The school was first founded in 1962 by Neville Pearce but the name “The Kyu Shin Ryu” first appeared in 1968. The first venue was “Youth Centre 21” in Sutton Common Road, Sutton. The school grew so fast, that the venue soon became too small, so with the help of the local MP a new venue was found “Hill House”. It was in Bishopsford Road Carshalton, the venue was perfect with two Judo Matts (given by some old friends in the SAS) which we picked up at Brize Norton, two smaller halls and a canteen.  Sir Harry Secombe became the honorary president to help promote the school and that is when the school really took off. The school became one of the most famous and respected schools in the UK and went on until 1993 at which point Grand Master Pearce now 9th degree black belt went on to found the British Institute of Martial Arts. The school was handed to Sensei Anthony Plant who still runs the schools today in Surrey.

From apprentice to master. (Neville Pearce)

Neville Pearce (born in 1939) first found martial arts while serving his National Service in the army. He soon realized that he had a natural talent for unarmed combat, the army soon realized they had an exceptional talent on their hands. He joined the army Judo team and won just about everything he entered. When he left the army he followed this path and studied everything he could find from both here and abroad, He soon caught the eye of some every prominent Japanese martial artist who decided to take him under their wing and he soon rose through the ranks. As he recalls he would read books watch films and visit all kinds of martial arts venues, not just one style. He entered competitions all over the world and became well known.  When he finally settled back in the UK and opened his own school the school finally settled with the Name “The Kyu Shin Ryu” meaning “The perfect circle”. The school was mainly for Judo but was also affiliated with the AJA, BJC and the International Wu Shu Kung Fu Association. His school went on to be one of the most famous and well respected schools the UK and Sensei Pearce went on to reach the rank of 9th degree. The schools still runs today under the leadership of Grand Master Anthony Plant founder of Cobham Choi Kwang Do, Chertsey CKD and he is also the chairman at The British Institute of Martial Arts. Anthony started training with Sensei Pearce in 1970 at the age of 12. Sensei Pearce now 83 years old still visits the schools every so often and he is always greeted with great respect by all the students.  Sensei Plant studied “Choi Kwang Do” for many years and trained with Grand Master Kwang Jo Choi on many occasions, he now runs the schools with a blend of styles. Sensei Anthony Plant after leaving the army worked on the night clubs doors to work his way through college, this gave him a valuable insight to the reality of real fighting. He went on to work in Radiology and Oncology which gave him first-hand knowledge of the human body and its nervous system. The combination of his martial arts experience, knowledge of the human body and the experience of real fighting from the night club doors has made him one of the most experienced and sort after instructors in the world today.