Man beaten up at 15 stopping bullies with MMA classes
Sumaiya Motara/BBCA man who was badly beaten up as a teenager is setting up self-defence classes for young people - especially girls and young women - to combat bullying.
Nicholas Pearce, 37, from Sukata Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Boxing in Accrington said he became anxious and put on weight when he was "jumped by six lads" when he was 15.
He said when he was 19, his friend dragged him to martial arts training and it had "saved my life", and he now felt, "I got lucky so I want to help others".
Pearce, said the women's classes were less about violence and more about "spatial awareness", balance and how to avoid attack". Free classes for women will be starting later as part of the four-week drive.
Pearce said he got involved with MMA after being "really timid" following the street attack during which he had his head stamped on.
He added: "I ended up about 18 or 19 stones but I had a friend who said, 'I've started these classes just do it', despite my protests.
"I just got hooked on it."
'Defend my friends'
Some of the classes are aimed at children but all were welcome, he said.
"With kids, we want them to enjoy it so they come back. We just want them to have fun and then, when they become adults, they can take it a bit more seriously."
He added the kids learned problem-solving skills and resilience, including 14-year-old Ellie who told Radio Lancashire: "I started this to try, like, defend myself from bullies.
"I've noticed it helps a lot because I don't get bullied at all and I can also defend my friends - who don't know what to exactly do - from bullies."
Her dad, Phil, who is one of the instructors, said he got involved to help protect his own children.
The father of four added: "I went and spoke to Nick and said, 'look, can I put a kid's class on even if it's just for my four so I can teach them?'
"And it just grew from there, basically."
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