E149: Steve Humphrey - Black Belt

Steve Humphrey joins the JIU JITSU LOU Podcast as a Black Belt, coach and owner of Exemplar Martial Arts in Salisbury.

Steve came to Jiu Jitsu from a striking background after staying behind following a kickboxing class when his coach suggested he give Jiu Jitsu a try. Several hours of training later, he was hooked.

Maintaining consistency alongside a military career hasn't always meant training in the same place. Steve talks about finding opportunities to train wherever he could, walking into unfamiliar gyms with respect and recognising that there is something to learn from almost everyone.

Having left home in the North East at 16 and followed a military pathway, Steve reflects on how those experiences developed his confidence, discipline and willingness to take on challenges. His approach is to go into an experience willing to learn, reflect on what happened and work out how he can become better because of it.

Now, as he approaches the end of his military career, Steve has taken on another challenge by opening Exemplar Martial Arts in Salisbury.

We explore what it means to progress without forgetting the coaches, teammates and communities who helped us get there. Steve continues to return to the people who supported his own development, while creating something new himself. His message is simple: take the group forward with you, not just yourself.

At Exemplar, Steve is building a professional, structured and welcoming environment. For him, coaching goes beyond teaching Jiu Jitsu techniques. It's about getting to know the individual, understanding their goals and recognising the time, money and effort they're choosing to invest in training.

We also talk about professionalism, academy culture, communication and creating a trustworthy environment where people from different backgrounds can learn, challenge themselves and feel part of a team.

And ultimately, Steve is still a student too. Becoming a Black Belt and opening an academy haven't stopped the questions - they've created new ones. There is always another perspective to consider, another lesson to learn and another challenge ahead.

Topics:

• Exemplar Martial Arts

• Black Belt