Martial arts enthusiasts are learning new skills at St Mary’s Centre in the heart of Rye in Lion Street with some dozen or more youngsters gathering weekly to receive coaching in Siamese boxing from Philip Eaton and Sarah Hallworth, who run the Siam Boxing Camp, a community interest company.
Three traditional forms of self-defence are taught, based on Muay Thai – the science of the eight limbs, as Sarah explained: “Each of us has one pair of hands, elbows, knees and shins; that gives your body eight weapons. This might sound harmless, but it can be brutal if carried to extreme.
“Our purpose though is to teach young people particularly how to be self-confident, even self-assertive and how to carry themselves. In a controlled environment, we show them how to manage their aggressive instincts and how to achieve and keep bodily fitness. They may start shy and introvert but what they learn here turns them into confident individuals with socialising skills. The sport ticks so many boxes”.
The sport is organised under International Kickboxing Federation rules with different categories from full contact, the toughest form, to semi-contact which is point-scoring and controlled tapping which is the one practised and taught here in the Rye classes.
Students can be as young as seven and work in pairs, learning the drill under experienced coach supervision. Sessions last two hours, 6 -8 pm on Wednesday evenings at St Mary’s Centre in Lion Street. No special equipment is needed. The cost is £5 for adults and £4 for juniors. Contact Sarah Hallworth on tel. 07824 877171
Photo: Kenneth Bird