7 years ago I found the courage to leave my 10 year mental, physical and emotional abusive relationship. So at almost 28 I found myself no longer a teenager but a woman, back at my mothers house beaten down with a broken soul and no idea of how to function as an adult.

6 years ago I moved to the Gold Coast for a fresh start.

5 years ago still traumatized from my past Arakan found me.
From my very first lesson I was hooked, it was exactly what I'd been searching for to rebuild myself mentally, spiritually and physically.

Little did I know at the time what it would actually do for my life. The amazing instructors pushed me to places sometimes (ok most of the time lol) I really didnt want to go or ever thought I could. Through much cursing, thousands of tears, sooo many frustrating moments and pushing myself to physical places my brain couldn't comprehend I could go.

The unexpected journey that Arakan has taken me on is beyond anything I ever imagined when I started, from the awesome seminars held through out the club which are absolutely amazing, to my own personal journey.

On the 29th of March I faced my hardest challenge, my first grading, my yellow belt grading.

In the months leading in I went through every emotion, pushed through barriers at the time didn't think I could get through and even visited some dark places I thought were gone.

On the day I was in the zone ready for the toughest fight of my life, after a physically and mentally exhausting hour being pushed harder than ever before and having to rely solely on myself I passed I stood on the other side with a sense of accomplishment I'd not really felt and a little disbelief that I had actually just done it.

What I've achieved and how far I've come in 5 years I'm super excited to see where the Arakan road takes me and where I'll be standing 5 years from now.

I'm being quite honest about my journey cause domestic violence isn't talked about enough and to show others that you can heal and rebuild a better life. Its a real privilege to be apart of such a positive culture and Arakan has changed my life beyond words.

My amazing instructor Pat has been there from the beginning and believed in me even at the times I didn't believe in myself for which I'll be forever grateful. So thank you to all involved in this amazing club :)

Ali Jones