About us

Unique in its combining of hard martial arts and healing arts, Five Rings Training focuses on the cultivation and development of the individual.

To have the ability to feel safe, centred and well is essential to the individual in today's increasingly violent society. The stresses of work and modern living take away the focus from the self. Martial arts and defence system training are not simply for defending oneself but for overcoming one's own demons and achieving an inner sense of peace and wellbeing. The more you train in martial arts, ironically the less you need to fight and the greater the desire to heal. Five Rings writes programmes merging martial arts, defence, fitness and healing into one comprehensive system.

Who we are

The Five Rings Training Academy

Five Rings Academy is based in London, but works world-wide, and is staffed by a team of elite instructors - a community of top coaches across martial arts, defence, fitness, nutrition and healing. The Academy hosts Five Rings Defence, Five Rings Fight, Five Rings Fitness, Five Rings Healing and the unique Five Rings Fifth Element which writes programmes merging martial arts, defence, fitness and healing into one comprehensive system. Individually Five Rings Instructors & Practitioners are responsible for international competition level teams, hold world ranking, sport personal international achievements and wear an impressive list of qualifications. Collectively, they are Five Rings Training.

Kirsty Henderson

Kirsty Henderson, Director of Five Rings Training is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shidokan Karate Kickboxing, a Japan Qualified Instructor for the World Shidokan Organisation, an Internationally Qualified Instructor in the Israeli Self Defence system Krav Maga and a fully qualified Chartered Architect. She is member of the British Squad, Coach to the British Men’s Team, Chief Instructor at The Shidokan GB London Women’s Unit: School of Fight Training & Self Defence, Chief Instructor at Personal Safety London and Managing Director of Five Rings Training.

During her work as an architect, Kirsty began to study in martial arts under Shihan JJ Burnel. She also trained in healing, ki training, sports nutrition and energy medicine. In 2005 she travelled to Japan to become the first women in Britain to become a Shidokan Black Belt. For this she fought her first 10 man kumite, fought for the British Team, and was examined by her Grandmaster Kancho Yoshiji Soeno. She is currently the only female Shidokan Black Belt in Britain and encourages more women to join the Shidokanway of living and training.

In 2007 Kirsty returned to Japan to fight 14 of the Masters for her 2nd Dan Black Belt. Shortly after this she was ranked by her Grandmaster as top female Shidokan fighter in the World. Kirsty then went on to become an Instructor in Krav Maga, set up The Shidokan GB London Women’s Unit: School of Fight Training & Self Defence and became coach to the British Men’s Team.

Kirsty is trained regularly by her own teacher 6th Dan Shihan JJ Burnel and her Grandmaster in Japan, Kancho Yoshiji Soeno and has set up Five Rings Training to support the Shidokan GB Squad and its training, and to encourage others to train regularly in fight, defence, fitness and healing.

Kirsty has also has experience in Goju Ryu, White Lotus Kung Fu, Kassaki Kai, Judo and Thai boxing, and is currently preparing to undertake her 3rd Dan Blackbelt in Japan whilst presently studying the Russian Military system Systema, Wing Chung and Escrima.