16/12/2025
Just over a month ago, I had the distinct honour of promoting Stephen Robinson to purple belt BJJ - this is a particularly important promotion for me and the club, as Ronin Grappling would not exist were it not for Steve.
Steve is the man who brought me back into martial arts after a some time away. I'd become pretty scunnered after 15 years of training, and hadn't trained in a while; that all changed when I came to Mearns Castle Martial Arts in 2007.
From the very moment I walked in, Steve made me feel welcome and invested a lot of time in me (probably because I was never particularly bright). I didn't know what he saw in me but I will always be thankful that he took me under his wing, guiding me and occasionally smacking some sense into me (figuratively speaking)!
I could have grown up so differently if it wasn’t for Steve, and him setting me on my path. I took a lot of cues from him, and as an open, welcoming, understanding man who doesn't tolerate bu****it, I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.
Steve and I have travelled all over to various countries, trained with many different coaches, in constant pursuit of knowledge. Steve is a life-long student and relentlessly pursues greater understanding of the martial arts; he has no qualms about being a white belt again. That's not to mention his many, many years of competing in kickboxing, Muay Thai and BJJ. In an industry full of McDojos, paper tigers and con-artists, Steve has never stopped putting in the hard work and has never shied away from testing himself - as Steve has always said "Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick".
Steve had been a blue belt for a long time, and had taken nearly a decade away from Jiu Jitsu to focus on other arts, so I was honoured when he chose to start training BJJ again at Ronin Grappling - it didn't take long for him to pick up where he left off, and that same drive for knowledge and understanding has led to him flourishing.
I'm glad that I finally have a chance to repay him for all that he's done for me. It's a privilege to be able to train with the man who helped shape me and change my life for the better.
Your purple belt is well and truly earned, my friend.
