Kane can show wannabe wrestlers the ropes

When Kane Harris puts on his skin-tight velvet leggings, shiny knee-high vinyl lace-up boots, leopard-print vest and a black top hat he is transformed into professional wrestler Lazarus Volt.
Professional wrestling is a semi-scripted dramatic fight that tells a story. The fight is always between a good guy, known as the "baby face" and a bad guy, the "heel".
The international sport has grown steadily in popularity in New Zealand and now Mr Harris believes a niche exists for it in Tauranga.
He plans to hold Tauranga's first professional wrestling class on July 25.
Mr Harris, who is part of Kiwi Pro Wrestling, wants to train up people who have an interest in the wrestling scene.
"Wrestling is all about the entertainment," he said. "We are not only doing it for a serious fight but for a laugh. It is a lot of fun.
"In wrestling you have the opportunity to pretend to be someone else, which is really fun. A lot of it is improvised on the spot, so you don't always know what will happen in the end.
"It is also a lot more real than people think it is. You can act some of it but you can't fake the bumps and the bruises. You can't fake hitting the concrete floor hard and it can hurt."
Creating your own character and wearing a costume is also a big part of the wrestling experience.
"I came up with the name Lazarus Volt myself, and I am by far the best-dressed in the company," Mr Harris said and laughed. "My wife makes all my costumes for me because I can't sew for the life of me."
He said being fit was an important aspect of wrestling. "The first time I went along to a class, it felt like someone had taken to me with a cricket bat, but that soon changes once you are fit.
"I now put in about eight to 10 hours' training a week along with going to a gymnastics class to practice my flips. Everyone has their signature moves and because I am small, I use the top rope to do a lot of flips off."
In the new class, Mr Harris will start with the safety aspect, then move on to basic grappling and combination moves. After basic moves are taught, students will learn ring psychology and character development, where roles in the ring are decided.
The first training session will be at Argos gym in Koromiko Rd on July 25, and cost $10.
The class is open to anyone over 16 who wants to learn wrestling.
"You don't even have to have huge muscles or anything," Mr Harris said.
Anyone interested in joining can contact him on 021 171 3147.