GETTING TO GRIPS: Alain
N'Galani, 28, with pupils Christopher Foreman, 10, (left) and Saheeb Ambekar,
13, at Island Gym.
Photo: Steve Cray © 2003 SCM Post
SCM Post, Saturday, July 26, 2003
By
Steve Cray (Email steve.cray@scmp.com)
Lessons in life pack a hefty punch away from the screen
|
|
|
GETTING TO GRIPS: Alain
N'Galani, 28, with pupils Christopher Foreman, 10, (left) and Saheeb Ambekar,
13, at Island Gym. |
Bored youngsters on one of Hong Kong’s outlying islands can get their kicks in the company of world champions rather than on the streets, thanks to a new project that opened its doors last week.
Instead of spending hours in front of computer screens or hanging out, youngsters of all ages looking to add punch to the long summer holiday can join a team of experts offering everything from dance and aerobics to Thai kick boxing, karate and judo.
Four times martial arts world champion Shihan Khru Pierre Ingrassia, who has just opened Island Gym in Yung Shue Wan, Lamma. Island, says it is important for youngsters to have a place where they can expend their energy while developing physical and mental skills.
"I’m not against computer games — I play them myself — but there is a problem with spending hours in front of them," he said.
Khru Pierre, 42, who also runs Fightin Fit in Stanley Street, Central said one of his aims was to encourage a spirit of multiculturalism.
 |
|
Pierre Ingrassia: |
"I’m trying to educate western kids about eastern culture and eastern kids about western culture. We have an African instructor and my wife Angela is British but originally from Nepal. We are truly multicultural," he said.
The African Khru Pierre refers to is 28-year-old Alain N’Galani, a kick boxing and karate champion from Camaroon. Alain, who will represent Hong Kong in die World Koshiki Karatedo Federation Japan Cup in Tokyo next weekend, said martial arts saved him from an uncertain life on the streets with his friends. “They can push you to do things — bad things. But when I started to train my behaviour changed, I even started to clean the house of my master every Sunday. Your master is like a god. Martial arts are all about respect, he said.
Khru Pierre’s wife Angela, 32, a second degree black belt in karate came up with the idea for Island Gym and runs a range of activities for younger children, from Baby Jam (two to four) and Dance Divas (four to six) through to junior combat and aerobics.
For more details about summer activities on Lamma or in Central ring Island Gym on 2982 1861 or Fightin Fit on 2526 6648.