Local martial arts club wins a financial kick start
21 February 2012
A Marlow based martial arts club has scooped a sports development grant after receiving the most votes in a texting competition run by Wycombe District Council. 
Genesis Martial Arts Club were presented with a cheque for £100 by Cllr Katrina Wood, Wycombe District Council's Cabinet Member for Community. The martial arts club - founded in 2011 by local resident Paul Busby - offers lessons and fitness training to people aged four and a half and older. The club has students of all abilities including British and world champions in kickboxing.
The Council's Sports Development Team ran the text based competition to give people the chance to vote for a local sports or fitness club they thought deserved a cash boost in the form of a one-off sports development grant. Nearly 1,000 people texted in their vote, with Genesis Martial Arts Club coming in at the top.
Cllr Katrina Wood commented: "It is fantastic that a new local sports club has won this grant, as it will benefit not just the club, but the surrounding community as well. Wycombe District Council recognises the importance of local sports clubs in the community and this grant is one way of showing our support."
Paul Busby, owner of Genesis Martial Arts Club, added: "We are all really passionate about martial arts and fitness and we aim to provide safe and enjoyable classes for people of all abilities. This grant from Wycombe District Council will allow us to purchase to some new equipment for the gym. It's a great boost and allows us to continue to provide a fun, low cost experience for over 600 people."
Everyone who voted for the winning club was entered in to an additional prize draw for a year's free gym membership. The free membership, kindly donated by Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, was awarded to Emily Tippett whose son regularly attends classes at the martial arts club.
Wycombe District Council's Sports Development Team help promote and support a number of local sport and fitness clubs across the district. For more information on the work of the Sports Development Team and to find out if they could help, see our leisure pages.