Impressed by his daughter’s martial arts efforts, MAN v FAT Gloucester coach Ryan Barkle acquired into motion himself by showing in a nationwide Taekwondo Championships firstly of November.
Having seen his daughter take up the game in September 2021, Ryan determined that it was time to drop some pounds.
And his efforts on the scales and on the pitch noticed him shift over 5 stone as a MAN v FAT Gloucester participant, earlier than graduating to guide the membership, held at Plock Court docket on a Thursday evening.
Ryan informed us: “Via the help, pleasant rivalry and surroundings created on the membership, I misplaced 5 stone earlier than turning into the membership’s Coach.
“It has offered me with a number of alternatives from enjoying at Sixfields for George Elokobi towards Ian Holloway’s group to getting again to working.
“Nonetheless 2024 has been a bit tougher to maintain the load off because of ‘weak hips’ which means soccer and working had change into painful.
“This led me to attempt one thing new. I joined my daughter Abi at Sumners Taekwondo, as I may see the quantity of flexibility and hips work that goes into it.
“Earlier than MAN v FAT, I might not have had the boldness to attend and I might not have returned after the primary session because of feeling too unfit, too judged or too embarrassed (there isn’t a motive to really feel this, I’ve discovered!).
“Nonetheless my MAN v FAT journey has led me to attempt one thing fully completely different. Who would have thought you’d begin sparring on the age of 42?”
