Fraserburgh man’s focus on martial arts and health and wellbeing earns Best of Banff and Buchan award
A community stalwart in Fraserburgh who has spent several decades developing a martial arts club and wider fitness centre for the community has been recognised with a Best of Banff and Buchan award from Aberdeenshire Council.
Albert Ross has played a pivotal role in encouraging young people to develop their confidence – encouraging respect, discipline and resilience through martial arts and fitness.
As founder and chairman of the Satorishido Martial Arts Club, Albert oversaw the move into vacant sheds in the town’s James Ramsay Park back in 2000 which had once served as an Aberdeenshire Council’s storage facility.
Over the next few years, Albert renovated the sheds - working tirelessly on evenings and weekends to bring the facility up to a usable standard – with the the facility opening its doors to members of the public in February 2004.
Various improvements were undertaken over the coming years, until the bold decision was taken in 2015 to future-proof the facility – demolition of the existing building and an impressive new state-of-the-art gym and much-needed storage area being built on the site.
In 2017, the club was successful in a Community Asset Transfer bid and is now the proud owner of the facility – which attracted nearly 88,000 visitors last year.
Members of the council’s Banff and Buchan Area Committee heard on Tuesday (Nov 4) that many of the young people using the facility have channelled their energy in a positive way instead of possible going down a different, more challenging route.
Some have highlighted how being involved has improved their mental health and, in some cases, their physical health.
And thanks to Albert’s outstanding efforts leading the Satorishido Gym and Fraserburgh Fitness Centre, Fraserburgh has been put firmly on the fitness and martial arts stage with a number of Scottish, British, Four Nations, European and World championships being won by members. The club is now ranked in the top ten in the UK and one of the top two clubs in Scotland. The Fraserburgh Fitness Centre not only has martial arts facilities but many other forms of fitness for all ages.
Councillors were told that without the personal and financial commitment of Albert, this inspirational community project would not have succeeded – and even now he has plans to develop the facility even further with an extension to enable it to offer the community at large a more diverse range of health and wellbeing activities.
Presenting the Best of Banff and Buchan award to Albert and assistant manager Shane Weir, Fraserburgh and District councillor Ann Bell said it was an honour to recognise the incredible achievements which have delivered so much for Fraserburgh and the surrounding area.
She said: “I would like to thank Albert and his team for all that they do and have done for over 20 years to encourage and support young and not so young people to develop their fitness, discipline, courtesy and respect. Many young people have been to overcome physical challenges and mental health challenges through the work and support of being part of the fitness centre.
“Some employers who see on a CV that the person they are interviewing has taken part in martial arts and has gone through the different grading stages, is more likely to be disciplined and hard working and therefore a better candidate for the job. It was a pleasure to nominate you and your Fitness Centre for this award and I would like to thank my colleagues for unanimously supporting your being given this very well deserved award.”
