Gloucestershire Young Carers Charity offered the opportunity for 16 young carers to experience the world of martial arts.
The event took place on Tuesday, October 29 and the young carers were taught a range of martial arts skills, including Kickboxing and karate fundamentals (striking combinations), judo demos, learning breakfalls and self defence techniques as well as some fun team work games.
It was an opportunity for the young carers to experience a new sport in a safe environment at Southam Village Hall in Cheltenham with the Striking and Grappling Academy leading the event.
By the end of the session the young carers learned the basics of kickboxing techniques (punches, blocks, kicks and combos) and learnt basic self-defence techniques.
They also learned about situational awareness and conflict resolution as they learnt how to improve their co-ordination, confidence, fitness and self-defence skills while having fun.
In a statement after the event, SAGA praised a good day out for the young carers and strived to be a community led project: “As a community-focused initiative, SAGA is committed to making a positive impact in Cheltenham.
“With affordable pricing, expert instruction, and inclusive policies, the academy aims to become a cornerstone of youth development in the region.”
Khadija Hansdot, who organised the event, also said it was a fun day out for the young carers: “Many young carers find it hard to get out and do fun things in the holidays due to the health needs within their families.
“It was great to see the young carers enjoying this opportunity -most of them had never done any self-defence or martial arts before and had a great time getting stuck in. Thankfully nobody got hurt, in fact we had more injuries at our Sports Day!”
SAGA seeks to offer affordable ways to enrich children’s lives through unique discounts to help any kids willing to try martial arts.
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