Women and girls attend 'empowering' sparring event

2 hours ago

Angela FergusonNorth West

News image — British Muay Thai kickboxer Amber Kitchen was a special guest at the all-female sparring workshop in Warrington

Frank Bonada/Royal Navy A woman with long brown hair and wearing a pink T-shirt and patterned shorts is smiling while sitting on the outside of a boxing ring in a gym. — British Muay Thai kickboxer Amber Kitchen was a special guest at the all-female sparring workshop in Warrington

More than 40 women and girls have taken part in an "empowering" combat sports workshop, designed to boost confidence and try out martial arts.

The women-only sparring event was organised by the Royal Navy Combat Sisters project in partnership with Ms Muay Thai and Unity Thai Boxing in Warrington.

British Muay Thai kickboxer and Combat Sisters ambassador Amber Kitchen was a special guest at the event.

Royal Navy leading physical training (LPT) instructor Sophie Colbourne said it was a "rare opportunity" to attend an event like this, and it was "really good to see everyone coming together".

She said it was good to be able to organise the session to "bring women from the Thai boxing community together and "gives them confidence to carry on" with the sport.

Some of those attending were new to the sport, she said, adding that the workshop was also a good way to "empower [women] to feel confident and be around the martial arts community".

'Safe space'

Warrant Officer Dennis Harrison said the aims of the Combat Sisters workshops were encouraging more women and girls to take part in combat sports and empowering them and creating "a safe space for them to express themselves".

He said they hoped to hold more such events in future.

Harrison said the Royal Navy also worked alongside The Jessica Project as part of its work supporting the wider campaign to end violence against women and girls.

The Jessica Project is a survivor-led not for profit organisation supporting recovery from sexual violence and domestic abuse.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said Combat Sisters was the latest community project in northern England to be driven by Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel.

It builds on the Weapons Down, Gloves Up initiative - tackling knife and gang crime in major cities which has been running for more than two years, they added.

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