Sensei Willie Nicholson 3rd Dan Kempo Jujitsu

• Born 1958
• Tain, Ross-shire
• Occupation : Head Mechanic at Skibo Castle

I took up martial arts training in 1989 at the age of 31 years young. After watching my son take part in his martial arts class I decided to have a go. The following week I purchased a suit and have been training ever since (And no, I do not still use the same suit! ). My ambition was to get yellow belt 7th Kyu.

Breakdown of my Martial Arts background

• Started Training 8th Kyu White 1989 - Blue Belt 3rd Kyu 1991 - World Jujitsu Syllabus
• Blue Belt 3rd Kyu 1991 - 1995 Black Belt 1st Dan - Scottish Kempo Jujitsu Academy Syllabus
• 1995 1st Dan - Fighting Arts Organisation of Great Britain Syllabus
• 1997 2nd Dan - Fighting Arts Organisation of Great Britain Syllabus
• 2004 3rd Dan - Fighting Arts Organisation of Great Britain Syllabus

Although a late starter in Martial Arts with my foot just in the door. I have seen and taken part in plenty of Martial Arts activities. Seminars in Crete, Gran Canaria, London, Bournemouth, Great Yarmouth, Edinburgh, Lochgelly ( Fife ) and locally, have all added to my knowledge. Being affiliated to the Fighting Arts Organisation of Great Britain has given my students and I the opportunity to train with some of the Worlds leading instructors in their martial arts style.

A major step in martial arts for me came in 1995 when I opened my own school the NKJJS (Nicholson Kempo Jujitsu School) and was affiliated to the KJJBA GB and the SKJJA. When I left the SKJJA in 1996 I thought my 2nd Dan training would come to a halt but thanks to my senior students, ukis and training times were not a problem. Regular visits to KJJBA in London further tuned me for my grade under the ever watchful eye of Hanshi Peter Browne. Two of the most important factors at the time were the visits of Shihan Doug Griffith ( London ) and Skibo Castle. Skibo allowed me the full use of their gymnasium which was turned into a Dojo for my training.

Shihan Doug Griffith ( Kempo Jujitsu ) took time out on numerous occasions to travel north and put me through the training for my 2nd Dan syllabus. He even supplied ukis, one poor student came up to Scotland in November time with Shihan Griffith, had a horrendous flight ( 2 attempts at landing in Inverness ) arriving in the dark, went straight into my training on the Friday night, trained the Saturday ( most of the day ) trained again on Sunday morning, then off to Inverness in the afternoon to catch their flight home. So much for seeing Scotland. All work and not one bit of sightseeing. Many thanks Stuart, and he has been back and seen plenty of Scotland. On December 13th 1997 I went to London and passed my 2nd Dan grade ( first class ) - thanks to all involved.

At present I teach 3 classes, two in Sutherland and one in Ross-shire. I make regular visits to the other two Sutherland classes and the Bowmore class on the Island of Islay.

There are other things that I could write about, but I have tried to keep it brief (Ha,Ha!!) All I can say, through Martial Arts is I have made many friends from 8th Kyu to 10th Dan ( Grandmaster ) I enjoy learning you can too.