MARTIAL arts fans can get punches for nothing and kicks for free as a relatively new martial arts discipline comes to Worcester.

Tetsudo, a form of karate, gives both a full mental and physical workout and is hitting Warndon Villages courtesy of instructor Aruna Weerasooriya.

Mr Weerasooriya - who is a first Dan - teaches the discipline on a non-profit basis, although the club asks for a contribution of £3 per session towards the cost of the hall. Any extra money left over goes on new equipment.

He hopes to attract people who are prepared to become fitter, healthier and mentally refreshed.

"Tetsudo does not focus solely on training self-defence skills, but it also gives students a greater understanding of their minds and bodies," said Mr Weerasooriya.

"An example would be if someone felt timid or nervous inside, we could teach them how to carry themselves confidently.

"This reverses the negative thoughts coming to the brain, giving people a mental confidence via the physical body."

Although the discipline is said to be therapeutic, developing individual fighting styles, grappling, pressure point techniques and breaking tiles and breeze blocks are very much integral to the discipline, which has its roots in Asia.

A typical tetsudo session can have around 15 bouts of controlled sparring, to pit people against a wide range of combatants.

"We have no weight or gender divisions, which means people have to learn very different fighting styles and adapt their techniques to defend against people of all shapes, sizes and ages," said Mr Weerasooriya.

Freestyle

"This means people learn freestyle fighting and we very much encourage people to tailor their moves to suit their own particular makeup."

Mr Weerasooriya, who has spent 10 years mastering the discipline, which was originally called goyararu, will be giving a demonstration in Lyppard Grange Community Centre, Anchorage Green, on Saturday, June 14, at 2.30pm.

The lessons are aimed at people aged between 11 to 60 years old and will run at the centre from each Monday after the demonstration, from 9pm to 10.30pm.

For further information call Mr Weerasooriya on 07980 982557.