A course to empower women and provide a safe space to exercise instead of running on dark streets has been launched by a Sheffield kickboxer.
Savage Ladies Kickboxing Sheffield, run by Casey Hargrieves, aims to celebrate the strength, resilience, and incredible achievements of women worldwide through exercise and self-defence.
The classes implement exercise drills, fitness, kickboxing circuits and even self defence to help women protect themselves and regain confidence in the case of violent situations.
Mr Hargrieves, 27, said: “Hopefully, it wouldn’t, but if it does ever happen to them I want them to have the tools to help them get out of situations. It could be anything with an abusive partner, just a random person or it could be something they need to tell to their kids.”
Charlotte Emma Lockwood, 41, a previous participant said: “My main go to exercise is running and I do like to get out on my own but as a woman with the shorter days this can often feel intimidating and limit my options. The kick boxing course has made me feel more empowered but unfortunately as a woman I still have to take much more consideration on when and where I run.
“It’s been great to meet other local women in the area who share common goals and challenges around finding time and space to exercise in a safe environment. Casey is a brilliant coach and motivates the group to push themselves to what’s appropriate for them.”
Mr Hargrieves, 27, said: ““We just want them to push themselves as much as they can so they feel proud of themselves and they will have our full support.”
The Savage Martial Arts group has been recognised as a top performing group across the UK, America and Australia.
Savage Ladies Kickboxing runs two separate courses at Wisewood Sports Centre on Tuesday 6:15pm, and Hillsborough Leisure Centre on Monday 6:45pm and now they are providing one of these courses for free, so that participants can attend both.
Mr Hargrieves said: “When I was growing up I had nothing and sometimes I couldn’t get to the gym because it was a financial obstacle, because I didn’t come from a rich family or anything like that.
“We’re just trying to reward and give back to everyone.”
The course is catered to ladies as young as 14 to over 50 who all have different personal reasons for being there. Whether that be weight-based, getting fit, improving at kickboxing or to have a hobby.
He added: “In terms of the progress, I’ve seen ladies drop 2 to 3 stone, I’ve seen other ladies, when they stick to it and they’re committed, come out of their shell. They wouldn’t speak to anybody the first 3 weeks and now they walk in and they’re cracking jokes with everybody.
“I think some of the ladies are there for the social part of it too and just to find like-minded ladies. The progress has just been phenomenal.”
Mr Hargrieves said: “To me it means everything, as someone who came from nothing and I’m helping other people change their lives now, the way Lee helped me change mine.”
