A well-known Bolton karate school has with a “heavy heart” has had to shut down one of its centres after serving the local community for 15 years.
Ippon Karate Academy was forced to close its St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School location on August 31.
The academy had opened its branch in the school 15 years ago, holding classes in its hall.
Now, St Peter and St Paul's RC Primary School told the academy they would no longer rent out the hall used for their classes, according to Jason Netherton, Chief Instructor at Ippon Karate Academy.
Jason said: “Over 15 years ago, we opened the first Ippon Karate Academy outside of our gym classes.
“Damien Leonard, [Senior Instructor at Ippon Karate Academy], asked 15 years ago if he could open a club in the school.
“And I said yes.”
Damian has strong links in the area. He had attended the school along with his mother.
Damian said: “We wanted young and older people in the diverse, multicultural area to access exercise, build up confidence and respect and to give the children of the area something to do rather than be walking the streets.”
Jason said: “We wanted to offer affordable karate classes to the the parish.
“Our other clubs required a gym membership which not all people could pay."
Ippon Karate Academy has specialised in classes for families.
And the St Peter and St Paul's-based academy wanted to make it easy for them to join.
Jason said: “We tried to provide something for families on tight budgets.
“If a family of three or four came, we would discount the price further so they could train together.”
Students as young as four could train in Shotokan karate in a room with older children and adults.
People of similar abilities would train together.
Jason saw an improvement in the children who came.
He said: “It helped them stay off the streets and get active.
“It gave them an opportunity to exercise and socialise as a group.
“I saw their discipline improve.
“They would get a sense of achievement and being part of a community.”
The karate academy also welcomed people with additional needs.
He said: “We had a lot of children coming to us who were on the autism spectrum.
“We were well-known in the area for teaching them and encouraging people with any challenges to come and learn.”
And on August 31, the academy closed its doors with a “heavy heart”.
Its students and their parents were disappointed, Damian said.
He said: “This means our academy will have to move to a new venue, which will be inconvenient for some families who do not have transport to travel there.
“This could mean they will need to stop attending the club and lose connection with the friends they have made.
“And the work they have put into their training to gain their new belts.”
The karate academy is looking for a venue in the area.
Jason said: “A lot of students and parents walked to our academy in the school.
“We felt obligated to find a club so those people can keep attending.
“We have academies in that area that people can get to now, but we wanted to find one for people who don’t drive to still go.”
And for now, they have an alternative venue.
Damian said: “We have now sourced a new training venue at St Bede CE Primary Academy in Morris Green on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“Our club will always grow and be there for our students and their families.
“We are continuing to try and source a venue close to St Peter and Paul's for any students who struggle with the traveling.”
A spokesperson for St Peter and St Paul's RC Primary School said: "We have recently undertaken a review of our hall hire and locking up policy, in line with the latest health and safety and safeguarding regulations. As such, we felt it no longer currently possible to offer the hire of our hall to external organisations. We wish the club the very best for the future."
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