Ryan excels at Taekwondo nationals

Impressed by his daughter’s martial arts efforts, MAN v FAT Gloucester coach Ryan Barkle obtained into motion himself by showing in a nationwide Taekwondo Championships firstly of November.

Having seen his daughter take up the game in September 2021, Ryan determined that it was time to shed extra pounds.

And his efforts on the scales and on the pitch noticed him shift over 5 stone as a MAN v FAT Gloucester participant, earlier than graduating to guide the membership, held at Plock Courtroom on a Thursday night time.

Ryan instructed us: “By way of the help, pleasant rivalry and atmosphere created on the membership, I misplaced 5 stone earlier than changing into the membership’s Coach.

“It has offered me with a number of alternatives from taking part in at Sixfields for George Elokobi in opposition to Ian Holloway’s staff to getting again to operating.

“Nonetheless 2024 has been a bit harder to maintain the load off resulting from ‘weak hips’ that means soccer and operating had change into painful.

“This led me to strive one thing new. I joined my daughter Abi at Sumners Taekwondo, as I might see the quantity of flexibility and hips work that goes into it.

“Earlier than MAN v FAT, I’d not have had the arrogance to attend and I’d not have returned after the primary session resulting from feeling too unfit, too judged or too embarrassed (there is no such thing as a motive to really feel this, I’ve discovered!).

“Nonetheless my MAN v FAT journey has led me to strive one thing utterly completely different. Who would have thought you’d begin sparring on the age of 42?”