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About Us

The Club

Kondei Ryu is a family-run club that was established in 1988 in Sheffield. Club founder Steve now teaches the classes alongside his wife Netty and son Dexter.

Kondei Ryu believes that it is important for all the family to train together, to promote health and well-being for all.

All adult instructors hold valid DBS certificates, and are safeguard trained from L1 – L3.

Meet The Team

The Founder & Chief Instructor

Steve Lewis started studying martial arts at the age of 8 years old.  He went to his first class all by himself (more acceptable in the 70s), and from that moment he was hooked.  He attended Judo sessions in a club in West Bar in Sheffield.  Trying many different martials arts styles over the years, it was Wado Ryu that finally captured his heart.  He did however, still train in many different styles to expand his wider knowledge.  During his late teens he trained at Castle Ju Jitsu in Sheffield.
 
Just before Steve’s first black belt grading he broke a rib puncturing his lung.  Despite this, he still attended his grading and passed with flying colours.  He is now a 4th Dan black belt.
 
For a while, Steve was a referee for events held by the European Martial Arts Association, so knows all the ins and outs of competition expectations and rules.
 
Just after his 18th birthday he founded Kondei Ryu Martial Arts holding his classes in Working Men’s Clubs and pub back rooms in the Sheffield area.  In these early days Steve focussed on teaching Wado Ryu Karate.
 
Over the years, Steve has been involved in many types of security.  For 16 years he was a doorman in Sheffield Cty Centre.  One of his first jobs was working at Niche nightclub having been given the job after the club’s manager watched him teach a martial arts lesson.  He worked as a security guard in shops and on Top of the Pops.  He also worked 1:1 in personal protection for people such as:
 
-Macy Gray
-Attomic Kitten
-Phil Oakley (Human League)
-Chris Waddle
-Carlton Palmer
-Bruce Jones (Les Battersby)
 
To mention a few.
 
Around 15 years ago, Steve made the switch from traditional martial arts to full contact kickboxing as he deems this to be more realistic in real street confrontation.
 
Steve ran kickboxing clubs from several boxing gyms including Glyn Rhodes, Chris Smedley and Dave Cauldwell.  When his 2 children were young, he opened a small kickboxing club in Sheffield.  This taught children and adults a kickboxing syllabus created by Steve and used all his knowledge of martial arts and street combat.  Several students trained all the way up to black belt.
 
A few years ago, Steve made a move to Doncaster and had to start from scratch.  The club is now going strong in Balby.
 
Steve believes everyone should be able to train at a reasonable price.  For this reason, he does not charge extortionate fees.
 
Steve has always continued his own training whilst teaching.  Currently, Steve trains up to 10 hours a week.  He mainly attends the gym, but also does the occasional ‘personal’ park run, when his day job allows.
 
Steve is eager to pass on his knowledge to everyone, so feel free to come along to a lesson and join the Kondei Ryu Family.

Instructor

Netty Lewis is the wife of founder Steve Lewis.  She started kickboxing after the birth of her two children as a way to get back into shape.  As the children got older, and Netty wanted to train to be a teacher, it was a natural progression for her to lead sessions in the club.  Focussing on the younger members, Netty came up with lots of fun, engaging games for them to play and the classes she taught were very busy.
  
Once the children reached a certain level, she then moved them up into Steve’s classes to learn the more advanced techniques.  It was during this time that Netty achieved her black belt, having it awarded by the British Combat Association.  This was a total shock to her! 

For her day job, Netty teaches in a primary school so understands the way in which children learn best.  She has completed multiple safeguarding training in her various roles, and has a thorough understanding of children with additional needs.

Instructor

Dexter Lewis is the second born child of founder Steve Lewis.  He first started kickboxing when he was about 5 years old in his dad’s club in Sheffield.  Now a black belt and after many years shadowing his dad in his teaching methods, Dexter now teaches with Steve and sometimes also leads the lessons for the other students. 

Currently, Dexter is at Leeds Trinity University studying Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.  He has completed his personal training at college, and also has a valid certificate in First Aid. When he was at college he regularly attended the various sport matches as an assistant.
 
It is Steve’s dream that one day he will pass on Kondei Ryu to Dexter, so that he can continue what he started. 

Instructor

Nathan is a teenager who has been training with Kondei Ryu for 4 years.  He first came to train with us during the chaotic time of 2020, during one of those periods of time when we were allowed to mix in smaller groups.  During this time, he has achieved his black belt with the club (not the easiest of tasks as in our club, the higher belts are deservedly earned).
 
From the age of five, Nathan trained in Taekwondo; he did this for 7 years until the age of 12.  In that time, he managed to achieve the accolade of black belt.  Showing the values of commitment and discipline that is required for any marital artist.  It was at this age he decided he wanted to switch to kickboxing and came to train at Kondei Ryu.
 
Having a passion for martial arts has led Nathan to be asked to be a junior instructor within the club.  This means that he helps out the instructors in class with smaller tasks.  He also assists sessions where younger members are punching and kicking pads, offering them guidance and support.

Assistant Instructor

Levi Shaw has always been interested in sports.  At the age of 9 he started to play football and was scouted for Sheffield Wednesday Junior team when he was 13.  During his teenage years, he was also a keen boxer but this was not his main passion. Football was.  Levi played for Rotherham and Doncaster Rovers, and was offered a scholarship to America, before injury prevented him from taking this any further. He has completed his Fitness Instructor Level 2, and for a time played squash in the Yorkshire League.

Since coming to train at Kondei Ryu, Levi has fought in competitions for the club. He  has worked his way diligently through the various different gradings, showing a thorough understanding of what has been taught.  This has led him to be invited onto the instructor team.

Junior Instructor

Holly Mannifield has been training with Kondei Ryu for just over two years.  She instantly loved kickboxing and has hardly missed a lesson.  She is currently a purple belt and now helps in the kids’ class with the children who are less experienced.  

This not only helps them, but also deepens her own understanding of what she has learned.  She is the youngest junior instructor we have ever had, but due to her commitment and passion, she is a welcome addition to the instructor team.

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