A Derry gym is aiming to empower women through self defence classes later this month.
Team Torres Derry academy owner, Martin McLaughlin, who is the only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt in the North West, will take a group of women for the ‘In Her Strength’ programme from Monday, April 25.
Martin, who is also a blackbelt in Judo, will teach the female-only class contact self defence, focusing on fight, flight or freeze responses.
Read more: Plans unveiled for new indoor mini golf extension at Derry bowling alley
It's understood the idea came about after conversations with women who wanted to engage in a programme that would provide them with the opportunity to improve both their inner and outer confidence and self-esteem.
The Brandywell and Bogside Health Forum (BBHF) are facilitating the initiative through their new mental health project 'The Right Time, Right Place'.
Registration for the programme has now closed, but Bronagh Cooper, who is a Mental Health Coordinator for BBHF, told MyDerry that it's a 'much-needed' programme.
She said: "During the conversations had, the women expressed that they would want both a physical and emotional element to the programme.
"Following this we pulled together a working group including, Martin Mc Laughlin from Team Torres, Deirdre Kelly, resilience facilitator and both Stephen Sweeney, social worker, and myself to design the programme, the result being an eight-week programme where the ladies meet twice per week.
"On a Monday the ladies will learn contact self-defence classes at Team Torres in Pennyburn, and on Wednesdays they will take part in confidence and self-esteem workshops, focusing on self-compassion, emotional understanding, growth mindset and personal development goals.
"Most importantly, it’s a programme where we can get together, make healthy connections within our community and have fun."
Meanwhile, Martin McLaughlin, who has been teaching BJJ for more than a decade, said he was excited to get started.
"When done correctly, martial arts training can have huge benefits for confidence, fitness and self-esteem," he said.
"Over this eight-week block, we are looking to facilitate, teach and empower a new group of women who have enrolled in this course.
"This will also be a first of its kind for our city - a ladies' self-defence course taught exclusively using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We are super excited to get involved in this project."
Meanwhile, Stephen Sweeney, a social worker at Aberfoyle GP practice, said the programme was the perfect example of what they were trying to achieve in responding to a desire for a service within the community, targetting improved health, well-being, confidence and one’s sense of personal security.
He said: “The In Her Strength project has been funded by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) and the Derry GP Federation as part of the new Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) project within GP practices.
"The MDT project has seen new professionals, such as social workers, mental health practitioners, physiotherapists and pharmacists, added to GP practices in an effort to improve the range of support available to patients and work to improve the health and well-being of the local population.
"Social workers within the MDT aim to work in partnership with community groups and members to establish innovative projects to help people meet their health and well-being goals.
"The MDT project has funded well over 100 community-based projects within the wider Derry, Strabane, Limavady and Dungiven areas over the past 12 months.”
Read more: Plans for major redevelopment of NI's oldest linen mill site
Read more: Girl's amazing portrait of loving granda goes viral
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
