Karate Leadership UK bring National Self-Defence initiative to Young people in Medway

Manage Any Nasty Trouble In Society (MANTIS) is already delivering their eight week self-defence programme to thousands of children across the UK.

It is focused on improving the lives of children by providing them with quick solutions to difficult situations, enabling them to feel safer in society.

The launch of the campaign in Medway will take place on Saturday 16 July when Chief Master Nathan Marsh former World Champion and Chief Instructor will teach the first course at his centre of excellence at Karate Leadership UK in Lordswood.

The nationwide initiative is partnered with the Anti-Bullying Alliance hosted by the National Children’s Bureau. Together, representatives from MANTIS were invited to Westminster to speak with Minister for Children and Families and Crewe and Nantwich MP, Edward Timpson, to discuss the ways that MANTIS and its partners can work together to eradicate bullying.

The eight week programme deals with eight steps for granting children the confidence to deal with physically threatening situations, starting with the techniques to release themselves from a ‘grab’ regardless of size of their opponent.

MANTIS founder and Trainer, Defence Specialist, Simon Brooker said: “MANTIS is about teaching children the skills for getting away from difficult situations quickly then being able to seek out the appropriate support structure, such as a teacher or instructor.”

“In society, we have seen an increase in violence. With this, people have different answers about how children should react, with an example being to ‘fight back’.”

“For MANTIS, we don’t believe the answer to getting rid of violence is to respond with violence. We believe the positive response is to equip children with the ability to release themselves from a potentially violent situation and have the confidence to seek support following the incident.”

Three schools in Medway are already gearing up to deliver the eight week MANTIS programme, with additional demand for sessions at KLUK’s Lordswood based Centre of Excellence.

KLUK CEO, Nathan Marsh said: “We are very pleased that MANTIS have selected us, at Karate Leadership UK, to deliver this innovative eight week programme in order to empower children across the area.”

“Karate Leadership UK is a family run Academy, with families and communities at the heart of everything we do. We already have a positive impact on around 400 children in Medway on a weekly basis, either through our Centre of Excellence in Lordswood, our community based classes across the area, or by going into schools.”

“The Children’s Protector programme will help children and young people feel safer and more confident, by tackling issues like bullying in a positive and safe environment.”

Speaking about MANTIS, Lauren Seager-Smith, National Coordinator of Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: "We want all of our children to live happy, fulfilled lives without fear of bullying. The 'Children’s Protector' is a powerful tool to empower children in the face of a physical attack. All of us - whether children or adults can benefit from learning these simple techniques.”

For more information about Karate Leadership UK and MANTIS delivery in Medway, contact Nathan Marsh by emailing karateleadershipuk@hotmail.co.uk or calling 01634 323850.

KLUK Additional Information

• Nathan Marsh has been changing the lives of children and young people, teaching martial arts in Medway for the last 23 years. He and his wife formed Karate leadership UK fifteen years ago
• KLUK opened its Centre of Excellence in Lordswood in September 2006
• KLUK currently teaches from 17 locations across Kent
• Karate Leadership UK has 17 Instructors and teaches around 1,000 students per week and about 220 members that currently attend the Lordswood centre
• The owners and main instructors of the school are Nathan and Diane Marsh. They are both professional instructors trained in the disciplines of Wado ryu karate, kickboxing, Aikido and jujitsu. Master Marsh was also WKO world kumite champion in 2000 with the English Wado ryu sports karate association.

Contact Details

Nathan Marsh, Karate Leadership UK
Telephone: 01634 323850
Mobile: 07734 079755
Email: karateleadershipuk@hotmail.co.uk