New proKick club opens

A community project in Bangor has found a novel way to address youth problems in its local area – by introducing a kickboxing class!
The North Down 'IMPACT' Project, which is run from the Kilcooley Community Centre, has teamed up with the renowned ProKick Kickboxing group to start the classes next week. It is hoped the self-discipline and respect that kickboxing instils will help channel young aggression into something positive.
"This idea has been developed as a result of a number of residents expressing a desire to implement physical activity that directs young people into positive lifestyle,” said Jim Martin, Project Manager. “As part of our preventative programme we arranged a trip in December for a number of young people to a Kickboxing tournament in Belfast, which was a great success. The level of interest grew and we made further contact with Billy Murray – the most recognised name in the sport in Ireland - the result is we now have this new project up and running.”
World champion Gary Hamilton, the most famous and successful of ProKick’s recent alumni, stopped in at the centre last week (March 12) to lead a exhibition on some of the skills new students could learn. The exhibition proved a major draw and over 60 local residents immediately signed up for classes.
“It’s wonderful to see kickboxing having this sort of effect,” said Billy Murray, the ProKick chief coach and a four time world champion. “ProKick has long links with Bangor – we’ve run events in the town and have other classes running in the leisure centre. I’d like to thank Jim Rea, one of the community leaders for helping this happen. And who knows, maybe we’ll produce a future world champion in Kilcooley.”
Classes start on March 22 at 7 – 7.45pm for 6-12 years old. A class for 13 years old and above starts at 8.30pm and will run for an hour. Contact 02891 857569 for details.
For further information on kickboxing, see www.prokick.com

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