Surrey entrepreneur backs black belt scholarship for YISP kids
A Surrey businessman is backing World Kickboxing Champion Paul Bernard’s unique black belt scholarship scheme to help high-spirited youngsters steer clear of trouble by teaching them discipline, respect and self-worth through martial arts.
Self-made millionaire Andrew Reynolds is donating over £3,000 to the programme run jointly by Precision Martial Arts and Hart and Rushmoor Youth Inclusion and Support Panel (YISP). The money will fund the first year of the three-to-five year black belt course for three Hampshire boys.
Mr Reynolds has been impressed by the progress made by the three lads – Ross Clynes, aged 14, Aiden Nisbet, 13, and 12-year-old Paul Linsell – who started the course in autumn.
Parents and case workers have seen positive changes in the youngsters since they began the course. All three have learned to control their anger at home and at school.
Mr Reynolds said: “When I first leant of the scholarship scheme from the local news I immediately wanted to see if there was something I could do to help. This project offers a great foundation of stability for these young people and I am very proud to be supporting the work of Precision Martial Arts.”
The Camberley-based entrepreneur will present a cheque for £3,141 to Precision Martial Arts’ Master Bernard at a graduation ceremony on Sunday 24th January.
“We are very grateful to Mr Reynolds for his vision and support for this project. His generous donation will help these three boys through the first year of their black belt scholarship,” said Master Bernard.
“The scheme is proof that martial arts can help children with challenging behaviours turn their lives around. The three YISP boys I am coaching have come along in leaps and bounds. They arrived with attitude, but in six weeks were attentive and keen to learn.
“All three have gained confidence, control and discipline. They have learned to walk away from trouble. The boys are determined to finish the black belt scholarship course at Precision, and thanks to Mr Reynolds, they are well on the way to achieving that.” YISP, part of the Wessex Youth Offending Team, works with children who play truant, have problems at home and at school or have come to the notice of the police. Often, the eight to 13-year-olds are referred to YISP by police, children’s services, teachers, community safety teams and even parents who are keen to stop them turning to crime.
Master Bernard, who launched Precision Martial Arts eight years ago, is convinced martial arts can help these children turn their lives around.
Ross, Aiden and Paul were chosen from a group of youngsters from YISP after they demonstrated the right attitude necessary and maintained the rules set by Master Bernard in order to qualify for a scholarship to gain a black belt in martial arts. The rules included no anti-social behaviour, truancy, bullying, fighting or stealing and maintaining respect at home, school and the martial arts academy.
The Precision Martial Arts graduation ceremony will take place at Camberley Theatre at 1pm on 24th January when five students will receive their black belts.
Among those graduating is 11-year-old Aiden Webber who has qualified for his 3rd Degree black belt – one of the youngest in the country to achieve this. Aiden from Deepcut, Surrey, began training with Precision when he was just four.
Master Bernard said: “Statistically only 4 per cent of students achieve black belt status and only 14 per cent of the initial 4 per cent reach the 3rd Degree level that young Aiden has. We believe Aiden is the youngest in the country to achieve this level and we are all very proud of him.”
Students receiving their 1st Degree black belts are nine-year-old Charlie Langley and 32-year-old Jamie Hill both from Sandhurst, Jackie Vandenberg, aged 34, and 39-year-old Myak Homberger from Camberley.
About Precision Martial Arts:
Precision Martial Arts has two academies catering to the needs of people in Surrey and Hampshire. The Camberley school was launched in 2001 and Precision's first full-time academy opened January 2007. The second full-time academy opened in Aldershot in March 2008.
Precision Martial Arts was founded by World Kickboxing Champion Master Paul Bernard in 2001 to meet the demand for lessons from the local community. Today, with his wife Elaine working alongside him, Paul has four highly trained instructors on staff teaching a total of 200 students in the two academies.
Students are taught a selection of martial arts including Kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Brazilian Jujitsu and Kung-Fu and work their way up a succession of belts from the beginners white to the ultimate black belt.
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