In martial arts there are the moments people see.
The competitions.
The belts.
The victories.
And then there are the quieter moments.
The early mornings in the gym.
The conversations after class.
The small pieces of advice that stay with someone for years.
For many martial artists in Scotland & Beyond, those moments happened under the guidance of Rick Young.
Long before mixed martial arts became mainstream through organisations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), PFL and Cage Warriors, Rick Young was already exploring a cross-disciplinary approach to training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Kali.
Kickboxing.
Muay Thai.
Jeet Kune Do.
At a time when most martial artists stayed firmly within one system, Rick was bringing different traditions together under one roof.
But the story begins earlier.
Back in the late 1990s, in Kirkgate, Leith, where the Edinburgh Kali & Kickboxing Club became a meeting point for people interested in practical martial arts and real-world self-defence.
In those days, it was a different clientele, 2 on 1 ‘back to the wall’ scenarios, challenges (I remember a guy literally got kicked out of the fire exit! ha!)
From Ne-Waza Grappling (Inter training at the Edinburgh Judo Club) to Kali with weapons. Seminars with legends such as Dan Inosanto, Eric Paulson, Bob Breen, Mauricio Gomes, Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima to name but a few…
Then came Lorne Street,
Followed by the Foot of The Walk (above the Wetherspoons…now the Angel.)
Over the years, that small training environment would evolve into the Rick Young Academy, producing competitors, instructors and a thriving youth programme that has helped shape the lives of many of young people.
For me, this conversation is also personal.
I’ve had the privilege of training under Rick for more than twenty years, and both of my own children grew up attending classes at the academy.
Beyond the techniques of martial arts, they learned something deeper:
Respect.
Discipline.
Confidence.
My son, now in his twenties, still remembers simple pieces of advice Rick would give the younger students.
“Make your bed.”
“Be on time.”
“Thank your parents or guardians for bringing you to class.”
“Take responsibility for yourself.”
Small lessons perhaps.
But powerful ones.
In this conversation we reflect on the early days of martial arts in Edinburgh, the evolution of the academy, his philosophy behind coaching, and what decades of training can teach us about pressure, humility and personal growth.
We also explore the deeper elements of martial arts.
Lineage
Community.
Family.
And the moments that stay with us long after we step off the mats.
Because sometimes the most important lessons in martial arts aren’t about fighting at all.
They’re about how we live.
(Stay tuned for part 2!!)
