Timing is still everything for former multiple world kickboxing champion Sallie McArdle.
Two of her latest female charges, Emma Scully and Sari Moore, won at the Eagle DS Comat Games Series in Auckland earlier this month, perfect promotion for the launch of women and girls only training classes at her Nelson gym – billed as Ladies Day.
“Last term I was asked to run an introductory kick boxing course for girls at Waimea Intermediate. I was thinking 10 to 15 might show up but literally overnight we got 34. Because they were so keen, I asked why they didn’t want to join our NZ-SMA club. The resounding answer was we don’t want to train with boys. So, I thought something has to be done about this as I saw a lot of promise there,” says Sallie.
“I already have some awesome girls in my club, and we had spoken about a female-only class or classes for a long time. 11 or 12 is a perfect age to start. Time for the girls to shine and find their inner warrior.”
So, she contacted Sport Tasman and it agreed to sponsor 20 girls in an intermediate programme.
“If one school was anything to go by we could get 30 to 40 turning up, so the club will sponsor the rest. We might have to look at two classes. While it is an introduction, they will train like fighters. Me and my girls will give up our time to do it for free,” declares Sally
The new class for girls will kick off on Friday 31 July.
A women’s class is also being launched with the punch words – strong bodies, strong minds and stronger together.
Emma and Sari are keen to volunteer and pass on their passion for martial arts.
37-year-old Emma, from Dublin, came to the sport late.
“I heard about this Irish female world champion, so I came to Sallie’s club and was inspired. The team is incredible,” enthuses the UNICEF donor retention worker.
“I had my first fight last year. I stepped on the mat and then froze. I wanted to run off. It didn’t go well and I was very disappointed,” reveals Emma.
She responded by dropping 10kgs as she was determined to prove to herself, and her teammates, that she could do better.
“Emma is so strong and gives as good as she gets,” insists her coach.
“The Irish fighting spirit is in there. It just needs to be a little more awakened,” says Emma, who immediately earned brownie points with this reporter when she arrived at training with fresh baking.
As for her journey from Ireland.
“When I was 15, I looked on the map and saw the furthest place I could get to was Nelson. I have been here eight years and feel like I belong because there is a huge Irish-Nelson group,” concludes Emma.
Sari, 20 years her junior, is glad she made the switch from boxing to martial arts.
“Sallie gets the best out of me. I definitely bring the fighting Aussie spirit,” maintains Sari, who was born in Adelaide.
Sallie didn’t have to ask the Year 13 Nelson College for Girls student if she wanted to fight in Auckland, the teenager approached her.
“From the get-go, I saw a warrior in this kid and she’s five foot nothing,” says Sallie.
As well as dominating her K1 fight, Sari took on a boxing bout at short notice, which she also won.
Sallie took a team of eight to Auckland and they all returned with gold medals.
Leading the way was Bhakti Rutledge with three, Zaw Tin two, with Josh Butler, Mikey Ching, Mason Gilmore and Jonathan Lowe all claiming gold too.
“Winning isn’t the be-all and end-all, but it certainly makes it nicer when everyone gets gold. Those medals come through hard work and make me super proud,” beams Sallie.
