By James Bovington
A young man from Stanningley who “knows first hand the pain of grief and bereavement” is urging others to sign up for the next Ultra MMA event in Leeds.
Former Co-op Academy Priesthorpe student Luke Woodend, 23, said he “knows how getting in the cage and facing an opponent who’s a novice like you can help anyone come to terms with anything, even if it’s just the pressures of daily life which are often overwhelming.”
He said: “My mum passed away with cancer when I was 16 and three years later my grandma too. Nothing worse could have happened. I eventually became homeless and struggled with everything but did get help to do a plumbing and gas engineering apprenticeship.
“But grief made me lose my way and alcohol didn’t provide the permanent solution I wanted.
“I eventually moved into shared accommodation and, once qualified, set up my own gas engineering business Structo in partnership with a mate. I wanted a challenge which would allow me to improve my fitness and raise money for charity.
“MMA has a scary reputation, but I thought why not? About forty of us enrolled on eight weeks’ free training at Bad Company gym in Bramley. We got matched with an opponent from within the group. The training was demanding but the coaches more than helpful and I made loads of new mates as everyone was encouraging.”
Luke said he had always wanted to give combat sports a go.
“Like many lads I enjoy watching the UFC,” he added. “It’s violent and brutal but somehow, it’s pure and honest. There’s lots allowed in professional MMA that we weren’t allowed but yes, we learnt to take a punch to the face. The thought of it is worse than the reality. Believe me.
“I didn’t win my fight with Alex from York, but after the bout I was buzzing and glowing. I loved everything about the event including the support from the ten people who bought tickets. Like being a UFC star for the day. I’m running the Temple Newsam Ultra Loop in August. I can’t wait to get training again for the autumn MMA show.
“Sign up for Ultra MMA if you’ve ever wanted to try combat sports. It doesn’t get any more real than this and you’ve the summer to prepare.”
Luke raised £1,190 for MacMillan Nurses, who’d helped his mum and grandma.
He and Alex were among 34 novice MMA fighters raising £11,700 for a range of charities.
Ultra MMA returns to the Village Hotel Leeds North on 28 November, with training beginning at Bramley’s Bad Company Gym in September. Competitors must be aged 18 or older on the date training starts. Sign up here.
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