Rebecca Kane's got girl power - and her own Martial Arts academy

Sep 30 2009 By Hilarie Stelfox

“We are training at one end of the unit while work is going on,” she explained.

“Some of the students are helping to get it ready. One is a builder and another is a plumber. It’s a real team effort – we had a painting day when a few members came to help.”

When it’s fully up and running, Rebecca hopes to expand the number of classes at the academy for children and young people.

Little Warriors, she explains, is a class for pre-schoolers accompanied by a parent. “It is about teaching them respect and discipline with fun and games to develop coordination.

“This year I started a family class and I have three sisters and two brothers attending with two of the mums. There has been some interest from dads so I’m hoping that takes off.”

One of Rebecca’s aims is to become involved in youth work using the discipline and self respect conferred by martial arts to help youngsters at risk of delinquency.

She’s also interested in the self-defence aspects of martial arts.

“I think it teaches you to be more aware of what’s going on around you and you can see trouble before it happens – and avoid it,” she said.

There’s no doubt that Rebecca doesn’t, as she says, ‘look like the stereotypical martial artist’, but that could work in her favour as she seeks to attract a mixed bunch of students from all age groups and backgrounds.

“You certainly don’t want to attract the wrong type of student,” she said.

And if anyone is found using their martial arts techniques outside a class for any purpose other than self defence Rebecca says she’ll have no choice but to bar them from the club.

Petite she may be but this is one young women who not only commands respect, but deserves it.

Rebecca practises a variety of martial arts, including:

l Kempo – a form of oriental self defence. Rebecca is a third degree black belt with the British Kempo Society and when she reaches the age of 27 will be entitled to qualify for fourth degree and progress towards master level.

l Muay Thai – a type of Thai kick boxing that uses hand, feet, elbow and knee strikes.

l Filipino martial arts – an umbrella term for a broad spread of martial arts that originated in the Philippines. Rebecca is an expert in Arnis – sparring with sticks – which is one of the forms.

l Freestyle karate – one of the most widely-practised martial arts in the West.

l For more details check out www.kaneacademy.com