by James Edgar, Yorkshire Evening Post
A boxing club in Leeds is celebrating the end of a mighty year in the Thai martial art of Muay Thai, after fighters won regional competitions and a British title.
Stuart Kemp, 24, of Pudsey, won the British super-welterweight title on November 18 at the Batley Frontier, and Phil Burke, 36, of Kirkstall, is the Northern area cruiserweight champion, a title he won in Manchester on October 14.
Kemp is also Northern area champion and golden belt Area Champion. They train at the West Yorkshire Muay Thai gym, which was formed last August by Mike Tobin, 41, of Pudsey.
TechniquesMore than 60 adults and 25 children train at the Armley club and nearly 20 take part in competitive fights.
Mr Tobin, who was twice British champion during his 20-year career, refers to Muay Thai as the science of eight limbs because fighters use elbows and knees as well as punching and kicking techniques. He believes thai boxing motivates children and encourages them to stay out of trouble.
He said: “It gets kids off the streets and it really disciplines them. Martial arts is about much more than just punching and kicking, it’s about leadership and courage.
“I’m not trying to turn young kids into street fighters, I’m trying to give them the support and discipline that will keep them off the streets.”
Mr Tobin has noticed there are far fewer boxing clubs in Leeds than when he started the sport. He said: “Where else can these kids go? When I was a young, there were lots of boxing
clubs for us to go to. But there aren’t any more.”
Leeds-based security firm, Network Securities, has donated over £4,000 this year for equipment and maintenance of the gym. And Christmas came early when the firm gave sponsored tracksuits and t-shirts in November for the fighters to wear in competitions, costing over £1,500.
Glen Crosthwaite, managing director of Network Securities, is a keen fighter and coach at the gym and was once a British champion himself.
He said: “To be good at martial arts takes a lot of commitment and dedication not just from the pupil but from the teacher and Mike Tobin gives young people and adults bucket loads of both, which is why Network Securities are helping with the funding and the West Yorkshire Muay Thai gym in Armley.”
The pair are currently planning for a professional coach to come from Thailand to teach for three months in the New Year.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/City39s-martial-arts-club-39boxing.3607629.jp
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