Along with Si-Je Anna, Si-Je Evelyn and Si-Je Sophie, I was delighted to be part of the all female instructor team for our Womens Self Defence course on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2026. The course aims were to empower women and equip participants with the skills and confidence to assess potential threats and effectively handle unwanted contact should the need arise. It is never about blaming the victim. In an ideal world we could go wherever we like, at any time of day or night, oblivious to our surroundings. Sadly, we all know that the reality can be very different, so it is important to develop skills to help us stay as safe as we can while out and about, at home or whilst driving in the car.

Let’s be honest, if you’ve ever watched a Kung Fu class from the sidelines, forms can look a bit…repetitive. A group of students moving through the same sequences every week. No sparring. No dramatic takedowns. Just patterns. So it’s a fair question: Why do we spend so much time on them?

With 2026 well underway, it’s tempting to rush straight into what’s next, be it big new plans, dreams for the future, and everything else! But before turning the page, it feels important to take a look back.