I’m David Viney, Chief instructor and founder of Viper martial arts. We are a TKD school based in Holsworthy, Devon.

I started my martial arts journey back in Leicester. My old club, Shane Varney’s karate school ran an after-school karate class in my primary school which me and my brother Ed attended back in 2003. And its safe to say we we’re hooked. We kept training for many years there until my instructor got his very own dojo in South Wigston. My brother left to try other things, but I continued to train hard. Competed at inter club and national level events. Trying other martial arts such as MMA, Kung Fu, JKD, Kali and XMA.

I have suffered with Asthma for my whole childhood, as sufferers know it sucks. My fitness was held back for a very long time as asthma made it hard to progress. When I was 14 the tide turned on my asthma and it subdued for a long time. Then I was selected for my black belt. I trained for a long time to get my fitness up to scratch. However, on our summer camp in 2011. I graded and failed my black belt test. I wasn’t good enough on the weekend. Which was very upsetting, but I was so determined I wasn’t going to quit then. I was given a 2^nd chance to test for it in December 2011. I trained harder than ever! My fitness rocketed over the next few months, and I took part in the largest black belt grading the club ever did. 18 of us in total going for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd degree black belts. Being observed by my master and 9^th Dan Grandmaster Ian Parker. I fought them all multiple times and all at the same time! Did all my Kata’s, Kicks, Blocks, freestyle, Sparring and more to pass my 1^st degree black belt test. Which is still the greatest achievement of my life, so far!

Being a black belt isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. The start of understanding the martial art and progressing my limitations. I trained harder than ever, as it’s expected of all black belts. This turned into 3 days a week and about 10 hours a week of training. For years I kept up the hard work and in 2014 I was selected for my 2^nd degree Black belt. However, due to a cycling accident I had to drop out 5 days before the test in December 2014. A huge upset. I left the club then to pursue a career in outdoor education. After that career gave me 6 months back home, I had the chance to train for my 2^nd degree again. This time I was utterly tenacious in my approach. And in May 2017 I graded again. It was a private grading, and I was the only one being tested. With five people on the panel. All of whom I knew well. The Pressure was high, and the scrutiny was intense. After giving it the best I could (thinking that I had failed) I passed. And the rest is history. I achieved a rank that was undisputed. I left for a few more years to pursue a life in Europe. Teaching windsurfing and skiing.

Life took me to Devon in 2022 when I had the brainwave which changed my life. Let’s start my own Martial arts club. I wanted to train again but no where offered the training I wanted. So, I planned my business and Viper Martial Arts launched on April 19^th, 2023. I had 7 students over 2 classes on the first day. As of writing this I have 44 students over 5 classes a week. Some have stayed with me from the first day. Some have just begun the journey of a thousand miles of blood, sweat and tears and an epic martial arts adventure awaits.

Thank you to everyone who ever helped me in the past. You know who you are. Now to repay the kindness with my new students.

And as for me. My 3^rd degree black belt awaits!

David Viney.