Tom started training at Richmond with Sensei Tony in 1978 until 1984. He moved out Surrey and continued back and forth to Richmond and trained with Shihan Stuart. In 1986, the Newton Club was opened. He has been training now for 22 years and has had the chance to travel to many places for tournaments and training camps.

Dawn-Leah started training at Sea Island with Sensei Tony Severs in 1989, and continued to train there for 10 years. She has attended many CKKO training camps and Black Belt camps / conferences. She has also travelled to and trained in Japan and Hawaii on different occasions. After moving out to North Delta, she has been training and instructing with Sensei Tom Gillam at the Newton dojo since September 1999. She has received her Nidan on August 4th 2002.