10/02/2025
TO ALL MEMBERS OF BOURNE MMA CLUB, PAST AND PRESENT.
It is with mixed emotions of sadness and relief that I have taken the decision to step away from Mixed Martial Arts and close the club with immediate effect.
Post Covid we saw a huge decrease in attendance numbers and in the time since lockdowns ended we have seen more and more classes with little to no attendance. While new attendees have come through from time to time, retaining new members has proven to be a struggle.
As a result of the low numbers and the uncertainty surrounding whether or not I’ll be able to run the class, I have lost my passion for the sport and it’s unlikely that this is something that will return to me. The loss of my Sundays is also a driving factor in my decision to close and I have to free up the time to pursue other aspects of my life.
We have had good times as a club, we’ve achieved some great things and I’ve gained some of my most valuable friendships through training, with Craig Lyons even being my best man.
Some fine young people have also come through our doors, some have left us to pursue higher education and Adam and Oliver (who I can't seem to tag) have gone on to military careers and continue to perform admirably. I’d like to hope that their participation in this club at least helped to instil some of the discipline and work ethic that their chosen vocation requires.
So, this is the end of the road for us. If anyone would like to continue their training in one or more disciplines then I would be more than happy to make recommendations for clubs to attend.
Thank you to everyone who has graced us with your presence over the years and best of luck as you continue to grow as people and as martial artists.
