BUILD THE FOUNDATIONS.
Understand the technique, practise it carefully and give it time. Confidence grows when you can see your skills improving.
CLARITY BEFORE COMPLEXITYMARTIAL ARTS. MINDSET. MILTON KEYNES.
I’m John Tomsett. Coach, competitor and lifelong student. I help people build the confidence and skill to move forward, on the mats and beyond.
NEW CITY MARTIAL ARTS OAKGROVE SCHOOL

A LIFETIME ON THE MATS
Martial arts has challenged me, humbled me and given me a purpose: helping other people find what they’re capable of.
With over 40 years in martial arts, I lead New City Martial Arts at Oakgrove School in Milton Keynes. My coaching brings together the striking of Kickboxing and the problem-solving of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I still train. I still compete. And I still learn. That matters, because a coach should understand the nerves of starting, the frustration of getting stuck and the satisfaction of making something work.
Whether you’re taking your first class, supporting your child or sharpening your own game, I want you to leave with a clearer sense of what to work on next.

My approach is shaped by Budo: respect for others, discipline in your practice and the courage to keep improving. Here’s what that looks like in training.
Understand the technique, practise it carefully and give it time. Confidence grows when you can see your skills improving.
CLARITY BEFORE COMPLEXITYTrain with respect. Look after your partner. Ask questions. Everyone has something to learn, including the person teaching.
RESPECT IS PART OF THE PRACTICENotice what worked and what needs attention. The discipline, resilience and self-belief you practise here can help beyond the club.
PROGRESS WITH A PURPOSEA belt represents ability,
not time served.
MY STANDARD FOR KICKBOXING PROGRESSION
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
Structured, supportive training at NCMA.
Beginners are welcome. Start where you are.
OAKGROVE SCHOOL, MILTON KEYNES MON / TUE / FRI
View timetable & book a free trialTell me about your goals and ask about one-to-one coaching in Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu or Fitness and Nutrition.

THE NCMA BJJ TRAINING JOURNAL
You put the work in on the mats.
Make the lessons stay with you.
I created the NCMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training Journal to help students turn a busy class into something they can revisit, understand and build on.
Record the techniques and coaching points.
Note what worked and what felt difficult.
Choose something specific to revisit next time.
YOUR TRAINING. YOUR NEXT STEP.
Digital guides to help you practise with purpose, prepare for grading and build your mindset. Choose your resource and explore it on the NCMA Gumroad shop.
START HERE / KICKBOXING STUDENTS & PARENTS
Know what to practise for your next grading. The syllabus sets out the techniques for beginner, intermediate and advanced grades, including strikes, kicks, defence, combinations and sparring.
Use it alongside your classes. Parents can help younger students study the techniques and arrive with a clear goal for their practice.

THE STUDENT JOURNEY
A guide to confidence, training habits and grading preparation, with worksheets and trackers to support your progress.

BUILD YOUR FOUNDATIONS
An introduction to self-defence Kickboxing for parents and adults, exploring confidence, skills and the value of consistent practice.

FOCUS & MINDSET
Bring mindfulness into your training through practical exercises, meditation and reflection, on the mats and beyond.

SUPPORT YOUR JIU-JITSU
An eight-week framework for strength, conditioning and recovery, with training routes and tracking tools for grapplers.
Browse each guide’s contents and current price on Gumroad before purchasing.
Explore the full Gumroad shopThoughts from coaching, competition
and a lifetime of showing up.
Beginners are welcome. The aim is to build your skills and fitness through regular training. Tell us about your experience and goals when you book so we can help you find a suitable class.
NCMA’s Kickboxing groups are Ninjas for ages 6–9 and Cadets for ages 10–12. Junior Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for ages 7–12. Teens can join the 13+ classes. See the timetable or email me to discuss the options.
Use NCMA’s trial booking page to choose your class. Trials are held on Mondays. If you have a question before booking, email john@newcityma.uk.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL WORKED OUT.
A new skill. More confidence. A fresh challenge.
Let’s see where your training can take you.
It’s difficult when a fighter loses, especially when the reason isn’t immediately obvious. The job of a coach is to help them understand what happened and give them something useful to work on.
At a recent white-belt interclub hosted by Fight City Gym in London, Dan and Julius stepped into competition with me in their corner. Julius came away with a silver medal and a bronze in another division. Dan didn’t get the result we came for.
Afterwards, we sat down and looked at the footage. That’s where the next step begins: finding the moments we can learn from, identifying what needs attention and getting back to work.
Winning feels good. But a result only becomes useful when you understand what it teaches you. Keep your perspective, support your teammates and carry the lesson into your next session.
Imagine trying to improve at golf while wearing a blindfold. You take the swing, but you can’t see where the ball went. How would you know what to change?
Training without a purpose can feel much the same. You show up and work hard, but you have no clear way to judge your progress.
For Kickboxing students, the syllabus gives that work a direction. Learn the techniques for your level, understand what’s being asked of you and bring questions to class. For parents, spending a little time with the material can help you support your child’s practice.
In BJJ, a training journal can help you see the patterns: the position you keep losing, the detail you keep forgetting, the small adjustment that made a technique work.
Choose one thing to understand better. Practise it. Reflect on it. Then take the next step.
A belt represents ability, not time served. That’s the standard I want students to understand when they work towards a Kickboxing grading.
Turning up matters, but attendance is only part of the picture. Progress also means understanding the syllabus, demonstrating the techniques and applying yourself consistently.
There’s character in that work, too: respect for your training partners, the courage to try again, discipline when a task is difficult and the willingness to help someone else learn.
For younger students, parents have an important role. Encourage regular practice, help them study the material and recognise the effort that sits behind the achievement.
The black belt is a milestone in your development. Keep learning after you earn it.