A MARTIAL arts academy that helps members fight personal demons, as well as opponents, has turned two.
Shaolin Tigers Martial Arts Academy (STMA) – Reading opened in October 2021 to provide expert training in combat sports to all ages.
Today the gym in Scours Lane, Tilehurst, coaches scores of children and adults in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), K1 Kickboxing and Boxing.
But owner Dan Eden said the gym was increasingly helping members to overcome personal challenges too.
“It’s great seeing how we are helping transform people’s lives,” he said. “We’ve seen countless kids struggle with ADHD and Special Educational Needs that are now using martial arts and boxing to channel their energy.
“Lots of our kids have been bullied at school so they come to us to learn self-defence. Or they were bullies and have been suspended or expelled and the parents are unsure what to do with them.
“With us, they learn when to use their skills and when not to. It helps with their self-belief, self-esteem and self-confidence, which helps them in life in general.
“We also get kids from a local home who have had terrible experiences or been involved in gangs or crime. I’m often on the phone to social workers, they value what we do and increasingly recommend us as a way of helping children recover and get back onto the right track.”
Mr Eden said many adults had also seen the benefits of disciplined exercise and combat training.
He said: “We train cohorts of beginners for Ultra White-Collar Boxing and Ultra MMA events. Lots of members have thanked us for improving their physical and mental health and helping them to come to terms with personal tragedies and other problems.”
Mr Eden, a 4th Dan Black Belt and former Super-Middleweight World Champion in K1 Kickboxing, said he had spent almost £200,000 converting and equipping the gym. The gym broke the 200-member mark in October and has ambitious plans to expand.
Mr Eden said: “It’s never easy starting a business, but we’ve fortunately had a lot of support, and grown fast through word of mouth. Our objective is to become one of the most renowned martial arts and boxing clubs in the world.
“Getting to two years old and beating our target for membership numbers is a great start in getting there.”
To learn more about STMA – Reading, visit: https://www.shaolintigersacademyreading.co.uk.
