SDF Essex Self defence Instructor

Richard Mitchener SDF Essex Self defence Instructor

My name is Richard Mitchener, I live in Essex with my wife and family. I am the self defence Instructor with SDF Essex. My career background is in retail marketing, working for several national companies in senior management. In more recent years as a self employed marketing consultant working in Essex. I joined a Judo club for a number of years due to being bullied at school. In my twenties and thirties, I joined a Karate club for some “me time” away from work. In early 2014, I started training as a self defence Instructor.

I gained a level 3 self defence instructor qualification in October 2014 and started running self defence classes in Great Baddow Chelmsford from January 2015 and Brentwood December 2015. 

In 2019 I registered with All Style Martial Arts Association – Self Defence Federation (ASMAA-SDF). ASMAA-SDF founder and head is Dave Turton 10th Dan. Towards the end of 2022, I was approached by Dave to join the team at Self Defence Federation (SDF) as a representative. I’m very proud and excited to a part of this established organisation that has been going for over 20 years.  The Self Defence Federation

  • Enhanced DBS (update service).
  • £10m Public and Product Liability Insurance.
  • First Aid trained – June 2026.

Self defence and fitness training

I teach self defence and personal safety techniques in a fun and safe environment.

Attending the outdoor self defence classes you will make new friends and have lots of fun. Training will help improve confidence and self esteem, it’s empowering, you will learn a life skill and very effective techniques.

SDF Essex self defence training venues are in Mountnessing, Brentwood, Great Baddow, Chelmsford and Rayleigh Essex.

Beginners and weekend classes

Initially students attend SDF Essex beginners self defence classes, these run monthly in both Mountnessing Brentwood and Great Baddow Chelmsford outdoors.

The beginners class includes theory, covering personal safety, reasonable force, awareness and tips with tech.

Practical techniques include importance of personal space, how and what to say, restraining an attacker standing up, taking an attacker to the ground and restraining the individual on the ground.

The beginners class is suitable for adults, families and children from age 10.

Parent and Child class in Essex

This parent and child self defence class is ideal for children attending school years 6 and 7.

Ages 10 and 11 are often when children start to have a little more responsibility and independence, start walking to and from school and prepare to move up to or within secondary school.

Children often receive their first mobile phone around this age too, so my courses cover personal safety skills including aspects with tech.

Women’s self defence class

A self defence class for women, covering standing and floor, plus a knife defence technique.

Private group self defence workshops in London and Essex

Team building, private group self defence activities can help build positive camaraderie, confidence, build new and existing relationships / friendships.