A sports club in Calne is offering youngsters a chance to study for a slightly unusual GCSE – the art of boxing.
Calne Amateur Boxing Club, based at the at Beversbrook Sports Facility, is opening its doors for youngsters to have the chance to enrol on the ASDAN examining board accredited course.
It is non-contact boxing, which involves learning the moves and science behind boxing, including how to stand, how to punch and how to defend.
Training is open to people aged five to 17 and leads to an ABA certificate, as well as the potential of gaining a GCSE.
Students will be guided through the basic skills , building up from skipping and stance to punching and jabbing styles.
The course also teaches key skills such as team work, problem solving, research, discussion and improving learning and performance.
Coach Jay O’Sullivan said said: “Our numbers had started to drop off slightly but now we have started offering the GCSE, we are hoping they are going to go back up again.
“On the course, the juniors will learn the science of boxing and the same techniques as boxers in the mainstream gym. They will get certificates for their progress and come out of it with a GCSE in the art of boxing.”
The Tuesday night course has been running for two weeks. Mr O’Sullivan said: “This is something we have wanted to do at the club for a long time and now we have two trained coaches and we are really pleased.”
The Calne youngsters will be following in the footsteps of 12 Portsmouth students who made history after becoming the first in the country to gain GCSE in boxing this month.
Anyone interested in enrolling should contact Jay on j666tur@sky.com
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