Barry could become the karate capital of Wales now a new line in karate and kickboxing classes are making their way to the town.

A school sports hall in Barry is the venue for the all new WCKA club, which is aiming to encourage more women and children to take part in martial arts.

On offer at the sports hall is an after school karate club for 4-7 year olds and 7+ year olds, as well as a ladies cardio kickboxing class.

As well as learning basic karate skills, the youngest group – named ‘Little Dragons’ – are also taught life skills, first aid, stranger awareness and fire safety. Meanwhile the over 7’s will learn some more advanced moves as well as some anti-bullying tactics. And for the mums, as well as improving their fitness they’ll also be taught self defence.

The club has been set up with the help of £750 funding from the Sports Council for Wales’ Community Chest scheme. Together with the organisations £1,000 contribution, the money will be ploughed into child friendly equipment and a sound system.

Since 1999 the Sports Council’s National Lottery funded Community Chest scheme has spread its prize pot to just under 10,000 projects Wales wide, providing opportunities for people living in every area of Wales to get out there and active.

Traditionally supporting sports clubs and sporting organisations, the remit has since expanded. So while the scheme is still supporting traditional sports and activities, it is also adopting alternative approaches to getting more people more active, more often. Priority has shifted to delivering opportunities for everybody to engage in physical activity, whether that be during work time, spare time, social time or retirement.

The Sports Council for Wales is urging more projects in the Vale of Glamorgan to come forward to apply for the £80,154 of Community Chest funding available to the area. For more information and to find out whether your project is eligible for a grant worth up to £750, please contact your local authority sports development team.

For more information on the karate and kickboxing classes in Barry classes, please contact Derek Hughes, head coach on 07973 5063338