Our Club & Instructor
Welcome to West Sussex Martial Arts
We’re an exclusive, tight-knit and friendly Martial Arts club based in Midhurst, Petworth and the surrounding area. Beginner friendly, highly experienced and multi-award winning.
Headed up by Giovanni Soffietto – the multi-award winning social entrepreneur behind British Martial Arts (BMABA), and the Men’s Health Coach Of The Year, we’re thrilled to offer affordable access to top-quality training within the Petworth and Midhurst area.
Giovanni has over 25 years of martial arts experience, including 15 years coaching and a number of major accolades and qualifications. Enhanced DBS checked, safeguarding and concussion trained, first aid certified, fully insured and holding more than four separate teaching entitlements (black belts or equivalent licences) spanning Karate, Muay Thai, Self Defence and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Giovanni’s instruction is second to none.
Our classes are always orientated toward Self Protection rather than sport, meaning we focus on practical applications for the martial arts we practice instead of prioritising sparring for sport.
This means no matter your experience – from complete beginner to expert – you’ll find a super friendly, relaxed yet expertly led class that will get you fit, keep you safe and show you the very best martial arts has to offer.
Our Instructor
Giovanni’s passionate about empowering first time beginners through to well practiced martial artists in how to push their limits and really understand the issue of ‘keeping safe’ with self protection.
Men's Health Coach Of The Year and 'Black Belt Mentor'
We’re committed to offering quality, honest instruction that is always based on what happens in real life when the worst happens, not what happens in sport or the ring.
That’s our focus on self protection rather than sport. We love sport – but we focus on the former.
All of our classes / instructors are;
- Fully insured
- Safeguard trained
- First aid trained
- Enhanced DBS checked
- Highly qualified
- Level 2 coach certified
- Concussion trained
- Professionally associated
- BMABA Registered
Giovanni holds specialist training in women’s self defence as well as specialist training in knife crime and serious youth violence.