Uniformed Hero nominee – Jon Norbury

Uniformed Hero nominee – Jon Norbury

Paramedic Jon Norbury dedicates his free time to coaching people in self-defence and martial arts, including children who are competing at a national level.

The 43-year-old, who works for West Midlands Ambulance Service, is a medal-winner himself, most recently picking up a gold at the WCJJO Ju Jitsu World Championships.

Jon, from Kingsley, has been a paramedic for more than 11 years but has been teaching martial arts for around 27 years.

He’s been nominated as a Uniformed Hero in the Your Heroes Awards by Tara Louise Burndred, who coaches alongside Jon at the Tatsu Dojo.

She said: “Jon is a full time paramedic and yet still finds time to help run the Tatsu Dojo and coach children in self-defence and British Judo.

“We have children competing at national level and competing in British Judo throughout the UK.

“He is a great member of the team and we would really struggle without him. An award like this would mean so much from all the members of the coaching team.”

Jon said: “I’m really surprised to have been nominated for a Your Heroes Award. I don’t do it for recognition. I do this for the love of it, but it’s nice to know that it’s appreciated.”

He added: “I’ve been involved with various different martial arts since the age of four. I basically got thrown into it as my dad was teaching judo from before I was born.

“I gradually started going to different clubs and doing different things. Over the years I’ve done many different things related to martial arts including two years running a training programme for Surrey Police.”