that remained was for Andrew to attend a couple of Courses run by the Sports Trust in order to finalize it. 2007 In March Andrew was interviewed by the World Of Martial Arts TV (www.woma.tv), on the 15th, about the Martial Arts Standards Agency and why the C.M.A.A. joined. Watch the video interview - click here. WOMA is owned by the same Production Company who made the "Mind Body & Kickass Moves" TV Programme and their new channel goes live in September 2007. Also in March he became a Police Officer with the Greater Manchester Police Special Constabulary. This was the next progression from his work, over the past year, with the Police Authority and the Young Offenders. May the 21st saw Andrew increase in Ju-Jitsu grade to 3rd Dan when he was graded at the Tsunami Ju-Jitsu Club in Burnley. August brought the 2007 WKA World Championships in Germany, Andrew once again put on his "hat" as WKA England Team Manager. View Photo Album. September saw the completion of work started in December 2006. After months of hard work Andrew gained Club Mark accreditation for the C.M.A.A. Head Office / Club by being awarded The Greater Manchester Sports Partnership Club Mark. This is the local equivalent to that of Sport England, infact it was the Sport England Club Mark Pack that was used during accreditation. 2008 In January Andrew was asked to teach at the Greater Manchester Police Karate Club. After the 2 hour session and after looking at what the C.M.A.A. had to offer the club decided to join. This added additional accreditation to the C.M.A.A.'s already good name. In May, due to the C.M.A.A. now being established as one of the largest Martial Arts Bodies within the UK, the Black Belt Register was redesigned as a National Register for anyone (both members and non-members) wanting to have their grade ratified and listed. This change was the result of numerous requests to be listed from outside of the group. Along with this change came the securing of the domain name www.blackbeltregister.co.uk. September saw the introduction of the C.M.A.A. Club Star Rating System. This allows clubs to claim ‘stars’ as they make use of the C.M.A.A. optional programmes such as Martial Arts Instructor UK, Cobra Quality Club Award and Cobra Kids which in-turn enhance the service they offer to stude.nts. The new scheme was voted on by the C.M.A.A. member clubs at the time with over 80% voting in favour of it’s introduction. View scheme details here. In October a new magazine hit the streets known as 'Martial Arts Standard'. Andrew was asked to write an article on the importance of standards within coaching in the Martial Arts and also how MASA had made an impact on public awarness. The article can be seen and read here and an image has been added to the Magazine Hall of Fame on the Black Belt Register, click here. Also this month C.M.A.A. Vice President Gordon Scot Russell made the following statement to the group: "To all C.M.A.A. members and associates. After long talks between the C.M.A.A. Directors in private (and other Senior Instructors) the Directors have decided to award Andrew Morrell his 7th Dan Cobra FMA as his time at 6th Dan has now been served as per C.M.A.A. time served requirements. These discussions started months ago and the intention has been to award Andrew at one of the past C.M.A.A. events, however this has not been possible due to peoples time tables etc and the distance between us all. There for as from today I as the C.M.A.A. Vice-President, on behalf of the Directors, would like to announce that Andrew Morrell is herby recognised by the rank of 7th Dan Cobra FMA and I think that all C.M.A.A. members and Instructors will agree that our President Master Andrew Morrell has earned this promotion with all the hard work and dedication he puts into to managing the C.M.A.A. C.M.A.A. Vice President Master Gordon Scott-Russell 6th Dan on behalf of the Directors: George T Ross 9th Dan, Den Butler 8th Dan, John Greenhalgh 8th Dan and Ray Bell 6th Dan." At 8am on Friday 21st November 2008, the Greater Manchester Police Karate Team embarked on a martial arts marathon that would take them through to 8pm the following day, Saturday 22nd November. A full 36hrs training with only a 5-minute break allowed for every hour trained! Andrew relocated some of his courses and taught for 9 hours at this event donating all of his fees to the cancer charity CLIC Sergant. Click here for the full story. 2009 Back in November 2008 Andrew contacted the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR). CCPR is the national alliance of governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation who’s current President is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Membership is only granted to national governing / representative bodies who can prove they meet the requirements. At first the CCPR were reluctant to offer membership to the C.M.A.A. but after many phone calls Andrew was able to show the high standard that the C.M.A.A. represents, not to mention the size of the group as a whole, and after further deliberation the CCPR board of Directors granted membership to the C.M.A.A. in February 2009. On 18th February Andrew took on the role of Child Protection Officer for the World Karate & Kickboxing Council (WKC). In March his achievements with the Greater Manchester Police were recognised as he was interviewed by a selection panel and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, within the Special Constabulary, having served his community for the past 2 years as well as helping with the training and development of several Student Special Constables. Martial Arts Ranks and other Accreditations to date "I have grades in different styles with different Martial Arts Groups and i think it is important to separate them in order that i do not appear to be anything that i am not, or that i hold a higher grade in a specific style than i actually do. As such my grades & styles are listed below in accordance with the CMAA time served chart for Dan Gradings (view). Thank you, Andrew Morrell" Traditional Martial Arts (Trained & Graded) Shukokai Karate - 2nd Dan Ju-Jitsu - 3rd Dan Freestyle Martial Arts (Trained & Graded) Freestyle Kickboxing/Karate - 5th Dan Mixed Martial Arts (Assessed & Graded) Cobra FMA - 7th Dan Self Defence / Self Protection - 4th Dan (Self Defence Federation) Other M.A. Experience 3 years training in Muay Thai (Not graded) Other Accreditations Police Officer - Greater Manchester Police Special Constabulary (Sergeant) Greater Manchester Sports Partnership Accredited Child Protection Rep' for the World Karate & Kickboxing Council (WKC) WKA & WKC National Referee - Class A. England Team Manager (All Disciplines) for the WKA 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007 North West Senior Tutor / Assessor for The Self Defence Federation (SDF) Members Director for The Martial Arts Standards Agency (MASA) St John Ambulance Approved First Aid Trainer / Assessor (www.cobrafirstaid.co.uk) HSE Certified Risk Assessment Safety Auditor Quality Management Systems Certified Auditor (BS EN ISO 9000) Authorised Signatory for The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Andrew's Own Clubs www.cobrafma.co.uk / www.cobrakickboxing.co.uk Photo Album (Click Here) |
| Andrew Morrell's history to present day including the formation of the C.M.A.A. in 2002 |
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