Chief Instructors
All our chief instructors are insured, qualified and first aid trained.
Sean Toomey
(Personal Training, Thai Boxing, Boxing and MMA)
Sean is one of the founders of the Ocean Gym and has a wealth of experience in the fitness industry, first qualifying as a Thai Boxing instructor in 1990 and thus opening the Lumpini Gym in London and Kent, he then qualified as an England ABA coach. In 2005, he expanded his qualifications and gained a Premier Diploma in Personal Training. Sean has trained numerous fighters from novice level through to World Champions; including Thai Boxers; Kieran Keddle - World Champion, Alan Keddle - European Champion and the following Area to British Champions; Simon Clarke, Lee Kellman, Adam Grew, Lee Taylor, Dan Hope, Rachel Clark and Simon Eastwood. In MMA, Sean has coached many MMA fighters, but most notably; Tom 'Kong' Watson, Mark Adams and the rising Dan Hope.
On a personal level, he has successfully competed in Boxing and Thai Boxing having started in Amateur Boxing at the age of 10 and then switching to Muay Thai. He has since been retired from fighting for the past 20 years choosing to focus on coaching others. However, he continues to train in different martial arts including MMA, Jujitsu, Wrestling and Judo. He is also a successful endurance runner and has been competing in running events for the past 25 years. He has gained much knowledge into fitness training, having trained both successful fighters but also has helped many people achieve weight loss, fitness and improved health goals working with people from all backgrounds.
Rachel Clark
(Personal Training, Boxing, Thai Boxing and Sports Conditioning)
Rachel is a YMCA Personal Trainer and holds the following further qualifications; YMCA Nutrition and Weight Management, YMCA Sports Conditioning and FutureFit GP Referral. Rachel has been involved in fitness for the past ten years on a personal level competing in both running and thai boxing competitions, working on all components of fitness and nutrition. Rachel is responsible for the Lumpini Ladies Fight Team as well as working with all the team to help them achieve high levels of fitness and conditioning. She also has worked with national level junior tetrathaletes as the team's fitness and running coach. Working as a personal trainer, she has trained many people with varying goals, helping people achieve weight loss, exercise around illness or injury, core strength and toning, competing in a race, learning a martial art to training people to compete.
She is still an active Boxer and Thai Boxer and is the current WPKL Ladies Southern Area Professional Champion. With a passion for outdoor pursuits, she is a keen endurance runner, cyclist, hiker and swimmer. Away from the fitness sector she holds an honours degree and spent seven years working in the Financial Services and Investment Banking industry both in the UK and USA before setting up her own fitness business.
Trevor Birmingham
(MMA)
Trevor is a qualified Personal Trainer as well as a Judo, Sport Jujitsu and MMA instructor. He is the Ocean Gym's head ground coach. He is an experienced competitor and has competed at world level in Judo and Sport JuJitsu and is currently an active MMA fighter.
More details about the experienced Trevor to follow.
Nick Brookes - Black Belt BJJ
(BJJ)
Black Belt Under Roger Gracie
Blue Belt December 21st 2004
Purple Belt September 19th 2006
Brown belt September 19th 2007
Black belt October 31st 2009
Nick Brooks joined the Roger Gracie academy on the day it opened on the 12th of Februrary 2004, And 7 months later fought his first BJJ competition the Londinium international BJJ championship where Nick won all his fights by submission to take GOLD and thus became hooked on competition. He has since gone on to win numerous international competitions in both Gi and NoGi events, including the World masters, that he has one twice. In 2009, he won Gold whilst representing the UK in the European Championships and helped the UK team secure Bronze adding to his numerous success. http://www.millhillju-jitsuclub.com
Richard Walker
(Wrestling for MMA)
(Photo courtesy of MMA Universe)
Richard is an experienced MMA and Wrestling coach and Tom 'Kong' Watson's UK based training partner. He has also competed professionally in MMA and has a wealth of mixed martial arts knowledge and has a Purple Belt in BJJ.
Assistant Instructors
The below instructors assist the chief instructors in busy classes or courses.
Marie White
(Thai Boxing, Boxing, Personal Training - also qualified in Sports Massage, Body Pump and Body Balance)
A former Thai Boxer, Marie started Thai Boxing with Lumpini Thai Boxing in 2002, and has since gone on to gain her Premier Personal Training certificates as well as qualifying in sports massage.
Lee Taylor
(Thai Boxing, Boxing and Personal Training)
Currently an active fighter in Thai Boxing and MMA, with an expressive 7w,1L record in Thai Boxing and made a successful debut in MMA in September 2009. Lee also has a Premier Personal Training qualification and is also a strong rugby player and knowledgeable body builder.
Guest Instructors
Guest Instructors that have taught seminars and classes at the gym.
'ORON' DEACHKALON SOR SOMALI
(Thai Boxing)
Oron will be assisting at the gym from June 1st 2010 - until July 30th 2010
Also known as ‘Chom Serng’ (King of Isaan Dancing), Deachkalon comes from Ubon Ratchathani in Isaan where Muay Thai Kick Boxing originated. He has fought at least 100 times in Lumpini and Ratchadamneon Stadiums. Overall, he has fought more than 200 times at stadiums throughout Thailand as well as in Japan. He is authorised by Thailand’s Board of Boxing Sport as a Muay Thai Boxing Coach.
Deachkalon’s major achievements are:
Bangla Patong Champion at 108 lbs
Finalist at Ratchadamneon at 122lbs
Vice Thailand Champion at 122lbs
World Boxing Council Champion at 122 lbs