Master Sian Humphries is an Instructor in the Pencoed  

                               and Garw Valley Tang Soo Do Schools

Name: Sian Humphries  

Rank: Master Instructor  

Position at School: Instructor  Tigers (infants) children and adults,  

Years in Martial Arts:  Started training in 1989 after suffering a Miscarriage during my first pregnancy. Needed something to do with my time and couldn’t afford to buy a new horse so decided to go along with my husband Wayne Humphries and try it out. Tried it , Loved it , Still here after 17 years.  

Accomplishments or Awards: Won quite a few forms and sparring awards in various competitions including European and World Championships, however my favourite day in competition was the 2002 Open invitational where I won gold in Sparring, forms and breaking, really enjoyed that one probably will never do it again.  

My biggest accomplishment I believe was coming back to training after snapping my Achilles tendon in 2000. I snapped it in class during a sparring session and was in plaster for 16 weeks after an operation to tie my tendon back together.  I then trained for at least 3 months by dragging my injured foot across the floor, but eventually thanks to the patience of my instructor, a very cruel physiotherapist and lots of perseverance I made it to my 3^rd Dan grading.  I will always remember the feeling of absolute dread about the jump side kick over 3 people through boards that you need to perform to attain 3rd Dan.  I did the technique and my Achilles stayed intact. Since then I have practiced without incident (touch wood) and I am very proud of the fact that I don’t think that you would know from my sparring and technique that I had  such a serious injury.

 I think our classes in Pencoed and Garw are huge accomplishments and I honestly believe that Tang Soo Do has helped the people in my classes do things that they would never have accomplished without coming to TSD, in both their martial arts life and their private lives.  We are all stronger people because we practice together.  

 Favourite Technique:  I love any of the internal techniques from the Chil sung forms, I believe they allow you to activate your energy centres and this enhances both your technique and your health.  

Favourite Form: Lo Hi and I really like Cho sung Hyung which my instructor is trying to teach me right now.  I also love the Chil sung forms and think that they are some of the most beautiful forms out there.  

Most Influential Martial Artist:  

My husband Wayne for starting me off and for putting up with my obsessive need to be right all the time.  

Master John Trudgill for pushing me and making me be a Martial artist not a Lady Martial artist, those who know me will know what I mean.  

Master W. Williams for showing me patience and teaching me to persevere no matter what happens.  

Kyo Sa Carol Trudgill for her inspiring efforts and her grace under pressure.

Other Hobbies: Studying and reading philosophy, riding my motorcycle Yamaha Thundercat 600 and Yes I think its much prettier than Wayne's, Belly dancing and teaching Science ( My day time Job)

Last Book Read: Pistis Sophia – A Gnostic Text on the journey of the soul.  

Favourite Book:   Oooh so many to chose from. The people who know me are well aware of my love affair with books of all sorts, I have a reputation for keeping Ebay in cash but here goes  ,Fiction Waylander : David Gemmell  - a wonderful author and a great loss, a man who creates worlds in his mind and fills them with such people has a soul with great light.   In philosophy I don’t know where to start I have so many favourites

The True and invisible Rosicrucian order by Paul foster Case, The Sepher Yetzirah by Aryan Kaplan and the writings of my own spiritual  teacher Rowan Carvalho who inspires me to push my mind further and explore the universe within and without.   

Last Film Watched:  Casanova – Dreadful dross don’t waste your time, not quite Joe versus the volcano bad but getting there.  

Favourite Movie:  At the moment V For Vendetta because it mimics what is happening in the world today and the manipulation of the public psyche by the Government using Fear and the media – Don’t get me started  

Star Wars _ the original one for being  a seminal film in my teenage years.  

Favourite Meal: Chinese as with my better half, but I do like a good Caesar Salad now and then.

Pet:  see Waynes