I must admit, i’ve never been part of a Martial Arts Academy before, but stepping onto the mats was a real eye-opener. You can immediately sense the palpable energy in the air, the sound of punches and kicks, you can feel the rhythmic movements of the training equipment from the ground up. Observing students of all ages push their limits and immerse themselves fully in the training sessions was inspiring and I’m surprised to say it was contagious.

I photographed over several weeks, documenting a variety of classes from age 4 upwards and in both Kickboxing and Karate classes witnessed unwavering support, motivation, resilience, self-discipline, self-confidence and a lot of laughs. Such a profound sense of empowerment and friendships built to last a lifetime.

I’ll definitely be back for more… Possibly with a pair of gloves in my hands.