The Blog

5 GOLD • 2 SILVER • 4 BRONZE

What a day! 🔥

Yesterday, eight Champions Martial Arts Faringdon competitors stepped onto the mats at the ICO Oxford Champions Open - and what followed was a full day of non-stop fighting, nerves, determination, excitement, emotion and some seriously proud moments.

Between them, our team brought home an incredible 5 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals! 🥇🥈🥉

But as always, the medals only tell part of the story…

First onto the mats was Coran, competing in the Light Continuous Novice category.

This was Coran’s first ever tournament and as he was in the novice category he was against opponents with a few fights under their belt! You could see some slight nerves as he stepped onto the mat. But he held his own brilliantly, showing real courage and determination against a tough opponent.

Then came a particularly special matchup…

Coran found himself facing our own Jonathan. Having sparred together back at the dojo, it was fantastic to see the two of them step onto the competition mat together, show each other the utmost respect and then give it absolutely everything.

Jonathan secured the win and stayed on to face another tough opponent - securing a second victory and finishing top of the category! 🥇

A fantastic performance from both men and a brilliant example of the respect and sportsmanship we want to see from our Champions.

Next up was young Mason moving up into the novice division in his Light Continuous category.

Mason secured a win in his first fight before taking a hard blow in his second. He showed great determination and stuck it out, but on this occasion he couldn’t bring the fight back.

There was no time to dwell on it, though, as Mason went straight into his Points category - still struggling a little from that tough previous fight.

His opponents got the better of him this time, but that’s exactly what competition is about. There is now plenty for Mason and the coaching team, to take back to the dojo, work on and come back stronger with. 💪

Jake stepped onto the mats for his very first tournament and took on a bunch of tough opponents.

When his original category had no entries, Jake bravely stepped up into the Novice category - a big ask for a first competition.

He lost his opening fight against a technically strong opponent, but came back brilliantly in his second, dominating his opponent and securing the win.

By the time his third fight came around, the energy was understandably starting to fade after a long day of fighting. He narrowly missed out on another win, but what an experience for Jake.

Three fights, a new category, a first tournament and plenty of lessons to take away. 👊

Our youngest competitor, Violet, had a very busy category and this was also her first time competing.

She narrowly missed out on the win in her opening fight against a competitor who would go on to dominate the category.

But Violet bounced back and secured a win of her own, giving her confidence a huge boost. After another tough fight, she won her final bout to finish the day on a high!

What a way to finish her first tournament - and what a well deserved silver medal! 🥈❤️

Logan had a busy day too, beginning with Just Blitz - perhaps not his favourite category, given that he much prefers to use those legs! 😂

He lost out in both bouts, but there was plenty to learn and plenty to work on back at the dojo.

Then Logan was back on the mats for Points and WHAT a matchup! Against a tough opponent, the fight ended in a draw and went into extra time…Still a draw after extra time! So it came down to first point wins……and Logan did exactly that! 🔥

A brilliant finish and a fantastic example of staying composed when the pressure is on.

Then came Ethan, stepping onto the mats against an opponent from a very well-known and highly regarded club. And Ethan absolutely dominated.

This was Ethan’s first tournament in the Novice category, and he performed brilliantly from start to finish, showing confidence, skill and composure.

And it wasn’t just his performance on the mat that impressed us.

Ethan showed fantastic respect towards his opponent on the podium too - representing himself, his family and Champions Martial Arts Faringdon exactly as we would hope.

A fantastic performance and a very well-deserved gold medal! 🥇👏

Jonathan wasn’t finished yet! Back onto the mats he went for Kick Light, where he was able to showcase those kicking skills and made light work of another tough opponent.

Another win added to his already very successful day! 🥇

And finally, Kajus stepped onto the mats for Champions’ final fight of the day.

Having moved up an age bracket, Kajus faced an opponent he had competed against before and had previously beaten.

There was no room for complacency, though, as he stepped back onto the mats ready to do it all over again.

Kajus’s skills shone through once again and he made light work of his opponent, bringing Champions’ competition day to a fantastic close with another gold medal! 🥇🔥

A brilliant way to finish a long and hugely successful day for the team!

🏆 WHAT A DAY FOR CHAMPIONS!

Eight competitors. Fight after fight. Nerves. Big wins. Tough losses. Extra time. First tournaments. New categories. New experiences. And a LOT of medals!

5 GOLD 🥇

2 SILVER 🥈

4 BRONZE 🥉

But we’re just as proud of the courage shown by those who won as we are of those who didn’t.

Every single one of our competitors stepped onto those mats, faced whatever was put in front of them and gave it their best. That’s what being a Champion is about.

And for those who didn’t get the result they wanted this time - we’ve got plenty to learn, plenty to work on and plenty of reasons to get back into the dojo and keep pushing. 

A huge well done to Coran, Jonathan, Mason, Jake, Violet, Logan, Ethan and Kajus. ❤️

You represented Champions Martial Arts Faringdon brilliantly - both on and off the mats.

We couldn’t be prouder of every one of you.

And to the families, coaches and supporters who were there cheering, encouraging, helping and keeping everyone going through a very long day of non-stop fighting - thank you! 

It was tiring, exciting, emotional, nerve-wracking, brilliant… and something to be incredibly proud of.

Making Champions in Life 💛

We were proud to host an incredible seminar at Champions Martial Arts, welcoming former world champion Robin “The Reaper” Reid for a truly unforgettable afternoon of learning, inspiration and community spirit.

The dojo was packed with both members and non-members, all eager to train, learn, and experience something special. The atmosphere from the very start was electric .

👊 High-Level Training & Expert Insight

The session began with 1.5 hours of hands-on training, where Rob shared his knowledge, experience and techniques from years at the very top of the sport.

From boxing combinations and movement to fight strategy, attendees were given a rare opportunity to learn directly from a world-class athlete. Rob’s coaching style was engaging, practical and accessible - ensuring everyone, regardless of experience level or age could take something valuable away.

Joining Rob was Paolo Lucci, a qualified England boxing judge, professional timekeeper and MC, who brought additional insight and professionalism to the event.

🎤 Q&A – Stories from a Champion

Following the training, attendees were treated to a Q&A session where Rob shared stories from his life and career.

From the highs of  AAsuccess to the challenges faced along the way, it was an honest, inspiring look into what it takes to compete at the highest level. His openness and authenticity left a lasting impression on everyone in the room.

📸 Photos, Face-Offs & Fun

After the Q&A, the afternoon continued with plenty of opportunities for photos - including face-off pictures with Rob and shots with his belts.

There was a fantastic buzz around the dojo, with smiles, laughter and memories being made. Moments like these are what make events like this so special.

✍️ Signed Memorabilia

To round off the afternoon, Rob kindly took the time to sign merchandise, including gloves, photos, boots, bottles and more. It was the perfect ending to an already unforgettable experience.

🙏 Thank You

A huge thank you to Robin “The Reaper” Reid and Paolo Lucci for delivering such a professional, inspiring and enjoyable seminar.

Thank you also to everyone who attended and supported the event - your energy and enthusiasm made the event what it was.

🌟 More Than Just Training

Events like this go beyond technique - they inspire, motivate and bring people together. At Champions Martial Arts, we are proud to create opportunities like this for our members and the wider community.

👻  We enjoyed a spooky celebration for our Champions Halloween Spooktacular, and what an incredible evening it was! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a special community event.

There was amazing energy, laughter, teamwork and lots of Halloween fun. From our youngest Lil Champs to our adults and families, everyone got stuck into the fun.

🎃 🎃  Our sponsored Pumpkin Punch Challenge was a hit! Members pushed their limits to rack up as many punches as possible in their time slot - showing real grit, determination and champion spirit. We were blown away by the effort and enthusiasm from the participants!

🧁🍰🍪 A massive thank you to everyone who baked (and to everyone who ate the baked goods!). From cookies to cupcakes to spooky treats, it was an amazing display of generosity and community support and helped raise brilliant funds for new dojo equipment.

Throughout the evening, we enjoyed:

🧻 The Mummy Challenge
🧌 Pin the Eye on the Monster
🍬 How Many Sweets in the Cauldron?
🧟‍♂️ Zombie Obstacle Course
🎟️ Tombola

There was excitement in every corner - the perfect blend of fitness, fun and Halloween chaos!

👻👹👺🧙🧟 We were blown away by the creativity and effort from everyone who dressed up. Zombies, witches, superheroes, skeletons - we had it all! Congratulations to our Best Costume Award winner, who went home with a choccie prize.

A Massive Thank You!!!  One of the best parts of the evening was seeing families, students and supporters all together, celebrating not only Halloween, but the strength of our Champions Martial Arts community.

Thank you to:

👏🏻 Everyone who attended and supported the fundraiser
👏🏻 Our bakers and volunteers
👏🏻 Our members who smashed the Pumpkin Punch Challenge
👏🏻 Those who donated prizes and time
👏🏻 All the parents for cheering so loudly!

Events like this remind us what being part of Champions Martial Arts is all about - confidence, respect, community, friendship and fun.

Our fundraising total was a whopping £108!!! We look forward to announcing what exciting new equipment we’ll be adding to the dojo, watch this space!!

Thank you for being part of something special.

Just over a month ago, we proudly launched a brand-new initiative for our youngest martial artists - the Champions for Life programme, and it’s already proving to be a huge success!

Designed especially for our Lil Champs, this programme focuses not just on developing martial arts skills, but on helping our students grow into kind, respectful, and confident individuals both inside and outside the dojo.

Champions for Life is a year-long character development journey built around 12 key traits, including courtesy, respect, responsibility, concentration, teamwork and more.

Each month, our Lil Champs take home a special booklet that focuses on one of these traits. They fill it in with how they’ve demonstrated that trait - whether at home, at school or anywhere else!

It’s a fantastic way for our young martial artists to connect what they learn in class with how they behave in the wider world.

In September, we kicked things off with Courtesy and our Lil Champs have impressed us with their wonderful stories about helping others, using good manners and showing kindness.

This month our focus is on Concentration, an important skill both in martial arts and in life!

At the end of each topic, out Lil Champs receive a certificate to celebrate their efforts. Our very first group of Lil Champs have now earned their Courtesy certificates and the smiles on their faces say it all!

When they complete all 12 character traits over the year, they’ll receive something very special to mark their achievement and celebrate becoming true Champions for Life.

The response from both parents and children has been incredible. Our Lil Champs come into class each week buzzing with excitement to tell us what they’ve done and parents have shared how much they love seeing their children’s confidence and awareness grow.

Champions for Life is about building character, confidence, and kindness. We couldn’t be prouder of how well our young martial artists have embraced it.

The Champions Martial Arts family came together in August for our Summer Social and BBQ - and what a day it was!

From the moment the first burgers hit the grill, the atmosphere was full of laughter, smiles and the sound of kids running around (burning off some serious energy!). This event wasn’t just about food - it was about building connections and enjoying a well-earned break from the hard work we all put in on the mats.

The sun was shining (mostly) and Tucker Park was buzzing with activity. Our slip & slide and piñata were a huge hit! We were so busy having fun that we forgot to take pics! 

No summer social would be complete without a BBQ, the smell of sizzling burgers  kept everyone coming back for seconds. There was plenty of food and drinks to go around - proving once again that Champions Martial Arts is about more than just training; it’s about community.

A huge thank-you goes to everyone who helped make the Summer Social and BBQ such a success - every single person who showed up with a smile made the day special.

Champions Martial Arts isn’t just a place to train - it’s a community. Events like this remind us how strong, supportive, and inspiring our Champs family is.

What an incredible evening we had at this year’s Champions Martial Arts Annual Awards Ceremony! The Football Clubhouse was buzzing with excitement as students, parents and instructors came together to celebrate the hard work, progress and spirit that makes our community so special.

From our youngest Lil Champs to our dedicated Adults, every single student has worked so hard this year- and it was an honour to celebrate their achievements. Awards were presented across a variety of categories. Each award represented not just skill, but the perseverance, courage and dedication that define martial arts training.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when our Chief Instructor, Darren was presented with not one, but two very special awards:

Sensei of the Year, a heartfelt surprise presented by our members and coaches, along with an incredible video filled with kind words and messages of gratitude.

Group Instructor of the Year - presented by Sensei Mark Currie, recognising outstanding dedication to teaching and developing students.

We celebrated the passion and leadership that inspire us every week.

Throughout the evening, we captured so many smiles, hugs and proud moments. Seeing students step up to receive their awards, often cheered on by teammates and family. It was a reminder of what makes Champions Martial Arts so unique — we are more than a club, we are a family.

Thank you to every student, parent and supporter who came along and to those who couldn’t make it - you were missed! Your dedication and energy are what make Champions Martial Arts thrive.

Here’s to another amazing year of training, growth and unforgettable memories.

🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥉

Champions MA Faringdon have arrived! 

Thanks very much Mark Currie and SMAFO Oxford for inviting us to your spectacular event. 

What an unbelievable day at the Oxford Open Championship! Champions MA Faringdon kicked off the championship on a high note, with our first fighter aged only six, facing a tough opponent, quite evenly matched, demonstrating a competitive spirit and ultimately winning his first fight and securing himself a gold medal 🥇 
His second and third fights were in the just blitz (hands only) category, these didn’t go in his favour this time, nonetheless he secured his second medal of the day 🥉

Next up one of our Juniors, in a packed category facing five opponents in his round robin match ups, won his first fight quite comfortably, facing further tougher opponents in challenging bouts, but still displaying good sportsmanship, unfortunately just missing out on a medal by coming fourth in a very tough category. 

Next it was the fourth fight for our youngest and he truly earned the win, beating his opponent 10-0 and putting on a lovely display of skill, including a spectacular headkick🥇 

Our second Junior was up, scoring the first point of the fight against a formidable opponent, taking some tough kicks! Just missing out on the win, but gaining herself her first silver medal 🥈

Next up, showing great courage and skill Matt came up against a very skilled opponent, remaining composed he put it all out there with a commendable performance, earning a silver medal 🥈

Finally, late in the afternoon, after waiting all day, our Junior Leader displayed his prowess in the ring, showcasing strength and skill, he battled through his fight and ended the day with a win 🥇

To sum up, Champions MA have announced their arrival on the fighting scene. The excitement was outrageous and the Champions MA Faringdon family are looking forward to learning and growing together and seeing what the future holds! It was incredible to take some of our members to see the standards that can be achieved if we all continue to work hard, by watching some of the advanced fighters at the competition. 

Let's say an absolutely enormous well done to our fighters, it takes guts to even step foot on the mats! You should be immensely proud of yourselves, we certainly are proud of you all 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻