Local jiu-jitsu instructor Mike Hole has been building a jiu-jitsu program in Kangaroo Valley in recent years and now provides after-school group classes for over 30 school children. The program is one of the few after-school activities available locally for kids in the Valley.
“It’s one of the things we like about Kangaroo Valley”, says local man Michael McDonald, whose daughter Mia trains with Mike. “Having a martial arts community is something I wanted for both myself and my family. Having to drive long distances was not something I wanted to do. So having something local in Kangaroo Valley is a great attraction.”
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a self-defence system that focuses on grappling and especially ground control. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage and, most notably, by taking the fight to the ground and applying techniques to force a submission.
“I teach them how to respond to situations in which they are physically threatened or attacked,” says Mike. “We practise the techniques, moves and counter-moves the children need if they find themselves in a real-life situation.”
Students of jiu-jitsu engage in regular sparring, or “rolling”, as it is called, so they can test their skills and abilities against their teammates. Rolling helps to identify opportunities for improvement as well as to strengthen advantages. The techniques are reapplied in different scenarios until they become second nature.
As the KV kids continue to advance in their ability and start practising higher grade techniques, it has become apparent that new mats for rolling would be very beneficial, as practising higher-level techniques requires more cushioned support. Specifically-designed shock-absorbing martial arts mats, however, are not cheap, coming in at around $5,000.
“In larger towns or cities where you have 5 or 6 classes each day, you have sufficient revenue for expensive equipment,” says Heidi Smart, whose son attends weekly lessons. “In a small country town however, you have to work a bit harder for what you need. Thus, a few parents decided to start a fundraising initiative to raise money to help purchase new mats for the jiu-jitsu program.”
Aside from providing a benefit to the kids who currently practise jiu-jitsu, it is hoped new mats will encourage more kids to join the classes. Specialist mats will also enable KV to host local jiu-jitsu tournaments, increasing visitor numbers. “It’s like what we’ve seen with the new soccer club,” says Mike, “families from outside the region come to the valley to compete with the local kids and in doing so, they tend to spend some time here and visit the local shops – it’s a great outcome for our community.”
To kick-start the fundraising initiative, a raffle is being held. Locally-donated prizes include:
- A weekend’s accommodation for a family in beautiful Huskisson in Jervis Bay. The accommodation is a two-bedroom townhouse in the centre of the town, within walking distance of the wharf, shops, restaurants and the beach.
- A big trailer load of quality split firewood
- 12 bottles of lovely assorted wines with reds, whites and lots more!
Tickets are $20 each or three for $50 and can be purchased at the post office, the petrol station or by calling Nathan Apps on 0402 077 890. Online purchases are also available using the QR code. The raffle will be drawn mid-June and all proceeds will be directed to purchasing new mats for KV kids!
Nathan Apps
