Club takes a stand against bullying
The club, which opened in January this year, is not only looking at instilling fighting skills in people, it also ensures that its members are disciplined as they get into the programme.
Parents in Westonaria whose children are being bullied will be relieved to know that the newly founded kickboxing club, The Mile High Cage Rage, is recruiting children to learn combat skills to defend themselves and stop being punching bags.
Headed by 18-year-old Jannie Barnard, who was once a victim of bullying himself, the club’s aim is to help those who have been bullied by teaching them how to throw a punch.
“I was bullied as a child in school; I then saw a need to learn how to defend myself. Since then, I earned my belt and decided to open a gym here.”
Barnard said the basics that the children are learning are for self-defence.
“One of the main things that we teach the children in the gym is respect. I teach the children not to bully at school. The techniques that they are learning here are only to be used when they are being attacked,”
“We do Mixed Martial Arts, which involves grabbing and stand-up. The programme is very similar to Extreme Fighting Championships (EFC). We also do Shidokan, Mua-Thai, Ki, and Semi, Light and Extreme Striking. We also do Taebo for women.”
Barnard, who has received several accolades in the past eight years, said the training in kickboxing has been welcomed in the community.
“Every day we get people coming in, showing interest and joining the club. All the people who come here are people who were bullied. They come here to learn how to defend themselves and stop being victims of bullying.
Barnard said he is proud to make a commitment to ensuring that bullying stops completely, especially among school children. He said the club is also committed to fighting for good causes in the community.
• Details: Contact Senpai Jannie on 079 145 5941 or 076 718 1375.
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