Meet our Instructors
Our instructors are BJJAGB-certified coaches, are fully insured, have passed Enhanced DBS checks and are first-aid trained.
Sensei Dan Verghese – 3rd dan black belt
Dan is Senior Instructor of Kazoku Ju Jitsu.
He began his training at High Wycombe in 2009, having previously been an assistant instructor and 2nd Dan black belt in Tae Kwon-Do.
Dan has been a qualified coach since October 2015, and has officiated at international open tournaments. He has a particular interest in the practical self-defence applications of the art, and enjoys weapons training, holding a Level 4 kobudo grade.
He has cross-trained in a variety of other martial arts including judo, brazilian jiu-jitsu, bojutsu and eskrima, and continually seeks to expand his knowledge.
Sensei Dan also acts as Grading Examiner and Safeguarding Lead at Kazoku.
Dan grades:
- 1st dan (shodan) with credit, 2012
- 2nd dan (nidan), 2014
- 3rd dan (sandan) with distinction, 2018.
Coaching Qualification: Level 4 Senior Coach.
Sensei Holly Evans – 4th dan black belt
Holly Evans started training in Ju Jitsu in 1997, achieving 1st Dan Black Belt in 2004, and 4th Dan in December 2014. She has been running clubs in the High Wycombe area since attending University there from 1999, and has trained numerous students to black belt level and beyond.
She has competed to a high level at national and international competitions, concentrating on the Groundwork and Kata classes, and has won Gold at the British Ju-Jitsu Association National Championships 3 times for weapons kata, and once for open hand kata.
Holly has also trained extensively in judo.
Sensei Holly leads the technical committee, with responsibility for upholding high standards and ensuring our syllabus is consistently applied and understood. She is also the club’s Senior Grading Examiner.
Coaching Qualification: Level 4 Senior Coach.
Robert Avery – 1st kyu brown belt
Robert teaches and assists regularly at many of our junior and senior classes.
He has a very extensive martial arts background, holding a 5th Dan black belt in ju jitsu and kickboxing with another organisation, as well as a brown belt with Kazoku. Rob has taught ju jitsu and kickboxing for many years.
Robert also holds a 1st kyu in kendo and attends eskrima (Filipino Martial Arts) seminars. He currently trains actively in Wing Chun kung fu alongside his ju jitsu, and particularly enjoys learning our kobudo weapons syllabus.
Sensei Robert teaches our Saturday afternoon Junior Ju Jitsu classes at the Maidenhead club.
Coaching Qualification: Level 2 Assistant Coach.