Sam began training in 2000 at the Musselburgh dojo and progressed quickly through the ranks double grading along the way. In October 2003 she sat her 1^st Dan (Black Belt) examination under the Japanese Sensei  Y. Osaka 7^th Dan JKA and successfully passed.

She is resident instructor at the Dalgety Bay club.

She is a keen competitor and has won the JKA Scottish Championships in Kumite and is regularly placed in Kata,  She has competed in Kumite and Kata at World level in the JKA World Cup which was held in Sydney, Australia in August 2006.

She won the women's kumite in the 2009 JKA Karate Do Shotokan Scotland championships in March 2009.