Combat club keeping students sharp
Fri 04 June 2010
Jared Dodgson, Bachelor of Journalism
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s mixed martial arts combat club keeps students busy and mentally alert, teaching them useful life skills.
The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) is adaptive, promotes fitness and good competitive nature as well as self discipline.
The USC Combat Club has been attracting more and more students as a means of learning practical self defence, boosting confidence levels and getting physically active.
The club is the idea of Matthew Hull-Styles and an off shoot of local Sunshine Coast based Advance mixed martial arts club.
“MMA is fairly misunderstood by the mainstream media,” Mr Hull-Styles said.
“In reality, MMA is one of the safest combat sports in existence and blends aspects of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai and boxing to give a practitioner well rounded fighting skills and excellent physical fitness.
“It’s a dynamic, ever changing sport that requires a sense of humility to hone and synthesise all the aspects into a singular flowing style.”
The club has attracted a number of students from different backgrounds and study groups, but the reaction has been very much the same.
Sports and exercise sciences student Yongju Park is an active participant in the club.
“I think that MMA is the ultimate package for people who want to be fit aerobically, anaerobically, and interested in learning practical martial art,” Mr. Park said.
“It taught me ground game as well as stand up game.
“I learnt different exercises that kept me aerobically fit, and also made me think about the fight plan.
“I definitely think that I can apply MMA skills in real life if I needed to.”
Not only are students learning and developing their skills in the sport of mixed martial arts as well as staying fit, but it is a place to come together, to escape from the stresses of university life and develop camaraderie.
As well as personal support, there is the added support and pride of training for competition.
The recent Submission Grappling Queensland Brisbane Championship has just occurred, and a number of students attended the competition.
One student who did so was Kristoffer Lindkvist, who received two placings, second in his weight class of blue belts division and third in intermediate submission wrestling.
The club, although still in its early stages, offers a unique opportunity for university students to take a break from study and learn some new and valuable skills.
Whether learning self defence or aiming to compete, there is likely something to suit anyone’s needs.
“I think training in combat sports gives people an alternative to traditional sports and fitness activities that may not hold much interest for them,” Mr Hull-Styles said.
“Combat sports like MMA are largely pragmatic and streamlined in their application, so people learn 'pressure tested' skills that coincide with a high level of fitness, quite often leading to positive mental and physical changes in their lives.”
Mr Hull-Styles assures potential members it is no problem if participants have previous martial arts experience.
“If you like the fighting arts or just want a new and fun way to get fit come along to a Combat Club session or Boxercise class at the stadium,” Mr Hull-Styles said.
“We are a friendly group and enjoying training and learning together without having delusions of being experts or pro fighters.
“Any skill level is welcome so feel free to come along.”
This is just another way the university is offering students the opportunity to grow, both in their education, fitness and personal life.
Image(s) designed by Jared Dodgson