People across Stoke-on-Trent are being giving the opportunity to learn different martial arts techniques including Olympic disciplines as part of a Festival of Sport. Taster sessions are on offer throughout the summer to encourage the public to get more involved in sport.
The sessions, at the Willfield Centre, Lauder Place North in Bentilee, include:
July 30 – 7.30pm to 9pm – jujitsu, the unarmed martial arts technique taught as self defence
July 31– 2pm to 5pm – lai do, the art of drawing the Japanese long sword
July 31 – 2pm to 5pm – katori shinto ryu, recreating Samurai movement techniques to improve agility and balance
August 1 – 10am – 12pm – karate do, combining jujutsu and karate techniques
August 3 – 7pm – 8.30pm – karate do
August 3 – 7.30pm – 9pm – aikido, teaching restraint and control techniques
August 4 – 7.30pm – 9pm – judo, the youngest of the Japanese arts. Developed from jujitsu, to allow the techniques of throwing, joint locking and restraints to be practiced in a competitive form
August 4 – 7.30pm – 9pm – katori shinto ryu
August 5 – 7.30pm – 9pm – aikido
Stoke-on-Trent City Councillor Hazel Lyth said: "Taster sessions for other sports throughout 2010 have been really successful and we want that to continue.
"The martial arts sessions are a good opportunity for people to try out something different and that they may not have tried before.