Dry Drayton gym using martial arts to empower young

The motto of the Scotland Road gym is 'Do things you thought you couldn't do'.

Luca Senatore has opened a new martial arts and fitness facility in Dry Drayton to enable youngsters to address physical and mental health issues – especially bullying – and to provide positive role models for children as well as adults.

The facility, called Rolling Dojo, has two floors, with the upper floor fitted out as a gym and the lower floor fully matted for martial arts. “We chose the best lights, the best equipment, everything is spot on,” said Luca, who is agency director at digital marketing specialists Genie Goals. He has been practising martial arts since the age of 10 and is a huge fan of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“It’s one of the most effective forms of martial arts,” he explained. “It relies on immobilising your opponent with locks and holds – not striking them. It’s a beautiful art form, especially in an anti-bullying context – you don’t want your child to be hit, but you also don’t want them to hit anyone, so you immobilise them and wait for help.

“Rolling​ ​Dojo​ ​is​ ​not being​ ​created​ ​for​ ​the​ ​profits. It’d​ ​be​ ​nice​ ​if​ ​it​ ​made​ ​some​ ​but​ ​that’s​ ​not​ ​the​ ​drive.​ ​The​ ​driver​ ​is​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​place where​ ​people​ ​can evolve,​ ​grow​ ​and​ ​achieve​ ​physical​ ​and​ ​mental​ ​greatness​ ​in​ ​a​ ​safe,​ ​motivating​ ​and inspirational​ ​environment.​ ​

“I​ ​wanted​ ​a​ ​place​ ​where​ ​adults​ ​and​ ​kids​ ​could​ ​learn​ ​vital ​skills​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​self defence​ ​and​ ​anti-bullying,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​to​ ​evolve​ ​their​ ​emotional​ ​intelligence,​ ​confidence,​ ​resilience​ ​and​ ​empathy.”

The motto of the Scotland Road gym is ‘Do things you thought you couldn’t do’.

“We are setting very small goals and every month you’ll do something which you thought you couldn’t do,” said Luca, whose had to quit school in Italy aged 14 to help his family make ends meet. He is now a huge fan of empowering children from a young age.

“All​ ​people​ ​can​ ​benefit​ ​from​ ​additional​ ​emotional​ ​intelligence​ ​training,” he says. “​All our​ ​programs,​ ​for kids​ ​and​ ​adults,​ ​have​ ​strong​ ​specific​ ​focus​ ​and​ ​syllabus​ ​on emotional​ ​intelligence,​ ​empathy, confidence,​ ​resilience,​ ​mindfulness,​ ​relaxation​ ​and​ ​stress​ ​release.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​these​ ​skills​ ​would​ ​allow​ ​our​ ​kids​ ​to grow​ ​up​ ​happier and​ ​healthier.”

Bookings are being taken for children from the age of five. Prices start at £45 for ages five to seven and £55 for older children and adults. A second membership is half-price. Members can attend up to three sessions per week.

Visit rollingdojo.co.uk.