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As parents, you always know when something isn't quite right with your child. For us, it was watching Reuben come home from school quieter than he should have been, carrying something no child should have to carry at that age.

We were fortunate in one way. Reuben has always been open with us and willing to talk. But knowing what was happening and knowing how to address it were two very different things.

What we wanted was something that would give Reuben lasting confidence. His own strength. His own ability to deal with challenges without fear. That is why we introduced him to jiu-jitsu.

After trying another club that didn't feel like the right fit, we found Dream Art Bradford. From the moment Reuben walked through the door, the environment felt welcoming and supportive. Craig and the coaching team took the time to build his confidence and help him settle in.

Month by month, we started to see a change. Reuben began to grow in confidence and eventually decided he wanted to compete. Since then, we have travelled across the country watching him compete at events. Watching him stand on the podium with a gold medal around his neck is something very special, but even in the losses, we are immensely proud of him because it takes real courage just to step onto the mat.

What has impressed us most is not the medals. It is the resilience. Reuben has had setbacks, including injuries that kept him off the mat, but each time he has come back stronger with the support of the coaches around him.

My son struggled throughout Primary School due to bullying and a lack of understanding from some teachers.

His challenges began from birth. He suffered a pneumothorax and spent his first ten days in the Special Care Baby Unit, requiring machines to help him breathe and emergency treatment for a chest drain. He also suffered from jaundice. From the very beginning, we knew he was a fighter.

As he grew, he experienced physical difficulties including weak limbs and tight gastrocnemius muscles, which required him to wear leg splints every night. He suffered multiple ankle fractures and frequent illnesses affecting his lungs. These ongoing health challenges, combined with school difficulties, led to significant anxiety. By the age of ten, his mental health had deteriorated to the point that he required home tutoring for an extended period.

At the age of twelve, we took him to try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. At first he observed rather than participated. However, within a year he decided to commit to training. That decision marked a turning point.

Over the past five years, he has competed in numerous tournaments, earning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. More importantly than the medals, the sport has transformed his confidence. Jiu Jitsu gave him structure, discipline and belief in his own ability. It strengthened him physically and mentally.

His legs, once weak and prone to injury, are now strong. He rarely becomes ill and his anxiety is significantly reduced. He has also gone on to compete successfully in MMA, something we never imagined would be possible during his early health struggles.

This transformation is not solely down to resilience, but also to the environment created by his coaches. In particular, Craig has played a pivotal role through regular conversations, guidance and teaching coping strategies. He has learned how to manage anxiety, especially before competitions, and how to channel nerves into focus.

I started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Dream Art when I was young, and it has played a huge role in shaping who I am today.

Before I started, I was fairly quiet and lacked confidence in myself. Jiu Jitsu gave me something challenging and structured to focus on. Over time, it taught me resilience, discipline and how to stay calm under pressure.

Training regularly meant I was constantly put in difficult situations on the mats. You get stuck. You lose. You feel uncomfortable. But you learn to stay composed, think clearly and work your way out. That mindset gradually transferred into other areas of my life.

As I moved into secondary school and started my GCSEs and A levels, I realised just how much Jiu Jitsu had helped me manage stress. Exam periods can feel overwhelming, but because of training and competing, I was used to handling pressure. I learned to control my breathing, focus on what I could control and approach challenges one step at a time. That helped me stay calm and perform better academically.

Competing also taught me how to deal with setbacks. Losing a match is tough, especially when you have trained hard. But Jiu Jitsu teaches you to reflect, improve and come back stronger. That resilience helped me not only in sport but in school and personal life too.

Through the club I also became involved in refereeing and helping out at competitions. That gave me leadership skills and confidence in communicating with others. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in a positive way.

Outside of Jiu Jitsu, I completed my Duke of Edinburgh Award, something that required commitment, organisation and perseverance. The discipline I developed through training made it much easier to commit to those challenges and follow them through.

Training at Dream Art has always felt like being part of a family. The support from the coaches and teammates created an environment where I felt encouraged to grow. It was never just about medals. It was about development.

I truly believe that giving other young people the opportunity to train could have the same kind of positive impact on their lives that it has had on mine.

My son Mohammed Taha has been part of Dream Art Bradford for the past four years, and we have enjoyed every stage of the journey.

When Taha first walked into the gym at seven years old, he was timid and unsure of himself. It was common for him to make excuses to avoid stepping onto the mats, and training did not come naturally at the start.

Over time that began to change. With encouragement from the coaches and support from his teammates, Taha slowly grew more comfortable in the environment. What once felt intimidating gradually became something he looked forward to.

Four years later, Jiu Jitsu has become part of his daily routine and identity. The consistency of training has helped build his confidence and resilience.

Through the club we have travelled both nationally and internationally for competitions, creating experiences and memories we will always treasure. While competition nerves still appear from time to time, Taha's bedroom is now filled with medals that represent not only victories, but perseverance and personal growth.

Perhaps most importantly, he now feels part of something meaningful. He has a fantastic group of teammates around him and positive adult role models guiding him.

Before Evan started jiu-jitsu, he was a shy and quiet child. He was content doing his own thing and rarely interacted outside his small circle. Confidence did not come naturally to him.

Evan joined Dream Art Bradford when he was around eight or nine years old. From early on, he developed a strong connection to the discipline, structure and challenge of the sport. What truly shaped him, though, was the club's culture and the mentorship he received from Craig, Sam, and the wider coaching team.

Craig's coaching approach had a lasting impact. Rather than over-instructing, he offered small, focused cues and then gave Evan time to reflect and apply them independently. This built accountability, patience and self-analysis.

Over time, the lessons Evan learned on the mats carried over into everyday life: resilience, discipline, work ethic, and emotional control. With their support, Evan completed an extracurricular online course in Sports Science, earning a diploma qualification while continuing to train and compete.

Through jiu-jitsu, Evan became dedicated, driven, and self-disciplined. That foundation helped Evan earn a five-year sports visa to the United States, where he is now pursuing opportunities in jiu-jitsu.