Reflections on 2025: What Showing Up Taught Us

As we come to the end of 2025, it feels like a good moment to pause.
Not to rush straight into the next class, next grading, next goal — but to actually look back at what this year asked of us, and what it gave back in return.

A strong start to the year

The start of 2025 seems so long ago.  We started the year with Ildiko’s stretching challenge, an area of training that we could all benefit from spending more time on. The Black Belt charity fundraisers were underway, sometimes overlapping, with Susan having to abandon and retry her challenge after the horrible weather in December. We also raised over £100 for Cancer Research with the Christmas Open Mat sessions.

Storm Éowyn pushed us to close for a night in late January, and we all had our first taste of the new government alert system on our phones.

People are at the heart of what we do and to support our younger coaches Derryn organised an amazing team building training day, which wrapped up with a McDonald’s trip and a game of ten-pin bowling.

In March, we ran our two-hour Beginners Sparring Course for anyone looking to step into sparring with a bit of structure and support.  These are great sessions and we really should run more of these.

A difficult choice to make. Or was it?

At Fife Kickboxing Club, the safety and well-being of our young athletes is our highest priority.

News of the death of Alex Eastwood, a 15-year-old kickboxer, and the ongoing inquest led me down a rabbit hole of articles, podcasts, academic studies, and courses related to brain injury. My good friend and fellow martial arts club owner, Nick Smith, was on a parallel path, though in a much more structured way, as he finalised his fourth-year degree in Sports Coaching with a final project focused on this topic.

Absorbing all of this information took some time, but the final decision felt unavoidable. At the end of March, I implemented a rule of no intentional head contact for anyone aged 17 and under.

Time will tell whether this decision is proven right or not. I’m pleased that we chose to err on the side of caution.

Our biggest year ever for Black Belts

“The belt only covers two inches of your waist – the rest is up to you.” – Royce Gracie

As the club has grown, so has our group of senior belts and Black Belts. There are now two opportunities to grade to Black Belt each year. In March, we had Jamie, Chris, Susan, and Jan. Later in September, Vickie, Chelsea, Graham, Donald, Aidan, and Rory completed their gradings.

It’s an incredible privilege to watch people achieve a long-held goal. Grading to Black Belt takes time, commitment, and patience. For some, earning their Black Belt is enough in itself. My hope has always been that the work required to become a Black Belt shows that you can achieve whatever you want in life if you break it down into manageable steps and take consistent action over time.

Martial artists are amazing people. What I hope we offer is more than classes on a timetable. It’s a shared culture built on respect, discipline, and encouragement, with the optimism and belief that if we keep turning up, we can get a little better every single day.

New beginnings…

Sensei Derryn decided it was time to move on to a new career in social care and to commit to a relationship that took her away from Dunfermline. After three years at the club, it was difficult to see her go, but I’m incredibly proud of her for growing and exploring new paths.

Andy joined the team in September and has brought a calm, steady energy to the office. On the mats, he’s been teaching with us for years. Off the mats, he’s settled into his sales superhero role as our new Service Manager, making sure every member gets the best possible service and support.

Sparring, squads, and competitions

We ran two fantastic in-house kids’ competitions this year, and I hope we created a positive experience for every student who took part. To all the kids who stepped onto the mats: thank you. You showed heart, courage, and great sportsmanship. You gave it your all, and that’s what matters.

We get better at the things we do often, and we tend to do more of what we love. Train lots, have fun, and you’ll be amazing sooner than you think.

The Fight Team attended four competitions this year: three WKA events and one WKC (now WKU) competition. Across the year, the team earned 7 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals, a total of 36 podium appearances. While our attendance wasn’t prolific, it’s been great to see new faces turning up to sparring classes, squad training, and competitions.

Just keep swimming…

2025 started with big ideas and high expectations for the club. The first six months went well, but life has a way of throwing curve balls. Circumstances forced us to re-evaluate, focus on the basics, and keep things simple.

The end of the year was particularly challenging due to personal circumstances. I became a carer for my parents as their health declined. Dad passed away in early October, and my mum needed significant support. I’m grateful for the time I had with them, but it took a toll on me personally and on running the club.

There were days when I wasn’t sure I had the strength to cope. I kept coming back to an Arthur Ashe quote: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

I want to thank Vickie, Andy, Katy, Emma, Jake, and Ildiko for holding together the back office and customer service. I’m incredibly grateful for this team, and it’s a testament to them that most of the club didn’t even notice how much time I had to spend away.

A tough exterior with a heart of gold

I’m especially proud of the work the club and its students have done this year. From Black Belt charity projects and volunteer hours to the New-to-You Swap Shop and the Christmas Gift Appeal, we’ve done some genuinely meaningful work together.

The ten Black Belt candidates raised an incredible £6,907 and donated over 80 hours of volunteer service to causes close to their hearts.

Even as the year closes, many of you are still supporting good causes through donations at open mat sessions. Thank you for your generosity. You should all be proud of what you’ve contributed.

Consistency over motivation

One of the strongest themes for me this year was consistency. Take tiny steps, even when you don’t feel like it. Motivation comes and goes, but consistency carries you through.

I failed to pass a Black Belt fitness test this year and then made a bigger deal than I should have about training for a comeback that didn’t happen. First, my health started to struggle. Then I got into my own head. I should have retested by early summer, but that didn’t happen, and the rest of the year was focused on supporting my family.

I’m not happy with how it worked out, but I am proud that I prioritised what mattered most and adjusted my goals accordingly. The fitness test is still there, and I’m starting to feel ready to work towards it again.

Some weeks you won’t feel like training. It’ll feel too hard, or you’ll feel too tired. I’ve never regretted a training session after the fact. Sitting still and overthinking is rarely the solution. Movement is healing, and it always lifts my mood. Missing a session isn’t failure. Quitting altogether is.

What 2025 taught me

Life will throw you curve balls. Focus on what you can control and try not to overthink the rest. Action creates clarity, and it’s okay to change direction.

Progress is built quietly, over time, by people who keep showing up.  That’s true in kickboxing and it’s true off the mats as well.  You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep going.

I’m proud of the community we’re building, not just in numbers, but in attitude. Proud of the people who started nervous and stayed. Proud of those who trained through busy weeks and low-energy days. Proud of everyone who made space for their own growth.

Looking ahead

As we move into the next year, our direction doesn’t change. It simplifies and sharpens.

We’ve created opportunities for mixed adult training on Saturday mornings, and we’re introducing a Thursday mixed adults class in January. We also plan to develop an online learning platform with materials to support members throughout their martial arts journey.

We’ll continue to focus on solid fundamentals and the benefits of consistent training in a supportive, no-ego environment. Supporting our coaches and members remains a priority.

Economic pressures remain a reality. Inflation and another minimum wage increase mean we’ll need to review pricing in April to ensure the long-term sustainability of the club.

Thank you to the on-mat coaching staff for your energy and commitment. Our coaching team has grown so much that I’m almost afraid to name everyone in case I miss someone. I recently heard the maxim “Learn it. Live it. Teach it.” Teaching doesn’t just help students grow; it deepens your own understanding as well.

Thank you for being part of Fife Kickboxing in 2025. May 2026 bring you good health, vitality, and joy. May you achieve your goals and continue to grow into the best version of yourself.

And from the wisdom of old Scotland: Lang may yer lum reek. A warm blessing for a long, happy life filled with purpose and prosperity.  Here’s to us. I’m looking forward to what comes next, together.