Hello fellow Wlki Wirralians, i'm thinking of enrolling my 8 year old son in a self defence/ martial arts class and i was hoping for some recommendations .Any where in wallasey would be ideal but travelling around the Wirral would not be a problem either. thanks for any help received.....

Wirral Tennis Centre Saturday 9am or 10am Judo classes. Fantastic.

i will check that out , cheers.....

Oxton Road in Birkenhead, think its called Funkstar, or something. Plenty of kids go, all kitted out. Not able to reccommend though, never been, just know about it.
Good Luck

Judo at Poulton Victorias every Wednesday night at about 6pm, I think it costs £1 per session. I can honestly say that the instructor there is first class and has taught 3 generations of my family Judo and self defence. The instructor and his wife keep spare Judo suits and belts for the children to borrow during the session so there is no initial outlay to begin with. There is also a bar so that the parents can enjoy a beer or a cup of coffee while they watch their kids doing the Judo session.
Where else can you get a childrens self defence class for about £1 =)

is it still frank running it ?

I was taught as a teenager by him to competitive level and up till a few years ago used to teach along side him.
Ive since had to stop the sport due to spinal injurys

that sounds like the one for us ..... nice one , thanks

Update......Frank still runs it , along side his wife Pat.i took my son to this one , as recommended , and he absolutely loves it . He got his yellow belt at a grading at the tennis centre at the end of last year . He goes back again on wednesday for the first session after christmas . Best thing i 've done for my son , thanks for the recommendation.

I was taught by Frank and Ian Cope, for many years, up to instructor level.
I had been doing Judo since about 6 yrs old til about 10. Then at school youth club to competition level.
Then nothing til about 22 yrs old when i enrolled with frank and Ian, where i gained my instructors level.
Too many injuries to continue now but would love to go back and see if im up to it!!

Turning the clock back further.....does anybody remember the club at the Vics when Jimmy Griffiths ran it?

Have you thought about boxing instead of martial arts? Me and a mate did Ju Jitsu for years and when we were jumped in Liverpool, we quickly realised it was pointless in self defence. It's really good fun though.

Hello, Sorry to come into this one late, I am new to the forum.
I do hope that your son found a Self Defence or Martial Arts Club that he is or enjoyed.
I am a keen Martial Artist and also a Self Defence Instructor you need to ask your son what does he want, spend years and years in a dojo three times a week or more learning an art which if he does thats great as I did and still do. Or does he want to learn Self Defence taking the Art away, if so please contact me I am a qualified self defence/reality street combat instructor teaching techniques that are pressure tested. I could teach your son or a group of friends running courses ranging from six weeks +. As well as the physical techniques we teach Awareness Avoidance and Escape.

next level mixed martial arts academy in hoylake. You will find it very difficult to find a better all round club. Mark Sutton is an instuctor there who I have trained with and I highly recommend him.

Cheers for enquiring......my son is still at the Poulton Vics club , up to orange belt now.He is really enjoying it and has made some really good friends , even giving himself some much needed self confidence.I think we will be staying at the Vics for the time being , as the atmosphere is so relaxed , and looking at the kids that go , they all seem shy quiet types , making them all get on together so well , as there is no macho stuff .Maybe in the future, when he is ready , he may move on to another disipline..

Thats great to hear and just what you need from a decent club, no egos just a nice atmosphere with good training. Im glad to hear its built his self confidence im sure you are very proud of his achievements.

Seven stars in Eastham is an extremely good club, run by Master Brian McKinney. go to http://www.bigsky.uk.net and it will have info on classes and information about the club

there is a muai thai mon,wed,fri at twelve quays gym in seacombe wallasey pete who runns it is brillant with the kids my boys go there builds up confidence an fitness aswell 3pound a session