About Us

 From Anxious & Self Conscious To Strong & Empowered: Our Journey

Our Martial Arts journey shared similarities with many others. 

Struggling with feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and confidence… martial arts and self-defence training served as the first step on the road to a stronger person. 

Put off by the ego-driven culture commonly found in many martial arts institutions, we sought to create a space where compassion, collaboration, and strength were at the forefront of the experience… From this StandStrong Academy was born.

Hannah created StandStrong Academy as she felt like she never quite belonged, always having to hide who she was, never able to find her voice until 2017 when all that changed.  

Martial arts gave her the confidence and resilience, to step outside her comfort zone and take responsibility to create a new life for herself. A life where she felt like she was in control. A life where she could thrive, and become the strongest, and most empowered version of herself.

Sam joined StandStrong Academy shortly after its inception. Having suffered from bullying throughout school and lacking any guidance on confidence and self-worth, the effects of this lasted into adulthood. 

Sam found martial arts as a way to write a new story instead of living in the past. When bullying surfaced in the martial arts community, he was a part of he decided that there needed to be a better way.

Now, our passion is to give this back to the community of Bristol. To help you create a life that is full of confidence. We have created an inclusive opportunity to share the tools that changed our lives, so you can become happy, strong, and safe.