Instructor Maxime Chouinard

Maxime Chouinard is the head instructor of Kingston Irish Fighting Arts, and also the director of Antrim Bata, an association which teaches and promotes the practice of Irish Stick Fighting.

Maxime began martial arts in 1997, and has practiced a wide variety of styles such as Kyokushin Karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Krav Maga, Kenjutsu and Historical Fencing, as well as dabbling in many others.

In 2004, Maxime began researching Historical European Martial Arts, and became mostly interested in 19th century western Martial Arts. He regularly researches the history of these arts, and publishes some of his findings on his blog: I don't do longsword. He is also regularly invited to teach at International events.

In 2007, while in Ireland, he came to learn Irish Stick Fighting, and since then seeks to preserve the style and teach the fighting skills which would have been known in Ireland and abroad at the time.

Maxime also heads Kingston Niten Kai, a study group of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, the Japanese swordsmanship style of Miyamoto Musashi.