Youth mixed martial arts club is ‘unprecedented’

A group of teenage boys with energy to burn have found the perfect outlet in the form of mixed martial arts (MMA) and have created a club in what is being described as an ‘unprecedented’ move.

The Campbeltown Grammar School students were first introduced to the combat sport when staff at the school drafted in David Galbraith from New Life Gym in Glasgow in a bid to help the pupils build positive relationships.

The youngsters took to the sport so quickly that, after just two sessions with David, a professional fighter, they have created their own club called Core MMA Campbeltown.

MMA is described as ‘an extreme combat sport’ in which contestants are allowed to use the fighting techniques of wrestling and boxing as well as those of martial arts including kickboxing, judo and karate.

Elaine McGeachy, the school’s acting depute head, said: ‘The boys mentioned that they were fighting and were interested in MMA but there was nothing in the area like that for them so we contacted David.

‘After the first one-weekend taster session, they were instantly interested and engaged.’

Additional support needs assistant Jimi McCallum, the group’s leader, said: ‘It is giving the boys a sense of worth and a safe nurturing environment in which to grow. Instead of doing anything negative, they’re doing something positive.’

Jimi has carried out some training with David to enable him to share some skills with the boys and there are already others in line to bring Brazilian jujitsu and boxing to the group.

Speaking to the Courier, David explained that the Campbeltown club is groundbreaking. He said: ‘I’ve created a training structure that helps redirect aggressive behaviour, from younger groups all the way up to teens. I work in a lot of different schools and in terms of actually going into a school, giving them an outlet and setting up an established club, that’s pretty unprecedented.’

David uses his own life experiences – from his involvement with gangs, to surviving a nearly fatal stabbing when he was 18 – to impress on youngsters the dangers of following the wrong path.

He added: ‘A lot of people are sceptical about bringing combat sports into schools but now a lot of issues are being recognised and mindsets are beginning to change.’

Machrihanish Airbase Community Company has awarded the club a £1,000 grant to help it get established.

Jimi is in talks with various governing bodies and has launched a JustGiving page to raise £1,000 to pay for public liability insurance.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ jimi-mccallum or search for ‘Jimi McCallum’ on the JustGiving website.