Never Settle Awards
2026 Never Settle Award Nominations
NOW OPEN
See each award below for the direct link to nominations;
Recognizing Deserving Martial Artists with the Never Settle Awards!
Emissary of the Arts Award
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.
Nominate Here
Flashlight Award
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.
Nominate Here
Open Door Award
NEW THIS YEAR: The Open Door Award will only accept nominations for martial arts SCHOOLS and will no longer accept nominations for INDIVIDUALS. This is the only award that is currently open to schools as a whole. If you have an individual you would like to nominate as an individual, please see which of the other Never Settle Awards is the best fit.
This award recognizes 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.
Nominate Here
Enduring Footprint Award
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.
Nominate Here
Ripples on Our Pond - In Memoriam
Every year, the martial arts community loses instructors, students, innovators, and family. We would like to recognize martial artists who left our families over the year beginning July 2025.
Nominate Here
Do you want to be a part of the 2026 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.
You can read the first-year announcement on the Martial Journal Website: here
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.
A huge thank you to everyone that voted this year. We're excited to say we received a record number of votes this year and we hope to carry that momentum forward into next year.
Congratulations to the
2025 Never Settle Award Recipients
Randy Kane - 2025 Flashlight Award
Teresa Dos - 2025 Emissary of the Arts Award
Great Bay Tai Chi - 2025 Open Door Award
Larry Isaac - 2025 Enduring Footprint Award