A Dundonald MMA gym is growing from strength to strength after celebrating success at a recent British Championships.
RAPTR currently has over 100 members ranging from the age of four to "40 and beyond".
They teach multiple Mixed Martial Arts and self-defence through Jeet Kune Do including Ju-jitsu, Savate, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Grappling Arts and the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) of Kali/Escrima/Arnis.
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Last month the club competed at the Northern Ireland Open and British Savate Championships and came away with four gold medals.
Savate is a hugely popular form of French kickboxing that is minimal contact, making it appealing to both young people and adults.
"We had four children who won their categories, so we have four British champions which is incredible," said RAPTR coach and co-owner Sarah Seawright.
"They were all girls - Haley Herron (9), Lacey Hennessey (8) and her sister Demi (13), and Séana McRandal (17).
"Demi actually faced her older sister Frankie (15) in the final, so they took gold and silver home with them. So it is a house of champions.
"That family is a story on its own. The final between Demi and Frankie could have gone either way.
"The aim now is to send all those girls to the European Championships this summer. That is the next big target and we will be fundraising for those championships in Austria.
"The club has to raise all the funds for the trip but we can't wait for that."
RAPTR launched its new gym in Dundonald in November last year, but their opening was delayed by two years due to the Covid pandemic.
They had managed to run a trial event in March 2020 before the first lockdown was introduced, forcing the club and its members to resort to online training methods.
"We managed to get 18-19 people competing in that trial, and then there was absolutely nothing during Covid," Sarah said.
"It was around Christmas last year that events started returning, so it was a long time out for everyone involved.
"We managed to take about 33 competitors to the British Championships. So it has really mushroomed for us due to the success we have had."
Sarah admits there were significant challenges presented by the pandemic, including keeping the club's members motivated.
"It was difficult, but the kids seemed to take it in their stride, maybe because they are more accepting of technology," she added.
"But the adults and older children were a bit more self conscious and struggled a wee bit more.
"Apart from Séana. She actually trained on her own for her first grade in Savate, literally on Zoom. And she completed that at the end of lockdown.
"That was quite a feat and showed her dedication."
RAPTR - which initially started running sessions in leisure centres about six years ago - is starting to thrive in their new premises which opened last November.
Their gym now houses members from three gyms which merged together, from Dundonald, Bangor and Holywood.
And Sarah says the club prides itself on helping change people's lives.
"We have one little girl who used to just sit and watch her sisters for eight or nine months. She was a little anxious to get involved," Sarah explained.
"She was very nervous going to her first competition, but she saw her sisters doing it and decided to give it a go.
"And she has grown in confidence, even at school and with friends. She is thriving socially, so you see the benefits.
"It has had a big impact on their levels of confidence."
Fellow coach and co-owner Mark Brockman says the trials of lockdown brought out the best in the club's members - young and old alike.
"During lockdown we were on every day via Zoom calls and online activities and training," he said.
"We were keeping things ticking over as best we could. At that stage we didn't even have our own premises. We had signed all the legals two weeks before lockdown arrived.
"So it has been very character building. Everyone had a rough time, but we were particularly blessed because the coaches and the kids themselves really stepped up during lockdown.
"And it has really paid off, and we are delighted to see the fruits of their labour now.
"We have actually thrived over the past couple of years despite Covid, which is really encouraging.
"We must be doing something right."
He added: "We cater for various mixed martial arts for young people and adults, so there is something that appeals to everyone.
"In the Filipino Martial Arts have numerous British and European champions, and my daughter is a world champion.
"It is stick fighting, basically. If you think of Kendo but with two shorter sticks, and you have the armour on as well.
"So we have a full programme of stuff that people can enjoy.
"We are taking new members and we have a lot of new inquiries, particularly from parents with young children who are anxious.
"They can join their kids on the mat to ease them into it, although some of the adults join themselves.
"We are just so proud of the kids and it's great seeing them get the reward they deserve."
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