John Keegan

John first became interested in sport at the age of 10 when he played for the school team in Ernsford Grange, Coventry as a striker.  John then moved to Dublin and continued playing for Dublin’s Nielstown Rangers until the age of sixteen.

John tried western boxing and joined the Nielstown boxing club, training for a year before having to stop due to acute appendicitis.  John returned to Coventry and soon started his martial arts career at the age of 17 in Coventry studying Tang Soo Do. John trained about twice a week before work commitments forced him to give this up. John latter went on to try various other styles of martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do and Shotokan Karate.

In 2004, John came across Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu in Bedworth and decided to have a look at the training given by Sifu Paul Burkinshaw.  John was very impressed with this style of Kung Fu and by the way Paul Burkinshaw taught the lessons  John started Sil Lum Kune at the end of November 2004 and soon passed his first grading. This was quicker than normal due to his previous experience in martial arts.

After several months of committed training Sifu Paul Burkinshaw invited John to attend the Sil Lum Kune monthly coaching course. John states that he could not resist this opportunity as he enjoyed the art so much.

Shortly after attending the coaching courses John was confident enough to start taking some of the class warm ups and helping coach beginners.

Due to the amount of classes John was attending, coupled with the monthly coaching course and previous experience John progressed rapidly in the style.

In the summer of 2005 John gained his BCCMA National Coaching qualification.  In December 2005, John was given permission by Sifu Paul Burkinshaw to open his first class at Baddesley in Warwickshire.  At this venue John currently teaches Little Tigers as well as Kung Fu.   In January 2005 John gained a St John’s Ambulance first aid award.

During the late 2007 and 2008, John was suffering from illness problems which was affecting his ability to train and teach. He therefore handed his Baddesley classes over to Ian Harrison in September 2008.

John hopes to return to training when his health returns.