MMA lessons aim to empower special needs pupils

A special educational needs (SEN) school in Birmingham which has introduced mixed martial arts (MMA) lessons claims they have improved students' behaviour and led to them getting better grades.

Many of the young people attending Lindsworth School, Kings Norton, have been excluded from state schools and at risk of disengagement from education and society.

While the full-contact combat sport has a reputation for being violent, staff with the school said they have used it to teach pupils respect and self-discipline.

Aimran Majid, who runs the lessons, said "people have this perception of martial arts, that it's just fighting and being hit and it's not - there's much more to it".

The owner of Kombat Martial Arts in Stirchley said his programme was tailor-made for learning.

He teaches core skills such as behaviour, non-verbal communication and social skills to "develop them as people so they can go out and do better".

Malakye, a Year 10 pupil who has autism, said: "Not a lot of schools offer this type of thing, and I think it's definitely helped a lot of the kids here, including me."

The student, who was excluded from primary school before his autism diagnosis, said the MMA lessons have improved how he regulates his emotions.

"Being able to go and maybe if I'm angry, or something, I can get my anger out," he added.

He has developed a passion for the sport and is among a number of pupils now attending lessons at the dojo outside of school.

Assistant head teacher Courtney Ballard said the lessons have improved the students self-worth.

"They are no longer negative or have thoughts of negativity towards themselves," he said,

"They now think of themselves as big, bright, confident, open individuals and that is now showing within their work."

Nathaniel, a Year 9 pupil, has moved up two classes since coming to Lindsworth School.

After being excluded from mainstream school, he said the support from staff coupled with the MMA lessons have helped him "gain in confidence" and made him more disciplined.

He said he was excited to go to school on a Thursday when the sessions take place.

The school currently puts on two sessions a week for a small number of young people but Ballard said he would like to expand it, so it could have a wider impact at the school.

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