For anyone who knew me when I really was a "little one", you may remember a quiet, definitely non-threatening kid. It was only a matter of time before my parents pushed me to follow my brother into the local dojo...Fast-forward 10 years and I'm still the same height – but shouting, punching and kicking my way through life with a sense of determination and self-belief that I could never have imagined. I attribute so much of this to the kindness & encouragement of my instructors, as well as karate training itself. Learning a martial art is hard work but the more hours you put in, the more you pick up on the details and the more you push your physical and mental limits; the faster you reap the rewards. You move quicker, you strike harder and you hold yourself a little higher knowing that it was in you all along! And when it works on the mat, that kind of perseverance endures outside the dojo as well.

However, there are young girls around the world who aren’t regularly exposed to the same attitudes of optimism, fierceness and ambition that I have been so lucky to. With this in mind, I am thrilled to be joining FairFight – a charity that recognises the power of martial arts in self-development and female empowerment – as an assistant instructor on their return to Zimbabwe in January 2017! While just over a year old, FairFight has already created 3 sustainable martial arts projects in Zimbabwe and India, facilitating the delivery of training by local qualified instructors and helping in the organisation of gradings and competitions to enrich the students’ experience.

I’ve set up this page with the goal of raising enough money to cover flights and accommodation, but also to set aside at least £250 to buy new equipment for the dojo including gis, gloves and gumshields. With only 3 months to go, I’ll be updating this page with my fundraising attempts at uni, but please also follow the FairFight Facebook page or visit their website to see the amazing work they do!