Coach John Titchen began martial arts training training in Shotokan Karate in 1991 with the English Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA) and first began teaching karate in 1993 as an assistant instructor. He now has 16 years experience of teaching in the field of martial arts and self protection. He was very lucky that his first instructor, Sensei Susie Jayasinghe, was so enthusiastic that she taught several classes a day, enabling him to get 17 hours of instruction a week in addition to his own study; a rare situation in the UK, receiving the equivalent of 3.5 years of standard karate lesson time in thirty three weeks. As a result of this firm grounding in basic karate he has always been a strong believer in daily personal training wherever and whenever possible. He gained his first Shodan (Black Belt) in Shotokan Karate with ESKA in 1995. An early experience of cross training whet his appetite for exploring Karate in greater depth and he has since trained with a wide range of leading martial artists in diverse styles in order to broaden his knowledge, cross training in Aikido in particular on a regular basis for over seven years. He has gained direct experience through seminars and classes of the following martial systems: Shotokan Karate, Aikido, Kyushu Jitsu, Wado Ryu Karate, Inayan Escrima, Judo, Ju Jitsu, Krav Maga, Protectics Karate Jutsu, Ryukyu Kempo, Tai Chi Chuan, Steelwire Mantis, Systema, Wing Chun and Ao Denkou Jitsu.

In 1999, John embarked upon a detailed study of the patterns of habitual acts of violence (HAOV) that made his training and teaching more relevant to Violent Crime. This research significantly improved the combative capability of his students, but it became clear that a realistic attack on its own lacked the psychological intensity of a real event and thus simulations were integrated into the training method. These developments resulted in the development of the Defence Attack & Resolution Tactics (DART) System from a base of Practical Karate and the Heian Flow System. Elements of coaching and psychological training have been adopted from outside the martial arts; the challenge by choice, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Fear Management techniques used in the system were developed from research and training in the field of Rope Course Development. In 2006 DART adopted the use of Blauer Tactical Systems' High Gear™ suits for scenario training to ensure that its students had the most versatile and practical protective equipment available.

In April 2007 John became a Personal Defence Readiness™ Coach with Blauer Tactical Systems (BTS) in the USA, teaching S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ Basics alongside his own syllabus in his regular classes. He subsequently became an accredited instructor with the National Federation for Personal Safety with a BTEC Level 3 Advanced Award in Physical Restraint Practice and a BTEC Level 3 Advanced Award in the Coaching and Instruction in Physical Restraint and the new PTLLS BTEC Level 4 award in Coaching and Instruction in Physical Restraint. In December 2008 John decided to resign his position as a Personal Defence Readiness™ Coach to focus more on the teaching of his own system.

Coach John Titchen currently holds instructor grades in five separate systems. He is respected internationally for his book Heian Flow System: Effective Karate Kata Bunkai and has taught seminars in both the UK and the USA. He is a popular regular columnist for the acclaimed Traditional Karate Magazine and Jissen, and has been interviewed by both Combat Magazine and Martial Arts Planet. In addition to his normal training routine and studies into effective technique he teaches seminars in support of his latest work, the Heian Flow System method of training - a series of drills developed to enable Karate and Tae Kwon Do practitioners to maximise the usefulness of their forms against habitual acts of violence. He continues to research and develop new psychological and physical defence strategies and coaching methods to ensure that those training with him receive the best instruction possible to make their lives safer.

Outside the martial arts John has experience in teaching at both primary, middle and secondary schools as well as at university and in the military and has Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). John is also a trainee coach with the British Canoe Union and has been both an RLSS Lifeguard, an Army qualified Obstacle Course Instructor (Garrison) and a qualified Fitness Instructor (Level II). He is currently a Qualified Weapons Instructor (WI(C)) with the RAF Voluntary Reserve Training Branch and both a RCD Low Ropes and High Ropes Confidence Course Instructor as well as being a Youth First Aid Trainer, Heartstart UK Emergency Life Support Trainer and Scenario Trainer. John is registered as a Qualified Teacher with the Institute for Learning, which is the professional body for teachers, trainers and assessors across further education (FE), including adult and community learning, emergency and public services, FE colleges, the armed services, the voluntary sector and work-based learning. In addition to this he has enhanced CRB clearance, current HSE approved First Aid at Work qualifications and up to date training in Child Protection.