Never Settle Awards

Welcome to the fourth year (2025) of the Never Settle Awards. Nominations are now closed. You let us know about a BUNCH of interesting martial artists and martial arts schools.  Once we've been able to CONNECT with them to let them know about the nominations, you'll have the opportunity to EDUCATE yourself and others about the impact other martial artists are a part of and then place your votes. Finally, we hope you'll join us at the awards ceremony as a part of the 2025 Martial Summit event for a bit of ENTERTAINment while we recognize our recipients based on your votes. Links for each of the awards will be included below once voting is active.

You can read the first-year announcement on the Martial Journal Website: here

Martial Arts Awards

Together with Martial Journal, whistlekick is proud to sponsor the Never Settle Awards. These awards are designed to recognize the martial artists who give back to their schools, their communities, and the martial arts world at large.

Voting is now OPEN! 

See below for voting links for each award as well as blurbs for each nominee.

Voting Ends September 30, 2025!

 

Recognizing Deserving Martial Artists with the Never Settle Awards!

whistlekick is proud to be the creator of the Never Settle Awards cosponsored with Martial Journal.  Through things like this, we are helping to recognize martial artists around the globe. We can't be everywhere and see everything, so we rely on you to let us know about martial artists who impact the martial arts community. At the end of each award description, you’ll find a link to a nomination form, so don't wait. 

Emissary of the Arts Award - Place Your Vote Here

Highlighting those who have contributed to the arts and the community as well, making the world a better place. Ideal nominees would demonstrate the positive qualities of martial arts and martial artists in ways not directly tied to martial arts. Many martial arts schools use positive character traits as a benefit to be grown from continued training.

These nominees demonstrate these qualities routinely beyond the walls of their schools such that people know the nominee based on actions and deeds, not on martial arts rank, ability, or martial arts notoriety.

Adam Beckley

Every year for the past two years, and continuing forward for an annual event, Adam has hosted a tournament called the Holly Jolly Brawly that raises money, food donations, and gift donations for the Hardwick Area Food Pantry and the Hardwick Holiday Project. This past year each charity received over $500 in cash donations, and boxes upon boxes of gifts and food donations for people in need in the Hardwick area. In addition to these tournament events, Adam has hosted Rolling Against Hunger events as food drives where the “cost of entry” is a cash or food donation to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry. From all of these events, Adam does not profit. He donates everything to help those in need, because he once was someone who was in need. He recognizes that not all families can easily put food on the table or presents under the tree. He is working to address gaps of care in our community through his charitable work, via martial arts events. He is kind, generous, and thoughtful in everything he does, and inspires those around him to be the same every day. 

Dave McNeill

Dave McNeill has been a lifelong activist for a variety of causes. One of the places he shines is in working as a mentor. He knows very well how to motivate his mentees in order for them to do what they need to do. At times, those that look up to him the most strive to be better, to do more in order to avoid letting him down.  Many will know him for his efforts in working with practical weapons, most notably the cane, as most traditional weapons are illegal in many places. Dave surrounds himself with high quality people and has influenced individuals worldwide, which is made easier by his sense of humor.

Deb Mahoney

Deb Mahoney is not just a fixture within the martial arts school, she is a fixture in her community. She was a school teacher for 30+ years, a Girl Scout troop leader, and a current member of the rotary club. Deb draws on your experiences as a teacher to help ensure students get the help and resources they need within and outside of the martial arts school. She has repeatedly run free seminars at the local senior center for self defense and general movement so key to keeping seniors active and moving. She often brings rotary club food drives and charitable work into the dojo allowing even some of the youngest students to learn about community service. Deb thinks long and hard about the environment and our carbon footprint as well, making sure that we truly care for each other and our world.

DJ Jeandell

Throughout his journey within martial arts, DJ Jeandell has outwardly demonstrated the ideals of a martial artist. He displayed tenacity as a Fusion Fighter within TSMAA and as a result achieved competition successes.  Following his story along the way reveals a continuous journey of self-improvement. Beyond his personal achievements, stories of his resilience in overcoming adversity and his commitment to mentoring students and fellow athletes highlight his dedication to fostering growth in others. He encourages others to continue achieving their goals even when things are not falling into place. DJ Jeandell maintains close and authentic relationships within his dojo family, exemplifying the community-building aspect that aligns with the spirit of the award. 

Sylvie Henley

Sylvie Henley truly exemplifies what it means to be a martial artist, both inside and outside of class.She always goes above and beyond to make others feel involved, no matter their age or rank. She makes a habit of always asking how people's days have been and puts effort into remembering little details from past conversations.  She's always welcoming, warm and open to anyone, whether it's about martial arts or checking up on her chickens. Sylvie represents the best of the ideals of a martial artist. Inside and outside the dojo, she is easily approachable, makes it easy to ask questions, and leaves you feeling confident and excited to interact more.

Teresa Dos 

Teresa Dos consistently lives the principles of martial arts—integrity, perseverance, compassion, and respect—in her daily life and community leadership. She trained more than 800 students over 15 years, instilling in them not just technical skill, but the lifelong values of courtesy, discipline, and indomitable spirit. Her impact reaches far beyond the mats: she offered scholarships to underprivileged youth, organized charity events for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and created a safe, empowering environment where young people learned confidence and resilience. Teresa has also carried martial arts values into her broader professional and personal endeavors. She mentors women and minorities in technology, demonstrating perseverance by breaking barriers in both martial arts and the tech industry. She exemplifies compassion by speaking publicly as a survivor of abuse, using her platform to encourage others to heal and find strength. By seamlessly blending martial arts principles with leadership in government, community service, and advocacy, Teresa reflects the true spirit of an “emissary”—someone who brings the values of the dojo into the wider world to inspire positive change.

Emissary of the Arts Award - Place Your Vote Here

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Flashlight Award - Place Your Vote Here

People who make a difference in the arts - no matter rank. While quietly making an impact in their community, they demonstrate that actions speak louder than words in the most positive of ways.

A nomination for this award represents that the nominee's actions were noticed, were appreciated, and are worthy of recognition beyond a simple “Thank You.”

This is the person who needs to be nominated because they would never nominate themselves.

 

Amanda Costa

Amanda Costa is one of those rare individuals that excels at the behind the scene work that helps her school not only to be successful, but also to grow. She draws from an extensive background in customer service and combines it with creativity and data management skills in ways few could. Whether it is a system for tracking students and alumni or brochures and flyers, her attention to detail helps things run smoothly and look professional while they run.  When the little things and details matter, Amanda can always be trusted to ensure everything is as it should be.

Collin Clair

Collin not only works hard within his martial arts school, but he also teaches taekwondo to the students at Ferrisburgh elementary school Fusion program. He works weekly with the patterns club in Middlebury and Vergennes. He is part of the local LIONS club and has been involved in this group since middle school, where they work to better our community. He has recently earned his associates degree and in a few weeks will be starting classes for his bachelor’s degree. No matter his workload, Collin makes every student he comes into contact with feel heard and appreciated. He does all of this while also continuously working on his own Taekwondo journey. Collin is the shy one who is always willing to hype up everyone around him, but as soon as he gets the praise he is quick to deflect the praise to other students. Collin works hard to help other students reach their goals and encourages them to reach for the next goal. Above all he is humble and kind. 

Jeffrey Miller

Jeffrey Miller has a long history of working not only as a teacher to individuals but as a consultant to businesses and healthcare organizations to help them deal with workplace violence.  This is particularly a problem in medical settings where clinical staff like nurses, physicians, and technicians have a high likelihood of being assaulted on the job despite minimal training on how to deal with such events in the moment.  Jeffrey not only uses his martial arts training but real world experience as a military policeman, bodyguard, and police officer to help impart realism in what he teaches, and notably puts a high emphasis on teaching and discussing the mental aftermath of assaults, protecting yourself from the legal system, and recognizing assays that are not physical. Additionally, he serves as a mentor and uses his life experience to help others that have faced challenging situations explore effective options for moving forward. 

Michael Sayre-Deering

Michael is an inspiration to everyone on and off the floor.  Everywhere he goes he enters with a big smile and a willingness to help and to learn.  Michael is also nonverbal and has a medical condition that causes blindness in his right eye, affects his motor sensory processing functions, and makes him vulnerable to epilepsy. As a result, he needs to find alternate means of getting his mind and body to work together to accomplish tasks.  Michael impacts everyone he comes into contact with whether it is one of his school’s functions or outside martial arts events.  He raises money each year for a Break-a-Thon event, where the proceeds are used to help local charities or neighbors in need.  Michael has an impact on everyone he is in contact with.  Whether they just are moved to cheer for him, inspired by him to keep on trying or simply be lucky enough to see him smile and have it brighten their day.

Randy Kane

Randy Kane embodies the Flashlight spirit by combining martial excellence with a deep commitment to community. His superb kata and kumite set a high standard in the dojo, while his weekly “Fitness and Foundations” class extends the benefits of martial arts beyond traditional training and is open to all. By blending karate-inspired drills with strength and endurance exercises, he creates an inclusive environment that builds skill, discipline, and perseverance in participants of all levels. Through his leadership, Randy uplifts others, preserves tradition, and inspires continual growth — living proof of the “never settle” ethos. Randy’s positive attitude, patience, and willingness to help others inspires others  to approach their own training and lives with the same dedication and generosity.

Tim Caves

In his modest yet dedicated way,  Tim Caves’  presence at the dojo contributes to the achievement of the school’s goals and performance. When working one-on-one with other students, especially those nearing a significant milestone, Tim takes the time to help them with any and all requirements, not only at a surface level, but at deeper levels of understanding in such a way as to encourage a love of the art. His instruction helps to inspire confidence across all ages from kids through to more senior adults. Tim also leads by example and is nearly always found performing with the school demo team, especially during community events, inspiring and encouraging the younger generation of martial artists to do their best.

 

Flashlight Award - Place Your Vote Here

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Open Door Award - Place Your Vote Here

This award recognizes a school or an individual within a school that has created a culture where students would refer to it as home, family. Everyone is welcome and wants to be there - with each other, even though they are all different.

These schools make everyone feel welcome, regardless of what they bring to the table. Past training or not, all ages, physical capacity, and more. These schools accept everyone, and make sure that their first few months is only the beginning of the journey.

 

3DMA

3DMA accepts you as you are and helps you grow and learn at a pace that works for you.  The school supports the entire family, not just the student, both inside and outside martial arts. The school is well known for being kind, respectful,  and growing the mind and body. It provides a family atmosphere where students can express themselves without fear nor judgement through martial arts. It focuses on not only the skills of martial arts, but also successful habits for all aspects of life and stresses holistic living. With its positive-talk climate, it empowers students and their families to live out their core values and to overcome fears and challenges together.

Dragon Mountain School

Sensei Aaron's School is a family of young martial artists. The way Aaron runs his school feels like a family gathering around the dining table, but maintains a balance between informality and formality. Even the youngest members of the class can openly express ideas and opinions yet the class itself does not lose momentum or get out of control. Sensei Aaron's calm patience, good nature, and equanimity form a gravitational center of good character that holds the class together. Apart from teaching younger classes, Sensei Aaron has had a great impact on the community of Vershire. It seems that he knows almost everyone. Everyone respects him and his public demonstrations with his students are something the Vershire and Chelsea community looks forward to. 

Dragonfire Martial Arts

With the ideal that every student's Karate journey is different and each journey is personal, Dragonfire Martial Arts  ensures all members of the school respect and accept all. The dojo is a place that after a long day is a great way to forget the troubles of daily life. A number of programs for young children at Rec and daycare centers. The school stresses the importance of students to the school itself by providing a friendly, loving atmosphere to promote a positive learning environment. They teach all of the children as they would want their own children to be taught.

Elements MMA

At Elements MMA isn’t just about martial arts. They help people become stronger, more grounded, and more confident in every area of life. Through a holistic training approach, Elements empowers its students with the tools to face challenges both on and off the mat — whether that’s learning self-defense, improving health, or building mental resilience. They’re very open to all people and teach a variety of styles. Additionally, Elements MMA works with a charter school in town to help students build their strength and confidence

Great Bay Tai Chi

Great Bay Tai Chi, located in Salisbury, MA, is owned and operated by Chris Himmel, who also serves as the lead instructor. Chris brings a quiet confidence and a genuine kindness that immediately puts people at ease. His deep knowledge is evident, but never boastful, and his thoughtful guidance creates a welcoming and respectful atmosphere in the studio. Chris possesses a remarkable ability to tailor his teaching to each student’s unique strengths and needs, making the art accessible to various levels and abilities. His patience, clarity, and encouragement foster a learning environment that is not only nurturing and inspiring but also fun, thanks to his approachable teaching style and sense of humor. In 2025, Chris launched a free Daoism Study Group that is open to all. The group has steadily grown to include not only local participants but also people from across the country—many of whom are not students of the school but share a deep interest in Daoist philosophy. Additionally, Chris brings his teaching into the wider community by offering classes at local senior living centers, workshops for businesses, and short-term programs with community organizations.

House of the Samurai

House of the Samurai of Londonderry NH exemplifies the spirit of the Open Door Award through its unwavering commitment to inclusion, respect, and community-building. They welcome students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, ensuring that everyone who walks through their doors feels supported, empowered, and feeling like family. They go above and beyond to keep the dojo a place where no one is turned away. The instructors are kind and everyone is welcomed with a smile Students are trained to not shy away from new students or prospects but to engage them and make them feel like part of the family. They also work hard to prevent clicks that can naturally form between students based on competitions or school friends. The school welcomes people of all backgrounds and understands that life struggles come in a variety of types and intensities, but that regardless of the situation, the ideals of martial arts can help to improve everyone’s situation.

Pear Tree Self Defense

Open to any and all, Pear Tree Self Defense provides a safe environment, without judgement, and helps guide students along their martial arts journey. In addition to increased self-confidence and awareness, the school focuses on making sure its students have the ability to defend themselves should the need arise. While currently focused on adult students, including senior aged students, the school is getting ready to expand its offerings to include children and teens.

Self Defense Studios

Self Defense Studios is open to all with a focus on passing on their curriculum according to Al Tracy. They focus on maintaining their foundations but are open to exploring new ideas.  They focus on teaching and training in a way that makes the material easier for students to comprehend and to understand. Anyone looking for a solid foundation in martial arts will feel welcome and at home.

Open Door Award - Place Your Vote Here

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Enduring Footprint Award - Place Your Vote Here

Ideal nominees would stand out for their lasting impact on the martial arts community across a significant period of time. While the extent of the impact may be a result of direct, in person interactions, impact resulting through social media and other internet activity is also worthy of consideration.

Martial artists would not only say that they know who the nominee is but will also be able to discuss how the nominee influenced their training in some way.

 

 

Aaron Hoopes

Aaron Hoopes has been leading kids classes in Vershire Vermont for years now. His dedication and his patience has left many kids entering adulthood with the skills and emotional development necessary to successfully go through life as adults who contribute to society and care for others. His knowledge extends far beyond self-defense but into healthy and natural solutions for everyday life, camping, and outdoor survival skills. When a student enters his class they receive all these things and even wisdom on life matters as well. His class is disciplined yet not restrictive to the free spirits of his kids. His personality is direct yet he is virtuously good natured at all times. In addition community members of Vershire and nearby Chelsea are familiar with his presence and who he is. It seems that he has had many of them over or have gone hiking with many people in the area. He does not just share his love for physical fitness but also his love for nature. He will forever be an enduring footprint in the martial arts journey of many individuals for the way he has taught kicks, kata, and perhaps most importantly, the equanimity that balances out life. 

Larry Isaac

Larry Isaac is the embodiment of “lead by example and share what I have learned with others.” With many decades of martial arts training across several styles and with many instructors, many of whom call him a friend, he is able to discuss a wide variety of topics and always willing to do so, on and off the mat. He spends significant amounts of time traveling and teaching locally and throughout the country. Larry helps other martial artists to reinvigorate their love and curiosity for the martial arts and many look up to him as a mentor. As a veteran, a martial artist, and an author, he stresses the importance of knowing where you, your martial art, and the pieces of your martial art come from. He encourages those he interacts with to dig deeper as they explore their art, regardless of the particular style. With patience, kindness, and sense of humor he encourages others to ask questions, and then works with them as they explore answers together. Larry’s influence in the martial arts has been felt across multiple decades and will continue to for years to come.

Matt Erolin

Matt not only exemplifies what it means to be a teacher of the arts, he instills in his students character traits that can be used on and off the mats. He encourages them and teaches them life lessons after each class called “Mat Chats”, teaching them how to be a good friend, student, and future leader. Matt strives to live his life and teaches in a way that will stand the test of time and along the way has received numerous local recognitions from City officials and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept.as a result . He lives by the quote “The best use of your life, is to live your life so that the use of life outlives their life”. Martial arts isn’t just an art he practices, but feels a personal responsibility to teach those who want to learn and pass along his knowledge to the next generation. It’s not just a business for him, it’s a passion and gift he gets to share. Matt has received numerous local recognition from City officials and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept. 

Paul McCoy

When Paul McCoy was alive he did things for God, Family and karate. Martial arts was the tool that saved his life and everything he did was so that others could experience martial arts with that same passion and understanding. Martial arts to him was a gift that kept on giving. He had a way of seeing people’s gifts and pulling it out of them and placing them in positions where they could grow and thrive in that gift. He was well known for his presence and energy at events as a volunteer, at school talks, self defense seminars and camp sessions. He was a voice and face for service and living a life of gratitude.  

Randy Rotta

Randy Rotta exemplifies the spirit of the Enduring Footprint Award by keeping traditional taekwondo alive. He tells stories of legendary martial artists and teaches the students in his dojo that they can also strive for greatness, they can be legendary. Randy impacts the community by being a well known person and a long time resident. He has a dojo that is open to any person of any age and any physical ability. He teaches children respect, life skills and perseverance. His dojang provides a small but steady haven from struggling and broken families. Many in the community who have no direct connection to martial arts know of the “tae kwon do studio that has been in Randolph forever.” Everyone who knows Randy can reflect on what a “great person” he is. He sets expectations with love and exudes the confidence that each person can live up to them. Randy is soft spoken and humble, but in a time where leading by example is a rare trait, he exemplifies this virtue. He makes his community, and the world a better place.

 

Enduring Footprint Award - Place Your Vote Here

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Ripples on Our Pond - In Memoriam

Ripples on Our Pond Nominations Open August 11, 2025

 

Do you want to be a part of the 2025 Never Settle Awards?

We are continually looking for those willing to help us spread the word about the Never Settle Awards.  If you support what the Never Settle Awards stands for and want to help, or if you would like reminders of when each nomination opens as well as when voting starts, please let us know.

Learn More

You can learn more about how we got here with this episode of Martial Arts Radio.