WOMEN ON THE MATS

Hi my name is Madison. 

I’m a competitor, a coach, a student, a caffeine addict, a proud representative of Fightworx Academy and if you ask anyone at the gym- someone who has built her entire adult life around rolling around on the floor and coffee (more to come on that later😅)

I actually started martial arts for one very serious, very logical reason:

I thought WWE looked cool, I was hooked and I fully intended to grow up to be a pro wrestler. 

And in order to achieve that goal, Fightworx was sold to me as it was the nearest ‘WWE’ gym to me at the time. So at 13, I started MMA, and wandered into the world of Muay Thai and BJJ- there were no steel chairs and dramatic ring entrances but from the very first session I was HOOKED

From 13 to 18 I trained religiously. I had two Muay Thai fights, competed regularly in junior Jiu Jitsu competitions winning Nationals and Europeans. Then university happened… and Covid happened… and suddenly four years went by without training.

After graduating, I returned to Fightworx “just to get fit again.” One class a week. Nothing too serious. I even had a job lined up in London and was definitely going to move.

But week after week I found myself pushing the start date back… and by this point I was training EVERY DAY, 2/3 times a day… until eventually I realised the truth: I had no idea what career I wanted, but I knew I wasn’t ready to stop training or leave Fightworx behind again.

So I took a gamble, declined the job offer and chose Jiu Jitsu.

Best decision I’ve ever made.

Three years later, BJJ has completely rebuilt my world. I’ve made lifelong friends, travelled to places I never would have otherwise and met people worldwide who instantly felt like family. Now I lead our ladies-only BJJ program, proudly teach 1–1s, and teach a junior BJJ & parent and child Muay Thai class weekly.

Watching women gain confidence and kids develop their skills is genuinely one of my favourite parts of the week.

Alongside this, Fightworx Academy has expanded, and somehow I ended up opening my own coffee shop inside the academy…Ringside Coffee Shake Shack.  It’s a homely set up and something I’m extremely proud of- great coffee, protein shakes, fresh fruit smoothies and a place for members to hang out before and after training.. representative of the amazing community we have at Fightworx.

When I’m not teaching, training, making coffee or sleeping then the likelihood is I’m competing. I’ve been lucky enough to compete on a variety of different shows across the UK such as Enyo, Gorilla Invitational and Tanto, and as a result gained some unforgettable moments; most recently becoming the first female middleweight champion on Tanto (bonus is, the belt looks just like a WWE one!) 

I’ve also been supported by amazing brands that all contribute to how lucky I feel to be on this journey. Such as  Progress Jiu Jitsu (shameless plug of MADISON15 for a discount) and Warrior Supplements (MADDOG for 10% off too). Their belief in me has opened doors I never imagined back when I decided to decline my job and train full time, hoping for the best without a clue where it was going to lead me 

One of the biggest privileges in my journey now is hosting open mats alongside Rosie and Jade- three people who all found their passion on the Fightworx mats. Even though life has pulled us in different directions, these open mats mean we still get to train together, support each other, stay connected, and keep building something meaningful for the women in our community… that’s pretty cool if you ask me. 

Jiu Jitsu has given me a career, a community, a purpose, lifelong friends, unforgettable memories, confidence and the opportunity to share this amazing sport with others. Might not be a WWE champ but this is a close second. 

Our next open mat is at Fightworx Torquay on Sunday 14th December, 2-4pm

Follow @madison.murphy13 or @ringside.coffee on Instagram for more information