"Enjoyable and inspiring! Brilliant instructors with a depth of knowledge and understanding"

Exxon Mobil

 

"Hugely insightful, interesting, helpful." 

Estee Lauder

 

"Great training, very instructive and helpful."
Yahoo, Paris

 

"Brilliant presenters, information was excellent. Right mix of practice and theory. Very enjoyable as well as being serious. Really brought home how important awareness and personal safety is."

MAC Cosmetics

 

"Extremely beneficial. Very good and instructive."

Aramco

 

"Extremely useful and truly inspiring."

Connected Places Catapult

​

"Kirsty's insight and knowledge, particularly in areas of energetic and human behaviour has simply been invaluable."

Life Plan Coaching member

​

"Kirsty is quite simply one of the most multi talented individuals I have encountered who most importantly delivers on her word and then some."

RF Recruitment

​

"When you engage Kirsty on a project you don’t get an off the shelf solution; what you get is an energetic business partnership where through careful consultation ambitions are discussed, thoughts are challenged, creativity intensified and paradigms are blown out the window."

D Ferguson

 

"Great training and very hands on not just theory. Very professional. Training provided by experts."

Yahoo, London

 

“Thank you for coming on site to carry out the event for the staff -the day was a great success!” 

Discovery Channel

 

"The most dynamic approach to Corporate Safety training"

BP

 

"Very important. Real life skills learning."

High Speed 2

 

"Thanks for a great interview"

SKY News

 

"Psychology of the training was really good."

Home House

 

"Very engaging and informative."

HS2

 

“Brilliant! Exceptional training and great fun, thank you.”

Her Majesty’s Treasury

 

“This is high level training in an intelligent environment”

The Royal College of Physicians

 

"Very professional, informative and engaging"

Pro Vinci

 

“Thoroughly enjoyed the personal safety workshop conducted at Fujitsu Labs yesterday, thank you!!

Fujitsu

 

"Excellent. Very helpful and thorough"

Lebara

 

"Very good. Interesting, informative and active – hands on!"

Knight Frank

 

“Thank you for coming on site to carry out the event for the staff -the day was a great success!”
Discovery Channel

 

"Loved the training. Enjoyed it very much and would love to learn more. Great, in-depth and really interesting."

Publicis

 

"Very useful techniques. Thoroughly enjoyed the class, I learnt so much. The teacher was amazing! Very clear strong advice. Thank you, great workshop."

Pentland

 

"the class was extremely helpful and interesting. Thank you."

Park Plaza

 

"Kirsty and her team are very knowledgeable and also very approachable. They had lots of original ideas that held our interest. It was a bit more physical than we anticipated but practical application is what its all about."

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs

 

"Enjoyed very much. Very informative. Excellent teacher. Well explained with good focus on principles which can be applied across multiple scenarios. Superb course, really well done."

Pentland Group

 

"It was fantastic and very informative. I feel alot more confident. It was very well taught. This was a great session, thank you. Eye-opening and very useful."

The General Dental Council

 

"It was useful and eye-opener. Also the tutors made us feel comfortable. Clear strong techniques and simple ways you can protect yourself."

Publicis Chemistry

 

"Very useful and thought provoking. Great hands on experience."

WHEB Group

 

"Really good. Fantastic points – easy to use and perform. Enjoyed the course. Excellent training."

"Extremely knowledgeable and professional. Thanks very much." 

Baker Street Quarter Partnership

 

"Really good. Very informative training."

BC Partners

 

"Enjoyed the course. Well received, very informative."

Howdens

 

​"I have learn't a great deal from every session I have attended which has given me confidence not only at work but also in general life as well."
Security Personnel, SSR Security

 

"Really great, impressive instructors, thank you!! Really interesting, important information."

"Fantastic. Really good, made me aware of how I behave."

Madam Tussauds

 

"Enjoyed the course. Excellent training."

BSQP

 

"I trained with Kirsty Henderson from knowing absolutely nothing about martial arts or fighting to having won the very first Tournament I entered.The tournament was a bare-knuckle knock down Shidokan tournament -  no gloves, or points to win, or head protection. You fight and when you are damaged you give up or you get knocked out. With this style of fighting you feel as though your life is on the line and you have to have the right type of teacher in order to survive.

No stone was left unturned in my training. Personal fear of the unknown, and a lack of confidence were transformed in the months up to the fight where I didnt recognise myself anymore. If you feel like me that the most important thing in life is your time then all I can say is dont waste any more of it with any teacher that is less than perfect! Learn from someone that lives the path they are teaching. Being trained by Kirsty will feel like you are receiving a very special gift.

Its rare to find someone who is a good fighter and also a good teacher. Kirsty is both. In the 4 months running up to the Sri Lankan Shidokan Tournament, Kirsty took me and another 3 people on this very personal journey to finding our strengths and deal with our weaknesses, coming out of the experience mentally stronger than we were going in.

My own personal success in the ring is totally down to being trained by her."
Giuseppe Peluso, winner Shidokan Middle-weight World Shidokan Open Championships in Sri Lanka

 

"Enjoyed very much. Very professional and insightful."

Pentland

​​

‘Great Self Defence Workshop! Extremely important for everyone to do.’

RCP

 

​"Fantastic lesson! Very interesting and informative. Very well taught."
Sundance

 

“Really enjoyed the course and feel a lot safer when out and about in London as a result…thought it was great that Kirsty asked us to keep drilling and practicing the techniques we were learning so they became very familiar to us.”

Cabinet Office

 

‘Very good session, with good trainers learning valuable skills.’

The Royal College of Physicians

 

"Very professional and informative."

Museum of London

 

"This was work place training at its very best."

HMRC

 

“Brilliant! Exceptional training and great fun, thank you.”

Her Majesty’s Treasury

 

Was very good, learnt alot. The instructors were great. Really enjoyed the class. Thank you.

BCG

 

"Very useful. Very practical. Wish I had learnt this sooner. Really fantastic. I think everyone should do this.

House of Fraser​

 

“This is high level training in an intelligent environment”

The Royal College of Physicians

 

​“The training delivered by Kirsty Henderson and Andrej Cernega at the Five Rings Training Academy has significantly improved my performance and drive that I have for not only martial arts but for all my sports and physical activities. Alongside rigorous physical conditioning, the Five Rings Training team has vastly expanded my skills within martial arts training and honed any other skills that I had from amateur boxing. However the positive gains that training has had on me is not only limited to the physical sphere of my life. With the support and professional coaching that I have received from Five Rings Training, my experiences of MMA training have been translated into many aspects of my life and for the better. The discipline and determination inculcated by training at Five Rings has made me more confident and determined in my academic studies and helped me accomplish many of my own personal goals. Since I started my training last year, the virtues of self control and endurance has made me significantly more able to deal with life as a student and understand the value of self mastery in order to deal with any situation life throws. I am indebted to the Five Rings Training team for the highly professional training that they deliver to everyone, with patience and clarity and for how Five Rings training has positively cultivated all areas of my life.”
Adrian Usher, FRT Academy at University College London

 

"Five Rings Training are the best at unleashing potential"

Sportsacademies, UK

 

“Thoroughly enjoyed the personal safety workshop conducted at Fujitsu Labs yesterday, thank you!!

Fujitsu

 

"Excellent! Thoroughly enjoyed the class, really informative! Learnt alot and received quite a few techniques. Engaging and informative. Really well run course."

LCP

 

"Excellent – very well explained verbally and physically. Good having two instructors for demos. Great sit-down session talking about what to do if being followed. Fun, practical and informative. "

Highclere Investors

 

"Very informative and empowering. Very comprehensive, built up step by step."

Aspect Capital

 

“Really enjoyed the course and feel a lot safer when out and about in London as a result.”

Cabinet Office

 

"Kirsty inspires me and reminds me that you can always do better, push further, there is always progress to be made, and your body and mind can work wonders if you appreciate how they must be trained. I have really learnt the value of hard work, of perseverance, that I apply to other sports and to my academic life thanks to FRT. I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have been able to access such high quality training so easily, and wish to pursue as long as possible."

Matilda Mayne, University College London

 

"Your training certainly gave me a lot more confidence and awareness in dealing with unexpectedly difficult situations so thank you very much."

Gap Year Student

 

"Training was great. Kirsty and Andrej are true professionals"

Private family training, Cyprus

 

"Brilliant presenters, information was excellent. Right mix of practice and theory. Very enjoyable as well as being serious. Really brought home how important awareness and personal safety is." 

MAC Cosmetics

 

"The classes are serious and well organized, where members are doing physical and mental trainings, aspects which are very important for the overall body health."
Ljubomir Goronja

 

"Kirstys self-defence training has played a major role in increasing my awareness of potentially dangerous situations as well as possible defence mechanisms. Thanks to Kirstys classes, I feel safer in almost all situations. Furthermore, being a practicing Muslim who wears a headscarf, Kirstys female only [training] offered me the opportunity to learn in an environment that is responsive and accommodating to my particular religious needs.

Both in her capacity as an instructor and in person, Kirsty is a dynamic and powerful communicator who possesses the gift of being able to inspire her students to strive to achieve their maximum potential. Inspite of these gifts, she is a modest and amicable person who loves to share her extensive knowledge with others, particularly her students."

Asmaa Shariff (Mrs)

 

"I am very pleased with the training received, the trainers (as always) are approachable and professional. The session was adapted to allow for prior course experience which worked very well; it helped to keep concentration/enthusiasm levels up. The sessions are always very informative and engaging"

Highclere Investors

 

"As a (former) police officer in the Metropolitan Police I had to deal with a violent and unpredictable person who was strongly under the influence of alcohol. My instantaneous reaction in forming a solid stance and keeping a loose guard up, with a fighters mindset was enough to dissuade the would-be attacker from causing any harm. This reaction did not come from police training (which very little is given), but from practice under Ms Henderson's teaching.

Ms. Henderson definitely deserves credit for not only delivering the physical training for such situations, but also the psychological training as well. Ms. Henderson is a true asset."

Ann Matadeen

 

​"I had the honour and privilege of training with Kirsty Henderson for over a year. She is an excellent teacher who is able to impart her knowledge in an effective manner to her students regardless of their age, gender or motivation for taking up martial arts.  Her extensive training in Shidokan (in the UK and Japan) and in many other disciplines such as Krav Maga and her understanding of the use of ki, enables her to teach her students a variety of skills for use not only in the dojo but also in full contact tournaments and realistic self-defence situations that they may encounter in other environments. Sensei Kirsty exemplifies the spirit of perseverance and self-improvement that defines a martial artist and I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to train with and learn from her."
Daniel Hickman, Solicitor​

 

"My experience of having Kirsty as my teacher was one of being inspired by a woman of honour, that gives so much. Kirsty exhibits what I need in a teacher - somebody that inspires and generates respect through her own work ethic & moral code alone. More than a teacher but a mentor. I have applied the lessons she has taught me to my working life, my home life, and everything has improved. She has taught me and inspired me to be a better fighter and a better person.
Ben Medder, Trainer, Gloves Boxing Gym​

 

"Congratulations on the magnificent results of your well-prepared and highly-skilled fighting force, which you so admirably prepared."
on the winning of the Sri Lanken Shidokan Open by the GB Men's team coached by Kirsty Henderson​

 

"Kirsty is incredibly knowledgeable with expertise in areas well beyond the scope of most martial art instructors. She has a firm understanding of what does and doesnt work in a reallife situation and as such all her training is practical, realistic and above all useful. She teaches effectively at every level and her friendliness and enthusiasm motivates even the most indifferent of students."
Will Britton, Shidokan GB

 

"Five Rings Training delivered a martial arts training to a group of girls and boys 13 to 17. The delivery was of highest quality in every respect.

Kirsty Henderson was the lead instructor and she excelled at leading and motivating the group. The group achieved a level of skill development which was impressive. The environment was kept safe and disciplined at all times. There was a public exhibition at the end of the course which demonstrated how much the group had been able to achieve as a result of excellent coaching."
Mary Wood, Chief Executive Foundations UK

 

"Fabulous training. I am impressed by Kirsty’s teachings. I want more. Very practical tips."

Seddons

​

"Enjoyed very much.  Excellent mix of the theory and the practical"

LCP

​

​"I have been training with Kirsty in private lessons studying mainly Krav Maga. Kirsty is one of the best teachers in any subject I have ever met. I have always been impressed by her positive attitude and ever enthusiatic approach. Kirsty has always made sure the sessions are tailored to what I need or would like to know and always encourages people through positive motivation, making both group and private sessions an empowering experience."
Jon Barnard, Security

​

"Kirsty's ethos and the one of Five Rings Training is impeccable, strong and moral. She has been able to bring back confidence in women, victim of muggers who were too scared to walk out at night. She is capable of training people to very high level. Kirsty is a very inspirational and very good teacher. I hope to organise another course at work very soon."
Lydie Plancke

 

"When it comes to martial arts and fitness, I think Kirsty is one of the most talented and dedicated people I know. I moved to NYC and tried to find an instructor to compare to Kirsty and it turned out to be an impossible task...please believe me when I say that there is no one in New York City like Kirsty. Under Kirstys tutelage, not only did I relieve the stress in my life, she encouraged me to take Karate seriously and in the process, take control of my life and become a stronger person both physically and mentally. She has been so inspiring and has she taught me that if you put your mind to it, anything is achievable. She was, and still is, one of the best instructors Ive ever had.

I truly believe Im a better person because of her."
Siobhan De Stefano, New York

 

Training with Kirsty is hard as she pushes you to get the best out of your abilities but it is also fun and relaxed. Her extensive martial art knowledge is visible in every single move she explains and demonstrates and her commands are easy to understand and easy to follow. She simplifies complicated techniques in single moves, step by step so that it is straight forward to understand and to perform when every move is put together. Her energy visualisation techniques help me to better understand where my strength comes from and how to maximise it in every movement."
Fran Campana, Ironman Athlete, Personal Trainer TE London

​

"Kirsty has taught me more than she could ever know, so much more than techniques - she has given back that particular kind of female strength. I want to be strong and confident and I would rather accept the world as it is with all its ugliness with Kirsty in my corner, teaching me how to take some control back."
- K Cooke

 

​"I joined five rings training not knowing what to expect and joined because another member recommended it to me. My sporting background has mainly been boxing and american football based (with elements of other sports) but I can say five rings mma training is different. It is more intense but also rewarding plus it has enabled me to explore furrier in to martial arts as well as myself as a person and an athlete. I am hoping to compete at a professional level and the training provided here is definitely aiding me to reach that goal. As well as that, i feel confident about defending myself in altercations outside of sports if any arise but also I have been able to meet a great group of people."
- Jason Yaw Osei, FRT Academy

 

​"I loved the feeling of excitement and adrenalin on learning simple and effective self-defence moves...also loved the Qi gong exercises."
Mel Swan

​

​"Kirsty gets to know her pupils very quickly and instinctively knows how to interact and teach the different characters within the class. I have since come away with a confidence that I have not had previously. I wish I had the time to do more work with Ms Henderson.I would also like to compliment the team she has working with her which she has hand picked herself and who do her the utmost credit."
Susanna Racke

​​

"It is quite difficult to describe exactly what makes FRT such a special organisation, but there are several key points. Firstly our truly wonderful coaches are genuinely kind and generous people, always available when help is needed, always welcoming newcomers and beginners, and are 100% dedicated to their work. Secondly, at FRT I found a completely new mindset for training: I have discovered the whole spiritual and psychological aspect of fighting, and how this puts into perspective all the things you can do. It made me realise how much more work I needed to put in, which was both scary and compelling, and motivated me to train harder. This also made me realise that if I could change so much in my fighting goals, when I previously thought I was quite good, there must be many other areas where more discipline and hard work could help me get more pleasure out of things, like my coursework and my relationships with my friends and family."

Student, University College London

At the FRT MMA training squad, in a relaxed, friendly but studious atmosphere, I met people who were both competitive and welcoming, where more experienced fighters were always happy to give advice to beginners. During grading, especially, I really experienced the teamwork and solidarity between everyone even though it was competitive. Your opponents were there to help you make progress, to let you show what you could do, not just to win. It's that spirit, I think, that truly represents this association.”
Matilda Mayne, FRT MMA

 

​"I am a black belt in karate, and Kirsty's way of teaching is impressive. She is very thorough and has a passion for what she does. She is very motivating and encouraging: two of the most important qualities for a teacher. I have seen her compete and she is an incredible fighter, she has all the necessary skills; technique, strength, power, balance, coordination and agility."
T Fattel, Oxford

 

​"I have been going to Five Rings Training for 6 months now. Five Rings is not only about learning fighting techniques, although it is certainly a part of it, it is also a complete fitness regime.I have noticed my strength and stamina both increase dramatically. Additionally my flexibility has improved, which was an aspect that previous exercises regimes neglected.
There is also something very stress releasing about martial arts. I have noticed an increase in my concentration and I sleep a lot easier after training."
Erik Pazos, University College London

​

"Your training certainly gave me a lot more confidence and awareness in dealing with unexpectedly difficult situations so thank you very much."

Gap Year Student

​​

​"Relaxed atmosphere. Amazed by the feeling of empowerment. The instructors are very well informed and it shows."
Dana Jones

 

"As a police officer in the Metropolitan Police... I had to deal with a violent and unpredictable person who was strongly under the influence of alcohol. My instantaneous reaction in forming a solid stance and keeping a loose guard up, with a fighters mindset was enough to dissuade the would-be attacker from causing any harm. This reaction did not come from police training (which very little is given), but from  martial arts practice under Ms Henderson's teaching.

Ms. Henderson definitely deserves credit for not only delivering the physical training for such situations, but also the psychological training as well. Ms. Henderson is a true asset."
Ann Matadeen

 

​“Mixed Martial Arts training at Five Rings Training has had an incredible impact on my life. Prior to MMA, I never knew I could be this passionate about a sport. As a combination of several different fighting styles, it requires incredible speed, strength, flexibility, and stamina both physical and mental, and the constant competition with other members of Five Rings has pushed me to constantly improve all of these and keep challenging myself. In addition, MMA training has made me a happier person overall by giving me a way to let off steam, and a space twice a week where I can turn my head off completely and focus on nothing but my breathing, my movements and what my opponent will do next, in a setting where I know we are all pushing each other to improve and grow.”
Justin Krahe, University College London

​

"Congratulations on the magnificent results of your well-prepared and highly-skilled fighting force, which you so admirably prepared."
on the winning of the Sri Lanken Shidokan Open by the GB Men's team coached by Kirsty Henderson​

​

​“Mixed Martial Arts has influenced my life today in so many ways it is impossible to list them in any abbreviated way. Before training with “Five Rings” I had undertaken classes in the art with a number of different coaches, not all as well qualified as Kirsty and Andrej. These classes were a great way to be induced to the circuit and get acquainted with the sport, however, none of the coaches, nor the classes, ever had any emotional or spiritual impact on me or my love for the sport. It wasn’t until I began my training with Five Rings that I stopped seeing martial arts as a sport, or a way of expressing my anger, but instead a way of pushing your body’s limits and continually advancing in a discipline that demands respect and brings people together in ways I could never imagine. The personal ambition that I have developed over my year at five rings can only be appreciated as a reminder of the talent and commitment the coaches bring to training every week, and the motivation and love they have to see people grow. Five Rings training is the most accessible, motivated, tough, hardworking, technical and fun loving Mixed Martial Arts club I think could possibly exist across the globe. I give my full support to the club and coaches and hope to be a member of five rings for years to come.”
Stefan Smith, UCL

 

"FRT, great to see you today for more self defence training. Used it this weekend! We all need to learn how to defend ourselves and be prepared."

Tracie Giles, Knightsbridge

 

"Kirsty has had an amazing impact on my life, and the life of her students. This is both as a trainer and mentor. Kirsty works tirelessly to enhance her knowledge of herself, whilst search ways to hone her physical fighting skills. She is forever experimenting with, and learning other Martial Arts fighting systems. Kirsty has played a very important role in shaping not only my views on Martial Arts, but those of other dedicated Karateka whose lives she has also thankfully graced."

Dennis Austin, Shidokan

 

"Kirsty has the astounding ability to be both an incredibly skilled fighter as well as a compassionate teacher. She commands respect through her physical capabilities and commitment while earning the adoration of her students through her dedication to the improvement of our physical, spiritual and technical development. There are two predominant factors that make Kirsty a fantastic teacher:
1)her proven technical skill (she is a third level black belt, and the only Shidokan female blackbelt in the UK) and
2) her dynamic and adaptable teaching methodology that allows her to motivate students at all
levels, from beginner to advanced. I thank Kirsty for supporting me in my new ambition to improve my skill.  Participating in her training on a weekly basis has provided me with a spiritual and physical outlet. As a result, I feel excited and empowered by the new world into which I have been adopted. "

Misa Numano, Think London, Manager 2012 Games​

​

​