FIGHT CLUB

Female safety has been at the forefront of our minds for a while now. Take inspiration from these women, who stay fit while practising different forms of self-defence ‘The class made me feel like I had a new skin – I was me again’ ‘TAEKWONDO HAS MADE ME

Safiya Ascoli-Ball, 50, from Salford, is a black belt in taekwondo.

‘Ten years ago,

I saw a taekwondo demonstration at a community event and was mesmerised by it, in awe of the technical skills. I had an overwhelming yearning to learn it – almost a powerful life-calling – but, aged 40, I thought I was too old.

Two of my sons started lessons when they were five and six and, at their class, two women were doing it. They later told me they were over 50, both mums, and weren’t super fit when they started – like me!

That was my inspiration. I found a women-only class, as I felt I might feel intimidated by the fast men and teenage boys.

During my first class, I felt like a kid again! It was such a break from family life where, with four children aged from three to 10, I sometimes felt I’d forgotten who I was.

The class made me feel like I had a new skin – I was me again, not a mother or a wife. I was stripped bare to being a student. It was a mental lifesaver.

The moves were harder than they looked, and I found the coordination of striking, balancing and kicking tricky. I was unfit, with very little stamina, but I enjoyed it more each week – the more I had to think to work out the moves, the more I was challenged by it.

I’ve now joined my children’s club and train up to six times a week. I also take part in competitions.

Taekwondo has made my body strong.

I have great definition in my shoulders, arms and thighs. The only limit in taekwondo is your mind. It’s very motivating achieving things you didn’t think you could. I primarily use moves with my foot, but I also like hand strikes to the neck. I’m only 5ft 2in and it’s empowering using those actions.

At my age now, I want to preserve my body. In 2017, I qualified as a Pilates instructor. I wanted a stronger core to improve my taekwondo skills, and Pilates is perfect for that.

My aim is to become a taekwondo instructor, too. I want to do taekwondo until my last breath.’