As we come to the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has been part of Kuk Sool Won Glasgow in 2025. It has been a busy and hugely rewarding year, and one that feels worth pausing to reflect on before we head into a well earned Christmas break. Our last class of the year is tonight (24th Decemeber) and we are back on Monday 5th January.

A Big Year of Tournaments

This year we attended four tournaments across the UK and Europe. We kicked things off at the Scottish Tournament in May, followed by the European Tournament in Norwich in June. In October we travelled to the Netherlands, and we finished the year at the UK Tournament in Liverpool in November.

Across those events there were some great highlights. I was fortunate enough to win my first two Grand Champion titles at 4th Dahn, back to back at the Netherlands and UK tournaments. More importantly though, it was great to see our students stepping up and having their own special moments.

Sally won her first ever gold medal in November, which was brilliant to see and very well deserved after the work she has put in. Apoorva and Sarah Shelton had perfect results at the Scottish tournament, winning gold in every division they entered. Apoorva also retained our club trophy for the most points won across all tournaments this year, a fantastic achievement and a reflection of her consistent effort across multiple years.

We also finished 9th place overall at the UK Tournament with a group of just seven competitors. It is an amazing achievement and a real reflection of the steady progress you have all been making together over the years.

Black Belt Promotions

The Scottish Tournament in May was also a special one for promotions. Valerie and Apoorva were promoted to JKN, Heather was promoted to KSN, and my wife Sarah was promoted to PSBN. Promotions are always meaningful moments, and it was great to see their hard work recognised with new ranks. You can read more about that event here: Tournaments, Triumphs & Four Female Black Belt Promotions

Kuk Sool Won and a Bit of Travel

The Netherlands tournament was a highlight for more than just competition. It gave us the chance to mix Kuk Sool Won with a trip away. We explored Rotterdam, ate extremely well, and spent time with friends in Amsterdam after the tournament. Those shared experiences outside the dojang are a big part of what makes the Kuk Sool community what it is.

Running, Learning, and Being a Beginner Again

Outside of Kuk Sool Won, myself and four other members of the club completed the Great Scottish Run half marathon. Peter, Gordon, Cal, Steve, and I all crossed the finish line, which felt like a proper shared win.

I spent ten weeks focused on running in a way I never had before. It was refreshing to be a beginner again, to apply my theoretical knowledge of aerobic training to myself, and to see how far I could push it. The experience expanded my training experience massively, and I ended up running a time of 1 hour 35 and a half minutes, which I was really happy with.

Chase Progress, Not Perfection

This year, for me personally, was a mix of setting clear challenges and goals, and then learning to stay level headed when things did not go exactly to plan. While I managed to meet and exceed some expectations, particularly with tournament results and running, I also had my fair share of setbacks.

At the start of the year I set the goal of achieving full splits by Christmas. I have failed quite spectacularly. That said, I have made noticeable progress. I am significantly more flexible than I was at the beginning of the year, and that feels like the more important lesson. Progress matters more than perfection.

This is something I will be taking forward into next year, and if any of you are struggling with your own goals, remember that life doesn’t always go to plan and not to compare yourself to others. Just pick something to work on and see what consistent effort can achieve.

Thank You

None of this happens without the people who turn up week after week, support each other, and put the work in. KSW Glasgow is an amazing group of individuals, and I am proud to call myself your instructor. I am always trying to give you the best experience possible on your martial arts journey, and I love seeing you all progress, whether that is through tournament results or the small, incremental improvements that happen quietly in class.

I am excited to see what we can build together in the new year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I hope you all have a great break with friends and family.