Record turnout for anti-knife crime combat sports drive
More than 100 young people took part in the biggest-ever session of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines’ “Gloves Up, Knives Down” initiative.
This is part of a growing programme using combat sports to steer youngsters away from gang culture and knife crime.
The event, held at Bad Company Gym in Bramley, Leeds – the largest Muay Thai gym in Europe – saw Navy and Royal Marines instructors put teenagers and young adults through their paces with elite military-style fitness sessions, discipline drills and mentoring.
Led by Petty Officer Physical Trainers Aaron Snowdon and Mel Haslam, Leading Physical Trainer Dan Shannon, and Royal Marine Corporal Walker, the session combined Thai boxing techniques with lessons in teamwork, respect and self-control.
Military discipline meets community action
The Gloves Up, Knives Down initiative has been running for nearly three years across northern England and continues to gather momentum. What began as a small community project by serving personnel has grown into a nationally recognised movement backed by council leaders, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and even King Charles.
LPT Dan Shannon said: “We’re working alongside the Weapons Down, Gloves Up initiative to get kids off the streets, into gyms and doing something productive. We share core values like discipline and respect for others – things that can change a young person’s direction.”
Participants travelled from across West Yorkshire, Liverpool, Manchester and even Coventry, with many praising the experience.
One teenager said: “The whole format is really good – the discipline they impose on you is impressive. There are no excuses for slackening off.” A young girl added: “They won’t let you stop.”
Royal Navy combat sisters launched
The event also marked the launch of RN Combat Sisters, a new offshoot programme led by Commander Felicity Campbell and POPT Mel Haslam, designed to encourage more women and girls to take up combat sports – and potentially explore careers in the Royal Navy.
The spin-off aims to give young women access to the same structured, empowering environment that has made Gloves Up, Knives Down a success story across the north.
Tackling violence through values
Driven by frustration at rising gang violence and knife crime, the project was born when Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel – including Major Tommy McPhee and Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton (known online as @CommandoChef) – returned from deployment and decided to use their training to make a difference at home.
Now, with record attendance and growing national recognition, Gloves Up, Knives Down is showing how military fitness, teamwork and respect can provide a powerful antidote to the culture of violence.
As one organiser put it: “We’re not just building fighters – we’re building better people.”
Mod / Royal Navy, Crown Copyright
