Earlier this year, Elite Martial Arts Academy in East Kilbride faced flooding within one of their Dojangs.
Significant damage had been done, meaning it was no longer a safe space to use. This had a major impact on the club’s members and the wider community, who see the space as a second home. Owned and run by Jonathan McDade, the Academy has been a big part of the East Kilbride community, creating a space for children and adults to learn discipline, resilience, and teamwork – values that proved to be important during this setback.
With many of our team being members of the East Kilbride community, and two of our directors directly involved with the Academy, we saw firsthand how much the closure of the space had impacted local families. Wanting to support Jonathan and help get the facility back up and running, and following insurance issues, Linear Group carried out building fabric refurbishment works, bringing the space back to life.
The project saw upgrades including new ceilings, wall linings, and joinery works. A huge thank you to McGarry Flooring who generously supplied and installed a new vinyl floor covering, helping create a refreshed and welcoming space for the community club.
Jonathan’s selfless commitment to his students and the wider community inspired everyone involved. His determination to rebuild was matched by the collective effort of contractors, local families, and volunteers who came together to make it happen.
“Linear are providing us with the support needed to take students from the grassroots level right through to becoming international superstars, representing Team GB and Scotland on the world stage. Without their generosity and commitment, this simply wouldn’t be possible.
Thanks to their support, we now have one of the best training facilities in the UK. We’re determined to use this opportunity to give even more young people the platform to progress through our programme and go on to represent the UK internationally.”
– Jonathan McDade, Owner of Elite Martial Arts Academy
“It’s such a privilege to be in a position to help Jonathan and his team at Elite. The club is an amazing space for the young and older students to come and be part of an incredible team. The importance of supporting clubs and spaces like Elite cannot be underestimated for local communities, and we are absolutely delighted to have been able to help in this instance.”
– Scott Paterson, Group Commercial Director
Lucy, 11, who is a Blue Belt at the club, said, “I’ve been doing Tae Kwon Do for 3.5 years, and the club means a lot to me. The new Dojang was amazing and lots of fun. I can’t wait to train sparring in it.”
Elite Martial Arts Academy officially reopened its dojang on November 8th, 2025, celebrating this milestone by bringing together all students and their families. The grand reopening featured impressive demonstrations from students of every skill level.
At Linear Group, we’re proud to have played a part in helping Elite Martial Arts Academy reopen its doors and continue serving as a positive, empowering space for the East Kilbride community.