Sifu Mitch Gooch is a skilled martial artist with a passion for teaching and inclusivity. He goes above and beyond to support all students, regardless of their ability. Mitch is a veteran Martial Arts Instructor with over 3 Decades of understanding as a practitioner of Martial Arts. He has been teaching for 28 years. Since 2012 he has taught Adapted Kung Fu and Self Defence as Instructor of Disability and Adapted Martial Arts
Sensei Neall brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our team. His focus on adapting techniques to suit the student makes him a valuable asset for our diverse student body. Mike has practised Freestyle Martial Arts since 2012 under the tuition of Sifu Gooch and is a qualified COmbat Arts Instructor
Michael Gooch is a extra-ordinary individual. He began teaching has a wheelchair user in 2012 opening GOOCH KUNG FU in his hometown of Scunthorpe. Where he taught Shaolin Kung Fu and Self Defence to students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
In 2014 he moved back to Hull and opened his 2nd Club HIDDEN FIST ACADEMY on the orchard park estate in HULL. Their he taught Freestyle Martial Arts, Kung Fu and Self Defence whilst also teaching in Scunthorpe upto 2016 when he decided to shut down GOOCH KUNG FU due to student restructuring.
In 2022 due to a change of family circumstance Michael setup his new Academy Hidden Fist UK, to be run in Bransholme, due to finances Michael couldn't open the club back then but set in motion plans to teach at the Local community centre and in 2024 the final plans were set to open his new club venture at the Alf Martial Community Centre near the north point shopping centre in Bransholme, he wanted to open up a place where students could train even when they didn't have the money to do so, so he included the new HIdden Fist UK Scholarship program and a Free Class available to all on a regular basis every thursday night. Classes are now running every Thursday and Friday at the newly established training venue Alf Marshall Community Centre.
Michael Gooch is a extra-ordinary person and has faced many struggles and battles in his lifetime whilst studying martial arts. His journey began when he was 7 years old, beginning by first learning the japanese art of Judo. During his time with BJA michael learnt his first lessons in this art through Scunthorpe Instructor and a Legend (in his mind) Harry Slater, with his three older siblings Lisa, Cherri and Tina. Has he grew older into his teenage years he then went on to learn Taekwondo under Grandmaster John Turner, joining his older sibling Tina at classes. This should of been a happy time in Michaels life, but he found that he began to be bullied within the classes he was taking and classes became a place of fear and not enjoyment. Michael mistake was not telling anyone what was going on, due to the behaviour issues he had has a child has he was hyperactive. When he was 15 he was unable to afford classes on his own, so he had to stop training at both clubs due to financial issues.
During this time in his life michael began learning from a new set of instructors who took him under their wing and allowed him to train for free this was a break through point for michael as here when he trained he wasn't a victim of bullying and became not just a mentor but a Instructor of three arts known as Ryu Karate, Boninjitsukan and Sacred Fist Self Defence from 1992 - 1998 he gained his grades becoming a well respected teacher of these arts. He eventually returned to the art of judo as a senior student just after his 19th Birthday training with his older sister Tina who was now a Instructor of BJA, hoping that his efforts would allow him to gain his black belt in the art he once loved as a child, however that never happened due to a diagnosis given to him by a specialist just before his 24th Birthday in 2001.
From here Michael's life took a different path, told to retire from martial arts by his doctors and the specialists dealing with his case michael retreated into his own world and for a time got lost in depression and sickness. In 2002 due to the diagnosis he received Michael had to deal with the fact he was going to spend the rest of his life as a wheelchair user and unable to deal with this in his hometown Michael moved to hull looking for a fresh start searching for a new path to travel instead of holding on to the dream of becoming a black belt in BJA Judo.
Then after being given the all clear from the doctors, Michael decided to give Martial Arts one more shot and he knew has a wheelchair user this would be hard but was willing to give it a try anyway. In the winter of 2004 he came across HULL KUNG FU and a Instructor named Mike Mitchell and asked to join their organisation, they said yes and Michael began to train in the art of Shaolin Chuan Fa 'Small Forest Temple Way of Boxing Kung Fu' from 2004 - 2011 michael trained with hull Kung Fu until he moved back to his hometown of Scunthorpe in the winter of 2011 (after earning his Black Sash 1st Degree in Kung Fu) to teach students in similar circumstances to his own.
In January 2012 he opened GOOCH KUNG FU and found that his student base was small as not many students who were disabled was willing to take part in his classes, so he began also teaching students who were abled bodied and students who has hidden disability's as part of his regular training sessions. Michael even managed to keep a childhood promise to his older brother paul to teach him martial arts, who is also a person with a disability.
Eventually as membership increased michael opened up a second club in Hull when in the summer of 2014 he moved back to Hull onto the Orchard Park Estate, where he ran his club from a local church. in the spring of 2015 Michael and his then partner moved back to scunthorpe so his partner could spend time with her father who was terminally ill, in the winter of that same year he married his partner and they found a new home on the westcliff estate in scunthorpe. This was a temporary place until suitable housing could be found and it eventually was after he was offered a place on the riddings estate that was adapted for wheelchair use.
Lessons continued to be run from a local community centre on the westcliff estate as well as private classes run online and at his home. From 2015 - 2019 michael and his partner had to deal with a change in family dynamics has family members under social services care were deemed to be eligible to move back in with their mum and michael her partner. In 2016 they was blessed with Matthews return to the family home and realising a bigger home was needed due to their new family dynamics Michael and his partner made plans to move again this time for the final time back to hull. This was in 2017 the same year Michael's father in law passed away. It took another two years for the move to come through and it was during the time the Covid Pandemic was dieing down and so in the summer of 2019, they returned to HUll and made plans to reopen once the pandemic crisis was over.
We continued to run private classes through 2019 - 2021 and had made plans to reopen the HIDDEN FIST ACADEMY in our new area of cottingham but the family dynamics again changed when out of the blue michael partner decided to end her relationship with michael and asked him to leave the family home. Michael agreed and finally got rehomed in September of 2021 on the Bransholme Estate. Not wanting to give up his martial arts training Michael returned to the arts as both a student and instructor learning the new arts of Go Ryu Karate and Xian Kung Fu. Michael is a accomplished Martial Arts Practitioner who has studied martial arts for most of this life. He as been a registered instructor of martial arts since 1996 and even though he is a wheelchair user he still teaches able bodied students, wheelchair users and students with hidden disabilities now in 2025.
Michael has now reopened his Academy running a regular classes every Thursday and Friday for students interested in learning martial arts from a expert of multi disciplined martial arts. He teaches Freestyle Martial Arts, Ancient Weaponry Arts (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) Kung Fu and Self Defence. Michael is also a qualified Disabled Sports Instructor, a covid safe instructor and a member of the peaceful warrior black belt club. With 28 years preface experience in martial arts as a practitioner, 15 years teaching experience as a Ryu Karate Instructor, Boninjituskan Instructor and Self Defence Instructor (when he was able bodied) and 13 years as a disabled Instructor student will have the benefit of learning from a veteran instructor of martial arts.
This is a person who has faced many things in life and overcame it all, learning with Michael has taught others to respect Michaels commitment and understanding whilst offering all students the opportunity to train in his club, whether they are wheelchair users or someone without disabilities. Students can be sure they will learn something different from a professional who holds much martial arts knowledge in the Japanese,korean and chinese martial arts systems taught in the UK today.
Most instructors only ever learn one style in their lifetime, Michael went further and studied 4 different styles systems and arts during his time in martial arts, he is continuing his studies and intents to add another two arts to his resume and once he has completed his training and received his instructor credentials in the other arts and styles he his studying at present (Go Kan Ryu Karate) and (Xian Feng Kung Fu) he intends to teach these arts as well as part of his teachings once he has permission to do so from his instructors.
This is just the beginning of Michaels Journey. Once believing he would never be able to teach or learn martial arts again, michael's journey in martial arts as been one of Blood Sweat and Tears in the literal sense, he overcame all challenges before him and succeeded when people thought he would fail, but came out on top. MIchael's experiences in Martial Arts has taught him to be a better instructor than the student he was in his younger years, thus allowing him to become a great mentor to his students and knowledgeable Instructor to his peers.
At Hidden Fist UK, we have devoted many years to enhancing the lives of others through our charity and sponsorship initiatives. Originally founded as the Gooch Martial Arts Foundation, we rebranded in early 2018 to better reflect our independent mission and to clarify our distinction from other organizations, including my sister Tina's GOOCH JUDO KAI.
Our commitment remains strong as we provide low training sessions for individuals facing financial constraints, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in martial arts and benefit from our charitable efforts. Join us in our mission to make a positive impact in community!
Here at the Hidden Fist academy we have chosen to teach two styles as part of our Kung Fu style. These are known as the Hidden Fist Kung Fu Style and the Chinese Ancient Weaponry Style of Martial Arts. Our Kung Fu Style takes a look into the Concepts of the Lohan Arts of Shaolin Chuan Fa 'Small Forest Temple Way of Boxing' teaching familiar movements of Chi Sao (sticking Hands) Wing Chun applications and Speed Methods of the Hidden Fist Wolf Style to students who wish to learn this style of martial arts.
Our Ancient Art System of Chinese Martial arts relates to the traditional Weapons system including the Fan, Staff Bo, Spear, Sai's and Sword. We also do a intermediate and advanced level training in our Chinese Ancient Weaponry System.
Here at the Hidden Fist academy we have chosen to teach one system of Self Defence. This system is known has the White Tiger System of Self Defence. We also teach the Japanese Ancient Weaponry System as part of our Self Defense System.
Our Self Defence System includes concepts and application of several arts including Wing Chun, San Chi Do Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu and our own Hidden Fist Style of Kung Fu. Here we teach reality based Self Defence skills which are suitable for both children and adults. Our Ancient Art System of Japanese Martial arts relates to the traditional Weapons system including the Bo Staff, Nunchucku, Sai, Juttes and Ninjutsu Sword Training.
We also do a intermediate and advanced level training in our Japanese Ancient Weaponry System.
Here at the Hidden Fist Academy We understand that Martial Arts can be a expensive Hobby to undertake. So we have arranged a regular FREE Class on a weekly basis where our student members can enjoy a Free 1 hour Class every thursday learning a newly developed system of Martial Arts which uses different concepts and applications of other styles to teach you martial arts and a new way to develop your techniques and understanding of how to use martial arts, this is a mixed martial arts session with a difference.
Learn about the concepts of Aikido Wrist locks and counter techniques from oncoming attack, learn ground defense,standing takedowns,Bunkai,kung fu,body control, movement,sparring tactics and reality based self defence techniques, under the expert tution of Sifu Gooch and his Instructor Mike Neall.
If you want to learn how to perfect your techniques then this FREE Class is for you. So whether your a beginner or a expert come try our classes today.
When Learning White Tiger Self Defence students will benefit from a learning experiences of a veteran martial arts instructor. They will develop a new set of skills by learning ground work defence,sitting defences and counter attack methods, standing takedowns, sitting takedowns, body control techniques and applications of ryu karate, Boninjituskan and Sacred Fist Self Defence.
Students will learn how to Avoid Conflicts and when necessary how to resolve conflicts we teach students what will work on the streets and what will not work on the streets when it comes to self defence tactics.
Knowing how to use something in the correct way is better than knowing it but not knowing how to use it. try out our classes to learn more.
Here at the Hidden Fist Academy we are well aware of how a person can become frightened during a violent confrontation, we are on hand to teach our students ways to avoid such occasions and when they are unable to walk away, how to deal with these situations. We teach are students anger management processes, meditation techniques to help calm the mind and relax the body, reaction techniques which will help them avoid a impact blow and help them absorb the technique whilst they counter attack on the move.
Our inclusive program is available for all students of any age to learn we teach children safe techniques which they can use to defend themselves against bullies and teach adults a more advance technique which will stop a further attack. Join us to find out more.
In all Schools and Clubs a code of ethics is usually taught to students and instructors alike throughout their training.
Unfortunately for some these lessons do not stick and this is where legal problems can arise.
A wrong word is said or a frustration is uncovered and Instructors and Students alike can blur the lines of respect and discipline towards each other.
Here we teach our Instructors (and Students) one simple lesson which is Respect.
We ask everyone at the start of their training to Respect their fellow peers and Instructors. It's a simple lesson but one which is often forgotten when tempers flare and anger rises.
We ask students to remember that these are the people who come to train with you they are their like you to learn the art system or style being taught no to hear abusive language or to be put in their place when they do something you disagree with.
This should be expected in all Schools but isn't always the case.
We ask all participants who take part in our Self Defence Classes to leave their ego's at the door and learn our art as if they was a new student learning the art for the first time. When learning self defence a person must learn how to withstand a storm, and how to find new ways of de-escalating Violent Confrontations and when that is not possible what steps to take next.
