Instructor Spotlight: Neil Coulter Muay Thai

We wanted to take the time to pay special thanks to our long time team member and Head Muay Thai Instructor, Neil Coulter - skilled martial artist, teacher and mentor to so many of our students, past and present - and a valued friend to us all.

An accomplished martial artist, Neil has been with us at AAMA Epping for over a decade, during which time he has grown and added to his skill sets with multiple black belts in several systems, including Muay Thai, Zen Do Kai and Eskrima, as well as being a champion WEKAF Stick Fighter.

Having trained for a long time, Neil’s experience, including his early years of training and some fights under his belt, has helped him to guide our members with a natural mentoring ability that we can all agree has always brought out the very best in his students. Neil’s dedication, professionalism, preparedness in class planning and teaching, and his high energy coaching technique have been an invaluable asset to AAMA, both on the mat as well as during the challenging transition to online classes during the lockdowns. 

Neil, at this time, has let us know he will be taking a break from martial arts to focus on other important areas of his life – and while we will all be sad to see him go for now, rest assured it’s not goodbye, as a martial artist never truly stops their journey, we just change our focus from time to time, in line with the ever-changing priorities in our lives. Someone who has trained martial arts for as long as Neil has, is what we call a “Lifer” – those of us who understand this, also know that we always find our way back to the mat to continue our training, one way or another.

Muay Thai Mondays will continue with instructor Dylan from here on, who as a highly skilled instructor, has also learnt and further grown his skill and professionalism throughout his time training with Neil. With Neil’s support and that of the AAMA Instructor team, we look ahead to more Muay Thai 1^st Degree Instructors coming through to support our students in their training.

Tonight's Muay Thai class and grading will be Neil's last night at AAMA for now. We couldn’t be more grateful to Neil for his dedication, and his contribution as a valued member of the AAMA family. Above all, we wish him well, and look forward to his return when the time is right. 



Neil, you're a legend! 💪