COVENTRY MMA fighter James ‘The Lionheart’ Dixon believes coaches at the city’s Lions Gym act as positive role models for young people in Coventry.
Dixon will be fighting at OKTAGON 56 at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on Saturday, April 20 in a welterweight bout against Max Handanagic.
And Dixon, who is head coach at Lions Gym in Coventry, feels the gym’s coaches act as positive role models to students.
Dixon said: “We’re right in the heart of the city, in quite a rough neighbourhood called Hillfields.
“It’s quite an impoverished area, and a lot of our students are from different backgrounds, whether that be foreign or from lower and working class families.
“I feel that the martial arts classes are so critical for them. Everybody who trains knows how important martial arts is – whether that’s from having the confidence to defend yourself, to helping kids at school.
“There’s maybe a lack of positive male role models in these areas in Coventry, and that leads to people being picked up by gangs, but having the coaches at the gym for these kids to look up to is really important for them.”
Dixon also believes martial arts training helps bring the community together and teaches children important life lessons at a young age.
Dixon added: “We get to see how training martial arts goes beyond just the physical, and into their schoolwork.
“It gives kids an accountability that this sport teaches you and it helps you understand that the only way to improve is to stick to it, and consistently work hard.
“We’re blessed in the area that Coventry University is on the rise, and that means that we are having a lot of students come through.
“The feedback we’ve had from them helps me understand how important it is what we are doing. The amount of value this sports brings to the community and individuals is incredible.”
To watch Dixon in action visit: www.theticketfactory.com/tickets/seat-select
