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When Sebastian Bates was 20, he spotted an opportunity that has since changed the lives of 22,000+ children across two continents. Martial arts enthusiast, Sebastian was running a club in a run-down gym in a small village near Bath, England, he realised the incredible power at the intersection of martial arts and character development. Watching teenagers, many from challenging backgrounds, grow in confidence and start to lead more positive and fulfilling lives, he decided to start something focussing on developing the character of young people, and Warrior Academy was born.
We mentor members based on our unique four-step ‘Warrior Method’ Community, Inspire, Challenge and Lead, and continually assess every child against our three Cs: Confidence, Conduct and Concentration throughout an eight year, black belt journey that guides them from childhood to adulthood. We run workshops for hundreds of parents too. Every member has access to WarriorNet, a huge online learning resource with more than 700 martial arts and character development tutorials its members can access at home. WarriorNet is now believed to be the largest online martial arts and character development learning platform in the world.
A measurable impact on young lives
Information collected across 65,000 data points, 1,600 parents and across two continents shows that within two years of starting our programme, 82% say their child is more confident, and 49% say they’re concentrating better. A number of our members go on to become Warrior Academy instructors when they turn 16, we fund and train them, offer a competitive salary, and for those who wish to embark on an exciting career in Dubai, a tailored mentorship and relocation package.
“When both of our children were younger they were bullied. The Warrior Academy has given them the tools to be able to deal with that, and it’s developed us as a family.”
Brian Dymond
“Lois’s sister was terminally ill and when she died, the Warrior Academy gave her a safe haven - a special place where she could feel confident, forget about the troubles at home and just be a kid. Thank you.”
Louise Dicks
Impactful partnerships
In the UK, we partner with the children's hospice Julia’s House, giving scholarships to the siblings of those who are terminally ill, and as a member of the Armed Forces Covenant we support the children of military families with scholarships and discounts to help them settle into new communities. So far, we’ve sponsored almost 100 members. We’ve also had a positive impact on more than 150,000 lives through our charitable donations.
The Warrior Academy is the only martial arts community to partner with the GB Olympic Taekwondo Team and we provide an exciting career for these athletes as Warrior Academy instructors.
Team GB Taekwondo athlete and instructor, Joel Walsh:
“Seeing how much of an impact I can have on a person's life is incredible - the improvements they make and the impact that can have on their family and their extended circle.”
A fast-growing global impact
We operate across two full-time academies, one in the UK and one in Dubai, as well as more than 80 schools and clubs across both continents. In just two years, we’ve become the biggest martial arts organisation in the UAE, with almost 1,000 students attending classes every week. Under Sebastian’s leadership, we have big plans for the future too; by 2025 we’re on track to more than double membership, have eight further academies across the Gulf region, set up a Global Youth Development Scholarship Programme offering free scholarships to children in developing countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and India. By 2025, our goal is to have a Scholarship Academy in every continent. Founder Sebastian is also a prolific anti-bullying campaigner and best-selling author of two books, ‘The Warrior Method’ and ‘Not A Victim’, to help parents grow their child’s resilience and give them a black belt mindset for life.
Nomination Title: Sebastian Bates
