Limavady BJJ coach offers free classes to combat violence against women

Concerned Limavady Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach, Andy Chapman has made the generous gesture of offering newcomer females aged five up free classes at his club until end of 2024.

Andy, who is the head coach of Club Team Ryano BJJ club in Limavady, was so troubled by a recent surge in violence against women in the local area, that he decided to take immediate action.

The offer allows adult females and girls from age of five, free access to classes on the membership timetable during November and December.

All newcomer females will be partnered with an experienced female, with the aim of learning an effective combat sport to battle potential assaults.

Andy explained why he chose to make this decision to help females in Limavady feel safer.

“The reason why I thought about offering the free memberships was that it had become apparent that there was a growing problem that women are put in very vulnerable positions," he said.

“I think that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very effective self-defence art for females is because it is a sport which uses leverage and control over strength so it suits weaker individuals.

“Generally speaking, men are stronger than women, that is a simple fact, so if we can promote a self-defence art, which encourages the use leverage over strength, that is a very good self-defence art for females to learn.

“The reason that I wanted to push this is because we have a very active female membership in our gym; we have currently four female European Champions and it is great to see their confidence grow through the sport.”

ABOVE: Andy Chapman, Team Ryano Head Coach, former European Champion and current English and Irish Open champion.

Over 2,000 people attended a rally for women’s safety in Derry Guildhall on Friday November 8 in protest against recent attacks on women in the city.

Within the previous week, two women in the Derry city area were assaulted or threatened at knifepoint.

The Guildhall Square rally was organised to show solidarity with the women attacked and the 24 women murdered in the North since 2020.

One of the reasons that Andy was so passionate about supporting women against the threat of violence is because of his own daughter, who began BJJ classes at five years old.

She will be following in her father’s footsteps at the sport, as Andy is a former European Champion and a current English and Irish Open Champion.

He pointed out that younger girls are also very welcome to take up the free 2024 classes:

“The offer is also open to kids, female children from age of 6 upwards so this is not just for women.”

Andy points interested females towards the timetable on the Team Ryano Facebook page and the Limavady Ryanos BJJ Instagram page.

He encourages anyone who is interested to message either of the pages or to reach out directly to him or his female coaches, Carla McGuigan and Majella McLaughlin, who are both European Champions.

Women only beginner jiu-jitsu classes take place every Friday at Club Team Ryano in Limavady at 7pm.

Further information about the club can be sought from their Facebook or Instagram pages.