Jeff Sawyer is a retired police officer (having served in London's Metropolitan police). Prior to that he was a professional martial arts instructor and - in the 1980's - he was part of a Close-Protection team, operating throughout Europe and in West Africa. He has been training in Ju-Jitsu for almost thirty years. He holds the grade of Rokudan/6th Dan Black Belt, and he holds two Dan grades in other arts. In 2000 was awarded the title of "Renshi" (literally translated from the Japanese as: "Polished Master"). Jeff has cross-trained extensively in Filipino Kali and Muay-Thai (Thai-Boxing). He is also registered as an assistant boxing coach with the Amateur Boxing Association (Great Britain), and for many years he was a Home Office approved instructor of Police arrest and restraint techniques, defensive tactics, and use of force legislation. He has taught Ju-Jitsu and related arts/systems in countries such as: the United States (to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, F.B.I. agents, Gwynette County S.W.A.T. and corrections officers), Denmark, Nigeria, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Jeff is a keen and experienced SCUBA diver, holding the Divemaster qualification from P.A.D.I (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and is a qualified and experienced teacher of English as a foreign language (TEFL).
Interested in meditation and Buddhism since the early 1980's when he lived in the United States, Jeff committed to following the Buddhist path about thirteen years ago. He feels unequivocally that his practice has made him a better person and describes himself as "a practising Buddhist - in that I'm not terribly good at it yet...." and feels his Buddhist practice has been "absolutely life-changing." He is a vastly experienced and inspiring teacher of martial arts, and a committed proponent and facilitator of meditation techniques.
He and Nicky have been married for fifteen years, and have been together for twenty years; in spite of Nicky's opposition, he remains a HUGE Springsteen fan........
Nicky Sawyer grew up involved in the family catering business before training as a children's nanny. She spent seventeen years in that profession, working throughout the United Kingdom but predominantly in London.
She then trained as a Doula with Dr. Michel Odent (a leading Obstetrician, childbirth educator, and the pioneer of water births). A Doula is a professional birth companion; a woman trained to support other women (and their partners) before, during and after childbirth. Trained in breathing techniques, positioning and providing emotional support, a Doula assists the parents to experience a less stressful, and more informed birth experience. Nicky is a member of Doula U.K.
Nicky also trained as a Breastfeeding supporter with the B.F.N. (the Breastfeeding Network) in the U.K. She is qualified in counselling skills, and throughout her time with the organisation she has helped many women to breastfeed successfully, during what is often a challenging and exhausting time for new mothers.
In 1992 Nicky trained and qualified as a Swedish massage therapist. Since then she has gained extensive experience in this field.
Over the last thirty years Nicky has travelled extensively; other than Le Marche her favourite place is Kenya.
An "Advanced Plus" diver (also with P.A.D.I.), Nicky has dived in Israel, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Her most memorable dive was on the Great Barrier Reef where she swam with a Whale Shark - the largest fish on earth.
Nicky is passionate about food, cooking and Italy. Although a fairly recent convert, she is a committed meditator.
She says her greatest achievement, besides being a mum, is that she's tolerated Jeffs love of Springsteen for twenty years......
