Many of you often ask about Master Carmichael’s Martial art career to becoming the Founding Master Chief Instructor of Snow Herons Martial Arts.
Master Carmichael began Martial Arts at the age of 14 when she took her first Judo lesson. The focussed training and camaraderie between all the Judoka inspired and motivated her to achieve what has so far been a Martial Art career spanning over 35 years.
Master Carmichael has trained with and been guided by Martial Artists worldwide and decided to focus on the Korean Martial Arts when she had the privilege and honour to train with Grandmaster Yong Man Lee in Connecticut (USA) for 13 months (1991-1992). Attending her Judo classes at Grandmaster Lees school, Master Carmichael observed the Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido classes and was soon training 6 days a week in all disciplines. During this time Master Carmichael attended both Judo and Taekwondo competitions, achieving a Silver medal at the Connecticut State Judo Championships and Gold medal with Best Female Performance at Grandmaster Hwang's 1st Connecticut Taekwondo Invitational Championships.
Upon returning to the UK in 1992 Master Carmichael continued training in both Judo and Taekwondo and was awarded her 1st Dan in Judo in 1993. Following this, Master Carmichael returned to the USA for a further three months of training with Grandmaster Yong Man Lee. Returning to the UK Master Carmichael competed in the United Kingdom Tae Kwon Do British Nationals. Winning a silver medal, Master Carmichael was tilted the British team reserve. Following this, Master Carmichael was given the opportunity to train at the 1994 Martial Arts Summer Training Camp at the Yong In University in Seoul, South Korea. Master Carmichael trained for 10 weeks with the Yong in Taekwondo display team and Judo National and Olympic team members from Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the USA.
Staying in the UK on a permanent basis Master Carmichael continued Taekwondo and Judo. However, after a serious ankle injury, she had to make the decision to continue Martial Arts with a less weight-bearing disciple and kept her focus on Taekwondo (Tang Soo Do & Hapkido were not logistically available at this time), and was awarded her Tae Kwon Do 1st Dan in 1997.
Deciding to relocate to Greater London South in 1998, Master Carmichael was able to join a Tang Soo class with the International Martial Arts Association and has focused her Martial Arts on Tang Soo Do ever since. Over the next 5 years and under the guidance of Senior Master Suresh Nar, Master Carmichael achieved the following: Tang Soo Dan 1st Dan (1998), First SHMA School in Merton Park (1998), The International Martial Arts Association British Championships Female Grand Champion (1999), The International Martial Arts World Championships Female Grand Champion (2000), The International Martial Arts Instructor of the Year (2000) and Tang Soo Do 2nd Dan (2002).
During the 5 years with Senior Master Nar, Master Carmichael was training to become a stunt woman. Having the Martial Art disciplines already achieved, over the five years she gained her Sky Diving (F1 qualification), Scuba Diving (Rescue/Master qualification), and qualified as a Trampolining Coach and Rock Climbing Instructor. Passing the disciplines required, Master Carmichael had to make the decision to pursue stunt work and reduce Tang Soo Do and cancel her Merton Park Class or become a full-time Martial Arts Instructor. Master Carmichael has had a number of career paths which have given her the opportunity to train in Martial Arts in the UK, USA & Korea. Three of these jobs; Children's nanny (UK/USA, 8 years), Rock Climbing Instructor (London, 5 Yrs) and Youth Action Uk Outdoor Pursuits Instructor (London 2 Yrs) all involved working with, and teaching Children/Youths from a variety of backgrounds and the transition to a full-time Tang Soo Do Instructor teaching in schools was decided!
In 2006, Master Carmichael took 8 of her students to the World Tang Soo Do Federation World Championships in California -returning with 7 medals, a World Grand Champion, and a spot on Children's BBC!
In order to complement her Martial Arts, Master Carmichael enrolled in a BSc (Honours) in Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention at Middlesex University in 2006. During her 2008 year, Master Carmichael attended a Crossfit instructors training course in California. Attending this course gave Master Carmichael the ability to attend some classes with Grandmaster Manna; an experience that led to her decision to request membership of The Educational Martial Arts System (TEMAS) and be under the guidance of Grandmaster Brian Manna and the Senior Masters of Manna's Martial Arts.
To date, since joining Grandmaster Manna and The Educational Martial Art System Master Carmichael has been awarded her 4th Dan Sa Bum Nim (2011), Sa Bum Nim Masters certification (2014) and was appointed The Educational Martial Art System Region Head in 2014. Master Carmichaels students have won both regional and International Championships and have had 3 international seminars with Grandmaster Manna, Senior Master Christopher Brandt and Senior Master Janet Manna. Master Carmichael has also been privileged to attend (2017), the GrandMasters clinic hosted by Grandmaster Manna in San Diego with Grandmaster Shian Black, Grandmaster Daryl Kallid & Grandmaster Bill "Superfoot" Wallace.
Grandmaster Brian Manna
“I cannot express in words my gratitude to you for your inspiration in my life. Becoming your student has enriched my personal Martial Art path and in turn, guides my students. You are a true Martial Artist who inspires others. It is my honour to be under your guidance and the guidance of those inspired by you. I look forward to continuing on our shared path and thus sharing my wealth of your knowledge with my students."
Tang Soo!
Master Faith Carmichael