Meet the sensei whose father brought jiu-jitsu to Suffolk

Tom Starling started learning judo in 1969, as a little boy in Lowestoft.

His father, also named Tom, was himself a martial arts teacher, who introduced many in Suffolk and our neighbouring counties to the sports.

“We were studying in the IBF (International Budo Federation) and learning judo way back in the ‘60s,” explained Mr Starling.

“My dad started to get into jiu-jitsu around 1971. He opened a club a Somerleyton. It built up from there – Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex.

“At one point, he had about 12 clubs in East Anglia in the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

He credits his father, now aged 91, with bringing jiu-jitsu to East Anglia, at a time when few were practising the martial art in England during that time.

“I’ve stuck with it ever since – even when I was in the army, I carried on training."

Tom Starling has been teaching jiu-jitsu since 1979. (Image: Tom Starling) Mr Starling explained that jiu-jitsu is a defensive martial art. (Image: Tom Starling) Tom Starling has shared his skills with people from all over the world. (Image: Tom Starling) Tom Starling has now reached the rank of Eighth Dan. (Image: Tom Starling)

Jiu-jitsu is a martial art which originated in Japan. The practice is used as self-defence, coming from the Japanese word jū, which means gentle.

In 1979, 17-year-old Tom began teaching jiu-jitsu himself.  

Mr Starling joined the Grenadier Guards at 16, where he served for six years.

He then joined the prison service where he remained for 18 years, working as a control and restraint instructor, delivering riot and physical intervention training to staff.

Mr Starling’s jiu-jitsu skills were highly useful, and he was able to teach the martial art to staff, showing them how to safely deescalate potentially risky situations.

He now works for the NHS in mental health services, teaching similar skills to nurses and other staff members.

Mr Starling is now President of the IBF, and has reached the rank of eighth dan.

His rank and skills are recognised internationally. In August, Mr Starling travelled to Australia, delivering seminars all over Queensland.

Another seminar he delivered in Ipswich attracted people from countries as far as Germany, Holland and Denmark.

Mr Starling has spent decades sharing his skills. (Image: Tom Starling) Mr Starling's father, too, taught martial arts around Suffolk and further afield. (Image: Tom Starling)

However, Mr Starling has always been clear that he does not want to make a living from teaching martial arts.

He prefers to share his skills with the community.

“I was lucky as a kid growing up, doing judo, Aikido and jiu-jitsu,” he said. “It all used to cost a few pennies – it was 10 pence for a lesson, which wasn’t even much then!

“I’ve tried to bring it back to its roots, which is what my dad started up all those years ago.”

Mr Starling delivers classes in Castle Hill Community Centre.

“After Covid, I decided I wanted to start another club,” he explained.

“I like to see children developing their confidence. We teach a lot of kids with special needs, including some who are non-verbal.

“They’ve come on in leaps and bounds.”

Adults, too, have been intrigued to learn jiu-jitsu. The martial art has appealed particularly to women, who are conscious of the need to learn self-defence.

 Mr Starling is determined to keep the cost of lessons as low as possible, so that nobody is excluded who wishes to learn.

The clubs are run as a non-profit organisation, with fees covering of insurance. The first two lessons are free of charge.

“You don’t need to be a member, you don’t need to buy the suit,” said Mr Starling.

“People thrive on something like this.”

To find out more, visit Mr Starling's website: www.ibfgb.com