One of Northern Ireland's leading mixed martial arts organisations has been leading the way in educating young people about health and fitness.
ZKJ Dojo was set up in 1998 with the goal of promoting all aspects and benefits of martial arts. Since then, it has grown into a key pillar in the community, working to engage young people on the margins of society in positive life-changing activities.
Now, the group based in Glengormley has received a grant from charity Heart Research UK for their new project which will give disadvantaged young people the tools and skills to keep a healthy lifestyle.
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Their new project, called 'You're All Heart', will target hard to reach people with a life-changing programme which combines the many health benefits of martial arts with their youth work approach to build self-esteem and a positive attitude to long term health and nutritional goal setting.
They want to create real bonds between participants and mentors with the aim to build self-confidence, resilience, and improve decision making in relation to keeping a healthy heart. People taking part in the project will be ages 5-30, where the youngest will be educated as a preventative aspect with the hope of teaching them early about lifestyle impact on the heart.
The older participants are faced with a myriad of challenges in their lives such including unemployment and educational underachievement. This kind of stress can have bad impact on healthy habits and the heart and ZKJ are hoping their project will give their participants the tools and support to build a healthy future.
Danny Corr, Project Leader at ZKJ, told Belfast Live their new project fits into the ethos they hold close at the gym.
They aim to provide a holistic approach to health, lifestyle, and fitness. Four years ago, they opened their new gym on the Antrim Road, and during lockdown they led other programmes such as bringing kids in to study for their English and maths GCSEs.
Danny said: "There's very few people who actually compete in MMA, it's maybe 10%, but if you're going to train and get good at what you're doing here, you have to be healthy and fit. You can't abuse your body too much with foods and drink and everything else.
"It's a good foundation for the kids to learn. If they want to do training and be the best at it, you have to be healthy.
"It's so exciting for them coming in here, it just stuns them when they see the cage. MMA replaces the adrenaline buzz they'd get on the streets maybe doing stuff they're not meant to."
Danny, who is originally from Ardoyne but has been living in Glengormley for 30 years, said they're grateful to be able to run such a community-focused space. He also said a space like this is needed for young people in the area, who are often at a loss for what to do, which can lead to anti-social behaviour.
"I feel there's not much for kids in Glengormley. There's plenty of fast food places, which is why it's good we're able to put on healthy living programmes like this," he added.
"We picked this spot as it's so neutral, so kids and those who are older can come from everywhere. We open those doors on a Monday and the place is packed. There's 120 or 130 people that would come through here every night of the week.
"My kids have grown up here and we've always had a gym in Glengormley, even before I lived up here. It's great having somewhere like this for the community to use."
ZKJ is a success story for mixed martial arts and community work, with one of its members joining when he was 14 and now competing professionally at 28, and many others taking part on a weekly basis.
They recently won the World Amateur Award for Changing Lives through sport, and work with partners like Comic Relief to provide esteem building programmes for youths affected by negative influences in their lives.
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