As part of this badge work the Cubs have to try two new, to them, sports. The Leaders have access to two very different types of sport; Hathi, through his sons has a nice gentle sport; indoor short mat bowls, Akela, through his son James has access to a more active sport :- Kickboxing.
A friend of James, Dan has recently become a Black Belt 3rd Dan and is now able to teach kickboxing. He was invited to come along and do a demonstration with James.
After an introduction from Akela there was a short session of warm-ups that left one or two of the Leaders gasping for breath,
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and they had only been watching and taking a few photos. Cubs were paired up and the idea of them trying various moves was abandoned as it was realised that there was not enough safety equipment to go round. So all The Cubs were given the opportunity to learn a couple of kicks. The lads got a big cushion out and displayed how to do front kicks and side kicks.
The Cubs then had a chance to attack the pad. Low kicks to the knee area were
easy, middle kicks to the body were a bit of a struggle and high kicks to the
head were out for all but the most supple or taller Cubs.
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The pads that Dan and James were using were put to the test when Akela was asked to hold one and the power of a properly trained and fit kick-boxer was demonstrated on him.
All the Cubs were given the chance to try three types of kicks before moving onto punches, sadly time had flown past and we were getting to a point where we would shortly have to pack everything away. James and Dan then got dressed in their full protective clothes and gave a short demonstration of various combinations of kicks and punches.
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As the kick-boxer were protected the Cubs were allowed to have a try at connecting a blow to one or other of them. If any of the Cubs managed to land a kick on the two experts it would have been amazing. Try as hard as they would the kicks were blocked or dodged a masterful display.
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All too soon it was time to end, the Cubs were given a warning; "Try any of these moves on anybody and we (the Leaders) hear about it then that Cub will not be welcome back!" So far the news has been good, nobody has done anything stupid.
Thanks are due to Dan and James for their time and enthusiasm. As soon as Dan can get the web-page of his class details we will be happy to put them here.
I said to the Cub who split their trousers doing one of the kicks that I wouldn't mention his/her name. . . See below
I'm not going to break my word so it will be a secret between the Cubs that were there and me.