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Self defence and martial arts for all the family!

May 12, 2021
in MIN News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
419 4
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A NEW martial arts and self defence school has opened in Bowerhill offering family friendly and inclusive Jiu-Jitsu. 

Gracie Barra Melksham Jiu-Jitsu School opened last month offering an array of classes for children and later this month will open up for adults.

The school says, “It’s all about self defence for adults and anti-bullying for children. No matter what age people are, or ability, you just take it at your own pace.

“We will be running free anti-bullying classes at various times over the year for the community, playing our part as Gracie Barra Anti-Bullying ambassadors.”

And leading the school is head coach António Bustorff-Silva, who started his Jiu-jitsu journey in 2015 and is a multiple time British Champion with a Brown Belt. 

The school says, “António has an amazing talent for inspiring both children and adults at whatever age or ability they join us.”

About the sport, the school explains, “Jiu-Jitsu is a non-striking marital art, focusing on self-defence and technique. The impact Jiu-Jitsu has on your life is immeasurable. That may sound extreme but speak to any Barra Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) student! 

“There has been a huge uplift in Jiu-Jitsu across the world, its seen as one of the hardest martial arts. Because there is no striking, Jiu-jitsu isn’t about getting hurt, it’s about getting the upper hand with position and technique. 

“You don’t have to be strong to be a champion in BJJ, you just need to spend time on the mats and dedicate yourself to learning the art. A new student who may be the strongest and most fit person won’t be able to submit another who has been learning Jiu-jitsu for years; that’s not the way it works, and this is the beauty of Jiu-jitsu.

“If you’re looking to develop a new skill, get fit, be part of a mutually supportive team, focus, clear your mind, and build confidence Jiu Jitsu is your perfect new challenge. Now is the time to start a journey of physical and mental progression.

“We know that everyday life means our brains are constantly thinking and sometimes all this ‘thinking’ gets tiring, Jiu-Jitsu is a form of meditation, a way of clearing the mind and focusing on one thing.

“We have seen so many people not only develop in their BJJ game but their mental health as well.

“Gracie Barra Melksham is part of the biggest BJJ team in the world with over 900 schools and we are excited to bring our school to Melksham – so whatever your reason to join, we can’t wait for you to start your journey.”

Visit the Gracie Barra Melksham Facebook page for more information: www.facebook.com/GracieBarraMelksham

 

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  • The latest issue of the Melksham News is out now.

Read our digital edition on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Community plant sale set to help local gardening charity bloom

A plant sale in Holt this weekend will raise money for a therapeutic gardening charity working on a new garden at Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley.

Holt Gardening Club is holding the event at Holt Village Hall on Saturday 23rd May from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Visitors will be able to buy a range of flowers, herbs and shrubs grown and donated by members of the club. Gardening advice will also be available along with homemade refreshments and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

Organisers say proceeds from the sale will support Grow for Life, a therapeutic gardening charity which has recently started work on a new garden at Dorothy House Hospice. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Six-year-old leads fundraising effort for hospital treating sister

A local six-year-old boy has teamed up with his friends and cousins to raise over £13,000 for a ward at Bristol Children’s Hospital where his sister is receiving treatment for a brain tumour.

Teddy Brimble, a pupil at Bowerhill Primary School, ran in the Junior and Mini Great Bristol Run on 9th May with 12 friends and cousins, raising £13,146 for the Starlight Ward.

His sister, Lucia, aged 3, is being treated on the ward for a rare brain tumour, which she was diagnosed with in November last year.

Teddy is a regular at Melksham junior parkrun and along with his team of ‘Teddy’s Starlight Striders’, including five children from Bowerhill Primary School, they covered two distances. The older children aged nine to 15 years old ran 2.5km and the children aged between three and eight ran 1.5km, accompanied by adults.

Teddy’s mum Rebecca said she was overwhelmed by the support from the community behind the challenge. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Folk legends The Wurzels to perform in Melksham

Icons of the West Country, The Wurzels, will be performing at the Assembly Hall on 18th December.

The Somerset band have entertained audiences for five decades and will be performing some of their best-known songs, including Combine Harvester and I Am a Cider Drinker.

Renowned for their lively performances, infectious humour and singalong atmosphere, Assembly Hall manager Robert Reay-Waugh said they are ‘delighted’ to welcome the band to town.

He said, “They are real South West living legends coming here to give us a great gig on 18th December. It’ll be the perfect early Christmas present for many. We also promise an additional range of drinks on the night for all you cider drinkers out there.” 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Community toilet scheme launches in Melksham 

A community toilet scheme has been launched in Melksham, with local businesses offering non-customers access to their facilities.

The scheme has been launched by Melksham Town Council in partnership with local businesses to provide additional toilet facilities by welcoming anyone to use the toilets of participating organisations during normal opening hours, without being required to make a purchase.

Participating businesses include Asda Melksham Superstore on Beanacre Road; Doubles Coffee Pizza Records at Avonside Enterprise Park; Avonside Wilts at Avonside Enterprise Park; The Hiding Place on the High Street; Melksham Town Hall; Time to Stop at Verbena Court; and Melksham Community Campus.

Cllr Adrienne Westbrook, who proposed the scheme, said, “I passionately believe that as a community there must be other ways of dealing with the lack of toilets issue. Public toilets are misused and not treated with any respect by a small number of individuals. This often makes it a very unpleasant experience for the majority of residents. I was aware of this scheme and thought it must be a better alternative to the constant closure of toilets due to anti-social behaviour. I look forward to this scheme being implemented and our residents being able to use welcoming, clean toilets.” 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.

Pictured: Cllr Westbrook and Dep Mayor Cllr Elson
  • Community effort helps reunite swan family

A community rescue effort involving residents, young canoeists and wildlife volunteers has helped reunite a swan family after five cygnets were swept over a town weir.

Local residents spotted the cygnets alone on the River Avon after they were washed over the weir on the morning of 7th May and attempted to rescue them alongside young people, before specialist volunteers from Bath Swan Rescue were called to assist.

The five cygnets were described as cold and exhausted and were taken into care after being rescued, with an appeal launched to help locate the adult swans.

The following day, calls from local boys led to the discovery of the parent swans with their remaining two cygnets, allowing volunteers to carry out a reunion. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.

Pictured: Swans reuinted with their cygnets. One of the Bath Swan Rescue volunteers with the cygnets. Credit: Bath Swan Rescue. The weir where the cygents were seperated. Credit: Bath Swan Rescue
  • Pupils wear pyjamas for Alzheimer’s charity

A Melksham primary school was filled with slippers, dressing gowns and a sense of community as pupils and staff took part in a special pyjamas day to raise money for an Alzheimer’s charity.

Norah, a pupil at Aloeric Primary School, asked the headteacher if they could host a pyjama day for Alzheimer’s Society after her grandmother died from the disease last year.

Determined to make a difference, Norah planned the fundraising day so children could come to school dressed in their pyjamas in exchange for a small donation. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Discover what your valuables are worth at free valuation day

Local residents are being invited to discover the value of their belongings at a free valuation day this month.

Gardiner Houlgate, a well-established auction house with more than 20 years’ experience, will be offering expert advice at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on Thursday 28th May from 10am to 4pm.

Based in Corsham, the firm specialises in watches, musical instruments and antiques and their valuers regularly assess a wide range of items, from everyday pieces to unusual finds and family heirlooms.

Director and auctioneer David Hare said, “We are really looking forward to visiting the Wiltshire Music Centre where all of our specialist valuers will be on hand to offer free no obligation valuations."

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.

Pictured: Luke Hobbs - auctioneer; David Hare - director and Chris Baker- auctioneer.
  • Love Melksham Column

A resident’s love letters to her town 

This week, my regular love letter to Melksham is an expression of gratitude for our brilliant swimming pool.

There is something so wonderful about being in the pool, feeling the cool expanse of water all around you, as you find a gentle rhythm to glide through it. And every time I swim there, I’m so grateful that Wiltshire Council chose to invest in this fantastic facility for Melksham.

Surrounded by space for sport, study and socialising, the swimming pool is the sparkling sapphire jewel in the crown of the Melksham Community Campus. 

It is only four years old and is a warm, clean, modern 25-metre pool with six lanes on a gentle gradient from the shallow to deep end. Next to the main pool is the smaller, warmer learner pool, so there is space for everyone to feel welcome. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.

Column by Miriam Zaccarelli

Picture from  Melksham Community Campus facebook page
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