Fighting classes provide new focus for youth

CHANGED: Te Ra Tutonu Hiku, 15, with trainer Joe Spiers at Lion's Den in central Whangarei, says Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has helped turn his life around. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Fifteen-year-old Whangarei high school student Te Ra Tutonu Hiku says he would have been lost without the discipline and motivation provided by training for mixed martial arts.

After a short stint of mixed martial arts training at the Lion's Den Ministries' Rathbone St premises Te Ra he found immediate benefits.

"After the first few months of training I noticed my school work improved, and my grades got way better," he said.

"If I wasn't doing any training or hanging out at the Den I would still be down in the dumps."

This is the culture Joe Spiers, founder of Lion's Den Ministries, is aiming for.

Mr Spiers, with Talor Wetere and Ryan Anderson, formed Lion's Den Ministries as a charitable trust two and a half years ago, providing free mixed martial arts (MMA) classes and a positive environment for at-risk youth.

"The main reason we are doing it is to keep kids off the streets by providing a positive alternative activity," said Mr Spiers.

"If you give the kids somewhere positive to go, give them some stress relief and a chance to blow off some steam as well as surround them with positive role models, hopefully this has a lasting effect on the individuals as well as the community."

As well as providing free classes, Lion's Den Ministries is contracted by the Whangarei District Council to work with young offenders around the community.

Mr Spiers said they also work closely with the local "de-tag" programme, which helps paint over graffiti around the town.

"It's more than just taking them out to paint over graffiti, it's another way for us to engage the youth," he said. "We want to be a lot more than just a mixed martial arts gym, we're trying to make a positive impact on the youth of Whangarei."

In addition to the youth programme, senior fighters within the gym have also been successful in fight night events around the country.

At the recent "Shuriken Proving Grounds" fight night on Auckland's North Shore on July 26, two Lion's Den fighters came away winners.

Talor Wetere won his A-Class bout, while fellow fighter Calvin Maxwell also took away the win in his B-Class fight.

Mr Spiers said the future is promising for Lion's Den Ministries as they had organised Whangarei's first MMA fight night.

The event, called "Genesis", will feature fighters from around the country at an alcohol-free night at ASB Stadium on November 1.

"We're trying to change all the negative stigma surrounding the sport. People often think it's quite brutal and barbaric but we're trying to bring out the positive aspects about what we do," Mr Spiers said.