How I discovered my inner Jewish fighter
► EXHAUSTED AND SWEATY but with a satisfying feeling of confidence, I walked along Brent Street and got into my car.
No, I hadn’t just elbowed my way to the front of the queue at the Kosher Deli. I had rediscovered my inner fighter at The Warehouse, Hendon’s brand new self-defence venue for young Jews.
Founder Marco Laurence, 25, had put me through my paces with a taster boxing class at the brand new gym he and other young volunteers have set up. The Warehouse is their response to the rising levels of antisemitism hitting the confidence of many young Jews and causing them to feel unsafe.
The concept is simple: a place where Jewish young people can go to boost their inner and outer resilience, through a blend of self-defence training, mental health awareness activities and vitaminpacked drinks at their juice bar.
Mr Laurence explains: “In May 2021 the Israel-Gaza conflict was kicking off, and I myself had spoken to a few boys I mentored who were scared to walk to school. They were taking off their kippot, tucking in their Magen Davids, and they were scared of attacks.
“We’re building the body and the soul. On the physical side of things we’re doing self-defence classes. Helping people not to go out beating up antisemites, but to be confident that if they are attacked they know what to do. And we’re running mental wellness workshops as well. The aim is to destigmatise mental wellbeing problems.”
Along with his co-founder Joseph Corin, Rabbi Yitsy David and Managing Director Naomi Khafi, Mr Laurence has dedicated months of work to realising
We’re building the body and the soul — it’s not just about self-defence
their shared dream. The Warehouse officially opened this week, and the team have been receiving positive feedback from the pilot classes they organised with their professional coaches.
Yehuda Nevies, 25, took part in a men’s boxing session, which gave him “renewed energy and mental clarity.”
“I’m most excited to use the centre as a space to improve my self-defence skills,” he said.
Zara Lasky, 20, tried a kick-boxing session, and said it took her out of her comfort zone: “I enjoyed the stress relief it brought, along with the endorphins. I can see how the Warehouse will with personal and social skills and mental and physical growth.”
Soon it’s my turn and, after showing me the basics, Mr Laurence tells me: “Don’t worry about power, just concentrate on your aim.” I dance round the boxing ring in the perfectly refurbished gym, doing my best to throw smooth one to two punches at the pads strapped to his arms. Despite his instructions, before long I’m giving it my all, desperate to land a knockout blow and prove that this keyboard warrior can also hold his own in the ring.
I may not be ready to square up to Tyson Fury any time soon, but the techniques we practised could definitely come in handy in an emergency, and thanks to Mr Laurence’s generous encouragement, I felt a definite boost in mental confidence too.